Opening Week Top Performers (pt. 3)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 Classic, Rumble for Rosecrans and St. John Bosco Tip-Off Classic events.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630622' first='Kade' last='Bonam'] | 2025 | St. John Bosco</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bonam took over in the second half of Bosco's win over Long Beach Poly. The 6-foot-6 forward scored 13 of his 15 points in the final 16 minutes and did so from a variety of spots on the floor. Bonam is a strong interior scorer who can power through contact but also has the ball skills and footwork to face-up and drive by defenders to get to the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630660' first='Myles' last='Walker'] | 2025 | Eastvale Roosevelt</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Walker is one of the more crafty two-way guards in the region. At 5-feet-8, what he lacks in size he makes up for in savvy, toughness and basketball IQ on both ends of the floor. Walker is a pesky on-ball defender who uses quick hands and timing to pick opposing guards and start transition offense. His ability to get into the lane and finish with a soft-touch floater or collapse a defense and find open teammates makes him a valuable offensive piece, as well. Walker finished with 20 points in a win over Crean Lutheran.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630667' first='Nate' last='Garcia'] | 2025 | Damien</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In an era where there are very few traditional big men, Garcia bucks that trend. The 7-foot, 250-plus pounder is one of the most difficult covers in high school basketball because of his sheer size and strength but also because he's smart and has great touch around the basket. Garcia is a walking double-double and finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds in a semifinal win over Canyon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1502869' first='Quincy' last='Phillips'] | 2024 | St. Anthony</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Phillips is on the more underrated side of things when it comes to prospects in the state and on the west coast but if his first game of the season was any indication, that could change quickly. The 6-footer is a true combo guard in the sense that he can really score it when he needs to but he also has the presence and basketball IQ to run offense and create for others. Phillips had 30 points in a big win over Long Beach Poly at the Westside Tip-Off Classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1817896' first='Xavier' last='Clinton'] | 2024 | Damien</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clinton is another prospect who can be filed in the "underrated" folder. The 6-foot-4 swingman is a knockdown three-point shooter off the catch who also has a pop of athleticism that allows him to attack the rim in transition and finish through and over defenders. Clinton is a very heady defender who understands matchups and how to keep his assignment from getting to their comfort zones.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->