Pangos Jr. All-American Camp: Top CA Performers (Pt. 1)
The first weekend in March gave us the best glimpse of the upcoming crop of talent in California. The Pangos Jr. All-American Camp was live streamed from St. George, Utah, and featured many of the top upcoming high school prospects…
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Continue ReadingThe first weekend in March gave us the best glimpse of the upcoming crop of talent in California. The Pangos Jr. All-American Camp was live streamed from St. George, Utah, and featured many of the top upcoming high school prospects from around the country. Below is the first set of standouts from the event.
Gavin Hightower, 2025 – Hightower was one of the better all-around guards in the event. The 6-foot-1 eighth grader overwhelmed defenders with his combination of size, skill, quickness and crafty finishing ability around the basket. There was little defenses could do to contain Hightower in transition. He got into the painted area at-will and finished in a variety of ways, including floaters and layups through and around contact. Hightower has an advanced feel for and approach to the game.
Chris Richardson, Jr., 2026 – For what Richardson lacked in size at 5-feet-5 he made up for in competitive energy and toughness. The Long Beach native made his presence felt on the defensive end of the floor despite a camp setting like this often rewarding those who focus in on offense. Richardson showed great defensive fundamentals, quick hands and feet, and impressive instincts, anticipation and reaction time on that end of the floor.
Shamar Jones, 2025 – Jones has been a standout at numerous Pangos events throughout the pandemic and the Jr. All-American Camp was no different. The 6-foot-4 wing earned Best of the Best Game MVP honors due to his overall impact on various aspects of the game. He scored 15 points with eight rebounds, including three deep three-point makes and a number of strong defensive possessions. Jones has a ton of upside in his game and is regarded as one of the top middle school prospects in the state.
Dereon King, 2026 – The Fresno-based prospect showcased a basketball IQ and playmaking ability for others well beyond his years. At 5-feet-7, King played much bigger than his size due to his willingness to compete on the offensive and defensive glass and ability to slash off the ball and finish in the lane offensively.