Five Improved Standout CIF-SS 2020 Forwards/Centers

<p>The high school basketball season has come to an end with many high school seniors now setting their sights on the college level. A select number of players made the most of their final year with their respective teams, including these five 2020 forwards and centers.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="745415" first="Jabari" last="Steward"] — Compton</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="745415" first="Jabari" last="Steward"] was undoubtedly the anchor for the Compton Tarbabes on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor.</p> <p>On offense, Steward was one of the most consistent double-digit scorers in the Moore League. At 6’8”, most of his offensive production came down in the low post. He often squared up his defender or attacked the basket with a post-move. However, Steward is not a one-dimensional scorer. The mobility he possesses allowed him to move outside of the paint and become a threat as an outside shooter, which was on full display against league opponents Cabrillo and Long Beach Poly.</p> <p>Over on defense, Steward maintained a strong presence due to his shot-blocking skill set. He has the ability to recover quickly in the paint and reach up to block an opponent’s shot at the rim. His quick reactions to spring into action and swat away layup attempts made him one of the top defenders in the league. And of course, he also cemented his status as an efficient rebounder not only in league play but also throughout the CIF-SS Division 2AA rank.</p> <p>Steward earned yet another All-Moore League First Team selection this past season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="940002" first="Colby" last="Brooks"] — Loyola</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="940002" first="Colby" last="Brooks"] emerged as one of the most underrated 2020 forwards in the CIF-SS Division 1 rank.</p> <p>The senior helped lead the Loyola Cubs to a winning season and an appearance in the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs. As it pertains to his individual season, he rose to the occasion on countless times for his team, which is impressive considering that team's schedule was stacked with top teams like Long Beach Poly and Rolling Hills Prep. He averaged career highs in points per game (15.5) and rebounds per game (7.2).</p> <p>Brooks operated more as both a three and four on the floor. The forward made his physical presence known on both sides of the floor. On offense, he found great success at withstanding pressure from opponents within the paint and was efficient at finishing against heavy traffic. Over on defense, Brooks was always a threat to pounce on turnovers via steals, especially when the Cubs orchestrated a full-court press. Opponents knew that they had to be extremely careful with the ball when moving into the paint as Brooks always seemed to wait for the opportune moment to collect a loose ball and to take it the other way for a fast-break sequence.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="940583" first="Matthew" last="Brookins"] — Westminster</strong></p> <p>It was not the best season for the Westminster Lions as they recorded a 12–17 season record with an early elimination in the CIF-SS Division 3A playoffs. Nonetheless, [player_tooltip player_id="940583" first="Matthew" last="Brookins"] still made the best of his senior season.</p> <p>Brookins finished the season averaging 18.5 points per game along with 1.5 blocks per game. The 6’6” talent was not a conventional forward but rather resembled somewhat of a stretch four. Sure, he can dominate down low in the post and take advantage of size mismatches. But the forward also ran the floor very well for a player his size and shot from outside the paint at a moderate rate.</p> <p>When watching him play, one would surely be impressed with how great of a rebounder he is. The forward finished the campaign averaging a team-high 9.5 rebounds per game and recorded a couple of 15+ rebound showings. The high motor mentality that he plays with is encapsulated over in this area of his game. Whether on the offensive or defensive end, he wills his way to rack up board after board.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="940573" first="Riley" last="Schroeder"] — Villa Park</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="940573" first="Riley" last="Schroeder"] is a talent that should not be overlooked.</p> <p>The 6’6” forward orchestrated a sound season with 16.8 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game for Villa Park. He did just about what is expected out of a talent who can play the two or three positions. He scored at an efficient rate with range extending to beyond the arc. While the forward may lack upper body strength to physically outmatch defenders in the low post, it did not stop him from establishing his presence there as well.</p> <p>What struck the most about his game was just how active he is off the ball. The senior was willing to set high screens to open up space on the floor for teammates. He often understood just when to space the floor with his off-ball movements to either wing. These basic fundamentals of off-ball play from Schroeder helped maintain a balanced offense for Villa Park this past season. </p> <p><strong>Kobi Malone — Compton</strong></p> <p>Kobi Malone was somewhat of an under-the-radar prospect heading into this season. [player_tooltip player_id="745415" first="Jabari" last="Steward"] was the one on the team garnering most of the outside attention — and deservedly so. However, Malone wound up hauling in attention over the season thanks to his improved play, which also helped in forming the formidable one-two punch alongside Steward.</p> <p>Malone made great strides in his game due to his versatility. He played at the two and three for Compton because of his length at 6’4”. His versatility provided Compton with a multitude of options on just what they wanted to build their offensive attacks around. For one, Malone helped in answering this team dilemma with his improved 3-point shot. His length and extension on the shot allowed him to hit from beyond the arc even when faced with a defender closing up on him in catch-and-shoot situations.</p> <p>The emergence of his 3-point shot coupled with multiple double-digit scoring performances made for a stock rising senior campaign.</p> <p>Like teammate Steward, Malone’s solid season earned him All-Moore League First Team honors. </p>