San Diego Tip-Off Challenge – Final Five
Taking advantage of the early start to the season and a spectacular venue, Montgomery High Head Coach Ed Martin organized a quality kickoff tournament in the South Bay, the San Diego Tip-Off Challenge. The four-day event pitted seven of San Diego’s top 25 programs – and one powerhouse from Southern California.
Guess who came out on top?
Sierra Canyon, the No. 1 ranked team in California according to several preseason rankings, laid waste to the field, en route to an 86-40 route of San Diego’s No. 2 ranked team, St. Augustine, in the championship game.
The Trailblazers three-game run was so dominant that Martin named the entire team MVP of the event.
We’ll try to spread the love a little bit more here, naming our standouts in a series of “Five” reports.
Next up, the “final five.”
San Diego Tip-Off Challenge – Final Five
Misa Rosado, 5-11 PG, St. Augustine
Rosado has made big strides in his ball control and facilitating. This really shores up one of the perceived weaknesses of St. Augustine’s team, giving them a reliable pass-first lefty point guard who adds a dose of toughness. The junior is also a very tough on-ball defender to boot.
Keatten Smith, 6-2 G, Santa Fe Christian
The sharpshooting sophomore has grown several inches, but hasn’t lost his perimeter prowess. Once his feet were set, Smith consistently made defenses pay, and his release is quick. He also showed some improvement off the bounce with a few crafty finishes. Smith needs to improve his lateral quickness to defend quicker perimeter players.
Rahin Williams, 6-1 G, Montgomery
It was WIlliams – not any Sierra Canyon player – with the event’s first dunk, a transition slam that electrified the home crowd in the host’s game against Sierra Canyon. The athletic combo guard also showed continued growth in his shooting, knocking down spot-up threes off of the Aztecs dribble penetration. He is also unquestionably the team’s best on-ball defender. Granted a fifth year by CIF, Williams appears to be making the most of it.
Miles Williams, 5-8 PG, Christian
Diminutive and slight of frame, Williams has made a big leap in his offensive output. He has a solid pull-up jumper he employs off of drives in the halfcourt, and he is becoming a more reliable three-point shooter. Williams, a junior, still makes his money on the defensive end, where his quick hands and assertive approach turn over opposing guards.
Andrew Austin, 6-6 G, Sierra Canyon
On any other team, Austin would be a 20-ppg guy in his senior year – and in fact, he was a big scorer at his former school, West Ranch. But Austin makes his money on this team by doing all of the intangibles: hustling for 50/50 balls, actively defending and knocking down threes. He’s a very nice “three and d” unsigned prospect that coaches would be wise to recruit.