SoCal Fall Prep Classic: Top W/F Performers (Pt. 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 wings and forwards who turned in standout performances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='994950' first='Aaron' last='McBride'], 2023, Corona Centennial</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McBride is a do-it-all, glue guy, star in his role type of player who will do anything it takes to help his team win. The 6-foot-6 Loyola Marymount-commit is a multi-positional defender who rebounds in and out of his area, has elite transition athleticism and finishing ability and continues to improve as a straight-line driver when he has a mismatch on the offensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Anthony Smith, 2023, Rancho Verde</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith was a menace in transition throughout this event. The 6-foot-3 senior is both explosive and physical with the ball in his hands and looked to push the tempo on turnovers or missed shots. Smith used his body and downhill speed to get by the initial bump from a defender and into the lane where he attacked the rim with aggressiveness.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Bowen Hammer, 2023, Fairmont Prep</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the newest additions to the SoCal hoop scene, Hammer, who hails from Utah, is already putting his fingerprints all over the Fairmont Prep offense. The 6-foot-7 swingman is a weapon from three-point range with his size, smooth shooting mechanics and his ability to spread the floor off the catch opened up the rest of the floor for the Huskies driving guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='1502774' first='Channing' last='Cade'], 2024, Etiwanda</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cade is still working to realize his upside, but he certainly showed flashes of the potential that is there. The long, wiry 6-foot-7 wing can guard the 3 through 5 spots at the high school level because of his combination of length and fluid athleticism. Cade's offense is more of a slashing and finishing or offensive rebound put-back approach right now, but he did step into some catch-and-shoot three's with confidence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='1502772' first='Deshawn' last='Gory'], 2024, Oak Hills</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gory is one of the more dynamic wing athletes in the state and another high desert sleeper who will soon be on the regional radar. At 6-feet-6 with next-level length, the junior glides to the basket in transition and is always looking to finish above the rim. In the half-court setting, Gory's shooting ability off the catch - with deep and consistent range - makes him a versatile scoring threat when you add in his ability to take defenders off the dribble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->