The Stage Act I: Upside Prospects
ANAHEIM — The Stage Circuit’s first act of hosting club basketball events in Orange County featured a strong contingent of teams and prospects from the west coast and beyond. The three-day live period event took place at Open Gym Premier…
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Continue ReadingANAHEIM — The Stage Circuit’s first act of hosting club basketball events in Orange County featured a strong contingent of teams and prospects from the west coast and beyond. The three-day live period event took place at Open Gym Premier in Anaheim and The Draft Sports Complex in Corona with teams from California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Texas, Canada and North Carolina represented. In this piece we take a look at the players who possess an immense amount of upside.
Bryce Bedgood, Valencia – Bedgood has all the makings of a prospect who peaks late in his high school career. At 6-feet-7 with a long, wiry frame, we wouldn’t be surprised if the sophomore boosts up two or three more inches by the time he’s a senior. In addition to his intriguing physical gifts, Bedgood has a smooth shooting stroke, high basketball IQ, and flashed his dribble, pass, shoot ability throughout the weekend.
Deshawn Gory, Team Inland – Gory should be on the radar of every west coast Division 1 school. The 6-foot-6 wing has the size, length and athleticism needed to play on the perimeter at the next level. Gory is an elite slasher and finisher in transition who also boasts deep range and consistency on his catch-and-shoot jumper. His biggest upside is on the defensive end as he possesses all the tools to become an elite perimeter defender if he puts in the work.
EJ Vernon EJ Vernon 6'7" | SF Crossroads | 2025 State #241 Nation CA-S , Two One Elite – This 6-foot-4 combo guard has his high basketball IQ and smooth pace imprinted all over The Stage. The Crossroads high school product has great feel with the ball in his hands, rarely gets sped up when facing pressure, and has the ability to control the flor of a game by scoring or distributing. Vernon has a smooth and balanced pull-up jumper in addition to his change of speeds and pace which allow him to get paint touches, draw extra defenders, and play-make for others.
Martin Gumwel Martin Gumwel 6'11" | C Rancho Christian | 2023 State CA-S , Gamepoint – At 6-feet-11 with a high motor and bounce, Gumwel has the obvious size, length and athletic gifts that turn the heads of college coaches and scouts alike. The Rancho Christian high school center is a beast of a rim protector and rebounder on the defensive end and, while his all-around offensive skill-set needs fine tuning, Gumwel’s hands and touch around the basket have improved since the last time we saw him in the fall. Gumwel is a prime candidate for the term: “His best basketball is ahead of him.”
Tony Duckett, California Select – What makes Duckett such an intriguing prospect is his impact and feel on both ends of the floor despite being just a sophomore. The 6-foot-1 guard has great defensive instincts, positional awareness on the floor and can rebound the defensive glass and push the break. Offensively, Duckett showed that he can set up his dribble drives and finishes with a three-point shot or pull-up mid-range jumper.