A Scout’s Take: Bishop Montgomery vs Corona Centennial (Part 1)

Joel Francisco

February 15, 2022 @ 02:14 PM

A Scout’s Take: Bishop Montgomery vs Corona Centennial (Part 1)   CORONA, Ca-- It was opening night of the CIFSS Open Division pitting perennial power Bishop Montgomery against defending champion Corona Centennial. After a back-and-forth 1st quarter where each team exchanged baskets--some of which were of the spectacular variety, Centennial would put on the after-burners as they cruised to a resounding 78-53 victory. Although it became a lopsided victory, there were a plethora of outstanding performances, especially from one of the elite shooters in the country--that being [player_tooltip player_id="992480" first="Jared" last="McCain"].   MVP [player_tooltip player_id="992480" first="Jared" last="McCain"] (Corona Centennial) 2023, G, 6-foot-3, 185 pounds Joel’s Take: If there was a catalyst for the Huskies opening night win in the CIFSS Open Division pool play, it was definitely McCain. The highly-rated McCain is one of the elite shooters in the country and it was on full display against Bishop Montgomery. He converted from all three levels, including a couple from--dare I say--28-feet? He had his triple threat game going as well as he nailed some nice textbook pull-ups.   Facilitator extraordinaire [player_tooltip player_id="970280" first="Donovan" last="Dent"] (Corona Centennial) 2022, PG, 6-foot-2, 170 pounds Joel’s Take: Dent didn’t have his usual scoring output, but his “true point guard” skill set was on display. There isn’t a guard in Southern California that possesses his lethal combination of burst and change of pace. Once he blows by his defender he can convert at the rim or drop off a nifty assist. Defensively, he is a menace with his active hands and instincts.   “Big” with savvy [player_tooltip player_id="994924" first="Xavier" last="Edmonds"] (Bishop Montgomery) 2023, PF, 6-foot-8, 225 pounds Joel’s Take: Edmonds has done a nice job of tightening up his frame over the past year and as a result he has become much more allusive on the interior. He is blessed with nimble feet, long arms, and soft hands. He can score over either shoulder as he exhibited a sweet lefty hook over rim protector galore--[player_tooltip player_id="994973" first="Devin" last="Williams"]. His touch and rebounding acumen were on display against Centennial as well as his overall great feel for the game as he delivered some nice passes in the half court set.   On the rise Will Smith III (Bishop Montgomery) 2023, WF, 6-foot-4, 185 pounds Joel’s Take: One of the more consistent performers in Southern California is Smith. The well-built Smith is best described as a “solid all-around basketball player.” He impacts the game crashing the glass and getting defensive rebounds and offensive put-backs. In addition, he shows range to the 3-point stripe and his mid-range pull-up is fundamental as well. Combine these skills with his competitive spirit, and you have a winner right here.   Best Prospect [player_tooltip player_id="994973" first="Devin" last="Williams"] (Corona Centennial) 2023, F, 6-foot-9, 190 pounds Joel’s Take: Williams is one of a growing trend in basketball the last decade--”bigs” that like to shoot the 3-ball. His feathery touch was on display, albeit he was only 1-of-3 from beyond the arc, but he didn’t force the issue and allowed the game to come to him. With his ability to defend the rim, sprint the lane in transition, and convert over his shoulder in the paint, make him a high-level prospect. Not to mention the sequence he snatched the rebound and led the break and snapped an open pass to an open shooter.