#NEXTWestCoastKickoff | 6th Grade Standouts (Pt. 1)
Ladera Ranch, Cal. — The Prep Hoops Next West Coast Kick-off featured a sixth-grade division deep with individual talent from the Class of 2027. Several prospects were talented enough to play “up” an age and grade division providing additional opportunities…
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Continue ReadingLadera Ranch, Cal. — The Prep Hoops Next West Coast Kick-off featured a sixth-grade division deep with individual talent from the Class of 2027. Several prospects were talented enough to play “up” an age and grade division providing additional opportunities for their games to be evaluated. In the first installment of a three-part feature, we turn the spotlight towards the tournament’s youngest division, and breakdown the players that impressed the most…
Darrell Bagsby III | Hawthorne, CA | Class of 2027
Nicknamed “Boogie”, the five-foot spark plug was a crowd favorite playing with The Truth (CA) during the West Coast Kick-off. Despite his stature, Bagsby was extremely efficient while competing in the seventh-grade division, serving in ball-handling and scoring roles for his team. Due to his quickness and an aggressive approach, opposing defenders struggled to stay in front of the diminutive floor general, and he also displayed effectiveness as a catch-and-shoot threat on the perimeter. Although The Truth (CA) fell short in the championship game, Bagsby’s seventeen-point performance further emphasized that he belongs on this list.
Braxton Caruso | Gilbert, AZ | Class of 2027
The most dominant team, regardless of division, at the Prep Hoops Next West Coast Kick-off was Sneaker Steal (CA) and the squad’s most productive player was Caruso. His reliable rebounding and finishing abilities around the basket make this group one of the region’s best. A big-bodied post player, the six-footer has an enormous height advantage over the majority of his peers at the sixth-grade level, and is a force to be reckoned with on the interior. The average margin of victory for Sneaker Steal (CA) was more than 35 points per game and Caruso was a significant contributor in helping his club achieve such incredible supremacy.
Davis DuBost | Dana Point, CA | Class of 2027
DuBost helped lead 5onfive Basketball (CA) on a remarkable run to the championship game in the event’s sixth-grade division. A 5-foot-10 forward, DuBost brought excellent size to the court for his team, but also showcased an immense level of skill. One of the weekend’s most versatile performers in the Class of 2027, based on his athleticism and overall dexterity, it’s likely DuBost will find his long-term positional fit on the perimeter. However, he did a fantastic job of capitalizing on mismatches wherever he located them on the floor throughout the Prep Hoops Next West Coast Kick-off.
Bryce Fletcher | Torrance, CA | Class of 2027
From my point of view, Fletcher proved to be one of the more underrated players on the Sneaker Steal (CA) roster during their journey to the sixth-grade title at the Prep Hoops Next West Coast Kick-off. Due to a deep roster flooded with talent at nearly every position, even the best players were forced to pick their spots to attack, which resulted in a much more balanced boxscore for the tournament champions. Simply put, Fletcher’s combination of size and skill level are intriguing qualities as a backcourt prospect. Expect the 5-foot-6 guard’s game to continue to flourish in the coming months.
Dax Hall | Solana Beach, CA | Class of 2027
Not to be outdone by his big brother, Jake Hall, each of the Hall siblings logged impressive weekends at the Prep Hoops Next West Coast Kick-off, as both received “top performer” honors. The younger Hall made a statement while playing “up” a grade division with the San Diego Prospects (CA) seventh-grade team. Although the 5-foot-4 guard has yet to hit his stride physically, he brings a big game to the hardwood in the form of reliable perimeter shooting, and all-around playmaking ability. Hall began the event with a 19 point outing, which included five three-pointers, and didn’t look back from there as his team finished with a 3-1 record.
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