Take Flight Challenge: Best Glue Guys

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>REDONDO BEACH — With coach Reggie Morris, Jr. back at the helm of the Redondo Union basketball program, the annual Take Flight Challenge returned to the Redondo Beach campus. The full day of action featured matchups between many of Southern California's top teams, including an epic triple overtime game between Harvard-Westlake and Bishop Montgomery. We were in attendance for each game and we take a closer look at the best glue guys of the day. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='1436322' first='Christian' last='Jones'], Bishop Montgomery</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To me Jones is the model player of the "glue guy" term. The 6-foot-3 wing/guard literally does everything for the Knights: He guards multiple positions, blocks shots, rebounds, finishes in transition, drives and kicks to teammates, sets screens and does it all without complaining about shot attempts or "touches" on the offensive end. Jones only had six points in Bishop's three overtime loss to Harvard-Westlake, but he blocked seven shots and grabbed nine rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Cole Stokes, Redondo Union</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stokes is a beast of an athlete and not just on the basketball court. The 6-foot-6 senior forward is also a stud on the baseball field where he's committed to Oregon as a right-handed pitcher. While Stokes being a 6-foot-6 pitcher may have you thinking he's a long, wiry stretch-four type on the hardwood, that couldn't be further from the truth. At 210-ish pounds, Stokes is a physical interior guy who competes as a post defender, rebounder and inside finisher on offense who can score through contact and above the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>James McCallum, St Bernard</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While most of the offensive attention goes to the guard and wing play at St. Bernard, and rightfully so with all the talent it has at those positions, McCallum quietly makes his impact by starring in his role. The 6-foot-5 forward is a physical interior defender and high-rate rebounder who frees perimeter with his screening ability and opens up perimeter shots with his rolling to the rim and vertical spacing. McCallum does all the dirty work needed to win basketball games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Luke McGrath, St. Francis</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McGrath's toughness, high motor and great energy on both sides of the floor gave St. Francis a much-needed spark during multiple points of its narrow loss to Crean Lutheran. The 6-foot-3 senior is a gritty and disruptive defender who also knocked down some timely fourth quarter three's that helped the Golden Knights survive some knock-out punch attempts from the Saints late in Saturday's game. McGrath finished with 12 points on four three-pointers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='1161971' first='Nils' last='Cooper'], Crossroads</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cooper's biggest strength is his versatility and ability to impact multiple facets of the game. The 6-foot-5 Pepperdine-signee is an elite perimeter defender, good positional rebounder on both the offensive and defensive boards and can do a little bit of everything well on the offensive end. Cooper finished with eight points, eight rebounds and six steals in Crossroads' loss to Heritage Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='1502832' first='Ryder' last='Maddox'], Long Beach Poly</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maddox plays with a great energy about him that permeates through the rest of the team at key moments of the game. While he might not be the most skilled guy on the floor, the 6-foot-4 junior is everywhere on the court grabbing 50/50 balls, securing rebounds, driving and finishing at the rim and using his length and speed to create havoc on the defensive end. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->