The LEAGUE: Best Big Men
Westminster, Ca. — Westminster high school played host to another solid edition of “The LEAGUE” presented by Compton Magic.
Some of the top adidas-affiliated 17u, 16u and 15u club teams in Southern California were on site, playing four games over the course of the weekend with some intriguing inter-city battles, especially between squads from the San Diego area.
Below are some of the top bigs from the event:
Wilhelm Breidenbach, Compton Magic 16s
Breidenbach, who started as a freshman for powerhouse Santa Ana Mater Dei, has made his name as a high motor, highly skilled young prospect, and he continues to add to his skill set. The 6-foot-8 forward/center is an adept finisher with either hand around the basket and active offensive and defensive rebounder, but his consistent 3-point shooting off of pick-and-pops or when trailing in transition is another huge step in his development.
Dean Keeler, Cali Rebels 17s
Compton Magic F/C Evan Mobley had his versatile skill set front and center at The LEAGUE.Keeler’s forward progress over the last year is indicative of a lot of work put in to his craft. The 6-foot-9 Huntington Beach Marina junior has developed into a true back-to-the-basket scoring threat with a handful of post moves in his arsenal. The biggest improvement Keeler made compared to this time last season is his hands and touch in the paint.
Evan Mobley, Compton Magic 17s
Mobley continues to do things that make everyone in the gym shake their heads in amazement. He has perimeter skills at 6-feet-11, complete with 3-point shooting touch and the ability to use the dribble to get by his defender for paint touches. The Rancho Christian High sophomore is quick off the floor on both his first and second jumps, looks to dunk everything around the basket and continues to evolve as a paint defensive presence.
Isaiah Mobley, Compton Magic 17s
The elder Mobley is just as versatile as his younger brother. At 6-feet-9, Isaiah has the ball skills, vision and basketball IQ to initiate offense off of a defensive rebound and push. What is standing out most about the Rancho Christian junior now is he’s spending more time on the block where he’s a major mismatch against most all defenders. Mobley’s mid-post and high-low passing abilities were on full display on the weekend.
Jayson Taylor, Gamepoint 17s
Taylor remains one of the more intriguing big men in Southern California. The La Jolla Country Day junior is light on his feet, has soft hands and is mobile in transition at 6-feet-9. Taylor shows flashes of aggressiveness and physicality on both ends of the floor, crashing the offensive glass for second chance opportunities and contesting shots in the paint without fouling. Taylor could be a solid long-term prospect if he can put all of his tools together on a consistent basis.