West Mania AZ Eye Catchers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>April 11-13 I attended the annual West Mania at Cerritos College and Inglewood HS in California. It is quickly becoming one of the better prep AAU tournaments for the real live periods with talented teams from multiple circuits challenging themselves to see where they stand. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">I checked out the 3-day action and here were some of the Arizona Eye Catchers </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2146175' first='LJ' last='Diamond'] ALA Gilbert-North (Dream Vision 16 3SSB) (Pictured)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A hyper athletic combo guard gets to the basket with ease. He has an electric first step to get past his initial defenders and then has the bounce and frame to finish off tough contested layups. He is hitting his three point shot more and more and he is a tough on-ball defender.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1430449' first='James' last='Steward'] Marcos de Niza (AZ Factory)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A post player who can play both positions up front. He has a polished hook shot with his dominant right hand. He will score better then a year ago. He has a nasty fall away from 8-feet with his back to the basket, power dunks with quick springs and offensive rebound put backs with either hand.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1231510' first='Marcus' last='McDonald'] Phhoenix Prep (Dream Vision 3SSB)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A combo guard with some size and skill. He is very quick on the ball defensively and he will pester his opponents up the court. He makes shots from mid to the three point line with a clean stroke and can get past his defenders with a burst. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2838708' first='Issa' last='Traore'] Bella Vista Prep (Phoenix United)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A newcomer for me is an impressive looking forward who literally tries dunking the ball on every other possession. He can also score with hook shots and he rebounds well in his area to score often with offensive rebound put backs. He will take charges and attempts to block everything near him and then sprints the floor.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1583466' first='Jaelon' last='Germany'] San Tan Charter (</strong><strong>Houston Hoops EYBL</strong><strong>)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bigger scoring lead guard with good court vision. He uses a big burst to the painted area and then will find a teammate. He can take a bump and get to the basket with a stronger frame for his size plus pull-up from mid to the three.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2144878' first='Jacob' last='Williford'] AZ Compass Prep Black (</strong><strong>Houston Hoops EYBL</strong><strong>)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bigger guard who is a very good passer and long defender. He can keep his opponents in front of him on defense with his quicker feet and length. He scores with a polished mid-range jumpers and uses his thicker frame to get downhill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1334752' first='Caden' last='Bass'] Phhoenix Prep (Phoenix United)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bigger combo guard who showed good activity on defense and can score. He will score with downhill drives to the basket with a quicker burst and pull-ups from mid to the three point line. He moves the ball for good shots for his teammates.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1893708' first='Prince' last='Cash'] Carl Hayden (Phoenix United)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bigger wing forward who is an active two-way player. He takes strong dribble drives to the basket thru contact using his improved build and frame. He rebounds well and can push the ball up the court.&nbsp;He is also an unselfish teammate to make the extra pass. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1591734' first='TJ' last='Harris'] Liberty (AZ Factory)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A quick on quick scoring point guard who was dropping dimes to cutters all game long. He can also score it multiple ways with blow by's with his left or right hand plus threes off the catch or pull. His speed with the ball in his hands and burst set him apart with some of the others.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1763218' first='AJ' last='Harris'] Canyon View (AZ Factory)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A good sized wing forward who can defend multiple positions and score it. He gets downhill with longer strides and will score with offensive rebound put backs. He can catch and shoot from the three point line and score with quick takes to the basket.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2345479' first='Milton' last='Phinnessee III'] Liberty (AZ Factory 17)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A massive kid with some real size is a plus rebounder in his area. He was playing up this weekend with some older players out for the tournament. He scores inside with put backs, dunks and boxes his opponents out and will run the floor.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->