Classic at Damien: Platinum Division Most Versatile

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LA VERNE — Wednesday marked the opening round of the Classic at Damien Platinum Division which featured top teams and prospects from five states in the west. In this piece we take a look at the most versatile players we watched. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1384424' first='Alec' last='Blair'] | 2025 | De La Salle</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot-6 wing is one of the state's top two-sport prospects - basketball and baseball - and his impact for the Spartans on the hardwood is felt across multiple aspects of the game. Blair is a dribble, pass and shoot perimeter player who can play on or off the ball. He's best in a playmaker role where he can create for himself or teammates out of ball screens or in transition offense. Blair has great vision, feel and timing on his passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1140161' first='Alvin' last='Loving'] | 2025 | Salesian</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loving is a 6-foot-4 lefty wing whose ability to score inside and out makes him a tough cover at the high school level. The junior knocks down catch and shoot three's with consistency but can also attack the rim on straight-line drives to his left hand where he can score through contact. Loving is great in spot-up situations, can operate in the mid-post area of the floor and in pick and pop action on the perimeter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1502766' first='Carter' last='Bryant'] | 2024 | Corona Centennial</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When watching Centennial you can find Bryant in a variety of roles. From initiating offense in a point-forward role to posting up to screening and rolling or popping, the Arizona-signee has the skill-set that allows him to play any position on the floor and excel in those spots. Centennial is at its best when Bryant is in positions where he can make decisions on the offensive end but his defensive impact is not to be understated. Bryant can protect the rim with his shot blocking and shot changing abilities in addition to him being able to switch onto perimeter players and keep them in front.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1064158' first='Christian' last='Warren'] | 2024 | Sunnyslope (AZ)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Warren is an interesting prospect because his skill-set says wing while his body type says undersized four-man or power-wing type player. What to really call the 6-foot-5 senior is simply a "basketball player." Warren has the shooting ability to stretch the floor, the ball skills to rebound and push the break and the physicality to play inside as a physical finisher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1253223' first='De'Undrae' last='Perteete'] | 2024 | Salesian</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perteete is a high motor forward who at 6-foot-5 plays much bigger than his size. The senior is great at moving without the ball and cutting to open spots in the defense where he can catch and finish inside through contact. Perteete is also a multi-positional defender and high-rate rebounder on the offensive and defensive boards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630647' first='Jeremiah' last='Hampton'] | 2025 | Windward</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot-4 lefty was really good in the first two games at Damien. Hampton had his jump shot falling early and, when he has that going, it opens up the floor for him, and the rest of his teammates, to get downhill and attack open lanes. Hampton showed his ability to compete defensively against bigger or smaller players with his physicality and lateral athleticism.</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 has proven this season that he is the definition of a dribble, pass and score type of prospect. The 6-foot-6 forward is smart, skilled and savvy with the ball in his hands, can score from multiple levels of the floor and is a mismatch for most high school programs because his combination of frame, mobility and skill are rare to see at the high school level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1482165' first='Rider' last='Portela'] | 2026 | Sunnyslope (AZ)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I really like Portella as a prospect because of his all-around game. The 6-foot-5 guard/wing can play all over the court and impact winning in a variety of ways. He's a consistent three-point shooter off the catch, makes high IQ decisions with the ball in his hands, and really just allows the game to come to him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->