SoCal Fall Prep Classic: Top Big Men (Pt. 1)

CHINO — Gerry Freitas’ SoCal Fall Prep Classic featured 47 teams from Southern California, Northern California, Arizona and Nevada in a two-day event format that featured matchups of some of the region’s best teams. While we weren’t able to see all of the teams over the weekend, we got our eyes on most of them, and here are the big men who turned in standout performances.

Devin Williams Devin Williams 6'10" | PF Corona Centennial | 2023 State #86 Nation CA-S , 2023, Corona Centennial

The UCLA-bound five-man has predicated his game on defensive versatility and shot blocking and altering ability around the basket. Williams can step out and hedge and recover in ball-screen action in addition to his switching and containing onto guards. The 6-foot-10 senior has shown floor stretching ability offensively out to the three-point line and is a lob threat in pick-and-roll action. Williams’ combination of hands, footwork and willingness to pass out of the post makes him a multi-faceted threat when he’s on the court.

Isaiah Brewington Isaiah Brewington 6'6" | PF Campbell Hall | 2023 State CA-S , 2023, Campbell Hall

Brewington has dramatically improved his frame, which has made a positive impact to his conditioning and, in turn, leveled up his motor. The 6-foot-6 four/five man is a physical interior scorer who knows how to use his body to seal deep post position and score through defenders. The senior is also an offensive threat in face-up situations where he can go either direction with a quick dribble move and finish through contact. Brewington is also a physical defender and rebounder on the other end of the floor who is always communicating and doesn’t allow easy buckets on that end.

Jacob McFarland Jacob McFarland 6'10" | C Rancho Verde | 2023 State #75 Nation CA-S , 2023, Rancho Verde

The University of Houston-commit had his two-way athleticism on display throughout this event. At 6-feet-10, McFarland is a fluid rim-runner in transition and poses a threat as a lob catcher on the break or a guy who can set a ball screen out of trail action to get his guards an extra step downhill. McFarland makes his biggest impact on the defensive end as a rim protector as his length, athleticism and understanding of proper positioning within his team’s defensive scheme.

Martin Gumwel Martin Gumwel 6'11" | C Rancho Christian | 2023 State CA-S , 2023, Rancho Christian

Gumwel flashed some major improvements to his offensive skill-set, which happens to be the area of his game that needs to most work for the next level. The 6-foot-11 Pepperdine-commit has always been a lob threat when opposite the ball on dribble-drives, but had a couple of moments in this event where he established post position, received the entry pass and made a back-to-the-basket move that required the defense to collapse, which opened up lanes for cutters and shots for shooters. Gumwel is a game-changing rim protector and rebounder at the high school level, and, with improved hands, feet and touch on the offensive end, could carve out a nice role at Pepperdine.