Fall College Showcase – Third Team
This month’s Fall College Showcase featured about 90 individual players, who came from as far as Las Vegas, in the Gamepoint Facility in San Marcos. Co-hosted by Coastal Elite, Gamepoint and the Cali Rebels travel basketball organizations, many of the…
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Continue ReadingThis month’s Fall College Showcase featured about 90 individual players, who came from as far as Las Vegas, in the Gamepoint Facility in San Marcos.
Co-hosted by Coastal Elite, Gamepoint and the Cali Rebels travel basketball organizations, many of the players were affiliated with those programs, while some came for additional exposure.
At the end of the event, about 60 kids were selected for the Top 20, 40 and 60 games.
We start the event breakdown with the first, second and third all-showcase teams, followed by reports looking at other standouts by position.
Fall College Showcase – All-Showcase Third Team
Martin Gumwel Martin Gumwel 6'11" | C Rancho Christian | 2023 State CA-S , 6-11 2023 C, Rancho Christian
Had Gumwel competed in the Top 20 game, he would have landed higher. But a wrist injury shortened his day. It’s easy to point out areas where Gumwel needs to grow as a prospect, namely in the area of post footwork and feel. But his strengths- an excellent motor and rim runner, his assertive establishment of post position and his shot blocking and rebounding – can’t be ignored either.
Cruz Billings, 5-7 2022 PG, Santa Ana Foothill
Billings was one of my favorite players in the gym Saturday. The cat quick guard changes speeds effectively and gets into the paint at will. His ability to draw doubles and kick to open players is uncanny. Additionally, he is strong enough to finish at the basket through contact. Defensively, he plays lower than the ball handler and uses his active hands to create live ball turnovers. Billings could help a lower-level college for sure.
Ben Starks, 7-0 2022 C, San Clemente
As far as available post prospects in Southern California, Starks might have the most long-term upside in the senior class. He has good size, footwork and touch around the basket and out to the short corner or midpost, and is mobile and moves well enough to defend the paint at the college level. He needs additional strength and work, but he’s a project worth investing in if I am a D2 program.
Jaden Matusalem, 6-0 2022 G, Mt Carmel
Matusalem has had a really good fall with his high school team, and he continued his strong play at the individual showcase, knocking down jump shots, scoring from midrange and short range off the bounce or creating in the pick and roll. Matusalem is one of those prospects who doesn’t pass the eye test, but is very effective. An NAIA or a D3 would be getting a steal.
Mac West, 6-4 2022 G/W, Capistrano Valley Christian
West is a jack of all trades, although he does possess elite athleticism. The bouncy, rangy combo guard can knock down midrange jumpers (really good attacking down hill to set up that shot), and can get to the basket and finish through traffic. He is a very good on-ball defender and rebounder for a guard, and there’s the athleticism: he can finish above the rim with the best of them.