Pangos Best of SoCal: 2024 Standouts (Pt. 1)
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Saturday’s Pangos Best of SoCal Showcase featured eight games with some of the top SoCal prospects across various graduating classes participating. In this series we’ll take a look at the top performers in each of the…
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Continue ReadingLONG BEACH, Calif. — Saturday’s Pangos Best of SoCal Showcase featured eight games with some of the top SoCal prospects across various graduating classes participating. In this series we’ll take a look at the top performers in each of the class games and in this piece we’ll break down the current sophomores who participated.
Seven Bahati, 2024, Los Altos – The elite athleticism of Bahati was on display and difficult to stop. The 6-foot-5 wing has impressive speed and explosiveness in transition when slashing to the rim for paint finishes and also uses those traits on the defensive end as an on-ball defender and defensive rebounder. Bahati still has some work to do with his perimeter jumper both off the catch and off the bounce to reach his full potential.
Eric Freeny, 2024, Corona Centennial – Freeny impressed in the “Top 40” game with his solid all-around game and basketball IQ. The 6-foot-4 wing has the ball skills and passing IQ to play on the ball, but his size and ability to move without the ball to find open space in the defense allows him to be just as effective playing off the ball. Freeny is an intriguing addition to an already loaded Centennial roster and is a prospect worth tracking over the next couple of years.
Josh Goodall, 2024, Anaheim Canyon – Goodall is a skilled inside-out three/four man whose touch around the basket with either hand and ability to shoot it out to the three-point line jumped out as his biggest strengths. Goodall wasn’t the most explosive athlete on the floor, but his fundamental footwork and willingness to keep the game simple helped him excel in this event.
Deshawn Gory, 2024, Riverside Hillcrest – Gory is still a raw prospect on both sides of the floor, but he has a lot of natural basketball tools to work with, starting with his frame. The wiry 6-foot-6 wing/forward is a smooth transition athlete who uses his long strides to cover ground quickly to beat his defender down the court on rim runs. Gory is best when slashing to the basket in transition where he uses his length to extend and finish at the rim.
Jayden Harper, 2024, SO Notre Dame – Harper has a pretty polished offensive skill-set. At 6-feet-7, the sophomore has a pretty stroke from three-point range off the catch, has the ball handling ability to break defenders down off the bounce and get into the painted area where he can create for himself and others. Harper is a smooth athlete with a high basketball IQ and didn’t force the issue offensively in the games he played.