Ryse Williams Pac Shores: Under-the-Radar Performers (Part I)
The six-day Ryse Williams Pac Shores Tournament brought together many of the Southland’s top teams and players for an impressive season-opening field.
Fairfax took home the title with a 64-56 victory over a Bishop Montgomery team littered with injuries, while Washington Prep took home third with a win over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Santa Margarita finished fifth with a victory over host Redondo Union. Rolling Hills Prep beat Birmingham for the consolation championship.
Here are some players whose efforts put their name on the map:
Carl Adams, F, Washington Prep
The 6-foot-4 lefty showed a smooth shooting stroke both from the mid-range and 3-point arc. Adams has a thick frame and long arms, but it’s his ability to hit shots at awkward angles that makes him most effective. Adams has an old-school leaner in his arsenal that is difficult for defenders to close out on.
Chase Bowsher, F, Redondo Union
The rangy 6-foot-6 forward plays with endless energy and just makes things happen. He uses his quick leaping ability off the floor and length to snag rebounds at their peak and runs the floor with purpose, scoring in transition with powerful dunks and crafty layups.
Six-foot-6 forward Elisha Cofield of Birmingham showed good activity on both ends of the floor at the Ryse Williams Pac Shores Tournament.Elisha Cofield, F, Birmingham
Cofield has good size and length for a four-man at 6-feet-6, but the best part of his game is how active of a paint defender and rim protector he is. Cofield possesses impressive timing on his shot blocks and contests, and does so by staying vertical and not fouling. He’s still a raw offensive product, but had a handful of strong finishes above the rim on the week.
Justyn Hunter, G, Fairfax
Hunter is the least talked about starter for Fairfax, but his contributions on both ends won’t go underestimated for long. The 6-foot guard is at the head of the Lions’ pressure defense. along with teammate Ronald Mitchell, and practices good decision-making on which players to trap and when to fall back as a safety valve. Offensively, he won’t put him huge scoring numbers, but he comes up with timely scores and strong takes to the rim.
Jadon Jones, F, St. Anthony
Jones, a 6-foot-4 wing transfer from Cantwell-Sacred Heart, seems to be the perfect fit for this St. Anthony team. The junior scored 25 points in three quarters in the Saints’ win over Lynwood Saturday and hit six 3-pointers in the process, which was one of the areas of improvement he needed to address. The long-armed lefty should continue to have a strong year on both ends of the floor for St. Anthony.