Elite 8 Fall Preview Top 2023

Monterey Trail High School in Sacramento CA. On Sunday PH NorCal spent the day at The Elite 8 Preview featuring top teams from the Sacramento area. On hand there were plenty of NorCal’s top prospects, and teams from all the classes of NorCal sharpening their skills in this Fall Ball atmosphere getting ready for the season. Here we have NorCal’s top 2023’s

Andrej Stojakovic Andrej Stojakovic 6'6" | SG Jesuit | 2023 State #19 Nation CA-N 6’7 Guard of Jesuit HS

Stojakovic is the #1 player in the NorCal 2023 class, and is a nationally ranked 5 star prospect. It easy to see why, he put on a shooting/scoring display for 3 games. He sat out the last of the third game. He’s a shot maker for sure, but what stood out most at this level was his ability to create and score a bucket from any area he went into.

Varick Lewis Varick Lewis 6'3" | SG Monterey Trail | 2023 State CA-N 6’3 Guard of Monterey Trail HS (Long Beach State)

It’s tough to play 3 competitive games in one day. Lewis played hard with good energy, he’s a conditioned athlete. He’s learned to pace and play consistently at a high level. He knocked down 3’s, and mid-range jumpers with good lift all day. He finished shots around the rim in a variety of ways including dunks. We took note of his court vision, and willingness to pass/trust to open mates.

Edric Dennis Edric Dennis 6'7" | SF Vanden | 2023 State CA-N 6’7 G/F of Vanden HS.

Dennis has been playing good basketball for a while now. He’s come into his own as a rising prospect in NorCal. He looks confident in the way he goes about using his versatile skill-set. He’s long with length to defend, rebound, and get a bucket inside. He can guard on the perimeter. He’s having some success using his dribble to attack along the perimeter, he had a nice baseline dunk. He has a mid-range, and 3pt shot that has to be respected. Consistency is a key for him.

Owen Ubaldo Owen Ubaldo 6'3" | SG Jesuit | 2023 State CA-N 6’3 Guard of Jesuit HS

Ubaldo might get overlooked at times, but make no mistake about it, he’s an experienced guard that does good things on the court. He has a good combination of speed and handles to get his shots, on the drive, and into the paint. He’s an excellent passer. He’ll make open 3’s in transition, or spotting up along the perimeter. He makes free throws.

Yaqub Mir Yaqub Mir 6'3" | SG Granite Bay | 2023 State CA-N 6’3 Guard of Granite Bay HS

The high IQ guard regularly goes out and plays a consistent game. There’s a reason why he handles the ball a lot on the teams he plays for. His decision making, quality passing and vision, works well along with his abilities to roam, and work along the perimeter to get his shots or set up teammates for good looks.

Jordan Bobo Jordan Bobo 6'7" | SF Grant | 2023 State CA-N 6’7 Forward of Grant HS

The long stretch four type of player showed us he could have some success guarding out on the perimeter. He’s been a prospect standing 6’7, has always shown he has some capabilities to play on the perimeter. He’s now mixing that with a solid post game. Here he handled and used long stride with one dribble to get into the paint from the perimeter. He hit the paint jumper. He’ll get rebounds. He should be a double, double guy this season.

Sterling McClanahan Sterling McClanahan 6'3" | SG Vanden | 2023 State CA-N 6’4 Guard of Vanden HS

McClanahan looks like he’s putting his game together his Senior season. As a 6’4 guard he showed he could use his dribble to get paint jumpers with good lift regularly at this event. He works well attacking and challenging from the baselines. He’s good going after missed shots and tap ins, around the rim, he might stuff one back down with his hops. He’s got the size, and tools to be a quality defender.

Leon Mills Leon Mills 6'1" | CG Edison | 2023 State CA-N 6’1 Guard of Edison HS, Stockton

Mills shows toughness and a determination to get into the paint for points. He finishes with either hand, and through contact, he makes good use of his floater. He does a good job of drawing fouls intentional or not. He makes his free throws. He’s a good ball handling guard with good vision for the dump-off or kick-out on his penetration. His quick hands on defense forces turnovers.

Kiku Parker Kiku Parker 5'10" | PG Grant Union | 2023 State CA-N 6’0 PG of Grant HS.

Parker like most good players has adjusted, and settled in after transferring into Grant. The thick bodied guard with good pace to his game reminded us that he can get a bucket using his handle, and strong upper body to get shots with defenders hanging on him. He does well getting down hill, playing through contact, and using the pick and roll. He can hit the 3 off the dribble. He gets low with good leverage on defense, it’s hard to get around him when he’s locked in.

Elijah Mobley Elijah Mobley 6'1" | SG Weston Ranch | 2023 State CA-N 6’2 Guard of Weston Ranch

His all-around play continues to show as he plays fast and aggressive on both sides of the ball. He’s improved his 3pt shot, and continues to attack the paint in half-court and transition for points. He’s an excellent defender with quick movements, and the determination to make you work for points.