SoCal’s 2022 Breakout Candidates (Pt. 2)

With many states, including California, still struggling to figure out how to play the high school basketball season amid increasing COVID-19 case numbers, we wanted to take a closer look at each class in our region.

In this piece, we break down the players who would have broken out at this point in the season for their high school teams if it had gone as normally scheduled.

Alpha Chibambe Alpha Chibambe 6'4" | SF JSerra | 2022 CA-S , JSerra – The ultra-athletic wing broke onto the SoCal high school basketball scene with his explosive transition leaping and scoring ability, but this season he was ready to prove that his perimeter guard skill-set has come a long way. The. 6-foot-5 junior improved his jump shot, shot creating off the bounce and all-around ball skills to the point where he’s shown that he can operate at the off-guard spot on the perimeter and rebound and push the break in transition.

Chol Deng Chol Deng 6'4" | SF Fairmont Prep | 2022 State CA-S , Fairmont Prep – We were looking forward to getting an extended look at Deng this high school season as he showed plenty of flashes of high level production in our minimal views last year. The rangy 6-foot-4 wing/guard can score in a variety of ways, including slashing his way to the bucket in transition and finishing through and over contact in addition to his pull-up shooting ability off the bounce. With high scoring combo guard Atin Wright Atin Wright 5'11" | SG Fairmont Prep | 2020 State CA-S graduated and at Cal State Northridge, Deng would have seen an increase in touches and offensive opportunities this season.

Lewis Singleterry IV Lewis Singleterry IV 5'10" | PG Chaparral | 2022 State CA-S , Murrieta Mesa – The no-nonsense point guard got some exposure with his Gamepoint travel team this fall and winter, but of course we were looking forward to get a glimpse of this high level competitor on the high school scene. Singleterry is a physical and tough lead guard whose strength, speed and downhill scoring ability make him a tough cover in the transition setting. Singleterry is also a high level on-ball defender who applies tremendous pressure to the ball handler and creates turnovers with his quick hands and ability to contain.

JQ Strong JQ Strong 6'7" | SF Villa Park | 2022 State CA-S , St. Bernard – Strong was starting to add production to go along with his physical upside when he became eligible for the Vikings midway through the season last year. This season, with high-scoring wing Reese Dixon-Waters Reese Dixon-Waters 6'5" | SG St. Bernard | 2021 State #79 Nation CA-S enrolling early at USC, Strong would have seen a lot more touches and opportunity at the offensive end of the floor. The 6-foot-7 forward is developing into a skilled inside-out scoring threat and we’re eager to see him back on the hardwood soon.