Orange County Standouts: Top Underclassmen
In this article:
Here we are taking a look at our Orange County Standouts series of players that aren’t getting the recognition that they deserve. These are our top Underclassmen that are already thriving and putting their names in the history books. Elzie…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingHere we are taking a look at our Orange County Standouts series of players that aren’t getting the recognition that they deserve. These are our top Underclassmen that are already thriving and putting their names in the history books.
Elzie Harrington Elzie Harrington 6'5" | PG St. John Bosco | 2025 State #25 Nation CA-S – PG/SG – 6’5” – 2025 St. John Bosco
What more is there to say than he is the best player, on the best team, in the best conference in Orange County. Starting out as a 5 Star recruit his freshman year, his trajectory only keeps increasing. I am so impressed with his game because of his willingness to get his teammates involved. He only averaged 15 points per game this season and with his skillset, he could easily average 25 plus if he wanted to. He has everything in his bag paired with crazy athleticism. I love seeing him take on big matchups on the defensive end as well leading to over 3 steals per game. The only knock on his game is his three-point shooting. He still has two more years to develop that and become the ultimate complete player.
Brandon Benjamin Brandon Benjamin 6'4" | PF Anaheim Canyon | 2025 State CA-S – SF – 6’5” – 2025 Canyon
The star forward led his team to another league title while averaging 23 points per game, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists on 56% from the field. He gets it done on both ends of the floor with his size and athleticism. With two more years left of high school ball, I fully expect him to blossom into one of the top players in California. What makes him such a great prospect is his ability to do everything guards can do at his tremendous size. He is an elite shooter, especially for his size, but his best attribute will still be his touch around the rim. Whether slashing or posting up, he is an automatic bucket the second he touches the paint. Pairing that with his defensive mobility, he can thrive in any position or situation he’s put in.
Kade Bonam Kade Bonam 6'6" | PF St. John Bosco | 2025 State #110 Nation CA-S – PF – 6’7” – 2025 St. John Bosco
This kid is an athletic freak in the high school game but it isn’t something he has to rely on when on the floor. The combination of size, athleticism, and skill is what really makes him such a desirable prospect. He also continues to shine around his running mate who is also a top recruit in the 2025 class. The handle he has for his size at his age is very intriguing because if he keeps growing, he’ll have the ability to play all five positions if he really wanted to. He scores both inside and out while bringing a paint presence and still has the ability to guard out on the perimeter when needed.
Collin Haugh – SG – 5’11” – 2025 Dana Hills
A bit undersized for a shooting guard but that is about the only thing that he doesn’t have going for him. He leads the entire county in scoring at 23.9 points per game while pairing that with awesome shooting splits of FG 50%, 3PT 40%, and FT 87%. He is only a sophomore and is already being sought after, coming from a low-level high school, so if you have the chance to scoop him up before his name really gets out there, I would take the chance now. Watching him on the offensive end is a treat with his sweet shooting stroke and his strong finishing ability. He is also an underrated defender and I was impressed with his play on both ends.
Trent Minter Trent Minter 6'5" | SG Los Alamitos | 2025 State CA-S – SF – 6’5” – 2025 Los Alamitos
Led his team to a solid 5-1 record in league as a sophomore. He is a highly skilled wing that competes on both ends of the floor every single night. What impressed me most is that his age does not show while he is on the court. He makes great decisions every play when others wouldn’t. When the game was on the line he wasn’t afraid to take tough shots. I saw him do that over the course of multiple games this year. He’s able to play all five positions on the offensive and defensive end. He does a lot of his damage through steals and blocks that lead to fastbreak layups. Which is something every coach could use on his team.