Pulliam’s Perspective: West Coast Kick-off | 8th Grade Posts
Ladera Ranch, Cal. — As coverage concludes from the eighth-grade division at the recent Prep Hoops Next West Coast Kick-off, focus shifts to the most productive and promising post prospects that the event had to offer. Expect the names on…
Access all of Prep Hoops Next and Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingLadera Ranch, Cal. — As coverage concludes from the eighth-grade division at the recent Prep Hoops Next West Coast Kick-off, focus shifts to the most productive and promising post prospects that the event had to offer. Expect the names on this list of performers to continue to make waves on the West Coast in the coming years as their games hit the high school scene…
Tyler Bright | Las Vegas, NV | Class of 2025
Bright was a key contributor to West Coast Select’s run to the championship game at the West Coast Kick-off. The 6-foot-6 post offers some modern-day skills but there’s also a throwback nature to his game reminiscent of a more conventional big man. Bright can play with his back to the basket and doesn’t shy away from contact in the paint. He was immersed in his team’s offensive sets, remaining in constant motion, whether setting screens and rolling or popping for scoring opportunities, as well as securing rebounds on the interior. His explosiveness will be a factor in determining his ceiling as a prospect but Bright is immensely effective at this stage.
Kory Dodson | Riverside, CA | Class of 2025
Dodson’s motor did not go unnoticed at the West Coast Kick-off. The “Team DTermined (CA)” prospect competed with tremendous energy and was a major force on the glass. His offensive production came primarily from putbacks and drop-offs in the lane but Dodson also displayed flashes of high-post ability, showcasing passing touch and the ability to attack the rim while facing the basket. A 6-foot-4 “tweener” forward, he presented several mismatches for opposing teams, as he was quicker than taller defenders and too powerful for smaller ones. A versatile athlete, Dodson should have an immediate impact for Riverside Poly (CA) High School.
Caspian Jones | Phoenix, AZ | Class of 2025
Suiting up for one of the best teams on the West Coast in the Class of 2025, Jones has carved out a role for himself on the A.E.B.C. (AZ) roster, and it was gratifying to see him take part in their championship run at the West Coast Kick-off while playing meaningful minutes. The 6-foot-5 forward is a vertical athlete with the length and springiness off the floor to compete at rim-level. He proved to have adequate timing as an interior defender as well as a fairly reliable set of hands, altering a number of shots in the lane, while also ripping down boards for his club. It will be interesting to see how his game evolves as his all-around skills continue to develop.
Mark Lavrenov | Rocklin, CA | Class of 2025
Standing 6-foot-6, Lavrenov has the physical measurements to have an impact on the game, particularly at the eighth-grade level. While the young post player is certainly raw, and is still coming into his own as far as his basketball persona, there’s a reason Y.B.A. Elite (CA) has taken an interest in his development while providing Lavrenov the minutes necessary to improve his skills and confidence. It’s difficult to simulate game action, so his court time at the West Coast Kick-off was essential, and the Northern California prospect certainly has potential if only considering his size alone.
Daniel Lovato | Albuquerque, NM | Class of 2025
Lovato has emerged as a top performer on the Prep Hoops Next circuit, having put together a pair of solid showings at the Southwest Kick-off, and now more recently, the West Coast Kick-off. A 6-foot-5 forward with an abundance of offensive tools at his disposal, the J.B. White Elite (NM) prospect has been extremely effective in scoring the basketball. He’s shown a soft shooting touch in the paint as well as the ability to get past opponents and finish plays in the lane when attacking from the perimeter. His athleticism and fluidity translate well to the floor and Lovato is learning to exploit mismatches to his advantage.
Marc McIntosh | San Diego, CA | Class of 2025
I was very surprised to reference the roster and see McIntosh listed at a mere 6-foot-3 because he plays much bigger for his San Diego Prospects (CA) team. Regardless, the lengthy and athletic forward accepted the challenges thrown his way, and embraced several difficult defensive assignments against taller opponents during the West Coast Kick-off tournament. He’s an unrelenting competitor, with an edge of toughness to his game, and brought a non-stop motor to the hardwood for his squad throughout the weekend. Although he projects as a wing at the next level, give McIntosh credit for adapting to a role that his club needed him to fill.
Tyrell Miller | Los Angeles, CA | Class of 2025
A strong and sturdy bruiser in the lane, Miller makes life easier for his teammates in the Team All Or Nothing (CA) backcourt. While the Team A.O.N. guards applied pressure that often extended past halfcourt during the West Coast Kick-off, Miller anchored the interior, providing athleticism in the paint with enough of a shot-blocking and rebounding presence to allow the others on the floor to leak out in transition. The 6-foot-5 forward has a mature frame and is a reliable finisher from the low-block. He’ll need to continue to develop his face-up skills but the tools are in place for Miller to emerge as an impact performer at the high school level.
Koa Peat | Tempe, AZ | Class of 2025
Since I got my first look at Peat in December 2020, he’s quickly become one of the most talked-about prospects in the Class of 2025, and one of the most frequently covered players on Prep Hoops Next. It was no surprise that the 6-foot-7 forward led his A.E.B.C. (AZ) squad to the West Coast Kick-off title in convincing fashion. At this stage, Peat can play nearly every position on the floor, but due to his athleticism and array of skills, he projects to be most effective in a “stretch-four” role where he can catch and face the rim offensively while using his size and strength to his advantage on defense.
Nigel Walls | Rio Rancho, NM | Class of 2025
The handful of performances that Walls put together at the West Coast Kick-off were the best set of games that I’ve seen the young post prospect play to date. His confidence is trending upward, and he was the only player in the gym blocking shots at the rim on one end, while knocking down transition three-pointers at the other. The owner of an extremely lean, but also extremely long, 6-foot-8 frame, it’s clear that Walls’ best days are ahead of him on the hardwood. It was promising to see the New Mexico native put together the type of production he did for his J.B. White Elite (NM) team on this particular weekend.
Xander Werner | Chandler, AZ | Class of 2025
Werner filled the role of “tweener” forward for Arizona Select – Tucson (AZ) at the West Coast Kick-off, providing a defensive presence on the interior, and versatility on offense. At nearly 6-foot-4, his all-around contributions should not go unrecognized, as his size, strength, and athleticism allowed his club to compete with the top tier of teams in the tournament’s eighth-grade division. The Arizona group closed out their weekend with an impressive 4-1 record as winners of the “Gold Championship” bracket behind a double-double performance from Werner.
Stay tuned for more from Prep Hoops Next!