So-Cal Live Period events: Saturday standouts, Part 1
Saturday morning found me at Santiago High in Garden Grove for Dinos Trigonis’ Pangos Spring Live event. California Select and Coastal Elite sparred in a competitive 15u matchup, while Arizona Supreme 15u blitzed a solid Team Sabonis 16u team in…
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Continue ReadingSaturday morning found me at Santiago High in Garden Grove for Dinos Trigonis’ Pangos Spring Live event. California Select and Coastal Elite sparred in a competitive 15u matchup, while Arizona Supreme 15u blitzed a solid Team Sabonis 16u team in the second half.
Here were some observations from the action:
Best prospect
Devontes Cobbs, 6-3 2022 G, Arizona Supreme
Cobbs has a smooth quality to his game that belies the fact that he was the most explosive athlete in the gym. The Shadow Mountain standout can finish above the rim with ease, stop on a dime and pull up from mid range, and swish the three off the catch. He reminds me a lot of former Lakers guard Eddie Jones.
Dylan Anderson, 6-10 2022 C, Arizona Supreme
Anderson came into the game with a big-time reputation. Despite not having his best offensive game, it was clear to see how he garnered that rep. Anderson has great size, solid hands and good mobility. He can step out and shoot the jumper from mid range and finish with his back to the basket with either hand. He had his hands full against Team Sabonis forward Tyson Degenhart, but it’s clear the tools are there to be an elite prospect.
Most intriguing prospect
Nate Pickens, 6-1 2022 G, Arizona Supreme
Pickens quietly had a productive game, despite hovering below the radar on the loaded squad. He operates smoothly off of ball screens, willingly passes the ball off the dribble, but is capable of scoring from three levels. Pickens shooting stood out as exceptional.
Small stature, big game
Evan Record, 5-8 2022 PG, Coastal Elite Slayers
Record has been carving up teams early in the spring, and continued so in the morning contest versus California Select. He probes defenses off of the ball screen, and if given even a tiny bit of space pulls up off the bounce. Once he attracts the defender, he makes great reads to the roll guy or kick outs to shooters on the wing. Defenses slow him down by aggressively hedging and bumping him off his path, so getting stronger is the next step, but the talent is there.
Most versatile
Max McCall, 6-1 2022 G, California Select
The long, crafty lefty is a solid two-way player. He locks down opposing perimeter players, and scores effectively off the dribble through contact. The next step for McCall will be becoming a more consistent perimeter shooter. But his length, motor and budding playmaking skills make him a prospect to monitor.
Most productive
Tyson Degenhart, 6-7 2021 F, Team Sabonis
Degenhart is a throwback forward in the best sense of the word. He didn’t back down from the challenge posed by 6-10 Dylan Anderson, and for most of the game got the upper hand. He operates effectively from the elbows, using ball fakes to get his defender off the ground and score around the rim. Degenhart also stepped out and hit a couple of threes, though his mechanics are just OK (off hand too involved). Degenhart’s motor becomes evident on the boards, where he is absolutely relentless.
Notes:
- California Select 15u Red G Cameron Marshall doesn’t look the part of a big-time prospect, but his craftiness, aggressive scorer’s mentality and shooting make him a formidable player at the 15u level.
- Coastal Elite Slayers 15u has a very intriguing wing in 6-2 2022 Cathedral Catholic’s Donovan Saunders. He’s grown several inches over the past year, has a long wiry frame and promising defensive instincts.
- Team Sabonis 16u PG Kobe Simpson has a long, lanky frame and a nice basketball IQ.
- Unsigned 6-5 Saints SG Jonah Crumpton-Murray is going to make a college happy with his silky shooting ability and promising frame.