Prospect Watch: UC Irvine Team Camp Top Prospects
IRVINE, Ca. — The annual team camp on the beautiful campus UC Irvine consistently draws a solid crop of high school programs from across Southern California.
The 2017 installment was much the same for the twice-defending Big West Conference regular season champions, drawing many of Orange County’s best teams in Capistrano Valley, Villa Park and Los Alamitos, in addition to a couple of San Diego’s best in Vista and Mission Hills.
Prep Hoops was in Irvine Friday afternoon and evening, keeping an eye on the top players in attendance and plenty of sleepers, as well.
Top Prospects
Dawson Baker, Capistrano Valley, 2018
The 6-foot-3 shooting guard had his full offensive repertoire on display in front of a coaching staff which offered him on Wednesday. Baker is an elite three-level scorer with superb footwork on the perimeter and in the paint. He’s a consistent catch and shoot guy from 3-point range and utilizes a vast array of hesitation moves and jab steps to get into the paint and create.
Jacob Eyman, Los Alamitos, 2018
Eyman is a shot blocking and rebounding machine at 6-foot-8. He has good length and leaping ability, but most importantly, knows how to use those traits when staying vertical and contesting at the rim without fouling. Offensively, the rising senior is improving his back to the basket game, but is a good rim runner and finisher when engaged. Eyman’s recent unofficial visits have been to Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine and UC Irvine.
Julien Franklin, Villa Park, 2019
Franklin is the new face of Villa Park hoops with the departure of his older brother, Myles, who left Friday morning to begin his collegiate career at Northeastern. The 6-foot-5 wing is used to filling the lane and being fed by his point guard brother, but is now faced with the task of becoming a distributor in addition to scoring. Villa Park is in good hands, though, as Franklin scored well as he normally does, but also showed improved fluidity and decision making with the ball in his hands. Franklin sports offers from New Mexico, Rice, Northeastern and Columbia.
Jordan Hilstock, Vista, 2019
The 6-3 guard/forward prospect is one of the better players in San Diego for the class of 2019. He’s long, quick and athletic, which lends to his defensive versatility in guarding multiple positions. Hilstock has an improving 3-point and mid-range jump shot as he’s reformed is shooting mechanics into a more natural motion.
Taurus Samuels, Vista, 2018
The 6-foot point guard is fresh off of two unofficial visits to his two top schools in Montana and Dartmouth and continued his scoring and dishing ways. Samuels is a knockdown mid-range shooter and an improved 3-point shooter. What he does best, though, is lead and get the most out of his teammates. People naturally gravitate toward Samuels as he’s unselfish by nature and plays with effort and energy on both sides of the ball.
Warren Washington, Mission Hills, 2018
Washington absolutely has the look and “measureables” of a high major college basketball player and his skill set lends to that upside. At 6-10, Washington is an inside-out scorer with touch to 3-point range. He prefers to operate on the perimeter in face-up or catch and shoot situations, but did dedicate himself to establishing deep post position and finishing in the paint.