Best of the West Shootout: 17u/16u Standouts (Pt. 5)
The Pangos Best of the West Shootout was one of very few club basketball events to take place in Southern California due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The event featured some solid SoCal-based programs and individual talents at Ladera Sports Center…
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Continue ReadingThe Pangos Best of the West Shootout was one of very few club basketball events to take place in Southern California due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
The event featured some solid SoCal-based programs and individual talents at Ladera Sports Center in South Orange County. Below is my second set of standouts from the 17u/16u level games I was able to get my eyes on. Below is part five of the standout players from this event.
DJ Allen DJ Allen 6'6" | SF St. Anthony | 2021 State CA-S , 2021, St. Anthony: Allen missed most of last season due to injury, but looked back to full health in this event. The 6-foot-7 swingman has a long, wiry frame with a smooth smoothing stroke and range to the three-point line. The senior has intriguing stretch four ability at the next level.
Alpha Chibambe Alpha Chibambe 6'4" | SF JSerra | 2022 CA-S , 2022, Ocean City: One of the better transition athletes in SoCal regardless of class continues to show that he’s adding skill to his game. The 6-foot-5 wing finishes through contact and above the rim on the break, but is becoming a respectable three-point shooter and guy who can create shots for himself off the bounce.
Jazz Gardner Jazz Gardner 7'0" | C Los Altos | 2023 State #85 Nation CA-S , 2023, Belmont Shore: Gardner is one of the region’s top 2023 prospects because of his versatility at 6-feet-10. Gardner can score inside and out with touch with both hands around the basket and the ability to stretch the floor to three-point range. The sophomore big man is mobile in transition and has the ball skills and footwork to execute ball screen and dribble hand off action.
Evan Record, 2022, Coastal Elite Slayers: Record is a small, but crafty guard who uses his speed and quick first step to get into the paint, draw defenders and kick to open teammates. The 5-foot-9 junior moves well without the ball and knocks down three-pointers with deep and consistent range.
Jake Simon, 2022, Ocean City: Simon is a guy out of San Juan Hills high school in Orange County who I wasn’t too familiar with, but he made an impression in this event. The 6-foot-5 forward plays with a high motor, rebounds the defensive glass in and out of his area and welcomes physicality when finishing in the painted area. Simon is a good vertical athlete who attacks the rim aggressively.
Makaih Williams Makaih Williams 6'1" | PG Capistrano Valley Christian | 2022 State CA-S , 2022, St. Anthony: Williams is an intriguing scoring guard who will have an increased offensive role for the Saints this season. The 6-foot-1 junior has a deep scoring arsenal complete with a smooth catch-and-shoot three-point shot, a soft-touch floater and the ability to get by defenders and into the paint in isolation situations.