Mt Carmel Holiday Classic – Stock Raisers
The Torrey Pines Holiday Classic was not the only game in town last week.
Across town, a number of top teams and prospects participated in several events: the Mt. Carmel Holiday Classic, the Aztec Holiday Classic, the Chula Vista Spartan Classic, the Surf and Slam Invitational and the So-Cal Prep Holiday Classic.
Prep Hoops has you covered with stock raisers and top underclassmen from the first three events.
Let’s start with the stock raisers from the first event, the Mt Carmel Holiday Classic:
Stock raisers
Jonathan Watts, 6-1 2018 G, Rancho Bernardo – The chiseled combo guard was big for the Broncos down the stretch, scoring off the dribble and hitting key free throws in the Broncos semifinal win over La Salle. Watts, who took a year off to focus on volleyball, has the athleticism and moxie, and has improved his ball skills and shooting.
Alex Mishaw, 6-3 2019 G, West Torrance – Mishaw was one of the few bright spots in the Warriors loss to Temecula Valley in the semifinals. He is a long, wiry combo guard prospect who is a prolific shooter (very high arch on his jump shot) from long distance. He is also an adequate ball handler, though he doesn’t have a great first step (flat-footed) on either end. If he can improve his quickness and tighten his handle, Mishaw has the tools to emerge as a Division 1 sleeper in an already deep 2019 class.
Kenneth Franklin, 5-11 2019 G, La Salle – The lefty bowling ball of a prospect had an impressive stretch during the semifinal game, as he scored or assisted on seven straight possessions to give the Lancers the lead in the 4th quarter. He scored almost exclusively out of the wing screen-and-roll, and punished the Broncos with his deceptively quick first step and his downhill strength. He didn’t take many shots from the perimeter, but did shoot an impressive clip from the free-throw line. As strong as he is physically, as he wore down Franklin struggled to finish through contact at the rim, an area he will need to shore up. While built more like a tailback than a point guard, Franklin tells us that he has never played football. As it stands, he’s a very good basketball player, worthy of at the very least Division 2 interest.
Josh O’Campo, 6-1 2019 G, Temecula Valley – O’Campo is yet another solid junior prospect on a Temecula Valley team laden with them (See: Nate Jacobsen). The lanky lefty knocks down shots from deep when his feet are set, but what stood out during the semifinal victory over West Torrance was O’Campo’s improved ball skills. He showed glimpses of improved slashing and scoring around the rim and dropped a couple of nice dimes off the drive. O’Campo needs to continue to tighten his handle, especially with his right hand, and work on his footwork in the midrange (drifts on pull-up jumpers).
Unsigned sleepers
Max Castin, 6-5 2018 F, Rancho Bernardo – Castin has made a big jump year over year for the Broncos. He has a promising frame for a wing, and does a lot of the little things for the Broncos, including rebounding and defending the opponent’s best interior player. Castin’s perimeter skill set has also come around, as he knocked down a key three during the fourth quarter (two in the game) and scored an and-1 off the dribble drive during a key stretch in the 3rd quarter. Castin’s skill set still needs refinement, making him a very viable junior college prospect.
Darius Henderson, 6-8 2018 PF/C, La Salle – Henderson is a huge post player (240 pounds) blessed with nimble feet and solid hands. When he was dialed in, Rancho Bernardo had no answer for him in the paint, as he scored at will with either hand. He also showed the ability to step out and shoot the basketball out to 20-22 feet. The operative word in the sentence, however, is “when.” In order for Henderson to achieve his full potential as prospect, he needs to find a consistent motor.
Tyler Santos, 5-6 2018 PG, Rancho Bernardo – Santos is a prep basketball version of “Rudy.” Despite his size and physical stature, Santos had a huge impact on the Broncos’ semifinal win over La Salle. He knocked down 5 threes, including three in the first quarter. His release is quick enough that he can get his shot off over bigger defenders, and he is a crafty ball handler who finds ways to score in the paint. He doesn’t have great quickness, but finds a way to not be a liability on defense because of how hard he plays. It’s hard not to root for him.