Take Flight Challenge: Best Playmakers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>REDONDO BEACH — Coach Reggie Morris and the Redondo Union high school basketball staff put on its annual Take Flight Challenge over the weekend that featured many of Southern California's top teams and prospects. We were in attendance for each of the eight games in the main gym and below are the most impactful playmakers we watched.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1896224' first='Jaden' last='Erami'] | 2025 | Bosco Tech</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Erami isn't your traditional "point guard" playmaker but rather a guy who can create for himself and teammates from different areas of the floor and various situations throughout the game. The 6-foot-2 junior can dish out of the post, handle it and run offense like a true point guard or operate on the wing and get into the lane for drive-and-kick opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1956462' first='Julius' last='Price'] | 2026 | St. Joseph</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Price is a super dynamic point guard both in transition and half-court settings. At 6-feet-3 with a strong frame and elite burst of quickness off the dribble, Price can blow-by defenders in isolation or accelerate into the lane out of ball screens where he can finish himself or make the right read to an open teammate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2131788' first='Kayleb' last='Kearse'] | 2026 | Gardena Serra</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There aren't many sub-5-foot-9 guards in the region who can impact the game on both ends the way that Kearse does. The sophomore is a crafty and confident scorer whose combination of speed, quickness and changes of speed and direction allow him to get into the lane where he can finish with a floater, a mid-range pull-up or find an open teammate. Kearse can also create space off the bounce for step-back jumpers. He had 24 points in Serra's loss to Long Beach Poly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Patrick O'Brien | 2025 | Cathedral Catholic</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>O'Brien is an interesting player because he doesn't necessarily possess the physical and athletic traits of a new-age point guard but his feel for the game and basketball IQ at 6-feet-5 make him a very good primary ball-handler and game-manager. The junior limits turnovers, doesn't over-handle, gets the ball to teammates in the right positions and is a true extension of the coach on the floor. O'Brien can also knock down open three's when the time comes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1502769' first='Trent' last='Perry'] | 2024 | Harvard-Westlake |</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What makes Perry one of the best prospects in the country is his ability to adapt his game to what is team needs. The 6-foot-3 point guard takes the pulse of the game in real-time, identifies what's working, and makes it a point to go to that. Whether it's him creating for himself, getting teammates in the ball in positions where they can be successful or executing a call from the sideline, the USC-bound senior has a high basketball IQ and great feel for the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->