Hoops By Ugland Beach Jam: 2019 Sleepers
Costa Mesa, Ca. — The Hoops By Ugland Beach Jam Showcase at Vanguard University featured 70 high school basketball players in a class-by-class game setting.
The combined freshman and sophomore game proved to be the most exciting of the day, a sudden death overtime game that was decided, anticlimactically, by a foul and free throw by Santa Margarita sophomore guard Selah Robins.
The junior class game was another close one, with the team coached by Santa Margarita assistant Wolfgang Wood defeating Fountain Valley assistant AJ Gasporra’s team, 74-69. The senior class contest was the most lopsided of the three, as team Wood dominated its way to a 83-63 victory.
Here are the class of 2019 sleepers from Saturday’s action:
Ryan Blackmon, Culver City
Blackmon is a lightning quick guard with a strong first step and craftiness when navigating the paint. He finishes with strength around the basket despite his wiry frame and can stroke the catch-and-shoot three ball with regularity. Blackmon is also a solid on-ball defender, using his length and lateral quickness to keep offensive players in front.
Culver City guard Ryan Blackmon is an explosive rim attacker with a good first step and burst in transition.Trevor Seesemann, Troy
Seesemann has nice size and length for a wing at 6-feet-3 and 170 pounds. What he does best is stretch the floor from distance, knocking down 3-point shots off of drive-and-kicks with smooth shooting mechanics and consistency. Seesemann also showed the ability to attack hard closeouts and get into the paint to create open shots for teammates.
Dylan Self, Taft Union
Self is a grind-it-out kind of guy that never takes a play off. The 6-foot-2, 180 pound shooting guard has an effective set shot from deep, but also uses fundamental perimeter footwork to get by defenders and uses his strength to finish through contact in the paint.
Jaron Rillie, Dos Pueblos
Rillie was easily the most crafty passer in the 2019 game. The 6-foot-1 left-handed point guard has a style that can be best described as that of a euro guard with his changes of speed and direction and pinpoint passing whether it’s with his off-hand on a drive or a behind-the-back pocket pass.
Joshua Griffin, Orange Lutheran
Griffin is that prototypical “Three-and-D” guy at the high school level. The 6-foot-2 Trinity League shooting guard has fundamental shooting mechanics with range on his jumper, but can also guard multiple positions on the defensive end of the floor.