Southern California Spring Preview Saturday Eye Catchers

PH NorCal took the trip South for the Southern California Spring Preview Cerritos College, in Norwalk was where all the action was on Saturday. There were ten games on Saturday PH NorCal was able to catch 7 of the 10. This is just a few of many who caught our attention.   Mark Jones 6'2 2025, G Team DTermined 16U Select, Hesperia HS   Jones had it going from both guard positions. He showed PG skills at the beginning, and made it a point to pass and move the ball around. His quality handles combined with speed, and strength got him into the paint from different angles for strong finishes around the rim. A couple of nice spin moves. He got a couple of blocks and defended with good energy.   AJ Orji 6'4 2025 W/F Hoop Nation 16u Black/Gold, Roosevelt HS   He's a long thin prospect with plenty of room to expand his game. He works well in and around the paint going to get rebounds, and blocks at his high point. He handled a bit, bringing it up on occasion, and on the perimeter with a drive or two into the paint. He hit the short corner jumper. We saw his lengthy strides, and hustle up court for transition buckets.   [player_tooltip player_id='1502794' first='Jaden' last='Hubbard'] 6'3 2024 G Cali Rebels 17, Mission Viejo HS   Hubbard can put the ball in the net when he gets it going. He's offensive minded, a quality ball handler that creates his own opportunities. He knocked down 3's in transition, spotted up along the perimeter to launch long 3's. He's got the speed to go by defenders finish strong at the rim, with balance going up off one or two feet with good explosion.   [player_tooltip player_id='1502877' first='Troy' last='Jenkins'] 6'4 2024 SG Coastal Elite 17u, Sonora HS, La Habra, CA   We're hesitant to put a label on young prospects, but Jenkins can shoot and hit the 3ptr. He comes down in transition, hell go to the corner, or stop on the wings with good form and rhythm. He sets his feet, has a good release and they go in. At 6'4 he'll rebound and go coast to coast if you don't cut him off. When guarded too tight, he'll use jab steps, ball fakes, one dribble then hit the jumper.   [player_tooltip player_id='1502784' first='Dylan' last='Benner'] 6'8 2024 PF, Los Angeles Elite 17U Premier, St Bonaventure HS, Ventura, CA.   We first noticed his energy, and activity around the basket using his muscular body to get rebounds, go after block and score. He's a good passer with vision to find shooters on the other side and cutters going to the basket. He made good passes from multiple spots on the court. Later he stepped out and hit a few corner 3's. He hustles out to challenge 3's in the corner. He's a top rebounder.   Nikoloz Abulade 6'3 2025 SG, Gamepoint 17u Supreme   He's not the fastest player on the court but he moves and gets things done, he's a gamer. He's a ball handler who uses his body to take care of the ball. He had a couple of drives into the paint, then playing off two feet. The best thing he done was hit the big 3ptrs shots down the stretch, added with a nice mid-range jumper, and made free throws.   Kenyon DeMuynck 6'9 2024 F/C NorCal Ducks , San Leandro HS   He's long at 6'9, he could use some weight gain. There's no question he's still learning how to play basketball. With continued work and development, playing in events like this throughout the spring and summer could be beneficial to him. He had 8 blocks with good timing by our count, he changed a few shots, and closed out on shooters. He'll shoot the 3 up top if it's there. We'll keep an eye on him.   RJ Nance 6'2 2024 Las Vegas Punishers 17u 3SGB, Centennial HS, NV   He started slow but finished strong. The solid body combo guard was in attack mode throughout the game. His strength and dribble gets him into the paint, sometimes using a spin move. He'll handle contact or use a a fade away with good lift in the paint to get his shot up and over stretched defenders.   Brycen Mackenzie 6'2 2024 CG Gamepoint 17u Elite, Santa Fe Christian, Solana Beach, CA   He plays a good all around game being a primary ball handler. He takes good care of the ball, he handles ball pressure bringing it up court, and getting into sets. He can get by you to penetrate and pass to shooters, he's a ball mover. He can shoot with good efficiency. He knocked down the free throw jumpers and hit bigs 3's throughout the game.

PH NorCal took the trip South for the Southern California Spring Preview Cerritos College, in Norwalk was where all the action was on Saturday. There were ten games on Saturday PH NorCal was able to catch 7 of the 10. This is just a few of many who caught our attention.