Francisco’s Finest: The Classic at Damien (Day 1 Standouts/Part 1)
Francisco’s Finest: The Classic at Damien (Day 1 Standouts/Part 1)
LA VERNE, CA.—The 3rd annual Classic at Damien was as good as advertised with a number of outstanding performances from teams (Riverside Poly/Fairfax) and individuals (Onyeka Okongwu and Ziaire Williams).
Ziaire Williams (Sherman Oaks/Notre Dame)
2020, WF, 6-foot-7, 190 pounds
Joel’s Take: Williams showed why he is right there at the top when it comes to the best prospects in the country. The sinewy wing scored from all three levels, created for his teammates exhibiting pin point passes, and rebounded in traffic. He needs to get stronger as there were times he struggled scoring through contact and converting plays on the block.
Amound Anderson (Leuzinger)
2020, CG, 6-foot-2, 165 pounds
Joel’s Take: This crafty lefty slithers his way in and out of traffic for either the score or the assist. He has deceptive speed and changes speeds very well. He can knock in 3s either off the catch or off the dribble and his release is smooth—though he does drift at times.
Tony Singleton (Hesperia)
2020, PG, 5-foot-11, 155 pounds
Joel’s Take: Singleton is a quick point guard who has a terrific burst while attacking his defender. Once in the lane he can hit the floater or the pull-up at the elbow. He can penetrate and kick it to open shooters and he competes at both ends due to his competitive nature.
Keith Dinwiddie (Fairfax)
2020, SG, 6-foot-1, 160 pounds
Joel’s Take: The Lions welcomed Dinwiddie with open arms after sitting out for 30 days via a transfer from Culver City. He is a prolific shooter out to the stripe and he gets great lift on his shot. Defensively, his length disrupts passing lanes and he slides his feet well.
AJ Perry (Anaheim Canyon)
2019, PG, 5-foot-8, 155 pounds
Joel’s Take: Perry continued his impressive play here at The Classic. Whether it’s a pull-up 3 off the dribble or a drop off dime, he makes plays. His moxie is evident at both ends of the floor and he isn’t afraid to make the clutch play.
Tay Boothman (Buckeye Union/AZ)
2020, CG, 6-foot-1, 155 pounds
Joel’s Take: One of the biggest surprises of the day belonged to Bootham. This guard is wired to score and the level of difficulty on some of his drives was high-level. Pull up jump shots are part of the package as well—not too mention a high dose of moxie.