Core Prep Fall Classic: Under-The-Radar Wings/Bigs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NORTHRIDGE — The Core Prep Fall Classic marked the last big fall high school basketball event in Southern California. Below we take a look at some under-the-radar wings and bigs who stood out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Delijah McAlpin | 2025 | Village Christian</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McAlpin is a versatile wing/forward whose combination of size, strength, athleticism and mobility at 6-feet-7 makes him a tough cover for opposing high school programs. McAlpin has the ability to finish through contact around the basket but also has the vertical pop to elevate and finish over defenders in the lane. What stood out about the senior in this event was his ability to stretch the floor to the three-point line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1956502' first='Dominique' last='Bentho'] | 2026 | Harvard-Westlake</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bentho has made steady progress in his first two years of high level high school basketball and we could see him take a big step forward in his junior campaign. The 6-foot-8 center has some of the best hands and footwork among traditional five-men in the region and it results in him being a player who can take advantage of mismatches down low with his back to the basket feel and touch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Joe Hickey | 2025 | St. Francis</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hickey has a traditional, no nonsense approach to the five spot for St. Francis and it is highly effective in their system. Hickey sets a big on-ball screen to free guards and dives hard to the rim looking for finishing opportunities on rolls or offensive rebounds on missed shots. Hickey plays a hard-nosed brand of basketball that brings a throwback feel with his willingness to do what the team needs him to do without being a "star."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Mark Lewis | 2025 | Notre Dame</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lewis is a skilled four man with a smooth left handed shooting stroke that allows him to stretch the floor to the three-point line off the catch. The 6-foot-6 senior projects as a pick and pop threat who can also put the ball on the floor and attack closeouts in straight-line drive situations to his left hand.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2404096' first='Taj' last='Unuakhalu'] | 2025 | Chatsworth</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unuakhalu is a physical interior finisher whose built 6-foot-7 frame and elite pop of vertical athleticism that allow him to finish through and above contact around the basket. Unuakhalu's biggest impact is on the defensive end as an elite rim protector and defensive rebounder who alters countless shots around the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->