Hoops By Ugland Beach Jam: 2020 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 2020 sleepers from Saturday’s action:
Josh Sims, Pacifica Christian
Sims is the definition of a high motor player. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound forward is active on both ends of the floor and makes his biggest impact as a rebound-and-push scorer in transition. Sims uses his strong frame and bully-ball ability to finish through contact in the paint. Defensively, Sims can hold his own in the paint against forwards and centers and can guard wing players on the perimeter, as well.
Trae Taylor, Mission Bay
Taylor is a rangy 6-foot-4 wing with fluid athleticism and a smooth offensive game. The Mission Bay High product hit a handful of catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, but also used his long strides and length to finish off fast break scoring opportunities.
Jacob Collins, Sage Creek
Collins was one of the best on-ball defenders in the gym across all three games. The 6-foot-4 wing did a nice job of using angles to cut off driving lanes and make offensive players turn their backs to the basket. Offensively, Collins moves well without the ball and uses his quick leaping ability to finish over shot blockers and through contact.
Lucas Murray, Frontier
Murray is one of those gritty types of players who does all of the dirty work. He sets good screens, rolls hard to the basket, crashes the offensive and defensive glass and will be the first guy to dive on the floor for a loose ball. Murray is still fairly raw from an offensive standpoint, but he does catch and finish on pick-and-roll action.
Rudy Suarez, Covina
Suarez is an intriguing two-way shooting guard due to his ability to not only stretch the floor from 3-point range, but his prowess for getting into the paint and finishing or drawing in the defense for drive-and-kick opportunities. Suarez uses his combination of upper body strength and good lateral speed to defend both guard positions.
Keyon Mack, Millikan
Mack is wired to score. The lanky 6-foot-3, 165-pound shooting guard has an elusiveness about his game that makes him a tough cover in both transition and half court settings. He uses his long strides, hesitations and dribble moves to get into the paint and finish around length but can also knock down a rhythm 3-point shot.