Top Underclassmen at WCE Elite 100
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Ryan Silver’s West Coast Elite held the Elite-100 on November 27th-29th at the Phhacility in Phx, AZ. 450 players from all over the United States participated. I watched the Underclassmen from New Mexico compete. Below is a list of standouts…
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Continue ReadingRyan Silver’s West Coast Elite held the Elite-100 on November 27th-29th at the Phhacility in Phx, AZ. 450 players from all over the United States participated. I watched the Underclassmen from New Mexico compete.
Below is a list of standouts from the sophomore and freshman class:
2023:
Donovan Black Donovan Black 6'6" | PF Del Valle | 2023 State TX – SF 6’5 Onate
Donovan has improved tremendously on his defense. He has good size and is a strong long SF. He is a very active player who lives underneath the rim. This kid is a big time shot blocker. He plays very well above the rim and gets a ton of rebounds.
Areas of improvement: Donovan is an extremely dynamic and dominant player. He has made major jumps from last year. He needs to work on his stamina to get up and down the court. He is not lazy by any means it’s a stamina thing. Donovan has a huge upside, with him increasing his stamina it will open up his game to a new level.
Judah Casaus Judah Casaus 6'0" | SG Del Norte | 2023 State NM – SG 5’11 Del Norte
Easily one of the top sophomores in New Mexico. Judah is talented and has great combo guard skills. He can find open teammates and shoot the ball at a high efficiency. A solid 3 point shooter with a high basketball IQ. He plays very intense solid defense and can play both sides of the court at a high speed.
Areas of improvement: Like all young players Judah has the tendency to force the ball at times. This is something I have seen in many young players. Although, Judah can force up shots at times he is a complete package who still has a ton of potential to be a college basketball player.
Shane Douma Sanchez – PG 5’11 Del Norte
Shane has a great feel for the game. He utilizes his size which makes him explosive. He shoots the ball well from mid range and can also knock down the long ball. He is solid defender and has the skill to play college basketball.
Areas of improvement: It’s simple he has the talent and tools to be an extremely productive player. He is a bit undersized. Adding more muscle to his frame will go a long way to increasing his stock.
Lorenzo Pacheco – PG 5’11 Atrisco Heritage
Played well and was able to find open players and pass the ball at a high level. A solid player who could give you layups when your team is down.Can shoot the mid range at a high volume.
Areas of improvement: I would really like to see Lorenzo get up and down the court at a faster pace. During the Elite 100 he was lacking in his outside shooting.
Ely Lovato Ely Lovato 6'2" | CG Sandia | 2023 State NM – SG 6’1 Sandia
Natural talent that has a high basketball IQ. He is a good slasher who also can shoot the ball from 3 point and mid range. He is a smart player who understands where and when to find his teammates. I watched him make some great passes during the Elite 100.
Areas of improvement: Ely is still young and makes small mistakes when handling the ball. If he can master the art of when to shoot the ball he will be a huge standout.
2024:
Amari Brown – 6’2 PG Cibola
A flashy lefty with good guard skills. He is an elite slasher who can get to the hole at will. He has great speed and can play both sides well. A solid mid range shooter.
Areas of improvement: Although, Amari is still young he has a great feel for the game. He has a lot of positives on the court. His mid range game is nice but he needs to improve on his outside shooting. Amari also struggles in defense. I saw many players blow past him during the event. If he could lock these two things down he will become an extremely elite player who without a doubt will easily make it to the next level.