Summer Recap: SoCal’s Stock-Rising Bigs in ’25

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the summer club and high school seasons coming to a close, we wanted to take a look back at which class of 2025 big men raised their stock over the last few months. We were in countless gyms across the west coast watching games and prospects and the list of names below are the prospects we saw who upped their resumes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630644' first='Blake' last='Davidson'] | Mater Dei</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davidson has always been a highly-skilled forward/center but we have been waiting for him to put together consistent production against other good big men and he did plenty of that playing on the Vegas Elite EYBL team. The 6-foot-9 rising senior has face-up touch out to the three-point line, good feel and finishing ability around the basket and brought a higher level of toughness and physicality to the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630631' first='Douglas' last='Langford'] | St. Pius X-St. Matthias</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Langford raised his stock simply by positioning himself to play in front of coaches and not necessarily upping his game - which isn't a bad thing. The physical 6-foot-8 center has been a double-double machine over his last few seasons of high school ball and his rebounding on both ends with his strong interior finishing translate to every level of play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1620352' first='James' last='Bass'] | Campbell Hall</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bass is a high motor and athletic five-man who thrives in transition settings where he uses his physical and athletic traits to be a rim-run and finish threat in addition to a lob threat on the break. What stands out most about Bass - and what will translate best to the next level - are his instincts on the defensive end. The 6-foot-8 center is quick off the floor, uses his length well to deter and change shots and has great reaction time when coming over to contest shots in half-court defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2404087' first='Mason' last='Hodges'] | San Juan Hills</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Skill and savvy are the names of the game for Hodges. The 6-foot-7 center doesn't have the traditional size and athleticism that pops off the floor but his combination of basketball IQ, footwork and patience on the block make up for that. Hodges is a great passer who takes his time and surveys the floor on his touches and uses ball fakes and sleight of hand and eye to pick defenses apart. Hodges has become a consistent three-point shooter off the catch who can also score craftily around the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2119937' first='Michael' last='Baba'] | Sierra Canyon</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baba stands out not only because of his rangy 6-foot-9 frame and pogo stick-like athleticism but also because of how hard he plays and the energy he brings to both ends of the floor. The rising senior is a high-rate rebounder both in and out of his area, elevates quickly off the floor for paint finishes and offensive boards, and has a chance to be a good rim protector with the right coaching and fit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->