Francisco’s Finest: WCE End of Summer (Under the radar)
Francisco’s Finest: WCE End of Summer (Under the radar)
SANTA ANA, Ca.—Ryan Silver and his outstanding staff put on another outstanding event chock full of talented seniors as well as a plethora of intriguing underclassmen. The match up of the day was between a pair of super sophomores in 6-foot-7ish Wilhelm Briendenbach (Mater Dei) and 6-foot-10 Nathan Bittle while the surprise of the day was the continued ascension of 6-foot-8 sophomore Nicholas Davidson (Santa Margarita).
Lamaj Lewis (St. John Bosco)
2021, WF, 6-foot-3, 170 pounds
Joel’s Take: This smooth operator has upside written all over him. He has a good frame with excellent length and his physical tools are on the come. He excels in transition attacking the rim and he is getting strong enough to finish through contact. In the half court he can take defenders off the dribble and his pull-up game is improving.
Luis Riascos (San Gabriel Academy)
2020, CG, 6-foot-5, 175 pounds
Joel’s Take: Riascos is a jack-of-all-trades guard who affects the game in the areas of playmaking and ball-hawking. He play the 1, 2, or 3 due to his ball skills, vision, and scoring punch. He needs to polish his jump shot from beyond the 3-point line, but he can score through contact off the dribble and nail the pull-up. One of the more intriguing guards in the 2020 class.
Christian James (St. John Bosco)
2019, SG, 6-foot-3, 170 pounds
Joel’s Take: One of the better all-around senior guards in Southern California is James. The kid is a bonafide winner who makes impactful plays at both ends of the floor. He can score at all three levels, rebound in traffic, or deliver the nifty assist. Overall, he should be a coveted prospect at the Low-to-Mid Division 1 level.
Jadon Jones (St. Anthony)
2020, SG, 6-foot-4, 160 pounds
Joel’s Take: This energetic wing shows superior quickness and speed while attacking would-be defenders. His slashing style is tough to deal with as he slithers through the defense while attacking the basket. He can knock in the deep 3-point shot, convert in the mid-range area via the pull-up, or dunk in transition. He has a tendency to force the issue and hunt too much for his shot, but he is an emerging talent.
Scotty Washington (St. John Bosco)
2021, SG, 6-foot-3, 160 pounds
Joel’s Take: While observing Washington it’s not hard to notice the impressive upside this young man possesses. He has great length, good quickness, and he plays purpose in mind at both ends of the floor. He can slash his way to the rim, defend multiple positions, and can score over length. He needs to improve jump shot (mechanics and consistency) to take his game to another level.
Aidan Prukop (Mater Dei)
2019, SG, 6-foot-4, 170 pounds
Joel’s Take: Prukop has been on the radar since his freshman campaign due to his frame and budding skills. However, the Monarchs have been so loaded, he hasn’t been able to exhibit his skill. Heading into his senior season, the time is now for him to take his game to a new level. He has the ideal frame, IQ, and overall feel for the game. He is always on balance, can nail the deep 3-pointer, and he can deliver the appropriate pass to the open shooter.