Classic at Damien: All-Platinum Div. W/F/C

<p>LA VERNE — With the holiday high school basketball tournaments all but wrapped up, we wanted to put together a list of the top players we saw by position. In this piece we recognize the top wings, forwards and centers we watched in the Platinum Division at The Classic at Damien.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2304482' first='Alan' last='Gballou'] | 2025 | Layton Christian (UT)</h4>   <p>Gballou's combination of size, strength and agility was one of the biggest talking points of the weekend. The 6-foot-7, 270-pound forward/center looks like an edge rusher or offensive tackle but has the touch, footwork and feel of a modern big man. The Eastern Washington-commit used his combination of power and finesse to dominate inside throughout the tournament.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Antoine Almuttar | 2026 | Parish Episcopal (TX)</h4>   <p>Almuttar did a little bit of everything for Parish as the 6-foot-3 wing flashed his toughness and versatility on both ends of the floor. Offensively, Almuttar is a strong slasher and finisher who can also knock down open perimeter jumpers and defensively he guards multiple positions and crashes the offensive glass.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1956520' first='Brayden' last='Kyman'] | 2026 | Santa Margarita</h4>   <p>Kyman had his floor stretching ability on full display throughout the week. The 6-foot-8 Washington State-commit is effective as a spot-up shooter where guards can hit him on drive and kicks but is also a weapon in pick-and-pop situations. Kyman's versatility was shown in his stat line for the tournament where he averaged 14.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2131780' first='Christian' last='Collins'] | 2026 | St. John Bosco</h4>   <p>Collins continued his ascent in the eyes of college coaches, media and opposing coaches as players with four truly impressive performances. The 6-foot-8 wing/forward is one of the most dynamic athletes out west and his skill is approaching that level, as well. Collins can stretch the floor to the three-point line, attack closeouts and finish at the rim and push and play in transition.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Darius Wabbington | 2027 | Sunnyslope (AZ)</h4>   <p>Wabbington is a highly skilled sophomore who, at 6-feet-10, can seal and score with either hand with his back to the basket but also has the touch and shooting ability to step out to the perimeter and hit 15-foot and three-point shots off the catch. </p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630628' first='Dillan' last='Shaw'] | 2025 | Heritage Christian</h4>   <p>Shaw is one of the most versatile offensive players in the state and he had that on full display throughout the tournament. Shaw is a wiry 6-foot-7 wing who can stretch the floor to the three-point line, get to the rim off the bounce and operate out of face-up and post-up situations. Shaw, a St. Mary's-bound senior, should be a nice fit for the Gaels.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2425665' first='Drew' last='Anderson'] | 2026 | Santa Margarita</h4>   <p>Anderson has been one of the region's top stock-risers since his time with Jalen Green Elite on the 3SSB circuit. The 6-foot-7 forward carried that momentum into the high school season and his flashes of versatility, shot-making ability and toughness on both ends of the floor have drawn him interest from Division I programs of various levels.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2194355' first='Gene' last='Roebuck'] | 2027 | La Mirada</h4>   <p>Roebuck is one of the best scorers out west regardless of class and showed that his bucket-getting prowess doesn't slow down even against some of the best players and teams in the region. The 6-foot-5 sophomore is a tough cover because of his ability to make tough contested shots all over the floor and his scoring feel on the block and mid-post areas with this back to the basket.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630621' first='Hudson' last='Mayes'] | 2025 | Redondo Union</h4>   <p>Mayes will go down as one of the most under-appreciated prospects in the 2025 class out west. The 6-foot-4 wing is a broad-shouldered, athletic 3-man whose toughness and athleticism make him a through-contact finisher around the basket. Mayes can also throw some skill into his physical style of play with a balanced and fluid pull-up jump shot. The senior is heading to Central Michigan next fall.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Michael Simcoe | 2025 | Sandra Day O'Connor (AZ)</h4>   <p>Simcoe is a hard-hat type of prospect who is a double-double threat each time he takes the floor. The 6-foot-8 forward uses his strong upper body to absorb and create space around the basket where he can finish through contact. The UCSB-commit can also step out on the perimeter and hit catch-and-shoot threes and mid-range shots.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1956526' first='SJ' last='Madison'] | 2026 | Redondo Union</h4>   <p>Madison continues to improve his all-around game and is quickly turning the corner into becoming a mid to high major wing prospect in the 2026 class. The 6-foot-4 junior is a smooth transition athlete who covers ground quickly and gets himself into downhill drives where he can explode to the rim for paint finishes. The biggest improvement that Madison has made to his game is with his off-catch perimeter shooting.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630627' first='Tae' last='Simmons'] | 2025 | Heritage Christian</h4>   <p>Simmons' combination of explosive vertical athleticism and physicality is something that many opposing high school forwards struggle to deal with. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound forward is mobile in transition where he fills the wing or rim-runs the middle of the floor looking to score in the lane on the break. Simmons has improved his half-court offensive game to where he can face-up, drive and score at the rim.</p>   <p></p>

LA VERNE — With the holiday high school basketball tournaments all but wrapped up, we wanted to put together a list of the top players we saw by position. In this piece we recognize the top wings, forwards and centers we watched in the Platinum Division at The Classic at Damien.