Francisco’s Finest: Spring Stock Raisers (2020)
Francisco’s Finest: Spring Stock Raisers (2020)
LONG BEACH, CA—In my second installment I decided to evaluate the plethora of notes from this spring and conjure up a list of stock raisers for the 2020 Class. During the club basketball scene it is easier for a perimeter player to show his value due to the pace and time with the ball in his hands—and that is exactly the case as we observed this past spring.
Kimo Ferrari (Francis Parker) Club Team: Gamepoint
PG, 5-foot-11, 155 pounds
Joel’s Take: There are not too many quicker and/or faster guards in So-Cal than Ferrari—and he plays on balance at the same time. He takes the outlet, blitzes up court, and will either attack the rim or snap a pass to an open teammate. If the lane is clogged he has the ability to stop on a dime and nail the pull-up jump shot. His ability to weave in and out of traffic is impressive and he rarely turns over the ball.
Keith Dinwiddie (Culver City) Club Team: Team Why Not
SG, 6-foot-1, 170 pounds
Joel’s Take: Dinwiddie is a scoring machine. He thrives in the open court where he utilizes his strength and his knack to score at a high rate. His pull-up jump shot is strong and he is always on balance. He is more prolific in the mid-range area, but he can hit the 3-pointer. The next step in his development is making others around him better, but at this stage is scoring prowess and assertiveness is quite good.
Jabari Steward (Compton) Club Team: Team Compton
PF/C, 6-foot-8, 230 pounds
Joel’s Take: One of the more intriguing prospects in So-Cal is Steward. The big-bodied 5/4 has a feathery touch out to he elbow and he has soft hands. He has gotten into better shape and as a result he is more mobile and quicker off the floor. His motor has fluctuated in the past but with the improved endurance there is a noticeable difference. His back-to-the-basket game is on the come as is his footwork. As he continues to improve these aspects of his game, his stock will continue to rise.
Armon Muldrew (Orange Vista) Club Team: Pump N Run
CG, 6-foot-1, 170 pounds
Joel’s Take: This kid is tough to deal with due to his strength, moxie, and blossoming guard skills. He pushes hard in the open court and gets to where he needs to go as defenders bounce off his chiseled frame. He is a natural scorer with a potent pull-up game, but he will find open teammates and make the correct basketball play.
DJ Davis (Corona Centennial) Club Team: The Truth
CG, 5-foot-10, 150 pounds
Joel’s Take: Davis is undersized, but this young prospect is a bucket-getter. He has deep range on his jump shot (No. 1 strength), but this spring he also showed an improved ability to find teammates. In the past he was all about scoring, but his decision making has become more sound due to his improved savvy.
Bradley Ezewiro (St. Anthony) Club Team: Pump N Run
PF, 6-foot-7, 235 pounds
Joel’s Take: Ezewiro is strongly built 5/4 who possesses a good motor. On the block the lefty can finish over his right shoulder and he has a potent drop step finish—usually with a dunk. He runs well in transition and can attack the rim with a vengeance. One of the more underrated aspects of his game is his passing. He still needs to improve his fundamentals (playing wide/bending knees/keeping the ball high), but overall his progress has been solid.