Real Run Winter Classic Top Bigs/Frontcourt Players

Douglas Langford; St Pius X St Matthias 2025

David Yapkowitz

January 3, 2023 @ 04:04 PM

On New Year's Eve, Lynwood High School played host to the 15th annual Real Run Winter Classic. The event featured some of the top teams and talent in Southern California. With eight showcase games, the event gave each team a final warmup before league play begins for most of them. I was able to attend the event and here's a look at some of the top big/frontcourt players I saw. 1. [player_tooltip player_id='1630631' first='Douglas' last='Langford'] - St. Pius X St. Matthias 2025 Langford is active around the basket. He has a good motor and tries to get his hands on every rebound. Defensively, he is a rim protector. He does a good job challenging drives to the basket and he is disciplined, staying down on fakes. Good shot blocker. He sets solid screens on the offensive end and can either roll to the basket or pop out and shoot the midrange jumper. Uses his length to extend and finish at the basket and he has good hands catching passes. 2. [player_tooltip player_id='994924' first='Xavier' last='Edmonds'] - Bishop Montgomery 2023 Edmonds is a classic post player. He can establish position in the paint and has good footwork to get easy scoring opportunities. He's patient, throws a couple shot fakes to get the defense out of position. He can finish through contact in the paint and is able to draw fouls and get to the free-throw line. He can play off ball as well, making solid cuts to the basket. Able to pass out of the paint when the defense collapses. Cleans up well on the glass. 3. Syeon Jennings - Lynwood 2023 Jennings has good size and is more of a floor-spacing big man. He has a good shot and is a consistent threat from the three-point line. Good catch and shoot player and good in the pick and pop. Good screener who does a good job floating to the three-point line and getting open. He can shoot the midrange jumper too and is able to put the ball on the floor if the defense closes out at the three-point line. 4. [player_tooltip player_id='1502832' first='Ryder' last='Maddox'] - Long Beach Poly 2024 Maddox is kind of a wing player, but he was playing center and some power forward and did a solid job in the game I saw. What stood out to me the most is his activity and energy on the glass. He isn't the biggest player on the court but he has a knack for rebounds. He's effective without the ball in his hands, his scoring opportunities came from off-ball movement. He makes strong cuts and gets open under the basket where he can finish well.

On New Year's Eve, Lynwood High School played host to the 15th annual Real Run Winter Classic. The event featured some of the top teams and talent in Southern California. With eight showcase games, the event gave each team a final warmup before league play begins for most of them. I was able to attend the event and here's a look at some of the top big/frontcourt players I saw.

1. Douglas Langford Douglas Langford 6'8" | PF St. Pius X-St. Matthias | 2025 State #314 Nation CA-S - St. Pius X St. Matthias 2025

Langford is active around the basket. He has a good motor and tries to get his hands on every rebound. Defensively, he is a rim protector. He does a good job challenging drives to the basket and he is disciplined, staying down on fakes. Good shot blocker. He sets solid screens on the offensive end and can either roll to the basket or pop out and shoot the midrange jumper. Uses his length to extend and finish at the basket and he has good hands catching passes.

2. Xavier Edmonds Xavier Edmonds 6'8" | PF Bishop Montgomery | 2023 State #245 Nation CA-S - Bishop Montgomery 2023

Edmonds is a classic post player. He can establish position in the paint and has good footwork to get easy scoring opportunities. He's patient, throws a couple shot fakes to get the defense out of position. He can finish through contact in the paint and is able to draw fouls and get to the free-throw line. He can play off ball as well, making solid cuts to the basket. Able to pass out of the paint when the defense collapses. Cleans up well on the glass.

3. Syeon Jennings - Lynwood 2023

Jennings has good size and is more of a floor-spacing big man. He has a good shot and is a consistent threat from the three-point line. Good catch and shoot player and good in the pick and pop. Good screener who does a good job floating to the three-point line and getting open. He can shoot the midrange jumper too and is able to put the ball on the floor if the defense closes out at the three-point line.

4. Ryder Maddox Ryder Maddox 6'5" | SF Long Beach Poly | 2024 CA-S - Long Beach Poly 2024

Maddox is kind of a wing player, but he was playing center and some power forward and did a solid job in the game I saw. What stood out to me the most is his activity and energy on the glass. He isn't the biggest player on the court but he has a knack for rebounds. He's effective without the ball in his hands, his scoring opportunities came from off-ball movement. He makes strong cuts and gets open under the basket where he can finish well.