Hustle Region Kickoff: 17U Names to Know

Who are some other names that we should know from the Hustle Region Kickoff?  Prep Hoops digs in right now! 

Enrique Castro of Texas Pro Skills El Paso (6’2 2023 guard from Coronado).  When I researched Enrique Castro I found out that he is one of the better point guards in the class of 2023 in Texas.  Named an All District player and well spoken of by coaches as a leader.  Then I saw him play and all of that was backed up, and more.  This is a young man that carried out orders by his coach in terms of the structure, and was verbal with his teammates.  Shot the ball well in both games I saw and made hustle plays as well.  Type of player that you can simply trust to handle for most of the game. 

Idalius Coleman of EP Starz (6’4 2023 forward from El Paso Hanks).  What does a team that goes 4-0 on the weekend usually have?  A player that does some of everything for us team every game.  That is Idalius Coleman.  I opened the event watching this team and I saw Coleman do all of the following:  limit the guy he was defending to a single score, throw two outlet passes for full court strikes, create three steals with his defense, grab seven defensive boards and quickly start the transition game, score on a putback, kickout a putback for a perimeter make, survey the floor and move the ball correctly followed by a hard cut, use that length to bother the offense both in help and on ball.  Sure he scored some too but the rest of it was so much important to EP getting four wins.  Idalius is a future college basketball player, he works too hard not to be.  As the skills keep coming the opportunity should as well.  

Jacob Lucas of Gamepoint Inland Empire (6’1 2023 guard from Lakeside).  In watching Lucas the word that came to mind was quickness in everything he did.  And not just a decent quickness, more of a unique quickness.  The game that caught my eye Lucas was facing some very talented unsigned senior D1 level guards and he was able to use his quickness for success against that level of talent.  Some examples:  Lucas quickness out of the first move/first step to lift into the shot, the quickness of his release in hitting four threes, the quickness of the floor to catch and put down a dribble while the defense scrambled, and the quickness of the separation move as the defender tried to recover.  Jacob scored 12.3 a game at Lakeside last year, looking like a bright 17u season and senior year upcoming. 

Luis Perez of EP Starz (6’2 2023 guard from El Paso Hanks).  Have to say, when I found out that Perez and Coleman were not only EP Starz teammates, but high school teammates, I wasn’t surprised.  The way they connected on the court also happens during the high school basketball season AND the high school football season.  With Perez hitting Coleman as Perez is the Hanks quarterback.  On the EP Starz basketball team, Perez was the scoring option.  Perimeter jumpers off catch and shooting, perimeter make off dribble, and attacking in transition, Perez did a great job as the combo guard.

Isaiah Waters Isaiah Waters 6'3" | PF Gregori | 2024 CA-N of No Fear (6’5 2023 big from Vanguard College Prep).  Loved watching Waters play.  Think Eugene Edgerson from Arizona back in the way in terms of strength, activity, screen setting, rebounding, etc.   Waters cleared guards with his ball screens at all times and was one of the elite rebounders I saw at the Hustle Region Kickoff.  He had double digit rebounding numbers in both games I saw and looking up his high school numbers, Waters averaged 11 rebounds a game over the winter.  What really caught my eye was his timing.  Isaiah is a strong, thick player but he got off his feet to time three blocks in post defense/help defense in each game.  Also lifted off his feet quickly for putbacks.  Scored 15 a game this winter, hit at least five baskets in both games I saw.  Willing worker.

Cameron Wood Cameron Wood 6'4" | SG Rancho Bernardo | 2023 CA-S of D1 Southern California (6’4 2023 wing from Rancho Bernardo).  I don’t care where it is, if you record a 20 point, 10 rebound game against opposition your age, you had a good day.  And the 20 & 10 from Wood came against No Fear who had two of the fiercest rebounders in the event.  Wood scored from the arc twice and battled for the rest of his production inside.  Wood had a solid junior year at Rancho Bernado and looks like he could really elevate himself over the next four months. 

Cris Zamora of Coastal Elite (6’0 2023 guard from Sam Pasqual).   Watched Zamora score 21 against the opposing set of guards and then go back the other with the look of "I am going to win this end too" and he did. Loved the energy that Cris supplied his team as they had a great weekend going 4-0 simply beating teams with better team basketball.  Zamora is one of these active hands defenders that gets his hands on steals/delfections as he always has them moving along with active feet.  Scored 16 points a game this past high school season as well.