The Stage, Act 1: 2025 Standouts

Aaron Burgin

May 12, 2023 @ 04:55 PM

<p>It's been a few weeks since the April live periods concluded, but there's still time to look back at some players that caught our eyes. In this report, I look at players in the 2025 class that caught my attention at The Stage in Anaheim.</p>   <p></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1896232' first='Angel' last='Ochoa'], 5-10 G, Coastal Elite</h2>   <p>Ochoa came into the live period as one of the Class of 25's most intriguing guards with questions of whether his productivity against inferior competition during season would translate to the travel circuit. He answered those questions emphatically, scoring the ball from every level and taking over several games playing up against 17u competition. Ochoa has excellent burst and control of his speed in the half court, and is an impressive finisher through contact. While he's right hand dominant, not many defenders could keep him from getting to his dominant hand. He's also a very underrated passer off the bounce. Overall, Ochoa looks like one of the top guards in San Diego's 2025 class. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">PJ Jourdain, 6-2 G, San Diego All-Stars</h2>   <p>Jourdain is one of the prospects that catches your eye in the gym due to his build. He has a plus wingspan, big hands and looks like he's still growing into his immature frame. A marksman from three-point range, Jourdain knocked down shots both off the catch and with the dribble over the top of ball screens. Jourdain, who didn't play varsity basketball as a sophomore, has a chance to really make up ground these next two years if he continues to produce at the clip he did this weekend. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1896226' first='Chris' last='Carrillo'], 5-10 PG, Gamepoint Elite</h2>   <p>As far as point guards go, Carrillo is rapidly establishing himself as one of the best pure point guards for his class in Southern California. He's cut from the Kihei Clark mold: an undersized floor general who has excellent command of pace and speed, is an excellent passer and excels both as a game manager and a playmaker. Defensively, he sits in a stance and is tough on the ball, picks up full court and uses his active hands and timing to turn over opposing guards. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Aaron Owens, 6-3 W, West Coast Finest</h2>   <p>Owens, playing with his Bonita Vista teammates in 17u, has established himself as one of the most improved rising juniors in San Diego. Once known best for his rebounding and motor, the long-armed Owens (has a +5 wingspan) is becoming an assertive scorer who gets downhill and can finish through contact. The lefty has also improved his range on his jump shot and is taking- and making - shots off the catch from beyond the college three. He's as intriguing a prospect as we have in the class. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Carter Rupp, 5-10 G, Meta Hoops</h2>   <p>Rupp heated up in the second half of Meta Hoops win over SDA 16s. He doesn't look the part, but the undersized scoring guard is a terrific scorer with deep range on his perimeter shot. Once inserted into the game, he impacted his team's surge on both ends, picking up full court and creating live-ball turnovers in the passing lanes and converting ensuing possessions with threes and layups. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Payton Knudsen, 6-0 G, Meta Hoops</h2>   <p>The Idaho-based club's back court will strike fear in no one in layup lines, but Knudsen and his teammate Carter Rupp are highly skilled, quick guards who can score the ball from every level. Knudsen got his team off to a hot start and finished the game with 23 points, mostly from behind the arc. </p>   <p></p>   <p></p>

It's been a few weeks since the April live periods concluded, but there's still time to look back at some players that caught our eyes. In this report, I look at players in the 2025 class that caught my attention at The Stage in Anaheim.