Francisco’s Finest: Pangos Premier 80 Showcase (2021 Standouts)
Francisco’s Finest: Pangos Premier 80 Showcase (2021 Standouts)
LYNWOOD, CA—There were two major positives while arriving at Firebaugh High School Gymnasium—air conditioning and a bevy of talent. Dinos Trigonis continues to attract the best of the best around the country and it that will probably be the case at the FAB 48 in Las Vegas in a couple of weeks. The prospects ranged from 2022 standout Amari Bailey to 2020 stud Mady Sissoko—as well as a plethora of Division 1 prospects in between.
Chris Howell (San Marcos)
2021, PG, 6-foot-6, 185 pounds
There are few players in the 2021 class with as high a basketball IQ as Coastal Elite PG Chris Howell.Joel’s Take: The rangy point guard prospect picked his spots and as usual made the right decisions. Howell is one of the more intriguing point guard prospects in So-Cal. He can see over the defense due to his size and length, has impeccable vision, and the ball never dies in hi hands. As he has gotten stronger he has become more explosive at the rim. The development of a consistent jump shot with range will be the catalyst on high he goes in the recruiting process.
Tsalta “TJ” Wainwright (Culver City)
2021, CG, 6-foot, 155 pounds
Joel’s Take: One of the first terms when describing Wainwright is “he isn’t shy.” The kid has never seen a shot he doesn’t like and he launches them with utmost confidence. He is a slick lefty with potent ball skills and a high-level jump shot. He shows great burst and can score in the mid-range via the runner. Although his shot selection can be questionable at times, he does have the vision to set up teammates as well.
John Christofilis (Seattle/O’Dea)
2021, CG, 6-foot-3, 175 pounds
Joel’s Take: Christofilis is a well-built scoring guard who is polished in many aspects in the game. First and foremost his jump shot is potent with impeccable mechanics and great range. He is equally effective shooting off the catch or stopping on a dime and nailing the mid-range pull-up. He can snag rebounds, lead the break, and exhibits moxie at both ends.
Pierre Brooks (Detroit/Frederick Douglas Academy)
2021, CG, 6-foot-4, 195 pounds
Joel’s Take: In the first game, Brooks was a one man wrecking crew. In transition he was a beast as he utilized his strong frame and athleticism to finish through and over his opposing defenders. He has a solid pull-up game as well and can convert the 3-point shot. His shot needs to smoothen out and he needs to continue to hone his half court lead guard skills, but he projects well to the high-major level as a point guard.
Luke Turner (Rancho Christian)
2021, WF, 6-foot-6, 175 pounds
Rancho Christian shooting guard Luke Turner was one of the best shooters in the Class of 2021.
Joel’s Take: The sinewy wing-type is slowly, but assuredly, evolving into a high-level prospect. He has a smooth jump shot out to 22-feet and he gets great lift on his shot. On the break he can elevate to the rim and finish as well. He needs to continue to hone his ball skills versus pressure and develop some mid-range scoring skills, but overall his progress has been excellent.