West Coast Elite High School Invitational: Top Performers
Ryan Silver, founder of the West Coast Elite basketball dynasty, along with California Stars club director Julius von Hanzlik, pulled together more than 40 of the top high school basketball teams in Southern California for his High School Invitational Fall League.
The three-day event featured defending CIF Open Division state champion Bishop Montgomery, Open Division regional runners up Mater Dei, and Open Division regulars Damien, Santa Margarita and Redondo Union.
In addition to those teams who are established as year-in and year-out competitors, squads like Culver City, Long Beach St. Anthony, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and St. John Bosco showed that they’re on the rise.
Prep Hoops So-Cal was in attendance at MAP Sports Facility in Garden Grove all day Saturday and put together a list of the day’s top performers.
Saturday Top Performers
Wayne Arnold, 2018, Compton Dominguez
The 6-foot-3 shooting guard, bound for Cal State Fullerton, had his entire offensive arsenal on display. He was hitting catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, while getting to his patented baseline 17-foot pull-up jumper. Arnold also showed an improved confidence in his jumper going right.
Lamont Butler, 2020, Riverside Poly
Butler is one of the highest IQ players in Southern California, and while his all-around game wasn’t at its peak in his first game of the day, he still managed to make the game-winning steal and assist in a tight overtime game against Warren. Butler then led the Bears to a win over a tough, but short-handed Culver City side.
Cacoa Chatman, 2018, Long Beach St. Anthony
Chatman is a nice addition for coach Allen Caveness via transfer from Long Beach Jordan and is impact was felt immediately. Chatman has a compelling combination of strength and speed at the point guard position. He’s not the biggest player on the floor by any means, but his tenacity and determination to win basketball games overtakes any size differential.
Michael Feinberg, 2018, Viewpoint
Feinberg, who is committed to Yale, is just one of those solid all-around players that every coach would love to have on his side. The 6-foot-4 lefty is a crafty scorer around the basket and out to 15-feet, he can initiate offense, guard multiple positions and rebounds in and out space well for his size.
Spencer Freedman, 2018, Mater Dei
Freedman was leading a short-handed Mater Dei team Saturday, but he did exactly what he always does: control and dictate tempo, hit open 3-pointers and make others around him better. The Monarchs were without three starters — Bol Bol (USA Basketball), Harrison Butler (visit to Southern Utah) and Mike Wang (visit to Lehigh) — but the Harvard-bound Freedman still had the team operating at full efficiency.
2019 PG Gianni Hunt led Bishop Montgomery to the West Coast Elite High School Invitational championship.Gianni Hunt, 2019, Bishop Montgomery
On Friday Hunt broke a rim with a windmill dunk attempt and Sunday he led the Knights to the tournament championship. From what we saw Saturday, he was one of the top guards in the gym. The 6-foot-2 lefty has an uncanny combination of strength, explosiveness and top-end speed which makes him an extremely tough cover. What stands out most about Hunt is his intensity on the defensive end.
Jake Kyman, 2019, Santa Margarita
I’m still uncertain as to whether Jake Kyman missed a shot on Saturday. The 6-foot-7 forward was scoring in a variety of ways — catch-and-shoot three’s, one and two-dribble pull-ups and drives to the rack. Those who have watched Kyman play over the last few years know about his ability to shoot the basketball, but his improved aggressiveness to the rack will open up the rest of his game and opportunities for teammates.
Jonathan Salazar, 2019, St. John Bosco
Salazar arrived at St. John Bosco not too long ago after playing last season for Trinity International in Las Vegas. The 6-foot-6 forward brings a Trinity League ready skill-set to the Braves with his blend of size and explosive athleticism. Salazar was knocking down the three-ball at a consistent clip on Saturday, as well.