The Classic at Damien (Best Creators)

Joel Francisco

January 5, 2024 @ 04:01 PM

LA VERNE, Ca.--The Classic at Damien continued to show it's the ultimate holiday tournament on the West Coast due to its plethora of quality teams and stellar players, led by Tournament MVP [player_tooltip player_id='1630617' first='Brayden' last='Burries'] of Roosevelt.   In the following days, there will be numerous breakdowns of prospects ranging from High-Major Division 1 talents to junior college prospects under a bevy of categories. In our next category, we'll look at the Best Creators. These are the type of players that either run their team on offense or are versatile point-forward types. Nevertheless, they are the type of prospects that can get their own shot or create for others.   [player_tooltip player_id='1057050' first='Tiger' last='Cuff'] (American Fork,UT)   2024, PG, 6-foot-5, 175 pounds   Joel's take: Cuff is a steal for Weber State due to his size for the positon and overall acumen for the game. He has a rangy frame that should fill out nicely once he enters a college weight room program and nutritional system. His head is always up while navigating the defense and he is a wizard at skip passes and overall decision making. He can also get to the rim off the dribble or nail the pull-up jump shot. Once he gains strength, he'll be an excellent college guard.   Mason Magee (Basha,AZ)   2026, PG, 5-foot-11, 165 pounds   Joel's take: One of the bigger surprises in the event was the play of Magee. He has a reputation in Arizona as one of the better guards emerging in that state, but it was nice to see him elevate his game against elite competition at this event. The chiseled point guard has elite straight-ahead speed and his ability to get to the rim is uncanny. He has the strength and explosiveness to finish over length and with either hand. His burst off the dribble was on display and he nailed jump shots as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='1384424' first='Alec' last='Blair'] (De La Salle)   2025, WF, 6-foot-6, 215 pounds   Joel's take: Despite the left-handed Blair being an elite baseball prospect, his basketball ability was on display as well. The rangy wing has very long arms and a tight skill set. He's a point-forward type who can break the defense down going either left or right and the bounce to finish with either hand in traffic, even with a dunk at times. He shows an excellent touch in the paint and can knock down the 3-pointer, but his efficiency from beyond the arc needs to improve.   [player_tooltip player_id='1630620' first='Elzie' last='Harrington'] (St. John Bosco)   2025, PG, 6-foot-5, 175 pounds   Joel's take: One of the more versatile prospects in the West is Harrington, regardless of class. The rangy point guard type has excellent ball skills, and a high basketball IQ, and can impact the game in the areas of scoring and passing. He can weave his way to the rim in transition and finish with either hand or snap a pass to an open teammate. His mid-range pull-up is evolving, but his 3-point stroke needs to get more consistent to elevate his stock.   [player_tooltip player_id='1391447' first='Jordan' last='Roberts'] (Dixie, UT)   2024, PG, 6-foot-1, 155 pounds   Joel's take: One of the best point guards in the event was Roberts. He plays the position with aplomb due to his ability to knock in deep jump shots and quick decision-making. He zips the ball and can break down the defense due to his solid burst off the dribble. His savvy for the game is exhibited by his precise passing either in the paint (drop-off pass) or out on the perimeter to an open shooter. This moxie-filled point guard should be an excellent player in college.