The LEAGUE Week 3: Top Performers
Orange, Ca. — Sunday’s edition of “The LEAGUE” was by far the most competitive fall hoops affair I’ve seen this year.
The scrappiness at Orange Lutheran High began with the opening game between Harvard-Westlake and Los Altos, featuring two club teammates, 2019 shooting guard Jarod Lucas and 2020 small forward Johnny Juzang, going shot-for-shot in a heated win for the Conquerors.
Next up was a chippy game between the host Lancers and Lakewood Mayfair, featuring five-star, class of 2020 recruit Josh Christopher. The Lancers depth, leadership and execution down the stretch, led by Trey Anderson, Isaiah Pope, Josh Griffin and Cade Potter, was crucial in their 58-46 triumph.
Finally, the game of the day was another Compton Magic-centric battle between Rancho Christian and Corona Centennial. Isaiah and Evan Mobley faced off against club-mate Jaylen Clark and the brotherly duo, helped by a last-second offensive rebound put-back from Isaiah Knox, took the 51-49 victory.
As far as top individual performers go, there were plenty of impressive efforts.
Top Performers
Jaylen Clark, 2020, Corona Centennial
Clark is one of the most physically imposing wings in all of Southern California and his combination of athleticism and strength was on full display in both of Centennial’s games. The 6-foot-4, 195 pound sophomore is impossible to stop when he gets a full head of steam and his leaping ability off of one foot or two feet allows him to finish in traffic and through contact.
D.J. Davis, 2020, Corona Centennial
Southern California is well-aware of Davis’ shooting prowess, but what flies under the radar with him is his defensive aptitude. The 6-foot sophomore was battling through Rancho Christian screens all afternoon, recovering to his assignment and keeping him in front. Davis is adept at knowing when to double team and communicating on recovery.
Devonaire Doutrive, 2018, Birmingham
Doutrive returned from a visit to UC Santa Barbara and dominated in Birmingham’s second game against Mayfair after a slow start against Rancho Verde. The rangy 6-foot-5 swingman is one of the most difficult covers in the area because he can beat you in three different ways — with the catch-and-shoot, the pass and the explosive drive to the basket.
Johnny Juzang, 2020, Harvard-Westlake
Juzang is a bona fide scoring savant and he did plenty of that on the day. Few prospects in any class have his ability to score at the mid-range level and the 6-foot-6 small forward connected on a number of easy looks and tough shots. Juzang showed a little bit more toughness in his game in the hard-fought game against Los Altos.
Julian Lopez, 2018, Los Altos
Lopez is not only one of the biggest sleepers in Southern California, but he’s also one of the most versatile players in the area. The adaptable 6-foot-4 prospect basically plays the five for coach Jeff Lucas and his positionless, high-paced offensive attack. Lopez’s toughness and high basketball IQ helps him guard the forward and center spots at the high school level, but his ability to shoot the 3-pointer and act as a point guard make him a matchup nightmare for opponents.
Los Altos senior Julian Lopez is one of the more promising sleepers in Southern California.Jarod Lucas, 2019, Los Altos
Like his club teammates Juzang, Lucas is one of the most explosive scorers in SoCal. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard has the confidence, and green light, to pull from anywhere at any time. Lucas has always been one of the better 3-point shooters in the area, especially off the catch, but he continues to add to his game by enhancing the consistency of his mid-range jumper off the bounce. Lucas also made a ton of “winning plays,” whether it was a dive on the floor for a loose ball or a timely offensive rebound.
Evan Mobley, 2020, Rancho Christian
Mobley’s all-around performance helped Rancho Christian win that tight clash against Corona Centennial. The 6-foot-10 sophomore goes about his business very quietly, but has an indelible impact on each game he plays. He stretched the floor to 3-point range, opening driving lanes for teammates, but also ran the middle of the floor with purpose and capitalized on his brother’s vision, finishing off a number of assists in the paint.
Darryl Polk, Jr., 2018, Long Beach Poly
There are few prospects in the West that are quicker and/or faster than Darryl Polk in both half and full-court settings. That speed makes him on of the most intriguing defensive players in the area as he can rip any player at any time and works passing lanes better than most. Polk showed an improved 3-point stroke in his second game of the day, knocking in four shots from deep.