Pangos All-American: Best Bigs on Day 1
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LAS VEGAS — Bishop Gorman high school is always the place to be in the first week of June for the Pangos All-American Camp. The event brings together more than 100 of the top players from across the country for…
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Continue ReadingLAS VEGAS — Bishop Gorman high school is always the place to be in the first week of June for the Pangos All-American Camp. The event brings together more than 100 of the top players from across the country for three days of high level basketball. We focused in on the two games played on Court 1 and below we take a look at the best big men we saw on opening night.
Badara Diakite | 2025 | South Kent (CT)
The key term I came away with after watching Diakite play was “versatility.” The 6-foot-10 forward/center has a wiry frame to go along with fluid athleticism and a set of coordinated ball skills that allow him to play both inside and out. Diakite looked comfortable in catch and shoot situations behind the three-point line and made a handful of impressive attacks and finishes in face-up situations.
Ifaola Fawaz Tacko Ifaola Fawaz Tacko 6'11" | C Dream City Christian | 2025 State AZ | 2025 | Dream City Christian (AZ)
Fawaz excelled as a rim-runner on opening night of Pangos All-American. The rising senior is mobile, coordinated and athletic with a physical 6-foot-11 frame that he used to beat his opposing big men down the floor for easy high percentage finishes. Fawaz also made noise as a rim protector with his timing and verticality deterring shots around the basket.
Jaden Toombs | 2025 | Dynamic Prep (TX)
Toombs was a dominant interior presence on night one and it’s always refreshing to see a big man with some true back to the basket feel. The 6-foot-9 center stayed true to his position and skill-set as he established deep post position and used his combination of footwork and touch to score efficiently at the rim. Toombs has a quick spin move off the catch and is a worker on the offensive glass.
Mahamadou Diop Mahamadou Diop 6'10" | C San Gabriel Academy | 2027 CA-S | 2027 | San Gabriel Academy (CA)
Diop is one of the few 2027 prospects in this event and he more than held his own in his first game. The wiry and bouncy 6-foot-10 center has lightning quick first and second jumps that allow him to impact the offensive and defensive glass. His combination of soft hands and explosiveness off the floor make him the ideal catch and finish big for driving guards. Diop’s best attributes are his defensive instincts as a shot blocker and overall rim protector.
Timothy Winkler | 2026 | Oak Ridge (FL)
Winkler was another big who stood out because of his versatility, mobility in transition and face-up scoring acumen. The 6-foot-10 center stepped out to the perimeter and knocked down some catch-and-shoot three’s and used his ball skills and quick first step to blow-by his defender and get to the rim where he finished with power.