Gamepoint Fall HS Showcase: Eye Openers, Part 1
The Gamepoint Fall HS Showcase has been perennially one of the top team preseason showcases in Southern California, giving this writer and coaches an opportunity to evaluate both teams and talent in advance of the high school season. This year,…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Gamepoint Fall HS Showcase has been perennially one of the top team preseason showcases in Southern California, giving this writer and coaches an opportunity to evaluate both teams and talent in advance of the high school season.
This year, the 14th installment, was one of the best to date.
I had a chance to watch games on each of the three days (Sunday I split my time between the showcase and the Pangos Frosh/Soph Camp). This report focuses on players who caught my attention throughout the weekend who have lower profiles than some of their teammates.
Jayden Luckett, 6-6 2024 F/C, Santa Fe Christian
Luckett was arguably the surprise of the weekend. The Victory Christian transfer is an emerging forward who can score on the block over his left shoulder (improving footwork) and on several occasions hit standstill threes while separating from his defender with the jab step. An active body who sets physical screens, can guard outside the paint and rebounds it well on both ends, Luckett gives the Eagles a post presence they haven’t had in years.
LaCiya Garrett, 6-3 2023 G, Vista
Garrett continues to make waves this preseason with his shooting, slashing and defensive abilities. A long, well built guard, Garrett keeps the game simple: he doesn’t over dribble, he keeps the ball moving in the half court and moves well without the ball, and takes – and makes – open shots from well beyond the college three. Defensively, he usually guards the team’s best perimeter defender and takes pride in making them work for their offense. When a Division 2 coach asks questions about you, you’re on the right track for a player who was barely on the radar a year ago.
Zion Applewhaite, 6-4 2024 W, Del Norte
Another player who I’ve been tracking this summer and seems to get better every time I see him, Applewhaite has taken another leap forward with his ball skills. A long, active wing who is a solid offensive rebounder and scorer out of the pick and roll, Applewhaite is starting to become a reliable shooter from distance and has improved as a slasher off the wing going to his dominant hand. Additionally, he’s a great weak-side shot blocker for the (relatively) undersized Nighthawks.
Talan Hunter, 6-3 2024 W, St. Augustine
Hunter took advantage of the absence of several rotation players for the Saints to showcase what he does best. Hunter has an excellent motor, and gives his team extra possessions by diving after loose balls and crashing the glass on both ends. He did that in both games against LCC and Balboa. In the LCC game, his team rewarded his hustle by finding him on the extra possessions and he finished plays around the basket en route to double figure scoring. Hunter, who missed last year with injury, could be a player who cracks the end of the rotation for the Saints, the likely preseason No. 1 team in San Diego.
Kumari West, 6-2 2024 G, Mission Bay
West, who transferred from Mira Mesa via a spring stint at Lincoln, is emerging as a spark plug off the bench for the Bucs. He has good size and length and is starting to become more assertive on the offensive end, hitting jumpers from midrange and three while also attacking the basket and scoring through contact. Another player with a great motor, West is a very good rebounder for his size on both ends and is a tough on-ball defensive presence. A young 2024 prospect (turns 16 this week), West has a load of long-term upside.
James Dimiceli, 6-5 2023 W, Murrieta Mesa
When I spoke to Dimiceli’s coach after the game, he mentioned that Dimiceli was on last year’s team but is “just starting to put it together.” Well, the wiry wing forward put together his own personal highlight reel of dunks on Sunday, including two drop-step dunks through contact in the paint. He’s still raw in terms of ball skills, but his length, athleticism and motor are things you can build upon at the next level, likely juco if he chooses to pursue hoops.
Bambi Moise, 6-7 2024 F, Balboa School
One of two Balboa School players who I didn’t see during the summer, Moise, a long, solidly built wing forward who is an underrated passer, solid ball handler and playmaker in transition, and a slasher who can finish around the basket while absorbing contact. While he didn’t take many threes (slower release), he hit open ones in transition. He’s got big time upside.
Taevean Famutimi-Brown, 6-3 2023 G, Balboa School
A Canadian transfer for the Bengals, Famutimi-Brown scored it and pushed pace in his reserve role, and made a living in the mid-range, where he possesses a smooth pull-up jumper off of one or two dribbles. An active defender with freakish length, he fits in well with Balboa’s defensive schemes and provides a nice dose of energy off the bench. A good prospect.
Marcos Korch, 6-2 2024 G, Mission Bay
Korch continues his confident play that started (at least when I’ve watched) at Beach City Hoops’ So-Cal Clash. He’s starting to slow down and play with better balance and feel, and playing more under control on the defensive end as well. A big, physical guard who can get into the paint and create for his teammates or score through contact, Korch is also developing into a reliable perimeter threat for the Bucs.
Jack Leininger, 5-10 2023 PG, Del Norte
Leininger missed most of spring and last season with injury, but showed flashes of high level lead guard play for the Nighthawks, who were missing some key back court guys. A fundamentally sound PG who does a solid job using his craftiness and quickness to get into the paint, Leininger looks more to set the table for his teammates than himself, but hit timely baskets when his team needed him to, including some nice pull-up shots from midrange. Defensively, he plays with tenacity on the ball and