Magic Memorial Day Festival (Best 2020s)
Magic Memorial Day Festival (Best 2020s)
ORANGE, CA—The Magic Memorial Day Festival, hosted by Compton Magic, was the place to be in Southern California as there was a bevy of quality teams and players—most of which were from the So-Cal region. However, there were a few quality programs out of the region—most notably Nor Cal based Team Lillard as well as the Las Vegas Knicks.
After four grueling days Compton Magic (17u), Dream Vision (16u), and Team Lillard (15u) took home the hardware in their respective divisions.
Evan Mobley (Rancho Christian) Club: Compton Magic Elite
PF, 6-foot-10, 200 pounds
Joel’s Take: Not sure why this kid is not ranked Top Five in the country for his class. The willowy Mobley exhibited this weekend why he is so highly coveted. Nimble feet, ultra-quick bounce, soft shooting touch, and a potent rim protector describes Mobley. Yes, his frame is narrow and he needs to get stronger, but he is finishing plays through contact at a much more efficient rate and his demeanor while dominating is a pleasant sight to see in this “look-at-me” culture.
Ian Martinez (Cantwell Sacred-Heart) Club: So-Cal All Stars
CG, 6-foot-3, 165 pounds
Joel’s Take: This up-and-coming combo-guard prospect is just scratching the surface of his potential. Superior length and bounce describe the physical tools while the his jump shot and underrated passing exhibit is budding skill level.
Boubacar Coulibaly (San Gabriel Academy) Club: Dream Vision 16U
PF, 6-foot-8, 195 pounds
Joel’s Take: Coulibaly is a wiry 4-man who plays with maximum effort and he doesn’t need an elevator to get to the 2nd floor. Whether it’s follow dunking over opponents, rebounding in and out of his area, or nailing baseline jump shots, he is definitely on the rise.
Johnny Juzang (Harvard-Westlake) Club: Compton Magic 17U
SG, 6-foot-6, 200 pounds
Joel’s Take: Looking for a wing that can light up a scoreboard? Look no further than Juzang. The “big” guard has an effortless touch out to 23-feet and he has the size, length, and strength to score in the paint off the bounce. He has a tendency to “pound it” a bit much and not advance the ball in transition, but he still has two more seasons at this level.
Xavion Brown (Sheldon) Club: Lakeshow 16U
PG, 6-foot-3, 170 pounds
Joel’s Take: The biggest surprise this weekend was definitely Brown. The Nor Cal standout will be a national name sooner rather than later. He has the build, skill, and savvy to be a high-level point guard. His jump shot needs attention, but he can get to the rim attacking with either hand as well as anybody in his class out west and his vision is impeccable. My mentor Frank Burlison compared him to a young Jrue Holiday—and that pretty much sums it up.
Dalen Terry (Corona Del Sol) Club: Compton Magic 16U
WF, 6-foot-6, 165 pounds
Joel’s Take: Terry is a young sophomore with a terrific upside. He has extraordinary long arms, good feet, and his athleticism is on the upswing. He has a knack to score in the paint off the dribble and he is tough to deal with in transition. His ball skills and passing are quite good and his jump shot is on the come. It’s all there for him if he can stay focused.
Paris Dawson (Corona Centennial) Club: Compton Magic 16U
SG, 6-foot, 150 pounds
Joel’s Take: Not sure where Dawson plays at the next level, but this kid is a gamer. On the positive side, when you need a bucket he is your guy. He relentlessly slashes his way to the rim at will and can convert bucket after bucket. At his size, he is a scorer and he doesn’t look to pass once he has made up his mind. One thing is for sure, at the high school level he is going to put up numbers due to his moxie and scoring mentality.