The LEAGUE: Francisco’s Finest (2019 Sleepers)
The LEAGUE
Orange Lutheran HS
Orange, CA–In our last installment of covering The LEAGUE, we will focus on the sleeper targets that colleges should keep an eye on as the regular season approaches. These are the type of prospects that fall under the “late-bloomer” tag and with continued development could be playing at some level of college basketball after they exhaust their eligibility at the high school level.
2019 Sleepers
Derrick Carter-Hollinger (El Cajon/Foothills Christian)
PF/WF, 6-foot-5, 180 pounds
Joel’s Take: It’s hard not to notice Carter-Hollinger due to his impressive wing-span and athleticism. He gets most of his points slashing his way to the rim in transition or crashing the glass. He a bouncy athlete with good feet and he has a knack to make plays in the paint area. Adding a consistent 3-point stroke as well as honing his mid-range finishing skills will elevate his stock.
Allen McBride (Corona/Centennial)
WF/PF, 6-foot-3, 190 pounds
Joel’s Take: This kid is a “beast” each and every time he walks onto the court. He has a knack for rebounding despite being undersized and his hands are soft as well. At this level he dominates with his impressive motor and nose for the ball and once his ball skills improve, he can make an impact at some level after his senior season.
Josh Griffin (Orange/ Orange Lutheran)
SG, 6-foot-2, 175 pounds
Joel’s Take: Griiffin is a well-built 2-guard prospect who gets nice lift on his jump shot. He has range out to 20-feet and his shot mechanics are solid. He can attack in transition and finish through contact, and he isn’t afraid to take the “big” shot as he exhibited on Sunday. He needs to improve his ability to get to the rim in the half court set, but overall he is turning into a solid all-around guard for the next level.
Will Pluma (Chino Hills HS)
SG, 6-foot, 150 pounds
Joel’s Take: If you watched the Big Ballers this summer, you would certainly know the sharp-shooting Pluma. He is a prolific shooter off the catch and especially in the short corners. He is always on balance and his release is impeccable. At The LEAGUE on Sunday, he hit a number of 3s and his middle game is improving as well.
Justin Rene (Long Beach/Poly)
2019, SG, 6-foot-3, 175 pounds
Joel’s Take: Rene’ is a solidly built 2-guard prospect who affects the game at both ends of the floor. He slides his feet well on the perimeter and has active hands as well. He attacks well in transition and can finish through contact. His jump shot is streaky and he’ll need to improve the consistency on it, but he is a definite college prospect. Long Beach Poly is the type of program that develops kids for both ends of the floor and Rene, along with his fellow classmate Giordan Williams, is just another example.