SoCal Summer Preview: Under-The-Radar

<p>CORONA — The SoCal Summer Preview offered some of the region's top teams and prospects to compete for a spot in the Arizona-based Section 7 event. There were two brackets in which the winners earned and auto bid to the large scale live scholastic period event at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Temecula Rancho Christian and Sacramento Sheldon earned those two spots and we were able to get a glimpse of some under-the-radar prospects.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Arion Valentine | 2025 | Rancho Verde</h4>   <p>Valentine had his smooth playmaking and scoring abilities on display. The 6-foot-3 rising senior wasn't on our radar prior to this event but his ability to break defenders down in isolation and use his length to extend to the rim and finish or his vision to create an open shot for his teammate helped the Mustangs reach the championship game of their bracket. Valentine is a confident attacker of the basket who can also knock down the open catch and shoot three.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2425688' first='Charles' last='Knight'] | 2026 | Rancho Verde</h4>   <p>Knight was one of the better perimeter shooters we saw at this event. The 6-footer used his quick trigger, repeatable mechanics and deep range to stretch the defense and punish a defender who helped on a drive. The rising junior didn't need much time or space to get his three-point shot off and showed an effective shot-fake into a balanced and consistent mid-range pull-up.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2323691' first='JD' last='Wyatt'] | 2026 | Sun Valley Poly</h4>   <p>Wyatt hada standout sophomore season at a smaller Sun Valley Poly program but his game will be tough to hide much longer. The 6-foot-2 combo guard is a dynamic scorer - as evidenced by his 28-plus points per game average last season - and he can fill up the scoring column in a variety of ways. Wyatt is a smooth driver who uses change of speeds to keep defenders off-balance and get in the lane. He can also knock down perimeter jumpers both off the catch and off the bounce.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2119941' first='Jaiden' last='Agbo'] | 2025 | Rancho Christian</h4>   <p>Agbo continues to improve as an offensive player - and we'll get into that in minute - but his true calling card is his ability to pressure the ball defensively. The 6-foot-1 guard has lightning quick hands, great lateral speed and, simply, the willingness to get up and defend his assignment for 94 feet. The rising senior is disruptive in passing lanes, chests the drive without fouling and forced his matchup to turn multiple times before half-court. Offensively, Agbo is a quick and aggressive downhill driver who likes to get into the body of his defender to absorb and finish through contact. He has also improved the confidence and consistency of his perimeter jump shot.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2119934' first='Jayden' last='Smoot'] | 2025 | Rancho Christian</h4>   <p>Smoot is one of the more underrated athletes in the state and he had his combination of burst in transition and the ability to elevate and finish over rim protectors on full display. The 6-foot-3 lefty has an explosive first step in the half-court setting and his quick pop off the floor gives help defenders limited time to react to his drives which resulted in multiple highlight-reel finishes throughout the weekend. Smoot has the ball skills and basketball IQ to play on the ball as a primary decision-maker but can also slide off of it with his feel as a slasher and finisher.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Mark Jones | 2025 | Hesperia</h4>   <p>Jones is an intriguing point guard prospect because of his combination of size, length and physicality to go along with the great pace he plays with. The 6-foot-3 rising senior operates with some throwback feel to his game in that he plays at his own speed and, even though he doesn't have elite burst or quickness, he gets to his scoring and playmaking spots with changes of speed and direction. Jones does a great job of getting defenders on his hip and finishes with either hand around the rim.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1703073' first='Rodney' last='Westmoreland'] | 2026 | Santa Margarita</h4>   <p>Westmoreland is your true "floor general" type of point guard whose main focus is to get teammates the ball in positions where they can be successful. The 6-foot rising junior is unselfish by nature, doesn't over-handle the basketball and delivers on-time and on-target passes to teammates - whether it's a feed in transition or off of a paint touch and kick opportunity. Westmoreland grasps the concept of advancing the ball up the floor via the pass but can also expose gaps in the defense and use his speed to get to the rim. He's an effective on-ball defender with quick hands and a natural ability to anticipate and shoot passing lanes for steals. </p>

CORONA — The SoCal Summer Preview offered some of the region's top teams and prospects to compete for a spot in the Arizona-based Section 7 event. There were two brackets in which the winners earned and auto bid to the large scale live scholastic period event at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Temecula Rancho Christian and Sacramento Sheldon earned those two spots and we were able to get a glimpse of some under-the-radar prospects.