Bosco Dream Showcase: Top Underclass Performers
BELLFLOWER — Monday’s Bosco MLK Dream Showcase featured nine games and some of the top teams and players from various regions of Southern California. Sheldon’s Marcus Bagley, Mayfair’s Josh Christopher, Foothills Christian’s Yassine Gharram, Lynwood’s Jaren Johnson, St. Bernard’s Nick…
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Continue ReadingBELLFLOWER — Monday’s Bosco MLK Dream Showcase featured nine games and some of the top teams and players from various regions of Southern California. Sheldon’s Marcus Bagley, Mayfair’s Josh Christopher, Foothills Christian’s Yassine Gharram, Lynwood’s Jaren Johnson, St. Bernard’s Nick Bowden and Bosco’s Wynton Brown made up some of the top seniors in attendance, but in this piece we shine the light on the top freshmen and sophomore performances of the day.
Kijani Wright, Windward
The 6-foot-8 sophomore dropped a game-high 21 points to go along with eight rebounds to lead the Wildcats to a 68-53 win over Windward. Wright is widely considered one of the premier 2022 prospects in the country and he showed why in this game with his ability to rim run in transition into smooth catches and finishes in the paint. Windward made it a point to get Wright touches early and often and he made the most of them by powering through contact and finishing both above the rim and with touch around the basket.
Windward sophomore Kijani Wright was a force in the paint in the Wildcats win over Lynwood at the Bosco Dream Showcase.Jazz Gardner, Los Altos
If Gardner continues to produce the way he did Monday and add to his frame and game along the way, there’s no doubt he will be a national-level recruit in the 2023 class. The 6-foot-10 freshman has the tools you can’t teach a big man with his soft hands and fundamental footwork on the block. Gardner can step out and hit the open face-up 3-point shot and is getting more pop in his legs when finishing around the basket. Gardner needs to continue to add strength to his frame to better finish through contact in the paint and secure rebounds on the defensive glass. Gardner finished with 20 points and eight rebounds as Los Altos defeated Fremont, 92-51.
Tyler Rolison, St. Bernard
Rolison is a true point guard who plays with a pace and IQ well-beyond his years. The 6-foot freshman has blow-by speed in transition and a quick first step in the half-court setting that allows him to get into the paint and put pressure on the rim. As of now, Rolison is best when slashing into the paint and finding an open teammate or finishing with a crafty layup. He needs to improve his perimeter jumper and harness his electric energy in the open floor to limit offensive fouls and turnovers. Rolison finished with 15 points and went a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line.
Marco Kenz, St. John Bosco
Bosco coach Matt Dunn wasn’t too pleased with the effort of some of his starters, so a handful of his bench guys got extended minutes in the Braves’ 51-45 win over El Camino Real. Kenz, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, made the most of his extra minutes, scoring 10 points, eight coming in the first half, while providing good energy on defense and hustle on the boards.
Jaden LeBel, Foothills Christian
LeBel, along with senior teammate Jalai O’Keith, paced Foothills Christian with 13 points apiece in its loss 66-54 loss to St. Bernard. It was good to see the 6-foot-3 sophomore not get sped up by the pace and pressure that St. Bernard brings to floor, keep his composure and continue to make the right basketball plays throughout the course of the game.