SoCal Tip Off Standouts: Part I
Report on 2018 So Cal Spring Tip Off
The 3rd annual So Cal Spring Tip Off was held April 7-8 at Next Level Sports Complex in Garden Grove. 120 teams from the western United States participated. Scouts/media in attendance included Joel Francisco- Prep Hoops, Gerry Freitas- Hoop Review scouting service/Hoopreview.net, Devin Ugland-Prep Hoops/Hoops by Ugland, Frank Burlison- Burlison on Basketball, Greg Rosenberg-Arizona Varsity, Dave Keefer-Californiapreps.com, Roy White- West Coast Hoops, Jerina Madayag- Premier Ball, Christian Popoola- Premier Ball, Chris Cook- Phase 1 Hoops, Justin Boswell- Cal Hi, Alexis Sostre- Sports Top 100, Thomas McDonald- Passport Playas, Richard Whiteside- Baller Visions, Kenya Thomas- Overtime. Here is a report on the event.
Top Prospects: (*indicates highest consideration)
6’7 PF Chigozie Achara 2019 of Alemany HS (BTI Select 17)
High motor and active glue-guy who rebounds well on both ends of the floor and plays to his strengths as a rim-runner and high energy defender. Contests everything around the basket defensively and pursues offensive rebounds and put-backs with purpose.
*6’1 G Jeremiah Ackinson 2019 of Long Beach Poly (Los Angeles Elite 17u Black)
Big time motor, especially on the offensive glass. Long and athletic, plays bigger than 6’1 ht. More of a slasher, but he did show the ability to make open 3. If he continues to develop shot, he could be a high-level prospect.
6’6 PF Tim Adetukasi of Saddleback Valley Christian HS 2019 (Team Why Not 17 EYBL)
Strong and fairly athletic. Has a one-bounce drive, solid dribble operator on the block, finishes inside.
*6’8 Max Agbonkpolo of Santa Margarita HS 2019 (Pump N Run Elite 17’s)
Outstanding performance in this event. Excellent in transition. Pulls up very well and also finishes consistently. Shoots it with three rang, capable rebounder. High-level prospect.
6’8 F Ajang Aguek of Ironwood HS 2018 (AZ Factory 17U)
Plus athlete with great length. Runs floor and plays above rim. Good rebounder in and out of area. Shooting range to 15-feet and in and has a few post moves. Can pull-up off dribble. Plays with a great motor/high energy. Needs to add weight. (Mid-level D1 prospect)
*6’4 CG Dexter Akanno 2019 of Blair Academy (BTI Select 17)
Strong, physical prospect with good length, a high basketball IQ and plays with a high motor. Always in attack mode in transition where he uses his combination of strength and speed to overwhelm retreating defenders and finish with power around the basket. Fierce competitor whose ball-handling and passing abilities allow him to play some point guard.
6’3 CG Sedrick Altman 2019 of Colony HS (Dream Vision 17)
Elite vertical athlete with explosiveness in transition and half-court settings. Best offensively when filling the lane on the break and slashing in for buckets around the basket. Very good on-ball defender who sits in a stance, slides his feet for containment and utilizes active hands. Didn’t look to shoot much from 3-point range.
6’7 SF Nadav Altit of Valley Torah HS 2018 (Hard Work Sr 17U)
Long and skinny shooter. Good ball skills and has a quick shooting release with deep range.
6’8 SF Nimrod Altit of Valley Torah HS 2018 (Hard Work Sr 17U)
Long and skinny lefty shooter. Crafty and smart player. Great feel for the game. Good passer.
*6’3 CG Amound Anderson 2020 of Leuzinger HS (Team Why Not 16U)
Smooth scoring combo guard who handles and passes it well enough to play on the ball and initiate offense. Crafty left-handed ball-handler with good length who uses those attributes to weave his way to the basket and finish. Showed touch to the 3-point line in the short corners.
*6’10 F/C Dylan Anderson 2022 of Perry HS (Powerhouse Hoops 15u)
Impressive ability to rebound in traffic. Blocks and changes a lot of shots. Very soft touch. Showed the ability to play with back to basket as well as ability to shoot with range out to the 3-pt line. Very intriguing young prospect.
*6’1 CG Ethan Anderson of Fairfax HS 2019 (Pump n Run Elite 17)
Strong and athletic combo guard. Effective transition playmaker, shoots it well with 3 range, consistent driver. Probable high major.
