Pangos AA Preview: Afternoon Standouts (Pt. 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LONG BEACH — Saturday's Pangos All-American Preview is an individual showcase designed to shine a light on prospects who might be flying under-the-radar on local, regional and national levels. We were in attendance for the event and below are some of the standouts in the opening set of games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1502820' first='David' last='Mack'], Fairfax</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mack had a standout season for City Section power Fairfax and his toughness, competitiveness and hard-nosed playing style shined in the Pangos AA Preview. Mack is a quick and shifty point guard who defends his position well. The 5-foot-8 junior uses his quickness well when getting downhill and into the paint where he drives and kicks to open teammates. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1417368' first='EJ' last='Vernon'], Crossroads</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vernon is one of the most versatile sophomores in all of Southern California and his skill-set was certainly on display. The 6-foot-5 forward scored with either hand around the basket, was able to take slower defenders out to the perimeter and drive by them for paint touches and finishes and his ability to handle, see the floor and make high IQ reads and passes was one of his biggest strengths.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1077598' first='Isaiah' last='Bronson'], Bella Vista Prep (AZ)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bronson won't "wow" you with size, length of athleticism but his basketball IQ, productivity and willingness to play good basketball stood out. The 6-foot-2 junior defended his position well, forced offensive players into difficult shots and applied good ball pressure. Offensively, Bronson was a willing passer who got into the lane at will and hit open shooters but also showed he could pull up and knock down mid-range jumpers off the bounce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Magoon Gwath, Veritas Prep</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gwath is a highly-skilled 6-foot-10 forward whose just scratching the surface of his potential. The 2024 prospect is both smooth and coordinated with great hands and finishing ability around the basket. Gwath, while not something he does often, showed the ability to rebound, push the break and make a good decision in transition. His vision and passing IQ are a couple of tools that were unexpected.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Noa Edwards, Arcadia</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edwards was a guy who didn't try to do too much or play outside of his comfort zone and it made him pop in a setting like this because of his high basketball IQ. The 6-foot-2 point guard played with great pace in transition, kept his eyes up the floor and made unselfish plays for teammates in transition and half-court offense. Edwards didn't over-handle, take bad shots and advanced the ball up the floor at the right times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->