Central Cali Showcase Recap: C/O 2023 Game

<p>No one does exposure events like Dinos Trigonis. From the access, to the player information, to the marketing, any event he puts his name on is guaranteed to provide maximum exposure. Friday night’s Central Cali Showcase was no exception. Taking place in Bakersfield, the Pangos brand brought together some of the best talent in Central California. PH takes a look at some of the standouts from the C/O 2023 showcase game.</p> <p><strong>Game MVP: Joaquin Rios 6’1 Wing Stockdale 2023</strong> – A lot of young players can learn from Rios’s MVP performance. It wasn’t so much what he did as it was what he didn’t do. He didn’t press and try to do things he’s not capable of. Instead he used this showcase to highlight his strengths. He sprinted the floor, showed good hands, as well as a soft touch around the rim. A willing defender who contested or blocked several shots, he was one of the most efficient players on the day.</p> <p><strong>Best Prospect: Bentley Waller 5’6 PG GSA Prep 2024</strong> – Waller was one of the younger players on the floor, however you wouldn’t have known it from watching him. He played with great confidence. The 5'6 jitterbug has a terrific handle, and an advanced array of 1 on 1 moves. Using hesitation and spin dribbles, he showed the ability to create separation and get a shot for himself. While I wouldn’t consider him a shooter just yet, he did show the ability to knock down 3’s when defenders backed off. If he grows to be anywhere near 6 feet I expect him to be one of the top guards in the state of California.</p> <p>1^st Team</p> <p><strong>Karsten Adeleye 5’9 SG GSA Prep 2023 – </strong>Adeleye has a nice frame and is a decent athlete. He was at his best off dribble drives and playing downhill in transition. I was impressed with his ability to split defenders yet still maintain the ability to keep his eyes on the rim and finish. He has a nice overall offensive bag and is a willing defender.</p> <p><strong>Mark Sobrepena 5’5 PG Lindsay H.S 2023</strong> – I tried to find any reason I could to keep Sobrepena off my 1^st team list. If Waller is 5’6 then there is no way Sobrepena is anywhere close to 5’5. Despite his size, he was very effective in his time on the floor. He had perhaps the tightest handle of any player not named Waller, and was fearless when attacking the hoop. Obviously his basketball future depends on his size, but I’ll take his heart and go compete anywhere.  </p> <p><strong>Prince Ellis 5’7 PG South 2023</strong> – I really wish I could have seen more Ellis vs Waller matchups. The lefty showed an array of off the dribble moves, including a devastating spin move that left one defender on the ground. Lighting quick PG, he flashed a good handle and showed the ability to finish, and hit mid – range jumpers.</p> <p><strong>Maurice Wright Jr 6’1 Wing Central 2023</strong> – If Wright could have finished half of the layups he tried to dunk he might have ended with 20 points. However I realize this was a showcase game, so I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. He showed a good motor, a decent handle and although he did struggle to finish those dunks, no one could keep him from getting to the rim. If he improves his athleticism and tightens his layup package, we may be looking at a low to mid major guy.</p> <p><strong>Charlie Stump 6’4 PF Bakersfield Christian 2023</strong> – If you’re a big, you have to go into games like these understanding that touches will be limited. Although he didn’t see the ball a ton, there was a lot to like about Stump. For one, he showed up an hour before anyone else, just to work on his game. He’s a good athlete, and was one of the few players in the game already throwing down dunks with ease. He’s a good rebounder and willing defender who protected the rim and contested shots.</p>