MLK Day Showcase – Junior standouts
Christian Coach Davion Famber has rapidly established the region’s top MLK Day basketball event in Year 2 of the MLK Day Showcase. The nine-game event – which featured great hospitality and media-friendliness – featured several squads knocking on the door…
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Continue ReadingChristian Coach Davion Famber has rapidly established the region’s top MLK Day basketball event in Year 2 of the MLK Day Showcase. The nine-game event – which featured great hospitality and media-friendliness – featured several squads knocking on the door of San Diego’s top 10, including Montgomery, Carlsbad, Sweetwater and Mater Dei Catholic.
We now move into the junior class, and talk about some of the 2020 standouts on hand at the event.
MLK Day Showcase – Junior Standouts
Jailen Nelson, 5-10 PG, Carlsbad
If there’s a word to describe Nelson, it’s “electric.” But despite having a flair for the highlight-reel play, Nelson’s game has substance. He has become a much better finisher through contact than in previous viewings, and shoots it much more consistently than in the past. He’ll need to give a more consistent defensive effort (takes plays off), but otherwise his stock is rising.
Jake Tawhiao, 6-3 W, Mater Dei Catholic
Tawhiao is a tough slasher who knows how to get a bucket. He attacks the basket (right hand dominant) and doesn’t shy away from contact. As a result, he gets a lot of his points from the foul line. Tawhiao is a streaky shooter, and his shot selection leaves a lot to be desired at times, but on a team with very few scorers, it’s a necessary evil.
Aden Twyman, 6-5 WF, Mission Vista
Twyman was the revelation of the event. The big-bodies “point forward” spends a lot of time on the ball for the Timberwolves, and is an unselfish and deft playmaker. Very few players reverse the ball quicker than Twyman, which creates easy scoring opportunities for teammates. He also rebounds and when he chooses to look for his own shot, has a nice, compact release and mechanics, and is capable of scoring from every level. As he improves his conditioning, his gifts will only further be unleased.
James Ellenstein, 6-6 PF/C, Sage Creek
Ellenstein got off to a smoking start for Sage Creek, scoring six quick buckets and showing some nice agility to get to the rim off the wing in transition. He does a good job getting low and wide on the low block and buries his defender in high-low action to get good scoring opportunities. He must continue to improve his conditioning and his off hand, but he made his improvement evident in the losing effort.
Bradley Smidt, 6-5 W, Carlsbad
Blessed with a rangy frame and nice athleticism, Smidt delivered one of the highlights of the event with a nice tip jam against Sweetwater. He is a solid rebounder too. The next step for Smidt will be consistency and improved basketball IQ, which manifests itself with questionable shot selection. Once those improve, it would be easy to see him rising in the 2020 class just because few possess his upside.