Ron Massey Memorial Classic: The best among 2018 defenders
LAKEWOOD, Ca. – Some of the best defenders in Southern California’s Class of 2018 did their thing quite well during the fourth Ron Massey Memorial Hoops Classic, held Sept. 9&10 at Artesia High in this suburb of Long Beach.
In the six players that follow will be found a couple of consummate “rim protectors” (formerly known as “shot blockers” for the traditionally minded among us) as well as four guys who can make opponents’ attempts at dribble penetration or jump shots quite difficult, indeed.
Listed alphabetically:
Harrison Butler (Santa Ana Mater Dei)
He’s been the Monarchs’ best perimeter defender since his sophomore season and has gone head up against the likes of Lonzo Ball and Ethan Thompson – CIF Southern Section Open Division Players of the Year – over the past two seasons. He did solid jobs against future D-I players Tevian Johnson (Culver City) and David Singleton (Bishop Montgomery and already committed to UCLA) Sunday while helping the Monarchs win the event for the second year in a row.
Tony Goodwin II (Pasadena Maranatha)
The transfer from Findlay Prep (Henderson, NV) first made his bones as a “get-in-face, man-up” defender since his appearance at the Pangos Frosh/Soph East camp in Thorofare, NJ three years ago. Few players on the high school level at his size (about 6-foot-4 and 200-plus pounds) break down into a stance and slide his feet as well as he does.
Fred Odhiambo (Mission Hills Alemany)
He’s made nice progress over the past 11 months or so since he arrived in Southern California (via a prep school in Philadelphia) but still a way to go before becoming a quality offensive player. But there isn’t a better shot block anywhere in high school in the western portion of the country – Mater Dei’s Bol Bol (who didn’t play in this event) included. His two-handed block on the glass and all-in-one-motion rebound was the most startlingly impressive individual play of the event.
Josh Phillips (Huntington Beach Edison)
He doesn’t have nearly the size (at 6-7 to about 6-10) nor shot-blocking discipline and timing of Odhiambo. But Phillips (who recently committed to the University of Portland) is as “quick” a jumper as there is among the Southern California front-court players. Once he gets stronger and gains a bit more savvy, he’ll be a defensive force with the Pilots within the West Coast Conference.
Cameron Shelton (La Verne Damien)
This is the best defender among all point guards in the western Class of 2018. The left-hander’s combination of strength, vertical and lateral quickness of foot, as well as hand-eye coordination allows him to lock into dribblers without reaching and while also being able to jump passing lanes and be a terrific help-side defender.
Fletcher Tynen (Torrance Bishop Montgomery)
He’s not the shot blocker that Odhiambo and Phillips are. But he’s a sounder low-post defender via his ability to “body up” on bigger post foes (Bol Bol being a prime example of that during the CIF Southern Section and Southern Regional Open finals last spring) and deny his opponent easy catches.