Classic at Damien: Freshman Standouts (Pt. 1)

<p>LA VERNE — The 5th annual Classic at Damien post-Christmas tournament is one of the best venues to watch many of the top teams and players in the state. This year’s event was no different, and despite some late and in-tournament drops, we were still able to get a good look at a ton of prospects from SoCal and beyond. In this piece we take a look at a few freshmen who are guys to watch now and to keep track of in the future.</p> <p><strong>Angelino Mark</strong>, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame - Mark has carved out an important role as a back-up point guard on a team that features three future Division 1 players, including Creighton-signee [player_tooltip player_id="748773" first="Ben" last="Shtolzberg"], high-major recruit [player_tooltip player_id="992483" first="Dusty" last="Stromer"] and highly-touted sophomore Jayden Harper. The 6-foot-1 freshman is a speedy and crafty ball-handler who is at his best when coming off of a ball screen to get downhill and into the lane where he can draw defenders and dish or score over length with floaters or body-contorting layups.</p> <p><strong>Brandon Benjamin</strong>, Anaheim Canyon - Benjamin has such a mature game for a young prospect and most of it shows in his low-post game. The 6-foot-3 forward is one of the best back to the basket players in SoCal regardless of class. His ability to seal deep post position and beat his defender with a variety of moves on the block make him an integral piece of the Canyon starting five.  Benjamin has advanced footwork and feel as an interior scorer with up and under moves while finishing with either hand around the basket. </p> <p><strong>Brayden Burries</strong>, Riverside Poly - Burries is one of the more polished all-around scorers in SoCal’s freshman class. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard/wing has great feel as a driver and knows how to use start-and-stop and change of speeds and direction to get by his defender and into the lane where he can absorb and finish through contact. Burries can operate out of ball-screen action and get to a pull-up jumper off the bounce, but is best when getting downhill and putting his body into a defender to create space for a paint basket. </p> <p><strong>Bryce Cofield</strong>, West Ranch - Of all the really good 2025 prospects in SoCal, Cofield might have the most intriguing combination of size, length and athleticism among them. The 6-foot-5 wing is an effective transition scorer because of the aforementioned traits combined with his body control and high motor when running the floor and filling lanes or in straight-line drive attacking situations. Cofield has all the tools to become an elite on-ball and perimeter defender, and while he possesses a high ceiling, the freshman has some work to do to his perimeter shooting and shot selection.</p> <p><strong>Elzie Harrington</strong>, St. John Bosco - Harrington has continued to show his advanced all-around feel for the game at the point guard position. Few prospects in the class can play with the pace and IQ that the 6-foot-4 freshman has with the ball in his hands. Harrington is poised and patient in ball-screen action, makes the correct reads on when to hit a rolling big, kick to an open shooter or throw back to a shooter in pick and pop action. Harrington has great change of speed and direction in the half-court setting, allowing him to get paint touches at any point in a possession.</p>