Throwback Report: The Stage, Act 3 Standouts (Part 3)
The Stage Act 3 took place earlier this month, so why am I writing about it right now? I’ve got a demanding day job, folks. With that said, there were so many good prospects during the third session of the…
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Continue ReadingThe Stage Act 3 took place earlier this month, so why am I writing about it right now?
I’ve got a demanding day job, folks.
With that said, there were so many good prospects during the third session of the Southern California event that I figured they deserved the spotlight, albeit belatedly.
Here are some of the top prospects from the first and final day.
The Stage Act 3 standouts (Part 3)
Brian Johnson, 6-3 2022 G, EA Prep Stars
A long, wiry scorer, Johnson gets hot in a hurry from deep and has excellent range. He can also attack off the bounce, and always seems to get a good look when the ball is in his hands. He needs to improve his feel passing the ball and moving without the ball.
Elijah Newsome, 5-11 2023 G, San Diego All-Stars
A compactly built guard who has solid burst and shifty handle, Newsome is a streaky scorer who can fill it up from deep and off the bounce going to his right hand. His decision making in pass-score scenarios can be erratic, but overall, he’s improving and should be getting looks from colleges.
Caden Pinnick, 6-0 2024 PG, Team California
A true three-sport standout, Pinnick (from Del Oro HS in Loomis) is a solid floor general in his own right. A strong, physical back court presence, Pinnick has solid burst and can get into the paint at will and knows how to finish through contact and play off of two feet. Defensively, his activity on the ball is disruptive. While baseball might be the sport where he’s garnering the most interest, he’s a definite basketball prospect too.
Gavin Giraourd, 6-2 2024 G, San Diego All-Stars
Giraourd got SDA off to a hot start, knocking down four first-half threes. He continues to improve as a scorer and secondary ball handler, and gives a great effort on the defensive side of the ball.
Pablo Balderas, 6-5 2025 F, San Diego All-Stars
At the 15u level, Balderas’ dominance on the boards and in the paint is evident. Blessed with great hands and a solid motor, Balderas does a great job catching the ball in the post and finishing over his left shoulder, and sprinting to his spots in transition where he finishes plays for his team. On both offensive and defensive glass, Balderas gives maximum effort and gets his teams extra possessions. If he stretches out a bit more, he’s going to be a force.
Ryan Enos, 6-8 2024 F, Players Play
Enos held his own against Dream Vision 16u both in the paint and on the perimeter. Enos’ shooting is a known commodity, but he’s also a very disciplined rim protector and gives an effort on the defensive glass. Offensively, he showed flashes of a midrange pull-up game, which will be an important next step in his development. He continues to trend upward.
Trevor Ladd, 6-3 2024 G/W, Players Play
Ladd reminds me a lot of a former La Costa Canyon standout Fritz Eibel, whose motor was critical to the Mavericks last CIF title team. Ladd is a dogged rebounder on both ends, especially on the offensive glass where he pursues balls out of his area and finishes through contact. He’s great in transition, where he sprints wide and gives his guards a great slashing target, and finishes just about everything with his dominant hand.