Heart of California Classic: Elite Talent Hits Fresno

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 3rd Annual Heart of California Basketball Classic is more than just a basketball showcase—it's a celebration of elite talent, both national and local, competing on one of Central California's biggest stages. Taking place at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, the event is packed with thrilling matchups, featuring some of the nation's top-ranked prospects and the best players from the Central Section. With future NBA draft picks, high school standouts, and under-the-radar talents all sharing the court, this year's Classic promises to be the most exciting yet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a game-by-game breakdown of the matchups and the <strong>players to watch</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong> Clovis North Broncos (Fresno, CA) vs. Sacramento Dragons (Sacramento, CA)</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending Division 1 Central Section champions, Clovis North, take on a talented Sacramento Dragons team in what promises to be a high-energy finale.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch – Clovis North Broncos</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Loukas Jones (6'3, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Nolan Birchall (5'11, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>McKae Amundsen (5'9, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Elias Gish (6'6, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Jahlil Montgomery (6'2, 2027)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch – Sacramento Dragons</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Shobal Barksdale (6'6, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1384642' first='Sir' last='Marius Jones'] (6'4, 2025)</strong><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2574699' first='PJ' last='Parker'] (6'8, 2028)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2335279' first='Ishan' last='Wallace'] (5'10, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>| Clovis West Golden Eagles (Fresno, CA) vs. Inglewood Sentinels (Inglewood, CA)</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In one of the event's marquee matchups, Clovis West takes on the Inglewood Sentinels, led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1956461' first='Jason' last='Crowe Jr']. (#7, 2026)</strong>, one of the most prolific scorers in the nation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch – Clovis West Golden Eagles</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>DJ Stickman (6'2, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Jace Kellogg (6', 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Myron Pondexter-Johnson (6'1, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Spencer Kubit (5'11, 2027)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Lawrence Moore (6'3, 2027)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch – Inglewood Sentinels</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Dwayne Boston (6'4, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1225568' first='Parker' last='Jefferson'] (6'9, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1956461' first='Jason' last='Crowe Jr']. (6'4, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>David Conerly (6'5, 2027)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>| Prolific Prep (Napa, CA) vs. Bella Vista Prep-CIA (Phoenix, AZ)</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This prep school showdown is a scout's dream, featuring multiple top-ranked players and potential NBA prospects. Prolific Prep's roster alone includes three players ranked in ESPN's Top 20 for their respective classes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch – Prolific Prep</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1432004' first='Darryn' last='Peterson'] (6'5, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Niko Bundalo (6'10, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1276627' first='Winters' last='Grady'] (6'8, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1779014' first='Seven' last='Spurlock'] (6'5, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1845363' first='Rajan' last='Roberts'] (6'2, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Obinna Ekezie (6'11, 2027)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Gabe Nesmith (6'5, 2027)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch – Bella Vista Prep</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Mouhamed Sylla (6'10, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Miles Sadler (5'11, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Paul Osaruyi (6'9, 2027)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>| Buchanan Bears (Clovis, CA) vs. Fremont Tigers (Oakland, CA)</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Buchanan's size and Fremont's speed make this an intriguing matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch – Buchanan Bears</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Connor Sheets (6'1, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1384646' first='Brayden' last='Harris'] (6'8, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Carter Finley (6'4, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Broden Burger (6'4, 2027)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch – Fremont Tigers</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1983733' first='Zion' last='Roper'] (6'1, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2415911' first='Tyreese' last='West'] (6'8, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2094253' first='Roy' last='Bishop'] (6'2, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>| Bullard Knights (Fresno, CA) vs. Grant Pacers (Sacramento, CA)</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch – Bullard Knights</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>James Miranda (6'4, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Dalen Felder (6'2, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Ja'Vance Coleman (6'2, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Sean Smith-Sharkey (6', 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch – Grant Pacers</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1702962' first='Andre' last='Gomez'] (6'4, 2026</strong>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2268994' first='Nadir' last='Lockhart'] (6'7, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Coby James (6'1, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Roger Vanderhoen (6'7, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>| Sunnyside Wildcats (Fresno, CA) vs. Central Grizzlies (Fresno, CA)</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch – Sunnyside Wildcats</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>C.J. Jones (6'4, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Malachi Barnes (6'2, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Tanner Wilson (6'2, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch – Central Grizzlies</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Gerald Perry (6'4, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Na'Jae Stevenson (6'5, 2025)</strong>:</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Stanley Makely (2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Sier Harbin (6'1, 2027)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>| Sanger Apaches (Sanger, CA) vs. McLane Highlanders (Fresno, CA)</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch – Sanger Apaches</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Caleb Ramirez (6'3, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Micah Cole (6'8, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Luke Ramirez (6'3, 2027)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch – McLane Highlanders</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Airian Chourn (2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Keyvon Burcher (2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Khristian Smith (2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Keshawn Langenfeld (2027)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>| Fresno Christian Eagles (Fresno, CA) vs. Redwood Rangers (Visalia, CA)</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch – Fresno Christian Eagles</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Aden Millwee (6'1, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Beckham Klein (6'3, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Trevor Engelman (6'3, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Jeremiah Mason (5'10, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Devin Gaines (6'6, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Noah Coutlon (6', 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Tycen Ramirez (6'6, 2026)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch – Redwood Rangers</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Cole Gilcrest (6'9, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Elijah Casas (5'10, 2025</strong>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Moses Saulsbury (6'4, 2025)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2273494' first='Zander' last='Jensen'] (6'2, 2027)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>| McFarland Cougars (McFarland, CA) vs. Mendota Aztecs (Mendota, CA)</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch – McFarland Cougars</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Malachi Davis (6'3, 2027</strong>)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Heart of California Basketball Classic continues to be a showcase for the future of basketball. With national stars like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1432004' first='Darryn' last='Peterson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1956461' first='Jason' last='Crowe Jr'].</strong> taking the court alongside Central Section standouts, the stage is set for a day of unforgettable performances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->