Francisco’s Finest: Take Flight (Next Generation)

Joel Francisco

January 8, 2020 @ 07:52 PM

Francisco's Finest: Take Flight (Next Generation) REDONDO BEACH, CA—The Take Flight Challenge is always a must-see event on the West Coast, due to amount of talent that is right before your eyes at one sitting. The first game scouts got to see the intriguing skill set of one of the better unsigned senior “bigs” in 6-foot-10 Christian Oliver (Maranatha). While in the nightcap the Oregon State-bound Isaiah Johnson rattled the rim, but Mayfair, behind an epic 44-point performance by Josh Christopher, defeated Bishop Montgomery. Darius Carr (St. Bernard) 2023, SG, 6-foot-2, 165 pounds Joel's Take: Each and every game I've seen Carr, his game appears to take another step forward. He has the ideal frame for the college level and the athleticism as well, but now his confidence is bursting. He attacked the basket with a vengeance and finished through contact. He can knock in the 3-point shot off the catch and his dribble-drive game is evolving. As he continues to mature and add to his already potent pull-up game, his overall game should continue to evolve. Dior Johnson (Mayfair) 2022, PG, 6-foot-1, 155 pounds [caption id="attachment_792096" align="alignleft" width="150"] Johnson is a talented point guard with a flair for the spectacular.[/caption] Joel's Take: First and foremost, Johnson is a talent. He can score from all three levels and his pull-up game is tight. He has a nifty handle and a flair for the spectacular while distributing to open teammates. He does over-handle it at times and he does play for the show too much for my liking instead of making the simple play, but he can definitely go. Ashton Hardaway (Bishop Montgomery) 2023, WF/PF, 6-foot-6, 175 pounds Joel's Take: One of the more surprising storylines of this early season has been the rapid progression of Hardaway. Ashton, the son of NBA standout Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, is also a player with great potential. Ashton has his father's feel for the game as demonstrated by his passing and he shows a soft touch from the perimeter. As his frame fills out and his game continues to grow, he should be a standout sooner rather than later. Christian Moore (Brentwood) 2022, WF, 6-foot-4, 190 pounds Joel's Take: Moore is a big-bodied wing-type with a solid all around game. He can knock in deep jump shots and he has the strength and savvy to finish in the paint area. He affects the game in the areas of rebounding and his passing. He isn't overly explosive, but he is a “basketball player”. Reese Dixon-Waters (St. Bernard) 2021, SG, 6-foot-4, 190 pounds [caption id="attachment_713126" align="alignleft" width="150"] Dixon-Waters has a nice all-around game.[/caption] Joel's Take: Dixon-Waters match up with Peyton Watson was intriguing to say the least. These two prospects are likely the two best prospects in the So-Cal Class of 2021. Dixon-Waters is a strong guard who shows a nice touch from deep, but also has the ball skills and feel to impact the game in multiple ways. He can rebound in traffic, lead the break, and generally his decison making is solid. He has a tendency to force the issue a bit much and not take what the defense is giving him, but he is still very young. As his IQ for the game increases look for him to be one of the more highly recruited players on the West Coast going forward.