Opening Week Top Performers (pt. 2)
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Last week kicked off the 2023-24 high school basketball season in Southern California and we were able to get out to a handful of tournaments. In this piece we break down the best players we saw at the Westside Tip-Off…
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Continue ReadingLast week kicked off the 2023-24 high school basketball season in Southern California and we were able to get out to a handful of tournaments. In this piece we break down the best players we saw at the Westside Tip-Off Classic, Rumble for Rosecrans and St. John Bosco Tip-Off Classic events.
Elzie Harrington Elzie Harrington 6'5" | PG St. John Bosco | 2025 State #25 Nation CA-S | 2025 | St. John Bosco
Harrington remains one of the best playmakers in the state regardless of class. His ability to slow the game down in transition and half-court settings and get the ball out to teammates in spots where they can be successful is close to unmatched in the region. The 6-foot-5 point guard also did plenty of damage scoring for himself in transition as his combination of size, strength and athleticism makes him tough to stop when he gets downhill. Harrington finished with 16 points in Bosco’s win over Poly.
Gene Roebuck | 2027 | La Mirada
What an impressive debut Roebuck had in his first week of high school ball but anyone who had seen him play wasn’t surprised by it. The 6-foot-5 wing is skilled, smart and savvy on the offensive end and his ability to stretch the floor with the three-point shot opens up the mid-range area of the floor where he can really go to work. Roebuck has a throwback feel at 15-feet and in and uses that, along with his footwork and touch, to create mismatches and score inside. Roebuck had 25 points in a semifinal win over La Serna at the Rumble for Rosecrans.
Giovanni Ofoegbu | 2025 | Long Beach Poly
Ofoegbu has quietly made a name for himself but his sleeper status won’t last long if he continues to play the way he did Saturday. The 6-foot-3 junior has all the physical tools you look for in a wing – length, quick twitch athleticism and burst in transition. His ability to get into the paint and finish at the rim is his biggest strength right now but he did show flashes of catch and shoot ability from deep.
Hudson Mayes Hudson Mayes 6'2" | PG Redondo Union | 2025 State #294 Nation CA-S | 2025 | Redondo Union
Mayes made his first appearance since suffering a knee injury last season and the movement and confidence he displayed was impressive. The 6-foot-3 combo guard is in great physical shape, showed some explosive and shifty moves off the dribble and elevated for a transition dunk in a big win over Foothill. Mayes finished with an efficient 15 points.
Jovani Ruff Jovani Ruff 6'5" | SG Long Beach Poly | 2025 State #117 Nation CA-S | 2025 | Long Beach Poly
Ruff scored a team-high 30 points in Poly’s opener against St. Anthony but the large margin in the final score of that game made those buckets feel less impactful. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard added 24 in a 10-point loss to the No. 2 team in the state Saturday night and did so in the flow of the team offense. Ruff is one of the better perimeter shooters in the class and when he’s taking open looks within the team concept, he’s very effective.