Cali Live Spring Showcase: Standout Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WESTMINSTER — Last weekend marked the first live viewing period of the spring where college coaches of all levels were packed in gyms across the country to evaluate and recruit prospects. We stayed on the West Coast and spent two days at the Cali Live Spring Showcase. Below are the standout guards we watched.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2750200' first='Aiden' last='Shaw'] | 2028 | Prodigy Elite</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shaw put together an impressive freshman season at Bishop Amat high school in Southern California and is off to a strong start with Prodigy's 16u team. The 6-foot-1 point guard showed impressive speed in the open court which allowed him to put pressure on defenses in transition and get to the rim where he used his length to extend and score. Shaw was also one of the more instinctual defenders we saw on the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1983547' first='Chad' last='Johnson'] | 2025 | Lakeshow</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson is one of Northern California's top unsigned seniors. The long, wiry and springy athlete flashed his at-rim and three-point scoring abilities in transition and half-court offense. Johnson used his long strides to cover ground and elevate to the rim for high percentage finishes but also created for himself off the bounce and kept defenders off balance with his ability to change speeds and direction and pull-up quickly for his jump shot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Davit Pachulia | 2027 | Jalen Green Elite</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pachulia possesses good basketball bloodlines as his father, Zaza, played 16 years in the NBA. Davit doesn't have the height of his father just yet, but the 6-foot-4 shooting guard showed that he is an up-and-coming perimeter scoring threat in the state. Pachulia connected on deep three-point shots and off-bounce mid-range jumpers all while showing improvements to his ball handling and playmaking abilities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1956521' first='Elijah' last='Smith'] | 2026 | Prodigy Elite</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is a small, quick and shifty guard who uses those physical and athletic attributes to get to his comfort zones on the offensive end. The 5-foot-8 SoCal-based point guard is an automatic paint touch who is always looking to spray the ball out to shooters. Smith isn't only a creator for others as he proved he could knock down open three-point shots and pull-up jumpers. Perhaps the </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2622347' first='Gunner' last='Morinini'] | 2026 | Build Up Prospects</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morinini has a little bit more freedom at the club level compared to the high school level and it has opened up opportunities to see his game blossom. The 6-foot-1 combo guard is mostly a spot shooter at St. Joseph High in Santa Maria but showed last weekend that he can do some things off the bounce, as well. Morinini uses shot fakes to get defenders out of position and attacks the paint under control where he can score with a pull-up or soft-touched floater.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2779851' first='Jeremiah' last='Hunt'] | 2026 | Cali Rebels Elite</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hunt's pursuit to prove to college coaches that he's a high Division II or low Division I got off to a good start. The 6-foot-2 combo guard has advanced scoring feel and instincts but rarely forces the issue or takes a bad shot within the offense. The junior is a smooth and savvy ball-handler who can hit perimeter jumpers off the bounce or get into the lane and create for teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2425764' first='Semaj' last='Carter'] | 2026 | Cali Rebels Elite</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carter's combination of strength, physicality and athleticism was on full display over the weekend. The 6-foot-3 off-guard is a bully-ball downhill attacker who uses his well-built frame to initiate contact, stay on balance and finish through the body of defenders. Carter isn't just a rim attacker, either, as he possesses a consistent catch-and-shoot three-point shot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->