5’11 G/F Jordy Anderson 2021 of Grant HS (Los Angeles Elite 15U Premier)
Tough, gritty player who will dive on the floor for loose balls, step over and take a charge and bring all the intangible-type stuff to the floor. Can guard multiple positions and communicates well on that end of the floor.
6’6 G/F Trey Anderson 2018 Mater Dei Catholic (West Coast Elite 17 UAA)
Long, fluid athlete with smooth shooting mechanics and consistent range on his jump shot. Has a quick, high and repeatable release on his jump shot. Moves well without the ball to get open looks.
6’5 SF Nyjier Andrews 2020 of Cesar Chavez HS (Team Harden 16U)
Active and high motor wing-type who rebounds well in and out of his space, runs the floor well in transition and cleans up on the offensive and defensive glass. His offensive looks come on hustle put-backs on the offensive glass.
6’7 G/F Tim Andreolli 2018 of Royal HS (BTI Elite 17)
Intriguing shooter with size. High release, looks good. Overall high skill level, very good passer.
5’8 SG Tyler Antrobius of Mira Costa HS 2020 (WCE 16 HA-LA)
High motored defensive player with a consistent 3. Above average ball handling skills and can get to the rim to finish left or right.
*6’7 PF Obinna Anyanwu 2021 of Cathedral Catholic HS (Las Vegas Prospects 16U EYBL)
Long, athletic and active combo forward with inside-out scoring ability. Light on his feet, changes ends of the floor well and with purpose, finishes well around the basket with either hand. Has the ability to break a defender down on the perimeter and get to the cup off the bounce.
6’4 SF Josue Aparico 2018 of Santa Ana HS (ACES 17U)
Consistent catch and shoot threat from 3-point range. Most consistent from either short corner. Can use shot fake, crafty handle to get into the paint and create for teammates.
6’3 SG Jeron Artest 2020 of Hillcrest Prep (Las Vegas Prospects 16 EYBL)
Displayed a consistent mid-range and 3-point jump shot and proved difficult to stop when using his strength and athleticism to get downhill to the basket. Plays with good pace and toughness. Specialty is on the defense end as he always looked engaged and locked-in on that end. Understands team and individual defensive concepts.
*6’3 CG Devin Askew 2021 of Mater Dei HS (Las Vegas Prospects 16U EYBL)
Dynamic scoring guard with feel and ability well-beyond his years. Always in attack mode on offensive, using his size and second-level speed to hold defenders on his hip and ride them to the basket where he can finish with either hand. Very good passer when he chooses to be who sees the floor. Tends to over-handle at times. Has a nice pull-up game in transition and in the half court.
5’9 PG Emmanuel Austin of Legacy HS 2021 (Nevada Hard 2 Guard 15U)
Incredible speed in open court. Turns corner on defender. Defends his position and plays with great energy.
6’8” W Marcus Bagley of home school 2019 (Team LA 17U)
-First games back in a year. A little rusty but has grown and has become stronger. Has deep shooting range and quick release well beyond the 3pt line. Fair athlete/footspeed. High IQ. Good rebounder and passer. (D1 player)
6’2 CG Jamaal Barnes of Bonita HS 2018 (BBC Elite 17U)
Versatile combo guard who is at his best in transition. Athletic and can score it. He can split defenders to get to basket plus can create own shot. Solid shooter with good length. Changes speeds well with nice handle. Good speed on defense. Can pull-up off dribble and looks to be a nice late D1 get. (D1 player)
6’3 F Massai Bates 2019 of Scale Prep (Cali Elite 17u Black)
Big body undersized Power Forward. Fundamentally sound and can post up bigger guys. Has the guard skills to play the 3 as well.
6’7 F/C Matt Bender 2019 of Francis Parker (WCE 17 Silver – LA)
Strong post with well-developed back-to-the-basket game. Nice righty hook and drop step.
6’0 CG Joshua Benjamin 2019 of Cooper Academy (Cooper Elite 17)
Knockdown 3-point shooter from multiple spots behind the arc. Understands how to drop to the level of the driver to provide the necessary angle for the drive-and-kick pass.
6’10 C Christian Bento of Great Oaks HS 2021 (Dream Vision 15U)
True 5-man with good size. Moves well end to end. Rebounds at a high rate in area. Can score near hoop but somewhat raw offensively and needs to become more fluid. Plays hard. (D1 prospect)