Midweek report: 10 Best
It’s three days up and three days down in San Diego, and I’ve been able to attend a game a night this week. San Ysidro topped Vista in a game dotted with D1 prospects and signees, Mission Bay jumped on…
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Continue ReadingIt’s three days up and three days down in San Diego, and I’ve been able to attend a game a night this week. San Ysidro topped Vista in a game dotted with D1 prospects and signees, Mission Bay jumped on Morse in a pool game at the Hilltop Tournament and Clairemont moved to 5-1 with a win over Tri-City Christian.
Here are the standouts I saw from those games.
JJ Taylor, 6-8 2023 W San Ysidro
The Memphis-bound wing is as gifted a prospect as we’ve seen in San Diego. A long, wiry swingman who can handle and shoot from the perimeter, Taylor dominated the Vista game.
Cyprian Hyde Cyprian Hyde 6'10" | C Vista | 2023 State CA-S , 6-11 2023 C, Vista
Hyde, who is headed to Portland, took a while to get going, but made his presence felt in the 4th quarter, where he scored 11 of his 20 points. A skilled big who can score in the paint (over left shoulder), mid-range off the catch and as a pick-and-pop three-point shooter, he’s got a high ceiling.
Ty Ingram, 6-3 2026 G, San Ysidro
Ingram is as smooth and assertive a scorer as you’ll see in the 2026 class out West. A combo guard with a great frame, good build and athleticism, he scored it from all three levels en route to 13 points in the win.
Marcos Korch, 6-2 2024 G, Mission Bay
Korch has been putting up big numbers for the Buccaneers this week, and did it again in the win over Morse. A stocky and strong combo guard, Korch’s best weapon has been his spot-up shooting. He hit seven threes in the win en route to 27 points, a game high. If he’s open on the right wing, he’s automatic.
Charlie Hutchison, 6-7 2024 F, Mission Bay
Hutchison is one of my favorite prospects in San Diego, and had another productive outing (20 points, 8 rebounds) in the win. He needs to play with better balance and at times plays too upright, but his blend of skill, size, vision and feel are unique.
Alfred Cabral, 6-0 2023 G, Morse
Cabral has his fingerprints all over the Tigers game when I watch him. A big-bodied guard who does most of his damage in the paint area, Cabral uses his crafty handle to get separation (driving to his right) or posts up smaller defenders and finishes well through contact. He rebounds and plays defense much bigger than his listed height.
Braden Gonzalez, 5-11 2024 G, Clairemont
Clairemont has a crew of stocky, undersized guards who are productive and play hard. The best of the group is Gonzalez, who can score it off the drive and off the catch from three, and plays with a ton of confidence. He and his teammates did a good job in the zone defense forcing Tri-City into bad looks from the perimeter, and his physicality definitely had an impact on the younger opponents.
Davis Burns, 5-11 2024 G, Clairemont
Everything I said about Gonzalez applies equally to Burns, a stocky guard with solid handle to his dominant hand. He’s a slightly better shooter than Gonzalez, but not as athletic and doesn’t have the burst off the bounce, but he’s productive.
Dre Cleaves, 6-3 2026 W, Tri-City Christian
There’s a lot to like about Cleaves game. A wing who is forced to play in the paint for the undersized Eagles, Cleaves battles on the boards and does a good job moving the ball from the mid-post area. Coaches usually have their highest IQ guys in the middle of the zone, and Cleaves was there pretty much all night. As his handle and shooting continue to improve, he’s an intriguing, young prospect to monitor.
Gage Blakemore, 6-2 2026 G, Tri-City Christian
Blakemore shook off some earlier shooting woes to hit a few threes in the fourth quarter to try to fuel a comeback. He’s got good size as a combo guard and when he hits one shot, he can get himself going. He also is a vocal leader, which is unique for a freshman.
Jeramiah Turner, 6-0 2026 G, Tri-City Christian
Turner battled through injury for most of the second half, but you can see the potential on both sides of the ball. A long, wiry combo guard who is a solid slasher and has a nose for the ball on defense, Turner gives max effort at all times. An area where he’s got to improve is his shot selection (doesn’t look to score it enough) and his perimeter shooting.