Francisco’s Finest: Class of 2021 Improvements (Centers)
Francisco’s Finest: Class of 2021 Improvements (Centers) LONG BEACH, CA—Devin Ugland, one of the better evaluators in the country, did an outstanding job of breaking down—by position—the best prospects in the Class of 2021. In a four part series, I…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingFrancisco’s Finest: Class of 2021 Improvements (Centers)
LONG BEACH, CA—Devin Ugland, one of the better evaluators in the country, did an outstanding job of breaking down—by position—the best prospects in the Class of 2021. In a four part series, I will dig a little bit deeper and present the areas of the game for many of these prospects that need to be addressed to improve their production at both ends of the floor.
For example, what does the No. 1 prospect in the class—that being Peyton Watson—need to implement in his game for it to go to a new level? Etiwanda’s Jahmai Mashack is a tremenous defender, but what element of his game needs improvement? These are just two examples of what is going to be addressed in the following blogs.
Harold YU (Sierra Canyon)
7-foot-3, 260 pounds
YU’s game has improved immensely in the past year.Joel’s Take: YU has improved considerably in the past year. As with most “bigs”, it takes time to mature as a player, and YU is no exception. At his size and weight, it’s remarkable to see the improved footwork and agility. His rim protection and rebounding in traffic have improved and he has always had soft hands. Finishing in the paint and timing have improved as well, but he still needs to improve his mobility. In today’s game, 5-men need to be versatile defenders as in the case of hedging and being able to recover after being screened—not too mention transitioning from one end of the court to the other.
Dillon Wilhite (Cathedral Catholic)
6-foot-8, 230 pounds
Joel’s Take: The most fundamentally sound 5-man of this bunch is Wilhite. His footwork and fundamentals are tight. He keeps the ball up, shows good pivot work on the block, and he has soft hands. He flashes middle for the finish, invites contact, and has a nice touch from the elbow. Improving his bounce and overall quickness in the paint are areas that need attention.
Garrett Andre (Villa Park)
6-foot-9, 215 pounds
Joel’s Take: The willowy Andre has improved each and every season. Even as a freshman, he exhibited nimble feet and he was a fluid runner in transition. In addition, he showed a nice touch inside and out to the elbow. However, he was extremely light and played too straight up and down. Those areas have improved, but strength and playing on balance (bent knees/playing wide) are two key components of his game that need attention.
Steven Jammerson (Crespi)
6-foot-7, 210 pounds
Joel’s Take: Jammerson is a long-armed 5-man who has good length and soft hands. He can finish in transition, shows solid bounce around the rim, and can run pick-and-roll. He has the agility to guard on the perimeter and length to cause havoc in the passing lanes. To take his game to a another level, he needs to expand his offensive game. Extending the range on his shot during a pick-and-pop scenario and being able to finish through contact with either hand will enhance his development.
Daniel Rouzan (Eisenhower)
6-foot-7, 215 pounds
Rouzan is a fundamentally sound prospect with a good feel for the game.Joel’s Take: One of the more skilled centers in So-Cal is Rouzan. He has good hands and feet and his scoring package is versatile (inside-and-out). He can turn over both shoulders for the conversion and he has an overall excellent feel for the game. However, he is not a quick jumper and he’s pretty much a rim-level player. Improving his explosiveness will enhance his recruitment.