HUSTLESZN 17u Standouts (Part I)
Thousand Oaks, Ca. — The Prep Hoops Circuit kicked off in grand fashion at the Mamba Sports Academy over the weekend, bringing together some of the top club programs on the west coast for a competitive three-day event. Here is…
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Continue ReadingThousand Oaks, Ca. — The Prep Hoops Circuit kicked off in grand fashion at the Mamba Sports Academy over the weekend, bringing together some of the top club programs on the west coast for a competitive three-day event.
Here is the first set of the standout players from the 17u level:
Nick Bowden, Los Angeles Elite
The St. Bernard high school product is getting the opportunity to play exclusively on the ball and it worked out quite well for all involved as LA Elite won the 17u title behind the energy of its 6-foot point guard. Bowden has good speed in the open court which allows him to get into the paint at-will and he displayed improved passing and decision-making capabilities. The senior-to-be is well known in So-Cal for his shooting ability and he made plenty of deep 3-point shots on the weekend.
Jake Hlywiak, Los Angeles Elite
Hlywiak is one of the better catch-and-shoot guys from 3-point range in the area, but his deep ball wasn’t falling at the consistent clip that we’re used to, so he helped his team in other ways. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard scored from the mid-range level with pull-ups and got to the cup and put pressure on rim protectors. Hlywiak’s clutch four-point play in the semifinals propelled LA Elite to the title game.
Valencia High and Los Angeles Elite shooting guard Jake Hlywiak had a strong weekend at the Prep Hoops HustleSZN Kick Off.Kiimani Holt, Powerhouse Hoops
When it comes to athletic ability – both in the open floor and among the trees – Holt was matched by few in those categories. At 6-feet-4 and a solid 185 pounds, the wing out of Arizona can score in a variety of ways whether it’s in transition with a dunk or powering through contact on a drive to the paint in the half-court setting. Holt showed his defensive versatility and rebounding ability, as well.
Jaren Johnson, The Truth
Johnson was one of the top next-level prospects at the event because of his ability to create for others on the ball or play off of it and dial in more as a scorer. The Lynwood High product is long and rangy at 6-feet-4, can defend multiple positions, and utilizes his length and leaping abilities to clean the defensive glass. Johnson rose to prominence in SoCal with his shooting and upside, but he’s continued to add and improve upon many layers of his game.
Evan Nelson, Powerhouse Hoops
Nelson might have been the most complete player in the building on the weekend. The 6-foot-2 point guard is both strong and explosive which makes him a difficult cover both in transition and in the half-court setting. The Salpointe star out of Tucson rarely made a bad decision, took care of the basketball, and knocked down open shots within the flow of the offense.
Matthew Rivera, Gamepoint
Rivera was one of the more under-the-radar players to have a big weekend in Thousand Oaks. The forward out of Vista high school in San Diego made a number of eyebrow raising plays in the open court, surprising those who haven’t seen him play with improved ball skills and playmaking in the open court. Rivera is a hard-nosed and high motor guy on both ends of the floor who has a knack for making good things happen.
Jalen Vazquez, Bobcats Red Elite
Vazquez, just a freshman, was playing up a handful of levels for a team made up mostly of local South Bay talent. The Bishop Montgomery point guard comes from good basketball bloodlines as his brother, Josh, was a standout for the Knights and will head to Montana in the fall. Vazquez has earned the nickname “Butter” by those close to him because of the smoothness in which he operates with the ball in his hands. He played spot minutes on the high school level this past season, but his handful of 20-point scoring performances showed that he was working plenty hard in practice.