CIF State Championship Day 2 Top 2023’s

Saturday March 11, Prep Hoop NorCal was at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento California for the 2nd day of the California State Finals. There were three boys games on Friday March 10 Divisions V, III, I.

Saturday March 11, was the only day Prep Hoops was in attendance.
Division IV – Valencia (26-10) takes down Half Moon Bay (21-10), 89-59.
Division II – San Joaquin Memorial (25-9) outlasted Pacifica Christian (27-9) 58-47.
Open Division Title Game: Harvard Westlake (32-2) takes down St. Joseph (28-6) 76-65.

Here’s our top 2023 prospects for Saturday.

Brady Dunlap Brady Dunlap 6'7" | SF Harvard-Westlake | 2023 State #100 Nation CA-S 6’7 F, Harvard-Westlake.
The long forward has many ways to put points on the board. He was the games leading scorer with 18pts. He’s a confident shooter behind the arc, whether he’s pulling up in transition, or working along the perimeter. He’ll use a dribble or two for mid-range pull-ups and 3’s. He’s a good passer, mover and cutter into the middle for paint points.

Jacob Huggins Jacob Huggins 6'7" | PF Harvard-Westlake | 2023 State #281 Nation CA-S 6’8 PF, Harvard-Westlake

He’s a long armed jumping jack who’s most effective around the basket on both ends. He has a good touch in the paint. He has the length and quick reactions to block and change shots. He has good movements not just in the post. He doubled up with 15pts, 10rebs. He’s going to Princeton.

Parker Strauss Parker Strauss 6'4" | PG Pacifica Christian/OC | 2023 State CA-S 6’4 G, Pacifica Christian

He’s a versatile guard who moves at a good pace. He has the skills to handle and score from different areas on the court. He has long range shooting and he hits. He’ll get rebounds, then handle in transition with good vision and passing. He can twist and turn for different layups including reverses. 11pts, 5rebs, 1a, 2stls,

Mikah Ballew Mikah Ballew 6'6" | SF Valencia | 2023 State CA-S 6’6 G/F, Valencia

He’s a thick body that handles and moves well on the court he has good body control. He was the best player on the court in this game, scoring in bunches using his strength to get into the paint, his pull-up jumper off the dribble and a few long 3’s from the corner. He can work the mid-post. 25pts, 3rebs, 1a, 2stls.

Mike Davis Jr. 6’8, San Joaquin Memorial

Without Davis Jr, no state title, he was the main piece on this good group. He’s big, strong, and has the ability to dominate the paint during stretches of a game at this level. Not fast but good movement, and touch around the rim. He had multiple points for rebounds and put backs. He’s and excellent passer, he can hit jumpers. 17pts, 14pts, 1a, 1b.

Armari Carraway Armari Carraway 6'0" | PG San Joaquin Memorial | 2023 CA-N 6’1 PG, San Joaquin Memorial

Carraway left no doubt he has the skills and ability to run the point at the next level. The fast speedy guard did an excellent job on both ends. He controls pace, has vision and passing, he fed the post, found the right guys in transition. He can break down his defender. He showed he could get points when needed down the stretch. He can defend other quick guards. 11pts, 3a, 3stls.

Luis Marin 6’6 SG/F, St. Joseph

He had it going early in this contest keeping things even. He was aggressive attacking the paint with his dribble from different areas on the court. His drive spin move produced a couple of points. He hit the high post jumper, corner 3, and a turnaround jumper in the key. 18pts, 3rebs, 1a,1s.

Caedin Hamilton 6’9 Center, St. Joseph

He held his own in the paint. He was aggressive using his size and body in the paint. He had big man fouls, defending his area in the post, attempting to change shots. He went after rebounds, and had put back points. He scored in close with reverses, and a strong drop step. 14pts, 4rebs, 1b.

Kai Davis 6’2 Guard, Valencia

Davis is an excellent ball handling guard with the body and strength to handle contact on the drive. He’s hard to handle when he’s going forward in transition, he’ll stop and pop with a mid-range, he’ll cross you over and finish at the rim. He has excellent court vision and passing seeing up, and across the court for long strong passes. He makes his free throws, and can hit the 3. 17pts, 8asts.

Tanner Deal Tanner Deal 6'2" | SF Pacifica Christian/OC | 2023 State CA-S 6’3 SG, Pacifica Christian

He’s a sharp shooter, constant movement, using screens, and foot work to find open spots to put up a 3ptr. He’s good on the catch and shoot, coming down in transition, and off the screen. He can hit with a hand in his face. He has to be accounted for. He can use a dribble or two to get by those flying out defenders. He’ll take it strong to the paint if he sees an opening. 9pts, 2-3’s, 4rebs, 1a.

Drew Dorwin Drew Dorwin 6'1" | CG Half Moon Bay | 2023 State CA-N 6’1 CG, Half Moon Bay

The experienced Senior guard took the opportunity to step up his game on the big stage. He had multiple strong drives into the paint finishing high off the glass with the off hand, over long stretched defenders, and playing through the contact that comes with challenging bigs in the paint. 13pts, 1reb,1a.

Dio Lucido 5’10 PG, Half Moon Bay

He’s a big reason why HMB made it to the state championship game. He made some adjustments during the season and it paid off with a trip to the DIV title game. He’s a competitive point guard with excellent handles, vision and passing. He became the pass first guard this team needed. He dished out 9 assist, had 7 rebounds, hit two long 3’s. He finished his Senior season playing good basketball.