LAGUNA NIGUEL – If you’re looking to project who the best of the freshman class – circa 2020-21 – during the Pacific 12 Conference season will be, you’ve stopped off at the right place. Five members of my…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Subscribe for access to all premium articles and rankings.
Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inLAGUNA NIGUEL – If you’re looking to project who the best of the freshman class – circa 2020-21 – during the Pacific 12 Conference season will be, you’ve stopped off at the right place.
Five members of my first-team choices for the All-Southern California Class of 2020 signed with programs within the conference last November or this spring.
Four of those are projected to be immediate starters: 2019-20 Player of the Year
Ziaire Williams
Ziaire
Williams
6'8" | SF
Sierra Canyon | 2020
State
#9
Nation
CA-S
(Sierra Canyon/Stanford),
Evan Mobley
Evan
Mobley
6'11" | PF
Rancho Christian | 2020
State
#1
Nation
CA-S
(Rancho Christian/USC),
Josh Christopher
Josh
Christopher
6'4" | SG
Mayfair | 2020
State
#11
Nation
CA-S
(Mayfair/Arizona State) and
Ian Martinez
Ian
Martinez
6'3" | SG
JSerra | 2020
State
#47
Nation
CA-S
(JSerra/Utah).
The fifth,
Jaylen Clark
Jaylen
Clark
6'4" | SF
Etiwanda | 2020
State
#108
Nation
CA-S
(Etiwanda), may not be a starter for a UCLA program that returns more key players than anyone else in the conference but should make a strong push for significant playing time.
Look for Mobley (pictured), Williams, Christopher and Martinez to be the leading candidates for Pac 12 Freshman of the Year as well as for all-conference honors.
SoCal Class of 2020 Most Outstanding Player
Ziaire Williams Ziaire Williams 6'8" | SF Sierra Canyon | 2020 State #9 Nation CA-S 6-8 Sierra Canyon Stanford
Comment: The Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks transfer made his Trailblazers’ debut on Dec. 30 in the Classic at Damien/Platinum final vs. Sierra Canyon.
First Team All-SoCal Class of 2020
Devin Askew Devin Askew 6'3" | PG Mater Dei | 2020 State #18 Nation CA-S 6-4 Mater Dei Kentucky
Comment: Jumped up a class when it became apparent there was going to be a PG need in Lexington.
B.J. Boston 6-7 Sierra Canyon Kentucky
Comment: Should be one of four freshmen in the Wildcats’ lineup.
Josh Christopher
Josh
Christopher
6'4" | SG
Mayfair | 2020
State
#11
Nation
CA-S
6-4 Mayfair Arizona State
Comment: The most difficult player in the state to prevent from getting to the rim off the dribble.
Jaylen Clark
Jaylen
Clark
6'4" | SF
Etiwanda | 2020
State
#108
Nation
CA-S
6-5 Etiwanda UCLA
Comment: Three-season standout at Centennial before moving to another IE power program.
Paris Dawson Paris Dawson 6'1" | PG Corona Centennial | 2020 State #356 Nation CA-S 6-2 Corona Centennial Portland State
Comment: Took firm grip on the Huskies’ reins after several classmates transferred; Most Outstanding Player at Tarkanian Classic/National Division.
Keith Dinwiddie Keith Dinwiddie 6'2" | SG Fairfax | 2020 State #275 Nation CA-S 6-3 Fairfax San Diego State
Comment: Shared L.A. City Player of the Year honors with Fidelis Okereke Fidelis Okereke 6'6" | C King/Drew | 2020 State CA-S .
Ty Harper Ty Harper 6'2" | CG Santa Clarita Christian | 2020 State CA-S 6-4 Santa Clarita Christian Prep School/TBD
Comment: By way of Arizona and Georgia, helped his team bag the CIF SS
Andre Henry
Andre
Henry
6'4" | CG
St. Francis | 2020
State
#384
Nation
CA-S
6-3 St. Francis UC Irvine
Comment: Helped his squad earn a trip to Sacramento before the COVID-19 wheels came off.
Mason Hooks Mason Hooks 6'10" | C Harvard-Westlake | 2020 State #271 Nation CA-S 6-10 Harvard-Westlake Princeton
Comment: His low-post power and skill anchored the program’s run to the CIF SS Open Division playoffs.
Ian Martinez Ian Martinez 6'3" | SG JSerra | 2020 State #47 Nation CA-S 6-3 JSerra Utah
Comment: The most spectacular Orange County-based player for the past two seasons.
Evan Mobley
Evan
Mobley
6'11" | PF
Rancho Christian | 2020
State
#1
Nation
CA-S
7-0 Rancho Christian USC
Comment: The No. 1 “prospect” in this national class.
Fidelis Okereke Fidelis Okereke 6'6" | C King/Drew | 2020 State CA-S 6-7 King/Drew Cal State Northridge
Comment: The most underrated post in SoCal in this class.
Clark Slajchert Clark Slajchert 6'1" | SG Oak Park | 2020 State #272 Nation CA-S 6-1 Oak Park Pennsylvania
Comment: He and Mason Hooks Mason Hooks 6'10" | C Harvard-Westlake | 2020 State #271 Nation CA-S should have some sweet Ivy League battles over four years.
Devin Tillis Devin Tillis 6'6" | SF Windward | 2020 State CA-S 6-5 Windward UNLV
Comment: By the time he’s a sophomore, Tillis could be an all-MWC caliber performer in Las Vegas.