COTC: 2019 Crème game standouts
Aaron Burgin’s Crème of the County brainchild completed its fourth installment Saturday at Army-Navy Academy in Carlsbad.
The event featured nine games over the course of the day with squads facing off from the classes of 2023 up to 2019.
The COTC has always been one of the best events to view San Diego’s top and uncovered talent and this year’s edition didn’t disappoint.
Here are some of the top performers from the class of 2019 Crème game.
Game MVP: Travis Snider, Torrey Pines
The 6-foot-6 forward displayed an impressive inside-out scoring skill set in leading his West team to an overtime victory. Snider was consistent as a face-up set shooter from 15-feet and and also showed the ability to put the ball on the deck, blow-by slower defenders, and finish around the basket with touch. One of his most impressive moves was on one of those drives when he shook a defender with a slight ball fake after a two-footed jump stop.
Six-foot-6 forward Travis Snider of Torrey Pines was the MVP of the COTC 2019 Crème game.Patrick McLachlan, Rancho Buena Vista
McLachlan’s overtime heroics made the MVP choice much more difficult than it was going to be in regulation. The 6-foot-2 guard took over in the extra two minutes, knocking down a clutch 3-pointer with under a minute to play to give team West the cushion it needed to secure the victory. McLachlan is quick and strong at the point of attack and gets good lift on his perimeter jump shot.
Ryan Langborg, La Jolla Country Day
There was no question Langborg, San Diego’s second best senior behind Mission Bay’s Boogie Ellis, would have a huge impact on this game. After switching from team West to team East to even out the squads, the 6-foot-4 Princeton-commit checked into the game firing from deep. Langborg’s jumper is as pure as it gets, and every time he lets go of a shot, it looks like it’s going in.
Dondre Bausley, Riverside Notre Dame
After a few unlucky missed layups in transition, Bausley recovered nicely and made an imprint on the game on both ends of the floor. The 6-foot-3 wing is an intriguing prospect for the Division II level and below due to his high motor, basketball IQ, competitive nature and versatility on both ends of the floor. Bausley has the strength and lateral speed to guard multiple spots on defense, and uses those same qualities to score in the paint offensively.
Ifeanyi Okeke, Damien
Okeke is still raw in his offensive skill set, but he has one thing you can’t teach and that’s consistent effort and energy. The 6-foot-5 forward is long and athletic and used those “measureables” to impact the game on the defensive end, blocking numerous shots and cleaning the glass with efficiency. Okeke’s offense is limited, but he is an active offensive rebounder and is tough to keep off the glass.
Makiah Morris, Vista
One of the best aspects of covering and evaluating high school basketball is watching a player who continuously develops his game and shows those improvements on the biggest stages. Morris, who we’ve come to know as a consistent set shooter from 3-point range, showed that he’s been working on his one and two-dribble mid-range game.
Nick Manor-Hall, Chino Hills
Manor-Hall, much like his Inland Empire-mate Okeke, is a supremely athletic, but raw prospect. The 6-foot-5 forward is a well-built 4/3 type of player who goes hard on both ends of the floor. Manor-Hall is a strong rebounder in and out of his space, has good timing and shot blocks and contests, and can finish through contact on the break.