COTC: 2020 Crème game standouts (Part I)
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 is the first set of top performers from the class of 2020 Crème game.
MVP: Adam Sevier, Poway
Sevier is a bulldog of a player who brings toughness and energy every minute he’s on the floor. The 5-foot-10 guard continued to show his ability to play both on or off the ball, creating shots for himself and teammates in both transition and half-court settings. Sevier took over the game late in the second half, leading team West to an 89-79 win.
Poway guard Adam Sevier was the MVP of the COTC 2020 Crème game.Chibuzo Agbo, St. Augustine
Agbo was the most physically dominant player on the floor, controlling the offensive and defensive glass for team East while showing improved perimeter shooting and ball skills. In addition to his budding offensive skill set, the 6-foot-6 forward has high defensive upside and is one of the more under-recruited players in the Southern California area.
Maurice Holmes, Helix
You’d be hard-pressed to find a kid who plays harder than Holmes. The 6-foot-6 wing/forward is a high energy guy on both ends of the floor, is a versatile perimeter defender with his length and lateral speed and did a nice job of disrupting passing lanes to start transition opportunities. Holmes is best offensively when getting out and downhill on the break where he uses his speed and length to finish over and through defenders.
Jailen Nelson, Carlsbad
Nelson continued his strong late-summer showcase performance by contributing in a variety of ways to team West’s victory. The 5-foot-11 point guard is a strong-framed prospect who knows how to use his broad shoulders to create space from defenders on the perimeter. Nelson’s catch and shoot ability from deep has opened up his drive game.
Nakial Cross, St. Augustine
Cross was the best pure athlete in the game and used it to put together numerous highlight reel finishes on offensive and blocked shots on the defensive end. Cross, a 6-foot-7 forward, still needs to develop out his perimeter skill set, but his combination of size and bouncy athleticism makes him intriguing as a long-term prospect.