WCE All-Star Camp Utah: Standouts
On Saturday, October 13 Prep Hoops Idaho was on hand to take in all the great basketball action at the annual West Coast Elite All-Star Camp Utah held at Juan Diego High School in Draper Utah. For the past 7 years West Coast Elite has been putting on this camp with all of the top athletes from Utah and surrounding states coming to show what they can do. According to West Coast Elite CEO Ryan Silver, this year was one of the most talented groups they have ever had in Utah. Most of the 180 plus athletes who attended were from Utah, but in all 8 different states were represented including Idaho.
This camp is a great opportunity for players to showcase their ability and to also be evaluated by college scouts and coaches. At the conclusion of the camp West Coast Elite sends out a scouting report to over 200 colleges at all levels.
In addition to playing the games and skills instruction the players received, halfway through the game schedule Coach Silver had a guest speaker talk to the players. This years speaker was Britton Johnsen who grew up in Murray, Utah and played for the University of Utah, and also in the NBA. His message to those in attendance was that of choosing between easy and hard. He told how his decisions to not avoid doing the hard things in life helped him to be ready when opportunities came.
Each player played in two games. At the conclusion of the games, they announced the selection of the camp all star teams. There was a Top 20, Top 40, Top 60, and Top 80 all star teams. After the selection of teams they were divided up and each played one last game. There were players from Idaho selected for each of the all star games.
Top 20 team
(2019) Jeff Ngandu Burley High School has a long wing span and is good around the basket. He has good elevation and is a good rim protector.
(2020) Jace Whiting Burley High School is very quick and can beat his man off the dribble. He sees the court very well and has a good outside shot.
Top 40 team
(2019) Austin Hayhurst Eagle High School is good at working on the block offensively and has a good outside shot for a 6’10” guy.
(2020) Cooper Frith Rocky Mountain High School is a scrappy guard who never quits. He is a very talented guard with a lot of upside.
Top 60 team
(2021) Gage Stoddard Grace High School sees the court well, good ball handler, and is a good passer. He makes good decisions and has a nice shot.
(2022) Miles Toussaint Blackfoot High School is a quick guard with good ball handling and a good defender.
(2019) Ryan Ball Twin Falls High School is a strong inside player who can protect the paint and rebounds well.
Top 80 team
(2021) Emmett Holt Century High School works very hard on both ends of the court. He is a good ball handler and also has a good outside shot.
(2022) Zach Ball Twin Falls High School is a big kid with lots of potential played really well against some really good competition.