Francisco’s Finest: WCE King of Kings (Part 2)
Francisco’s Finest: WCE 32 King of Kings (Part 2)
BURBANK, CA—Grassroots gurus Ryan Silver and Julius Von Hanzlik accumulated an outstanding group of prospects for the West Coast Elite 32 King of Kings. The camp had a talented group from the Northern California region to go along with some of the better players from their Southern California counterparts. We were not able to make the trek to John Burroughs High School on Sunday, thus we missed out on a few kids like 2022 Skyy Clark.
Francisco-ism: “It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish.” In other words, you may be one of the better players now, but it means nothing going forward unless you continue to improve on and off the court.
Best Prospect
Sada Nganga (St. Josephs)
2022, PF, 6-foot-8, 220 pounds
Joel’s Take: The most talked about prospect in camp was Nganda. He just arrived in Northern California from Africa and there is question about his age. Nonetheless, the 6-foot-8 power forward has remarkable ball skills and is a gifted passer. His jump shot is playable, but he needs to exert more energy at both ends of the floor (doesn’t post up) to reach his vast potential.
Sleeper skills
Dusty Stromer (Heritage Christian)
2023, SG, 5-foot-9, 150 pounds
Joel’s Take: This is a kid you can picture back in the 1970s ball’n it up at Laguna or Venice Beach. The long-haired “slickster” has game. Ball skills, quickness, savvy, and a feathery shooting touch describe this up-and-comer.
Best All-Around
Aidan Mahaney (Dorris Eaton School)
2022, SG, 6-foot, 150 pounds
Joel’s Take: Arguably the most polished guard in camp was Mr. Mahaney. He impacts the game with his ball skills and advanced feel for the game. He can knock in deep shots, lead the team in transition, and his decision making was quite good. He has “winner” written all over him.
Ben Shtolzberg (Heritage Christian)
2022, 5-foot-10, 155 pounds
Joel’s Take: Owner of the slickest handle is none other than Mr. Shtolzberg. His crossover is tight and his head is always up while attacking defenders. He thinks score more than pass at this stage, but he can and will find the open man off of dribble penetration. He can knock in jump shots from all over the court and he can finish with either hand.
Most Productive
Charlie Michael (Crossroads),
2022, SG, 6-foot, 165 pound
Joel’s Take: Michael is the kid that everyone wants on their team and at the same time hates to play against. He impacts the game with a relentless rim-attacking style and he loves to hit the boards for put-backs. He can knock in jump shots and he uses his strength to finish.
Best Scorer
Michael Price III (Heritage Christian)
2023, CG, 5-foot-10, 150 pounds
Joel’s Take: Price III has a tight game despite his youth. He excels both in transition as well as in the half court set. He has a terrific 1st step, knows how to utilize the jump stop, and his shot is tight. Projects well to either guard position going forward due to his overall pace and feel for the game.
Mr. Fundamental
Mathew Radell (Seven Hills)
2022, C, 6-foot-5, 175 pounds
Joel’s Take: Radell isn’t flashy and will not “wow” you with acrobatic finishes, but he knows how to play. Although his offense is still developing, he knows how to set a fundamentally sound screen and he will roll as well. He keeps the ball high and he is a savvy passer.
Best Footwork
Max Allen (Leadership Academy)
2022, C, 6-foot-7, 235 pounds
Joel’s Take: The big-bodied Allen has great fee, long arms, and soft hands. There were not too many defenders who could keep him from scoring at will. Drop-steps and finishes with either hand are part of the package. Conditioning and playing hard will be key factors going forward.