Don Nelson Classic: Intriguing Prospects

<p>Teams from around Northern California converged at Dublin high for the schools annual Classic. The event gave fans a ton of three point shooting, fancy fast break play, as well as some lockdown defense. The pace of the games were uptempo and we are going to check out some interesting players that caught my eye for one reason or another.</p> <p>*Due to personal scheduling conflicts, I was not able to observe California or Castro Valley High Schools.</p> <ul> <li>Jordan Ashworth (Berkeley)</li> </ul> <p>This point guard makes his team go on both ends of the floor. A vocal player who has great court vision to go along with his smooth change of speed. He always knows where his teammates are which allows him to put them in scoring position. That same vision allows him to be effective on the defensive end by getting steals off the ball. He’s a very solid shooter and defends without fouling. The confidence he exudes extends towards his teammates as his fearless attitude never wavers.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Robby Beasley (Dublin)</li> </ul> <p>The MVP of the event certainly didn’t disappoint. He continues to showcase his prolific shooting prowess from beyond the arc. Able to string together makes in bunches, he uses this skill to open up driving lanes where he enjoys absorbing contact to finish at the rim. He is also an underrated passer who can get his teammates easy baskets. Make no mistake his motor is as high as any player you’ll see, especially on the defensive end.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Hasani Hockenhull (Encinal)</li> </ul> <p>This kid’s handles have handles to put it simply. Able to get by his defender at will, he is a tough minded point guard who excels at finishing over length with an array of soft touch floaters. Players that back off of him need to beware of his shooting ability.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Josiah Hutt (Foothill-Palo Cedro)</li> </ul> <p>The epitome of a sniper has some very deep range. With his size and ability to run off of screens, he shoots over defenders with ease using a quick release. A physical frame and quiet confidence allow him to attack closeouts and finish at the rim. Though he moves often without the ball, he is more than capable of creating his own shot off the bounce. He moves his feet well defensively and is vocal to his teammates when the need arises. Against eventual champion Dublin High, he scored 33 of his teams 66 points which further cemented the talent level this kid has.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Malik Jackson (Dublin)</li> </ul> <p>I call him Mr.Versatile for a reason. His jack of all trades skillset is vital for the success of Dublin. He guards multiple positions and is usually tasked with the best opposing offensive player. On the offensive end, he is able to shoot or slash to the rim as well as use is athletic ability to be a matchup problem on both ends of the floor.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Allijah Kopelman (Encinal)</li> </ul> <p>If you need someone who can really score the rock, here is the player for you. Being very solid and efficient is an undervalued ability that this guy displays in bunches. Able to score at all three levels, he is fearless and unwavering in his confidence.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Ezra Manjon (Heritage)</li> </ul> <p>Lightning in a bottle is how I would describe this point guard. Explosive speed mixed with lethal change of pace makes him a nightmare to defend off of the bounce. Able to penetrate any defense, he uses his speed to get to the basket and create for others. His ability to drill jumpers as a high level shooter give him even more space to run by his matchups. A tough athlete that guards his space well.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Anthony Roy (Dublin)</li> </ul> <p>This walking triple double has scary potential at the wing position. An athletic slasher who finishes well above the rim and is also capable of shooting it from distance. The scary part is that he can use his length and size to augment the passing vision he has. Able to see over the top of defenses, he picks them apart with relative ease. A player with his skillset is not someone that you want to deal with.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Jaden Saunders (Dublin)</li> </ul> <p>The Gaels Floor general leads both by example and with his vocal leadership. He is skilled off the bounce and can shoot it from well past the three point line. He enjoys pressuring the ball to force turnovers where he can push the pace and make his teammates better with pinpoint passing.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Tory Williams (Hercules)</li> </ul> <p>An ultra competitive point guard who has a silky smooth handle. He seemingly walks by defenders without much effort where he can use his length to shoot over the top of his matchup. He plays through fatigue well as it doesn’t seem to negatively impact his production very much. The most underrated aspect of his game is his shooting ability as is capable of launching from several steps behind the arc.</p>