BattleZONE: Top Performers (Pt. 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CORONA - Corona Centennial high school played host to the annual BattleZONE Showcase which featured many of SoCal's top programs and top prospects. There were 11 games in total - three on Friday and eight on Saturday - and we were in attendance for every game of the Saturday slate. Below we break down the top overall performers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='1630625' first='Aaron' last='Glass'], Rancho Cucamonga</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Glass was clearly ready for the matchup of two of the best 2025 prospects in the state with [player_tooltip player_id='1630619' first='Jovani' last='Ruff'] leading his Long beach Poly squad against Glass' Cougars. The 6-foot-1 guard is one of the premier three-point shooters in California and put up 13 first half points while playing some hard-nosed defense to help Rancho Cucamonga to a 17-point halftime lead. Glass continued to put numbers in the scoring column in the second half, finishing with 22 points and 7 rebounds as the Cougars held on the beat the Jackrabbits, 74-64.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Anthony Smith, Jr., Rancho Verde</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith brought his hard hat to the marquee matchup of the night as the Mustangs took on state No. 1 Corona Centennial on their home court. Smith, who is Rancho Verde's perimeter defensive stopper, had the task of slowing down Duke-signee [player_tooltip player_id='992480' first='Jared' last='McCain'] and he did as good of a job as you can in making a player as talented as McCain work for every point he got. In addition to his disruptive on-ball defense, Smith had an explosive offensive performance, scoring a team-high 22 points. The 6-foot-2 guard is a high motor slasher and finisher in transition and physical downhill driver and scorer in the half-court setting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Carrington Pierce, Etiwanda</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pierce was a steadying force off the bench for the Eagles whose two-way impact helped Etiwanda earn a tight three-point victory over a talented Narbonne squad. The 6-foot-1 junior showed his active on-ball defense, high IQ in team defensive situations and made a couple of timely and eye-opening drives and finishes at the rim. Pierce also showed very good knowledge of time and score situations late in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='994972' first='Curtis' last='Williams'], Etiwanda</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams, who had been sidelined most of the fall due to injury, looked to be back to full health as he scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the win for Etiwanda. The 6-foot-6 senior swingman hit a handful of pull-up jump shots on the perimeter and took advantage of his size and athletic gifts to drive his way to the rim for baskets in the paint. Williams remains one of the top unsigned guards in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='992480' first='Jared' last='McCain'], Corona Centennial</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCain is one of the best players in the country and he certainly showed why in the Huskies 66-54 win over Rancho Verde. The Duke-signee scored a modest (in his case) 18 points and did so with his patented deep jump shooting range off the dribble and off the catch, but it was his game management that helped Centennial fend off a hungry Rancho Verde team. McCain handled pressure well, made high IQ reads in transition and half-court offense and allowed the game to come to him instead of forcing offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->