Nike Extravaganza: Six Sleepers to Emerge
SANTA ANA – The annual Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei high school is one of the premier venues to get a look at top teams and talent both locally and from out of state. Saturday’s slate of 11 games featured…
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Continue ReadingSANTA ANA – The annual Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei high school is one of the premier venues to get a look at top teams and talent both locally and from out of state. Saturday’s slate of 11 games featured teams from Southern California, Northern California, Nevada, Virginia and Arizona with multiple Division 1 commits and prospects taking the floor. In this piece we take a closer look at some sleeper prospects who emerged.
Arshawn Salkhi, De La Salle
Salkhi is the perfect fit for the type of player that excels within a program like De La Salle’s. The 6-foot-2 junior is a high motor and tough wing player whose ability to hit catch and shoot 3-pointers and hit gaps on drives and find shooters opens up the floor for the rest of his teammates.
Isaiah Bernard Isaiah Bernard 6'5" | SF Foothill | 2024 State CA-S , Foothill
Bernard’s game is blossoming now that he has a bit more freedom on the offensive end of the floor. The 6-foot-4 junior swingman has a great combination of size, length and athleticism that he uses to slash his way to the rim and finish over defenders or get to the rim off the bounce in the half-court setting. Bernard is also improving as a perimeter shooter both off the catch and off the dribble.
Isaiah Fields, West Ranch
Fields has raised his stock over the last few months thanks to his elite pop of athleticism and next-level frame that has room to build on. The rangy 6-foot-5 wing is best offensively as a slasher and finisher who can score over rim protectors but its the other side of the floor that makes him such an intriguing prospect at the next level. Fields has the lateral speed and length to guard multiple positions at the high school and collegiate levels.
Kenneth Brown, Oak Hills
Brown’s combination of strength and athleticism makes him a tough cover when he gets downhill in transition. At 6-feet-4 with an aggressive attacking mentality, Brown can quickly get a defender on his heels, covers ground quickly on the break and can elevate off the floor and finish through and above contact.
Vincent Ricchiuti, St. Augustine
Ricchiuti has an elite transferrable skill to the next level and that’s his shooting ability. The 6-foot-6 swingman has fluid shooting form, repeatable shooting mechanics and a high release which makes it difficult for defenders to close out to. Ricchiuti moves well without the ball, knows how to come off of screens to create space and is a good screener-to-shooter in half-court offense.
Zack Moritz, Colony
Moritz is a confident scorer who can really create his own shot off the dribble. The 6-foot senior is a shifty ball-handler with quickness that allows him to get by his defender and into his scoring comfort zone – the mid-range area of the floor. Moritz has a quick release on his pull-up jumper and knows how to hold his defender off as he finds the space to get his shot off. He finished with 18 points in Colony’s win over Dos Pueblos.