Ten Best: Day 2 at the BattleZONE
Corona, Ca. — BattleZONE pool play continued Tuesday at Corona Centennial high school with more impressive individual performances from the likes of Evan Mobley, Marcus Bagley, Yassine Gharram, Luke Turner and Paris Dawson. Below are the results and Ten Best…
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Continue ReadingCorona, Ca. — BattleZONE pool play continued Tuesday at Corona Centennial high school with more impressive individual performances from the likes of Evan Mobley, Marcus Bagley, Yassine Gharram, Luke Turner and Paris Dawson. Below are the results and Ten Best performers from the four-game slate.
Tuesday Results
Sheldon 68, Hillcrest 57
Foothills Christian 82, Temecula Valley 56
Rancho Christian 97, Westminster 29
Corona Centennial 89, San Ysidro 48
Ten Best
Best Individual Performance: Yassine Gharram, Foothills Christian
Gharram had the highest scoring total of the day, dropping 38 points in a win over Temecula Valley. The 6-foot-2 point guard broke the game wide open in the third quarter, scoring 18 points in the period to up the Knights’ lead from five points at halftime to 23 heading into the third quarter. Gharram is signed with Yale.
Best Passer: Evan Mobley, Rancho Christian
Every game we watch of Rancho Christian’s the more we realize that Mobley is legitimately the team’s best passer. The 7-foot senior is obviously a high-level defensive rebounder, but he can also lead the break and has shown he’s a willing and high IQ passer. Mobley advances the ball in transition to open teammates, and when in the half-court, he draws doubles and kicks to open shooters. The USC-bound forward understands when to make the extra pass, as well.
Best Shooter(s): Luke Turner, Rancho Christian and Paris Dawson, Corona Centennial
Turner got plenty of open looks against a depleted Westminster team and connected on a good amount of those. The 6-foot-6 wing did most of his damage in the first quarter where he scored 15 points, including three 3-pointers. The junior finished with a game-high 24 points.
Dawson has been on a tear so far this season. He followed up a 29-point, eight 3-pointer effort in a win over JSerra with a 22-point, six 3-pointer effort in a win over San Ysidro. With the departure of two starters via transfer before the start of the season, Dawson has taken on a leadership role for the young Huskies and they are following his lead.
Best Team Defense: Corona Centennial
During his time at Centennial, head coach Josh Giles has been known to have high energy defenses and this season is no different. The Huskies don’t have a rim protector like they have in past years, but their collection of quick, smart and tough guards working together in an all-out pressure scheme will make it difficult for any team to score. Centennial held San Ysidro to 48 points, 43 points below the Cougars’ 91-point season average heading into Tuesday night’s game.
Best Bench Performance: Aaron McBride, Corona Centennial
The Huskies will go deep into its bench this year to keep fresh bodies on the floor at all times and freshman Aaron McBride should see plenty of time if he continues to play the way he did Tuesday. The 6-foot-5 forward isn’t the most skilled 2023 prospect we’ve seen, but he does something that not all freshmen are able to do when they get to the high school ranks: Play with a consistent motor at all times. McBride is a ball of energy and just seems to make things happen on both ends of the floor. McBride scored 10 points with seven rebounds in a win over San Ysidro.
Best Supporting Effort: Jalai O’Keith, Foothills Christian
O’Keith quietly turned in an impressive game in the shadow of Gharram’s 38 points. The 6-foot-5 senior scored 18 points with nine rebounds, including a couple of 3-pointers, showing off his versatility in the process.
Best Defender: Xavion Brown, Sheldon
Brown has the ability to lockdown an offensive player in a one-on-one match-up and makes a huge impact as an overall team defender. The 6-foot-2 point guard uses his length and lateral speed to contain and pick-pocket ball-handlers. One of Brown’s best defensive attributes is his ability to block shots from the guard position, whether it’s of the traditional style or a chase-down effort in transition.
Best Under-the-Radar Performance: Chris Anderson, Hillcrest
We knew of Anderson’s ability because we saw him at the Hoops By Ugland Fall High School Showcase, but he could be one of the most under-the-radar prospects in the area. The 6-foot-2 shooting guard has a smooth 3-point stroke and knows how to move off the ball to get an open shot. Anderson had 21 points for Hillcrest, including six 3-pointers.
Best Under-the-Radar Senior: Sebastian Mendoza, Hillcrest
Mendoza is bound for San Jose State next fall, and though he averaged 29 points and 10 boards per game last year, and is a proven winner in the postseason, he still doesn’t get the respect he’s due. The 6-foot-3 guard does a little bit of everything for the Trojans whether it’s rebounding, initiating offense, creating offensive opportunities for himself and teammates and guarding the opponents best player. Mendoza scored 18 points in Hillcrest’s loss to Sheldon Tuesday.
Best Unheralded Freshman to Watch: Dennis Evans, Jr., Hillcrest
Keeping with the Hillcrest theme to close this one out, the Trojans have an intriguing freshman to keep tabs on over the next four years in 6-foot-11 Dennis Evans, Jr. Evans is still a raw prospect, but he has some tools that make him a big man to monitor. Evans is an improving rim protector, made a couple of tough paint catches and finished one of those off with a big dunk.