Francisco’s Finest: Cali BattleZone (Best All-Around)
Francisco’s Finest: Cali BattleZone (Best All-Around) CORONA, CA.—It’s quite the trek out to Centennial High School, the BattleZone is worth every ounce of petroleum. Etop Udo-Ema and his BattleZone staff do a marvelous job of acquiring the best talent as…
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Continue ReadingFrancisco’s Finest: Cali BattleZone (Best All-Around)
CORONA, CA.—It’s quite the trek out to Centennial High School, the BattleZone is worth every ounce of petroleum. Etop Udo-Ema and his BattleZone staff do a marvelous job of acquiring the best talent as well as the best “grub” for the starving taste-buds. At the end of the knight it would be USC signee Isaiah Mobley that would nail two clutch freethrows with 1.5 seconds to go to capture the BattleZone over a talented and well-coached Centennial squad.
Makur Maker (Orange Lutheran)
2020, PF, 6-foot-11, 220 pounds
Joel’s Take: Makur transferred into Orange Lutheran in the Fall and to say he has made an impact on So-Cal basketball is an understatement. The lengthy 4-man has an impeccable touch from beyond the arc, solid ball skills in the open court, and he can finish with authority in transition. He floats around the perimeter a bit too much for my liking, but that is the culture we live in today.
Onyeka Okongwu (Chino Hills)
2019, PF, 6-foot-8, 240 pounds
Joel’s Take: Okongwu appears to be in very good shape and the results have been outstanding. He had an epic dual with the Mobley twins in the semis and was the difference in leading his team to a 3rd Place finish in the BattleZone. Okongwu possesses excellent footwork, magnetic hands, and a feathery touch. At this event he dominated the paint area at both ends, but he’s fully capable of knocking in elbow jump shots.
Jahmai Mashack (Etiwanda)
2021, SG, 6-foot-4, 180 pounds
Joel’s Take: Mashack is in the running for No. 1 prospect in the 2021 class. The high motor scoring guard plays at a relentless pace and he has become more fundamentally sound on the offensive end. He can slash to the rim, nail the pull-up jump shot, crash the offensive glass, or hand out the nifty assist. Defensively, he slides his feet well and has the length to be an elite defender one day.
Derrick Carter-Hollinger Jr. (Foothills Christian)
2019, SG, 6-foot-5, 185 pounds
Joel’s Take: Carter-Hollinger is arguably one of the Top 5 scorers in the West. The king of the “mid-range” game can nail the jump shot from deep or off the dribble in the paint. His length allows him to shoot over defenders and his ability to score in the paint is uncanny. His 1st step is solid, but his ball handling can get sloppy at times when pressured. Overall though he is a steal for Montana.
Evan Mobley (Rancho Christian)
2020, PF, 6-foot-11, 210 pounds
Joel’s Take: While older brother Isaiah was doing all the dirty work, the younger Mobley flashed the skills and mind-blowing athleticism that makes him the No. 1 prospect in the country. He handles the ball like a baby Durant and his shooting touch is special too. Add in the fact that he is a high-level shot blocker and finisher provides plenty of evidence of his vast potential.
Isaiah Mobley (Rancho Christian)
2019, PF, 6-foot-9, 235 pounds
Joel’s Take: Arguably the most improved senior prospect in Southern California, Mobley had all his offensive repertoire in effect at the BattleZone. He converted buckets inside and out, delivered nifty assists to his teammates, and converted clutch plays in the 2nd half in his team’s methodical comeback against Centennial.