San Diego Under-the-Radar prospects: 2022 edition
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Over the course of the pandemic, I haven’t had a chance to see as much basketball as I am accustomed to, but have seen enough to know that certain players have made the most of the down time. But as…
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Continue ReadingOver the course of the pandemic, I haven’t had a chance to see as much basketball as I am accustomed to, but have seen enough to know that certain players have made the most of the down time.
But as a result of the ongoing NCAA dead period, the hit-or-miss quality of streaming at events that have occurred or the lack of it altogether, some kids continue to hover under the radar.
We have quite a few of those players in San Diego’s 2022 class. Here, I try to shine a light on some guys who under normal circumstances would be catching the attention of college coaches.
San Diego Under-the-radar prospects: 2022 edition
Logan Huston, 6-3 SG, Torrey Pines
Get used to hearing this name over the next two seasons. Huston is a rapidly improving combo guard with excellent athleticism (track and field standout) and length, with a smooth shooting stroke. He’s super efficient, gets to his spots on the floor without a lot of wasted motion, and has the potential to be a lockdown defender. Playing at Torrey Pines, I fully expect him to garner attention from colleges sooner or later.
Lucas Gordon, 6-5 W, San Marcos
Gordon is a curious case. At the 2018 Creme of the County, he measured at 5-10, 131 pounds. Seven inches later, Gordon has a guard’s game in a wing’s body. Once he “grows into” his body, he has a chance to be a very good player for San Marcos, where he transferred after his first two seasons at Maranatha Christian.
Kenny Gonzalez Jr., 6-0 PG, Mission Bay
For Gonzalez, a change of scenery and expansion of role are firmly putting him on the radar. The speedy, steely point guard has been a great addition to Marshawn Cherry’s Bucs program, carving up defenses and scoring at will in the paint. He is also a very underrated passer and playmaker. He’s one of the most underrated guards in San Diego.
Benji Hilstock Benji Hilstock 6'0" | CG Vista | 2022 State CA-S , 6-3 PG, Vista
If the surname is familiar, it should be: Benji is the younger brother of former Vista standout Jordan Hilstock. But Benji is becoming quite the prospect in his own right. He possesses a long, sinewy frame, super crafty handles (excellent at changing speeds), and has a nice mid-range and floater package. He’s got to get stronger, which will help him play through contact attacking and finishing, but once that comes, you’re looking at a potential D1 point guard prospect.
Markees Williams Markees Williams 6'0" | PG Helix | 2022 State CA-S , 6-1 PG, Helix
Williams has been sitting waiting his turn at a Helix program that heavily relied on seniors the past two seasons. But in recent viewings, Williams has been super impressive. First, he’s a cerebral, true point guard, who sets the table for his teammates with crisp passes and correct reads in pick-and-roll and drive-and-kick. But he also has an impressive first step, explosive athleticism, and while he’s a reluctant shooter, he knocks down shots from the perimeter.
Camden McCormick Camden McCormick 6'2" | SG Francis Parker | 2022 State CA-S , 6-4 G, Francis Parker
I’ve always been a big proponent of McCormick, whose recruitment – like many – has been stymied by the pandemic. I believe he’s a Division 1 lead guard. The smooth lefty has nice length, a very impressive basketball IQ, and is a big-time defender. Last season he played the center position for long stretches for the undersized Parker team that was an Open Division surprise. But he is unquestionably a point guard at the next level, and his size, feel, shooting ability and defensive capabilities should put him at the top of the list in not only San Diego, but Southern California as well.
Spencer Hall, 5-11 G, Mira Mesa
Hall is one of the purest shooters in the class, and now is starting to put the other parts of his offensive game together. He has an improved midrange game and is an underrated passer after drawing help defense after attacking close outs. Defensively, I love his scrappy play on the ball and his ability to play in the passing lanes.
Jack Hudson,5-10 PG, Mira Mesa
A crafty lefty point guard with a smooth shooting stroke, Hudson has hovered under the radar due to his team’s lack of success during his sophomore varsity campaign. That team was extremely young, graduating nearly all of it’s varsity experience from a standout 2019 class. But Hudson is a college player at some level: his decision making, effort on defense and shooting will make him a nice get at the Division 3 level.
Benjie Nudo, 5-11 G, Del Norte
Admittedly, I wasn’t a fan of Nudo’s game as a sophomore, as I felt his shot selection was erratic at best. What a difference a year makes, as not only is Nudo taking – and making – better shots, he is dramatically improving as a creator for his teammates. Driving the improvement is the changes to his body, as he’s bulked up considerably and now has strength to pair with his quick first step. His game reminds me a lot of former LCC standout Tommy McCarthy.
Orion Samikoglu, 6-1 G, Francis Parker
Samikoglu, who I’ve seen at some very competitive open runs, has slimmed down considerably from last year, and has stood out with improved quickness and shot creation ability. A knockdown shooter off the catch, he is now attacking close outs and finishing through contact around the hoop. He’ll play a big role for the Lancers this season.
Vishal Jayanathi, 6-4 G, Sage Creek
A bit of a man of mystery, Jayanathi has the frame and athleticism to make a splash for the Cougars. From the tape I have seen of him, he is a capable slasher and perimeter shooter who can finish above the rim. The next step for him is proving it against high-level competition at the varsity level.
Tino Mededovic, 6-3 G, Francis Parker
Another player who will benefit from change of scenery AND a major growth spurt. He was 5-9 and pudgy to start HS. He has leaned out, stretched to 6-3, gained a nice dose of athleticism to complement his IQ and ball skills. Keep an eye on his progress under Jim Tomey at Parker.