Westside Tip-Off Classic: Standout Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LOS ANGELES — Westchester high school played host to one of the top season-opening tournaments in Southern California last week and we were in attendance for the action on Tuesday. Below we detail some of the day's top performers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1956465' first='Alijah' last='Arenas'] | Chatsworth</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arenas dazzled the standing room only crowd that gathered to watch him and fellow top ten prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1956464' first='Tajh' last='Ariza'] go head-to-head. The 6-foot-5 combo guard flashed his smooth shot creating and shot making abilities off the bounce and off the catch to the tune of a game-high 24 points. Arenas makes everything look easy and his combination of size, athleticism, ball skills and three-level scoring ability make him one of the toughest players to guard at the high school level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2323687' first='Giovanni' last='Ofoegbu'] | Long Beach Poly</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ofoegbu is a bit of a sleeper prospect who is emerging as a potential steal at the Division II level. The long, wiry and athletic 6-foot-4 guard/wing is a dynamic slasher and finisher in transition who can knock down the open catch and shoot three in spot-up situations. Ofoegbu is trending as a multi-positional on-ball defender at the next level. Ofoegbu scored 16 points in a win over Beverly Hills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1896210' first='Isaiah' last='Johnson'] | Beverly Hills</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson was a bright spot in Beverly Hills' loss to Long Beach Poly with his high energy attacking of the rim on downhill drives. The 6-foot-3 wing scored a game-high 18 points and used his aggressiveness and strength to bully his way to the rim where he finished through contact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2638238' first='Jaiden' last='Agbo'] | Rancho Christian</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Agbo was making shots in dynamic fashion with a combination of deep three's off the catch and shifty pull-up jumpers off the bounce. Agbo is a quick-twitch ball handler whose burst and speed with the ball, combined with his ability to change direction and stay on balance, makes him a difficult player to contain on the perimeter. Agbo finished with a team-high 21 points in a loss to Crespi.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2119934' first='Jayden' last='Smoot'] | Rancho Christian</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smoot is a hyper-athletic lefty who thrives in transition. The 6-foot-3 senior uses his burst in the open court and quick leaping ability to beat defenders to spots where he can elevate and finish over or through rim protectors. Smoot also showed some improved touch on his three-point shot. Smoot finished with 17 points in a loss to Crespi.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630619' first='Jovani' last='Ruff'] | Long Beach Poly</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ruff, who recently signed with Cal, didn't have the best scoring night of his career but showed that he can anchor an offense with his vision and passing ability. The 6-foot-5 senior finished with 14 points and nine assists in a win over Beverly Hills. Ruff did a nice job of not forcing tough shots and instead created opportunities for his teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Khaeden Asher-Grady | Westchester</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chatsworth defense was focused in on stopping [player_tooltip player_id='1956464' first='Tajh' last='Ariza'] in this matchup and Asher-Grady stepped up in a big way to keep the Comets in the game until the end. The junior guard used his strength to get defenders on his hip and drove the ball into the teeth of the defense where he finished through and around contact. Asher-Grady led the Comets with 17 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630640' first='Peyton' last='White'] | Crespi</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>White was a man amongst boys physically in Crespi's win over Rancho Christian. The 6-foot-6 forward is an elite athlete with strength and skill as an inside-out scoring threat. White finished with 23 points to lead the Celts with a combination of power finishes inside and mid-range jumpers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->