Francisco Awards: Division II and Beyond (Class of 2020)
Francisco Awards: Division II and Beyond (Class of 2020) 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…
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Continue ReadingFrancisco Awards: Division II and Beyond (Class of 2020)
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.
Division II and beyond (Part 1)
Garrett Bell (Sonora)
PF, 6-foot-6, 210 pounds
Joel’s Take: Bell is a face-up 4-man who has terrific jump shot that extends to 20-feet. He can come off a pin-down screen, square up quickly, and deliver the shot. In addition, he can post up and convert on the block and he is a savvy passer. He isn’t overly bouncy, but he has the strength and feel to convert in the paint.
Christian Oliver (Maranatha)
C, 6-foot-11, 240 pounds
Oliver has the size and skill for a D1 center. But does he want it?Joel’s Take: One of the more skilled “bigs” in So-Cal. Oliver has a long frame, good hands, and solid feet. He can convert inside off of tip-ins and dunks. In addition, he has a nice touch out to 20-feet. With Oliver, it’s always been about feast or famine. He has the ability to dominate—especially at the high school level, but his motor or lack of assertiveness has been the issue.
Abe Eagle (Chaminade)
C, 6-foot-9, 220 pounds
Joel’s Take: Eagle is yet another late-blooming “big” who had a number of highlights during his senior campaign. At the Classic at Damien, he dropped in deep jump shots from the perimeter and his technique looked tight. Not too mention, he runs well in transition, has good hands, and solid feet. His length allows him to finish consistently in the post, but as he graduates to stiffer competition, he’ll need to continue to get stronger.
Logan Cremonesi (Mater Dei)
PF, 6-foot-7, 190 pounds
Joel’s Take: Mater Dei has a plethora of versatile “fours”, so it was easy for someone like Cremonesi to get lost in the shuffle. Each and every season he has gotten more explosive and as a result more productive. He can finish on the break with a “bang-out” or knock in the jump shot. One of the more intriguing seniors going forward.
Vaughn Flowers (Rolling Hills Prep)
SG, 6-foot-2, 160 pounds
Flowers is an explosive 2-guard with an evolving skill setJoel’s Take: “Explosive” is the first word that comes to mind when describing Flowers. He has a chiseled frame with long arms and his “1st-step” burst is apparent. His jump shot has become more consistent, but it still needs to be more reliable. In addition, getting to the basket is no issue, but scoring outside the paint is an area that needs improvement. However, defensively, he is a ballhawk with exceptional lateral quickness and active hands.