The Holiday Classic – Day 3 standouts, Part 1
The Torrey Pines Holiday Classic perennially brings some of the top high school teams to San Diego for four days of excellent basketball spread over five sites and divisions. On Friday, Day 3 of the event, I honed in on…
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Continue ReadingThe Torrey Pines Holiday Classic perennially brings some of the top high school teams to San Diego for four days of excellent basketball spread over five sites and divisions.
On Friday, Day 3 of the event, I honed in on St. Augustine in the morning, watching several San Diego teams – and a few out of the area ones. Later in the evening, I headed to Santa Fe Christian to catch the semifinals action of the Senators Division, which ended with a surprising upset.
Here are some of the standouts from the AM sessions:
The Holiday Classic – Day 3 standouts, Part 1
Coree Joseph, 2019 5-11 PG, Roosevelt
The unsigned senior guard carved up East (UT) by changing speeds effectively to get into the key and either scoring or distributing off the bounce. A polished shooter, Joseph scored from every level in the win. One of the best pure point guards on hand at any of the sites this weekend, Joseph could be a steal for a Division 2.
Brandon Porter, 2020 5-9 PG, Roosevelt
A bulldog of a lead guard, Porter has a knack for distributing the ball of the bounce. In one stretch of the fourth quarter, he assisted on four of five possessions, exploding past the first level of the defense, and dropping nifty dimes when the help defense cut off his drives. Porter is a steady jumpshot away from being an extremely tough cover.
Samuel Ackerman, 2020 6-3 G, Bakersfield
In a game where neither team got into a good rhythm offensively, Ackerman’s passing ability and his length stood out. At 6-3, he’s one of the bigger players on a diminutive Bakersfield team, but he has solid court vision, great length and a high basketball IQ.
Quinn Denker, 2020 6-1 PG, Bellarmine Prep
Denker is the consummate floor general. He plays at his own pace (doesn’t let the defense speed him up) and plays on balance. He uses jump stops in the paint and sees all of the options, deferring to teammates until he has a clear scoring play himself. This efficient approach led to him knocking down open jumpshots at a consistent rate, and finishing strong drives within the flow of the offense.
Kiran Kruse, 2019 6-4 SG, Bellarmine Prep
Kruse oozes with confidence that you can see in layup lines. In the game, he uses his quick release and nice bounce to get off shots in tight spots. His form and mechanics are picturesque. Defensively, he’s agile and committed enough to guard both guard spots and gets his hands into passing lanes for steals. Kruse had some huge games this week in the American Division.
Graham Cook, 2019 6-3 G, La Costa Canyon
Cook is wired to score, and did it prolifically in the 2nd half against Jesuit in the loss. He’s capable of stringing baskets together in a hurry, from every level. He gets tunnel visioned at times, but shows flashes of making plays for others. He provided the highlight of the game, a transition lob to Sam Kramer. Cook finished with 19 points and 3 assists in the win.
Brandon Rutherford, 2021 6-2 G, Jesuit
Rutherford’s value on both ends of the ball could be clearly seen when he exited the game with foul trouble. Jesuit, playing without star guard Isa Silva, struggled to get into their offense and La Costa’s perimeter players had a field day on the other end. When he re-entered the game, he coolly hit a pull-up jumper and a spot-up three to essentially put the game away. He’s a physical combo guard who can score it from all three levels.