Mt Miguel Fall Tournament – Top seniors and juniors
While San Diego does not have high-profile fall hoops events like The Compton Magic League in Orange County, it does have a few events that provide a solid window into the upcoming season.
The Mount Miguel Fall Tournament is one of those events.
Spanning two weekends and played at multiple sites, the tournament pits 16 teams in bracket play, yielding a champion on November 4.
Mission Bay, Montgomery, Morse and Christian have advanced to next week’s semifinals.
Prep Hoops was present at one of the tournament sites, Monte Vista High, where the action was fast and physical.
Here are some of the senior and junior standouts.
Best Prospect
Boogie Ellis, 6-2 2019 PG, Mission Bay
Ellis, who is being recruited by mid-major and high-major programs, showed why in an early AM win over San Diego. He scored from every level, and did so without freezing out teammates. Ellis has vastly improved his ability to finish plays through contact, as well as his shot selection, athleticism and explosiveness. While he has also improved his court vision in the half court, Ellis will only improve his stock by continuing to focus on that area.
Best seniors
Deondre McHayle, 6-1 G, Monte Vista
The Monarchs were the surprise of the day, defeating La Jolla but remaining in the consolation bracket because they hosted the event. McHayle was unstoppable in both of his games, scoring it from all three levels. He’s a strong-bodied combo guard who can get into the lane and finish through contact, knock down the mid-range pull-up and hit threes off the bounce and catch. Defensively, he gives maximum effort despite carrying such a heavy offensive load. While he hails from an unheralded program, McHayle might be one of the more productive seniors in the region, worthy of at least Division II interest.
Charlie Gal, 6-5 2018 PF, La Jolla
Gal did everything in his power to keep his team from losing in the opening round of bracket play. Blessed with long arms and a solid motor, Gal impacts the game on both the offensive and defensive glass, snaring rebounds and locating guards with crisp outlet passes. Offensively, Gal makes his living working the short-corner baseline with quick drives to the hoop or 15-foot jump shots. He will occasionally step out to shoot a college-distance three pointer, and his form and release have improved. Gal is a very nice undersized face-up four option at the Division 3 level.
Senior sleepers
Emanwel Henry, 6-4 2018 WF, San Diego
In terms of raw upside, few possess as much Henry. The wiry lefty has made a big leap in the course of a year with his ball skills and effort level. At 6-4, he has the length and lateral quickness to guard positions 1 through 5 at the high school level. Offensively, he is a streaky scorer and shooter, but capable of heating up in a hurry. Henry knocked down several threes, and hit a fair amount of elbow jumpers off the dribble. He’s a solid athlete, though not particularly explosive. He will need a junior college stint to shore up his handle (left-hand dominant) and get physically and emotionally stronger. If he does those things, his best basketball is far ahead of him.
Ryan Flowers, 6-2 2018 G, Serra
Flowers is another raw, but supremely athletic specimen who impacts the game with his motor. Simply put, Flowers is a lock-down defender. He uses his high-end lateral quickness and length to swallow up opponents, forcing them into turnovers. He is also very good at playing in the passing lanes, where he collects a lot of his steals. Flowers is a strong slasher who can get to the rim at will with straight-line drives. Offensively, however, Flowers’ unbridled energy at times gets the best of him, as he plays loose with his handle, which results in a high number of turnovers. His shooting is also a work in progress. Flowers is the type of player that junior colleges should covet, as he has the body and frame to play right away. Once his skill set catches up, he has a chance to be a solid prospect.
Top Junior
Jay Norton, 6-1 2019 G, Mission Bay – The Bucs combo guard had a strong day as well on both ends of the court. Offensively, Norton is a strong slasher who has improved his right hand to the point where he’s a threat to attack the basket with either hand. He has a smooth release and can shoot off the bounce or off the catch. He’s a bit streaky, though, largely the result of inconsistent footwork on his release. Norton’s motor is what makes him special. He picks up opponents full court, sprints back in transition and always guards the opponent’s top player. He has a chance to be a Division 1 player if continues to pay attention to details with his shot selection.
Junior sleepers
Nick Hulquist, 6-4 2019 SG, La Jolla – Hulquist doesn’t play on a high-level travel team, so he hovers under the radar – but not for much longer. At 6-4, the lanky combo guard has the size and shooting stroke that colleges covet at the two spot. He handles the ball well enough to initiate the offense, and can slash and finish with either hand. Hulquist will need to continue to improve his handle and his quickness, especially on the defensive end. He also needs to be more assertive on the offensive end, as he often deferred to teammates. Still, Hulquist has long-term potential that coaches can’t ignore.
Rickey Stewart, 6-4 2019 WF, Crawford – Conversely, Crawford’s top player is an explosive athlete, but his motor runs hot and cold. When engaged, Stewart is a beast on the boards, blessed with bounce, solid length and a nose for the ball. But there are times where Stewart disappears on the floor. Stewart’s primary value at this point is his rebounding, which translates to the next level. If he can improve the rest of his ball skills, Stewart will be one to watch entering into next spring and summer.