San Diego Fall Leagues: Hidden Gems

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the past few weeks, I've gotten to see a lot of basketball at the Canyon Crest Academy Fall League on Sundays and the Brotherhood Fall League at Del Lago Academy on Saturdays. A lot of the top teams play at the CCA and many of the smaller D3 to D5 programs have played at Del Lago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both leagues have unearthed some solid prospects who are a year or two away from being contributors at the next level. Here are some of my favorites.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Vincent McFadden, 6-7 2023 F/C, Calvin Christian</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A mobile, athletic big who has improved his finishing ability with both hands, McFadden is an aggressive rebounder and automatic around the rim. I think he could help an NAIA program that would bring him along slowly. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Aiden Sykes, 6-4 2025 G, Torrey Pines</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Won't make an impact on the varsity team for a couple of seasons, but keep an eye on the sharpshooting sophomore wing. Repeatable mechanics and deep range, and a solid passer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1646595,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/IMG_1359.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/IMG_1359-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1646595"/></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Sammy Carmona, 6-3 2024 G, Fallbrook</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carmona has some athletic tools that you can't teach. A long, right hand dominant slasher who can score it off the bounce and streaky from three and midrange. Had a couple of finishes above the rim that displayed next-level athleticism. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Malaki Brotherton, 6-3 2024 G, Fallbrook</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carmona's back court mate has good size, shooting touch and feel. His handle is a little loose and he needs to improve his off hand, but again, there's a lot of physical upside here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Christian Gentilucci, 6-3 2023 G, Poway</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A wiry scorer who has an aggressive shot-hunting mentality, Gentilucci can hit shots from midrange off the bounce and from three off the catch. He gets tunnel visioned at times, needs to see all the options in transition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Hassan Anglo, 6-1 2024 G, Hoover</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A late-bloomer who has a similar build and athletic profile as his older brother, recent Mission Bay graduate and standout Rami Anglo. Defensively, he's excellent on the ball and has the length and lateral quickness to be a lockdown guy at the next level. In transition, he can finish above the rim if given space. Has to improve his handle and scoring touch in the half court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>MJ Madore, 6-2 2023 G, Orange Glen</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A good sized guard with length, solid quickness and a very nice pull-up jumper from 15 feet. He's a streaky shooter from three and needs to improve his handle and passing when pressured, but the young 2023 prospect has a ton of upside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>John Scates, 6-1 2023 F, Escondido Charter</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A football prospect who is solid on the basketball court, Scates is best when slashing off of two dribbles max, which allows him to get into the chest of the defense and finish around the basket. He rebounds and defends much taller than his listed height. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Danny Lopez, 5-5 2023 G, Escondido Charter</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pass-first point guard who has excellent quickness and speed in the half court and open court, and the vision to make passes off drive and kick and pick and roll, but hes also good at attacking the basket, playing off of two feet and scoring in the lane. Built like a cornerback, Lopez is a feisty-on ball defender and can shoot the passing lanes for steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>[player_tooltip player_id='1491544' first='Michael' last='Brown'], 6-1 2026 W, San Marcos</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bigger-bodied wing prospect with long arms, solid feel and nice touch around the basket and from three. Brown is one of those players who's improved conditioning has unlocked so much of his game over the past few months. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->