Magic Memorial Day Tournament – 2020 San Diego Standouts
For players, programs and media alike, the Compton Magic Memorial Day tournament has become a rite of passage. The final tournament of the spring grassroots season brings a number of the top Adidas programs on the West Coast, as well…
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Continue ReadingFor players, programs and media alike, the Compton Magic Memorial Day tournament has become a rite of passage.
The final tournament of the spring grassroots season brings a number of the top Adidas programs on the West Coast, as well as many of the best non-sponsored programs, to Orange Lutheran and surrounding gyms for the grueling, four-day affair.
And with so much basketball, there’s a lot of reporting to do.
Next up, I return to my wheelhouse: San Diego, and the 2020 standouts from my city.
Magic Memorial Day Tournament – 2020 San Diego Standouts
Chibuzo Agbo, 6-7 F, Compton Magic
Agbo’s perimeter shooting was on full display throughout the weekend. He has become a very good catch-and-shoot threat, especially from the wing. Defensively, he’s better suited guarding four men, and gives great energy on the glass.
Yassine Gharram, 6-3 PG, Compton Magic
Gharram continued his strong spring campaign by making dazzling assists in the halfcourt and transition. A true PG in every sense of the word, Gharram has also improved his ability to score around the basket and get the foul line. The other area where Gharram continues to show growth is his midrange pull-up which is a weapon now.
Emmett Neal Jr., 6-5 SG, Gamepoint Elite
Neal is one of the more intriguing scoring guards on the West Coast. He’s flat-footed and isn’t a great athlete, but his understanding of footwork, change of speed and assertiveness allows him to score at a prolific clip. He also shoots it well off the catch.
Bryson Stephens, 5-11 PG, Gamepoint Elite
The ultra-athletic point guard showed off a much improved offensive repertoire. In a Battlezone game against EBO, he hit three threes in the first half, and scored off the dribble. At 5-11, he’s a threat to finish above the rim as well. Stephens also has the length and foot speed to be a lockdown defender, but his effort level needs more consistency.
Deshaun Cooper, 6-9 C, Gamepoint Elite
Cooper dunks everything. And hard. Whether off the lob, offensive rebound or a simple dump down, Cooper is looking to finish above the rim. Defensively, he is a very good rim protector and defensive rebounder to boot. Always gives great effort.
Albert Pichardo, 6-3 SF, SDA Soldiers Gold
Pichardo is a walking mismatch on the court. Against smaller guards, he overpowers them off the drive and finishes at the rim with good balance. Against bigs, he is too quick and also gets into the lane at will. His jump shot is streaky, but playable too. His biggest attribute is his motor: he constantly attacks and lives on the offensive boards.
Jadyn James, 5-11 PG, SDA Soldiers Gold
James is kind of the yin to the “yang” of the rest of the Soldiers guards. He brings a calm to the court, plays with great pace, and has an understated – yet big – impact on the game. James is a solid passer out of the pick-and-roll, and scores it from all three levels.
Savaughn Davis, 6-3 G, SDA Soldiers Gold
Davis is a bucket getter. The 6-3 slasher loves to attack the paint and absorb contact and finish at the rim. He gets to the foul line at a high rate because of his fearless penetrating. Davis is also capable of stringing together baskets from three off the catch, placing him firmly in the category of a “streak shooter.” Another area of his game that stands out is his rebounding for his position.