Francisco Awards: (Class of 2020 JUCO Gems/Part 1)
Francisco Awards: (Class of 2020 JUCO Gems/Part 1) LONG BEACH, CA—What do you do when you’re taken out of the classroom and in the midst of a virus quarantine? You bust out “the best of the best” from the 2019-20…
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Continue ReadingFrancisco Awards: (Class of 2020 JUCO Gems/Part 1)
LONG BEACH, CA—What do you do when you’re taken out of the classroom and in the midst of a virus quarantine? You bust out “the best of the best” from the 2019-20 high school basketball season—So Cal Style. Beginning with the immensely talented Sierra Canyon squad, who exhibited the type of fanfare demonstrated by the Lonzo Ball-led Chino Hills squad of years past. Brandon Boston Jr was the MVP for the Trailblazers, but surprisingly the Kentucky signee was not the best player on his team as that label belonged to the multi-skilled Ziaire Williams.
USC-bound Evan Mobley is still considered the “best prospect”, but he needs to assert himself more going forward to reach his vast potential. Josh Christopher (Mayfair) put up huge numbers and Utah-bound Ian Martinez rattled many rims with his bounce, but also showed off a much-improved jump shot. In the following blogs, we will break down the season and also project what the Class of 2020 has to offer going forward as they put their finger prints on the college basketball scene. However, that is only going to happen if this Corona Virus disappears into the thin air.
Michael Frankling (Gardena)
CG, 6-foot-1, 160 pounds
Joel’s Take: One of the biggest surprises this season was Frankling. The do-it-all scoring guard elevated his teammates—including fast-rising Chris Page—and scored when the game was on the line. He can knock in deep jump shots, attack in the mid-range area—and he plays with a bull dog mentality.
Laird Anderson Jr. (Mark Keppel)
CG, 6-foot-1, 170 pounds
Anderson is a true point guard who can score.Joel’s Take: Anderson is a solid looking point guard for the next level. The lefty loves to attack off the dribble and his dump-off passes are noted. He pushes hard in transition and can deliver the timely pass. He plays with good pace, changes speeds well, and can knock in the 3-point shot.
Sean Newman Jr. (Culver City)
CG, 6-foot, 150 pounds
Joel’s Take: Newman caught my eye at the Classic at Damien where his slashing style led to a number of buckets. He has a wiry frame that needs to fill out, but the ball skills and overall feel for the game are quite good. His burst off the dribble is evident as well, but his jump shot needs to get more consistent moving forward.
Nakial Cross (St. Augustine)
WF/PF, 6-foot-6, 175 pounds
Joel’s Take: When I first layed eyes on Cross a few seasons ago, I envisioned a high-flying wing forward with good ball skills. The bouncy aspect of his game is evident, but the skill and overall feel for the game is still developing. He is more of a 4-man now who attacks the glass and can finish with flair above the rim.
Jabari Steward (Compton)
PF, 6-foot-8, 225 pounds
Steward showed his innate ability to score in paint, but his motor needs to improve.Joel’s Take: Steward has been on the recruiting radar since his freshman campaign. He is a skilled 4-man who has soft hands and good feet. He can knock in elbow jump shots or spin off defenders for the finish in the paint. His motor fluctuates—which is obviously an issue—but he has the skill and savvy to play D1 basketball someday.