Pangos Sweet 16: Top Performers
Garden Grove, Ca. — The Pangos Summer Sweet 16 tournament featured just under 100 club teams from various states across the western United States. The teams were split into six separate divisions depending on age group and competition level.
Here are some of the standout performers on the event:
Amari Bailey, Belmont Shore/Oaks Christian
Bailey is a smooth lefty who joined the Belmont Shore squad prior to the tournament and the incoming freshman didn’t skip a beat with his new teammates. The 6-foot-3 wing has a natural feel for game and uses that to his advantage on the offensive side of the floor quite nicely. Bailey moves well without the ball, slashing into open space and finishing craftily in the paint and is also a consistent mid-range jump shooter.
Dominic Gonzalez, AZ Factory 16u/Ironwood
Gonzalez has been drawing rave reviews from his club coach Kenny Mullins, saying the 6-foot-3 rising junior shooting guard has been putting up 30-balls with regularity. Gonzalez was scoring it efficiently for Factory on the week and weekend, as well, showing his smooth pull-up game from the 3-point and mid-range levels, while also getting into the paint and creating space with his strong frame to finish through contact.
Godfrey “G” Little, Eastvale Elite/Eastvale Roosevelt
Little is a crafty, high volume scorer who filled it up from just about every scoring spot imaginable. The 6-foot rising sophomore plays with a ton of confidence and takes isolation situations as a personal challenge to score on whomever is checking him. While Little is an impressive scorer, his shot selection and decision making are still under construction.
Jaren Nafarette, Cali Rebels 17u/Foothills Christian
Nafarette is one of the quicker guards you’ll find in all of SoCal, but what’s most impressive about his speed is the fact that he knows how to control it and use it to his advantage. The 5-foot-7 point guard blows past retreating defenders in transition and gets into the paint with ease where he’s looking to set teammates up. Nafarette, a senior-to-be, has improved his finishing package, as well, especially his floater, which is an important shot to have for a player his size and stature.
Luke O’Brien, Colorado Miners 16u/Columbine
O’Brien is your prototypical floor spreading guard with his ability to stroke the catch-and-shoot 3-point shot with consistency at 6-feet-5. The rising junior doesn’t need a whole lot of time or space to get his shot off and also displayed his ability to attack close-outs with a one or two-dribble pull-up or a straight line-drive finish if help-side was late.
Christopher Speller, Colorado Miners 16u/Rangeview
Speller had impressive size, strength and athleticism for the point guard position at 6-4 and a solid 190 pounds. The rising junior was a match-up nightmare for opposing guards who struggled to keep him in front and out of the paint. What stood out most about Speller’s game was his basketball IQ. He never got sped up in transition or half-court settings, toyed with opposing defenses with his vision and passing ability and moved around the floor in a effortless way.
Liam Woodrum, Branch West 16u/Anaheim Canyon
Woodrum played on the freshman team last season at Canyon High, but certainly proved his varsity worth over the course of the three-day event. There are few prospects, regardless of class, whom are quicker with the ball or with the dribble than the 5-foot-10 point guard. Woodrum attacks space with purpose and explosiveness while still keeping his head up and on a swivel to make correct basketball decisions.