Pangos Sweet 16 CA Standouts Pt. 1
With the return of the live period and college coaches finally able to be back in the gym, various grassroots events that were mostly shelved for the past year or so have made the return. Among those events was the…
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Continue ReadingWith the return of the live period and college coaches finally able to be back in the gym, various grassroots events that were mostly shelved for the past year or so have made the return. Among those events was the Pangos Sweet 16 held July 9-11.
I was able to attend the event on July 10 and here’s a quick look at some of the top CA talent that was in the building.
1. James Evans – West Ranch 2024
Evans is a player I first saw play back in 2020 also at a Pangos event. He was impressive back then and was even more impressive now. He’s got the size and strength of a big but the mobility and skill-set of a wing. He’s comfortable handling the ball on the break. He’s gotten much better at adjusting to defensive pressure and can pass under duress. Has range out to three-point line. He has good footwork in the post; makes patient moves and can spin around his defender. Good rebounder.
2. Xair Mendez – Montgomery 2025
Mendez looks like a solid incoming freshman with a lot of talent. He’s solid getting downhill and he was among the best finishers at the rim that I saw. He can slash into the lane and he can finish with both hands. He’s strong in the open court running the break and without the ball he sprints down court anticipating a pass. Comfortable with the ball in his hands and creating his shot; good handles. He showed a little playmaking ability too.
3. Alek Sanchez – Montgomery 2025
Sanchez was one of the better point guards I saw that weekend. For such a young player, he showed incredible poise running the team’s offense. He can handle defensive pressure while he’s dribbling and he can break a press. He’s solid in the half court. He keeps his head up and his eyes open. Keeps the ball moving and looks for open teammates. He’s got all the makings of being an elite playmaking, pass-first guard.
4. Isaiah Elohim – Heritage Christian 2024
Elohim is already an elite perimeter scorer at his age. His game has come a long way from when I first saw him at another Pangos event in the summer of 2020. He’s just a tough cover and has an array of moves to free himself up for a jumper. He can pull up off the dribble, he can hit defenders with a hesitation move, he’s solid in transition. He’s a strong wing, he can score through contact in the paint. Good body control when he’s at the rim.