EHA Hot Prospects Camp: Wednesday’s Top Performers (Pt. 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ORANGE — The Elite Hoops Association hosted a 70-plus player showcase at Santiago Canyon Wednesday night. The opening games of the event weren't live to Division 1 college coaches but some media types and Division 2 coaches were in the gym evaluating the prospects. Below are some of the top performers we watched.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1502816' first='Jael' last='Martin'], 2024, Carlsbad</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martin has all the physical tools and athletic gifts to earn the Division 1 looks that he's been getting. At 6-feet-8 with quick and explosive leaping ability and great body control in the air, Martin is a rim-runner and finisher and transition lob threat. Martin showed some face-up touch from 15-17 feet and put the ball on the floor and beat defenders off the dribble.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1502797' first='Jon' last='Mani'], 2024, Palisades</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mani was perhaps the most recruitable/best Division 1 prospect in the gym. At 6-feet-5 with craftiness off the dribble, a tight handle, three-point shooting ability and great feet for the game, the Palisades high school senior pulled all the right strings as the primary ball handler and decision-maker for his team. Mani's ability to get defenders off balance to blow-by or get into the paint made him one of the more effective isolation scorers of the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1510781' first='Larry' last='Lewis'], 2024, Vacaville&nbsp;</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lewis stood out due to his combination of size, athleticism and motor. The 6-foot-7 forward was active all over the floor from running the court and finishing in transition to crashing the offensive and defensive boards and setting physical ball screens to free up guards. Lewis' biggest offensive impact was his ability to generate second chance opportunities and finish through contact inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1243526' first='Lonnie' last='Bass Jr']., 2025, Mater Academy East (NV)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was no one who could stop Bass whenever he decided he was going to assert himself. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward was the most physical inside presence in the gym and he used that to bully defenders in the lane and finish easy baskets at the rim. Bass was nearly unstoppable in face-up situations where his footwork and physicality overwhelmed his defensive assignment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Mouhamed Diao, 2024, Mary Star</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Diao was one of the surprises of the event as his combination of length, fluid athleticism and willingness to rim-run made him an offensive threat in transition. Diao also flashed some perimeter scoring acumen with his catch and shoot ability when given time and space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->