Nike Extravaganza: Top Underclass Performers
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SANTA ANA — We spent the day inside the Meruelo Athletic Center at Mater Dei high school for the 29th installment of the Nike Extravaganza. There were plenty of ranked teams and players in action Saturday and in this piece…
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Continue ReadingSANTA ANA — We spent the day inside the Meruelo Athletic Center at Mater Dei high school for the 29th installment of the Nike Extravaganza. There were plenty of ranked teams and players in action Saturday and in this piece we take a closer look at the freshmen and sophomores who turned in strong performances.
Brannon Martinsen Brannon Martinsen 6'7" | SF Mater Dei | 2026 State | 2026 | Mater Dei
The 6-foot-7 lefty is one of the most versatile offensive players in SoCal regardless of class and he had his inside-out game on full display Saturday. Martinsen scored a game-high 23 points in Mater Dei’s nail-biting win over Los Alamitos and tallied the points from a variety of areas of the floor. The sophomore is a catch-and-shoot threat from behind the arc and the mid-range level of the floor and can knock down one or two dribble pull-up jumpers as well. Martinsen is highly effective inside where he can score with his back to the basket, on drives or on offensive rebound put-backs.
Chace Holley Chace Holley 6'0" | CG Lynwood | 2026 State | 2026 | Lynwood
Holley’s dynamic athleticism in the open court was evident as he got out on the break and slashed his way to paint finishes. The 6-foot-1 combo guard is fearless when attacking the basket and can power through contact for high percentage baskets. Holley is also a consistent three-point shooter off the catch with time and space. He finished with 17 points in Lynwood’s loss to Modesto Christian.
Ilan Nikolov Ilan Nikolov 6'5" | SG Bishop Gorman | 2027 State NV | 2027 | Bishop Gorman (NV)
There’s early signs that Nikolov will be considered among the best shooters in the 2027 class out west. The 6-foot-4 off guard has textbook shooting mechanics, a fluid release, tight rotation, soft touch and deep range off the catch. Nikolov scored 18 points in the Gaels win over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.
Jaiden Bailes | 2026 | St. Augustine
Bailes has been a scoring machine down in San Diego this season and the sophomore put together another impressive shooting performance. The 6-foot-2 combo guard is a crafty ball handler who can create space on the perimeter to get himself a clean look at the basket. Bailes’ ability to take and make tough shots off the dribble always keeps the defense off-balance and makes him a difficult guy to defend. The sophomore scored a team-high 17 points in a loss to JSerra.
Jason Crowe Jr Jason Crowe Jr 6'4" | PG Inglewood | 2026 State . | 2026 | Lynwood
The expectation is that Crowe will drop 35-plus points every time he takes the floor and he met that precedent he set once again. The 6-foot-3 lefty set a Nike Extravaganza record with 44 points that he got in every way imaginable. From strong drives and tough finishes to deep threes off the catch and off the dribble to his 11-for-13 mark from the charity stripe, Crowe again impressed with his all-around feel and creativity for scoring.
Jett Washington Jett Washington 6'4" | SG Bishop Gorman | 2026 State NV | 2026 | Bishop Gorman (NV)
Washington is a two-sport star who spends the fall playing defensive back and wide receiver on Gorman’s nationally-ranked football team but the 6-foot-3 sophomore showed that he is equally talented and impactful on the hardwood. Washington scored 17 points in the Gaels’ win and flashed a high level of athleticism when running the floor for transition buckets, defending multiple positions and snatching offensive rebounds to give his team extra possessions.
Myles Jones Myles Jones 6'3" | PG Modesto Christian | 2026 State | 2026 | Modesto Christian
Jones is a smooth operator who showed great feel and IQ as a scorer and distributor. The 6-foot-2 sophomore got to his spots off the bounce and knocked down his consistent mid-range jumper and stretched the floor with consistent range behind-the-arc. I thought sophomore’s feel as a game-manager and playmaker was well-beyond his years.