Hustle SZN Kickoff Recap: Local Standouts Vol 1
The PrepHoops Circuit made its long-awaited return to the West Coast this weekend. The Hustle Season Kickoff took place from Saturday, March 27th through Sunday, March 28th, and featured 45 programs ranging from 15 to 17U. Several local players got their…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe PrepHoops Circuit made its long-awaited return to the West Coast this weekend. The Hustle Season Kickoff took place from Saturday, March 27th through Sunday, March 28th, and featured 45 programs ranging from 15 to 17U. Several local players got their circuit season off to a great start. In this article we breakdown the performances of some local standouts.
Jacques Williams Jr Jacques Williams Jr 5'9" | PG Arbor View | 2022 NV 5’9 PG Hard 2 Guard 2022 (#34PHN 2022) – I feel comfortable saying Williams is one of the top defenders in the state. His on-ball defense grades out at an A. He did a terrific job of cutting off the head of opposing teams by attacking the lead ballhandler. On offense, he’s a big fan of the floater and he used it to finish a bunch of in-between shots.
DJ Thomas DJ Thomas 6'2" | PG Liberty | 2024 #19 Nation NV 6‘1 PG West Coast Select 2024 (#1PHN 2024) – Thomas is one of the most enjoyable players to watch. Best comparison I have for him is a left-handed version of former McDonald’s AA Drew Lavender. Thomas never seems like he’s moving that fast, and doesn’t seem fair to call him a shooter, yet he’s always going by people or drilling 3’s. The young PG has a remarkable sense of timing. In a good game against Build up, the freshmen knocked down a cold-blooded 3 to kill a rally and extend his team’s lead to 5. It’s plays like that that make him a special talent.
Adonis Lafleur 6’2 SF Chosen Few 2024 – So happy to have Lafleur back in the state. You can play as hard as him, but no one plays harder. A straight-up bully, Lafleur put his head down, relentlessly attacked the basket, and battled inside for boards. He was part of a deep and talented Chosen Few squad, that went undefeated during the week.
Frank Evans Frank Evans 6'1" | SG Eldorado | 2022 State NV 6’1 SG Hard 2 Guard 2022 (#23PHN 2022) – At some point this circuit season, I expect Evans to explode for a big scoring game. He’s a natural scorer that can shoot it from 3, finish in transition and create for himself. When he was aggressive and confident he showed the ability to put up buckets.
Mason Muir Mason Muir 6'2" | SG Liberty | 2022 State NV 6’0 SG West Coast Select 2022 (#77PHN 2022) – I was really impressed with the “other ” guys on WCS this weekend. Their big 3 of Thomas, Joshua Jefferson Joshua Jefferson 6'8" | PF Liberty | 2022 State #158 Nation NV , and Aaron Price Aaron Price 6'7" | PF Liberty | 2022 State NV were dominant, however, the team would not have been nearly as good without the contributions of Muir. A glue guy, Muir did everything needed to help the squad win. He was unafraid to go down low for rebounds, made timely 3’s and provided backup ballhandling for a team that went 4-0 on the weekend.
Jayden Jones Jayden Jones 6'4" | SG Desert Oasis | 2024 State NV 6’0 SG West Coast Select 2024 (#41PHN 2024) (featured image) – Jones has such a pretty release, that he easily could have been added to my Snipers squad. Don’t get it confused however, the class of 2024 guard is much more than a floor spacer. He was active on D and managed to get out ahead of the pack and score in transition. He helped lead the WCS 2024 squad to a 4-0 record on the weekend.