Winter Tip Off Classic Top Big Men

David Yapkowitz

November 19, 2022 @ 01:00 PM

The annual Westside Winter Tip Off Classic hosted by St Monica High School kicked off this week to officially start the high school basketball season. I was able to attend the event for the first two days and here's a look at some of the top big men I saw. 1. Derek Curry - Lawndale 2023 Curry moves well, very mobile and active around the rim. He can finish strong as a cutter and making himself available for passes. He plays in the high post well and can pass to cutters around the basket. Able to step out and shoot the midrange jumper. He runs the floor well, active in transition and is able to finish at the basket. 2. Dom Bentho - Harvard Westlake 2026 Bentho stood out most for his defensive ability. He's mobile for a big man and can cover wings on the perimeter. He's able to stay in front of ball handlers and does a good job contesting their jumpers. He can also block/alter shots in the paint. He has a nice touch around the rim and is able to consistently establish post position. Seals off his defender and uses spins to get to the basket. 3. [player_tooltip player_id='994916' first='Isaiah' last='Chappell'] - Crossroads 2023 Chappell is one of the more gifted bigs skill-wise. He has good vision, plays in the high post and sees the floor to find open teammates. He has good shooting ability too and spaces the floor with range out to the three-point line. He has a soft touch around the rim and can draw fouls and get to the free-throw line. Sets good screens and rolls to the rim, makes himself available for passes. 4. Cairo Williams - Inglewood 2025 Williams is a bit of a tweener, somewhere between a wing and big but in the game I saw he was definitely playing up front. He has good length and athleticism and is very mobile, covers a lot of ground defensively. He blocks shots with his length and contests jumpers well. Was the team's best interior shot blocker. Good job challenging drives to the rim. A good rebounder that uses his length and positioning to grab boards.

The annual Westside Winter Tip Off Classic hosted by St Monica High School kicked off this week to officially start the high school basketball season. I was able to attend the event for the first two days and here's a look at some of the top big men I saw.

1. Derek Curry - Lawndale 2023

Curry moves well, very mobile and active around the rim. He can finish strong as a cutter and making himself available for passes. He plays in the high post well and can pass to cutters around the basket. Able to step out and shoot the midrange jumper. He runs the floor well, active in transition and is able to finish at the basket.

2. Dom Bentho - Harvard Westlake 2026

Bentho stood out most for his defensive ability. He's mobile for a big man and can cover wings on the perimeter. He's able to stay in front of ball handlers and does a good job contesting their jumpers. He can also block/alter shots in the paint. He has a nice touch around the rim and is able to consistently establish post position. Seals off his defender and uses spins to get to the basket.

3. Isaiah Chappell Isaiah Chappell 6'9" | PF South Kent | 2023 State #278 Nation CA-S - Crossroads 2023

Chappell is one of the more gifted bigs skill-wise. He has good vision, plays in the high post and sees the floor to find open teammates. He has good shooting ability too and spaces the floor with range out to the three-point line. He has a soft touch around the rim and can draw fouls and get to the free-throw line. Sets good screens and rolls to the rim, makes himself available for passes.

4. Cairo Williams - Inglewood 2025

Williams is a bit of a tweener, somewhere between a wing and big but in the game I saw he was definitely playing up front. He has good length and athleticism and is very mobile, covers a lot of ground defensively. He blocks shots with his length and contests jumpers well. Was the team's best interior shot blocker. Good job challenging drives to the rim. A good rebounder that uses his length and positioning to grab boards.