Ryse Up Fall Classic: Top Prospects (Part II)
Ryse Up Fall Classic: Top Prospects (Part II)
Malik Muhammad (Harbor City/Narbonne)
2018, C, 6-foot-7, 220 pounds
Joel’s Take: Muhammad who recently transferred to Narbonne from Verbum Dei, was one of the biggest revelations. He has the frame, the length, and the athleticism to be a Division 1 prospect. The biggest takeaway from his game is his willingness to rebound. He is that rare rebounder at this level that snatches boards in and out of his area—and with two hands as well. Offensively, he can face-up his defender and nail the elbow jump shot and he can finish through contact as well. One to watch heading into his senior campaign.
Neil Owens (Los Angeles/Loyola)
2019, PG, 5-foot-11, 165 pounds
Joel’s Take: If you’re looking for a true point guard who knows how to run a team, look no further than Mr. Owens. He doesn’t possess great quickness or speed, but he changes speeds very well and his head is always up. Whether it’s advancing the ball in transition or snapping crosscourt passes in the half court set, Owens is quite good at those traits. He can toss in the occasional runner in transition and even knock in a 3-point shot, but his facilitating appears to be his strength.
Tyree Winborn (Van Nuys HS)
2018, PG, 5-foot-8, 160 pounds
Joel’s Take: Winborn is a tank as he uses his chiseled frame, exceptional speed and burst to put defenders on their heels. He excels in transition where he can snag a rebound or take the outlet and “jet” up court. He has the ability to finish in the lane due to his athleticism and attack-mode mindset and he can even knock in the deep 3-pointer. The key to his development is his decision-making. He has a tendency to play too fast (forces the issue) and take ill-advised shots early on in the shot clock. The physical tools and skill are present, but his approach needs an overhaul.
Zekiah Lovett (Redondo Beach/Redondo Union)
2018, PG, 6-foot-2, 170 pounds
Joel’s Take: Zekiah Lovett is the younger brother of St. Johns’ point guard standout Marcus Lovett. While Marcus is best described as a scoring point guard, Zekiah is more of a true floor general. He has great size for the position with excellent length and he plays at a great pace. He can knock down the 3-point shot and convert buckets in the paint off the dribble and he isn’t afraid to take the “Big” shot during clutch time. With a strong senior campaign, look for him to bag some college offers.
Jordan Griffin (Harbor City/Narbonne)
2018, WF, 6-foot-5, 165 pounds
Joel’s Take: Griffin is a willowy wing-type who affects the game with his ball skills and improved feel for the game. He excels in transition where he exhibits the ability to either get to the rim off the bounce or find an open teammate with the pass. He has a solid looking pull-up jump shot and his vision is a noticeable trait as he displayed some nice facilitating moments during the game. He needs to gain strength to absorb contact while finishing in the key and his assertiveness as a scorer needs to take another step forward because he has the scoring instincts.