SoCal Recruiting Update: Recent Commitments

In the era of the transfer portal, more international recruitment and now G-League recruitment, we're seeing a trend among Southern California high school basketball players: Commit while the offer is there. Many of our top 20 prospects in the region have committed prior to the early signing period with seven big names coming off the board in the last few weeks. Below we take a closer look at those players and how they fit with the college program of their choice.   [player_tooltip player_id='1956464' first='Tajh' last='Ariza'] | Link Academy | Class Rank: No. 6 | Commitment: Oregon   Ariza fits into the mold of wing/forward prospect that Oregon head coach Dana Altman likes to target: long, athletic, and versatile on both ends of the floor. At this moment in his development, Ariza is best as a transition slasher and scorer - on or off the ball - who has also shown the ability to create for himself and others off the dribble. Where Ariza could impact the game early on at the college level is on the defensive end. His combination of size, length, lateral fluidity and quick twitch reaction time will allow him to guard multiple positions.   [player_tooltip player_id='2425665' first='Drew' last='Anderson'] | Santa Margarita | Class Rank: No. 14 | Commitment: Oregon State   Prior to this past summer, Anderson was more of a SoCal regional commodity than a national one but that all changed in the spring and summer. Anderson strung together consistent and impressive performances on big stages with Santa Margarita and Jalen Green Elite's 3SSB team that skyrocketed his recruitment. Anderson chose Oregon State last week over the likes of UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, Montana, Eastern Washington and others. The Beavers are getting a four-man with an intriguing blend of toughness and physicality to go along with size, mobility and an inside-out scoring arsenal. There's one thing you're guaranteed to get from Anderson each time he takes the floor: He will bring his hard hat and compete.   [player_tooltip player_id='2425762' first='Josh' last='Irving'] | Pasadena | Class Rank: 15 | Commitment: Texas A&M   Irving is one of the highest upside prospects out west and he will look to continue his rapid ascent and development in the SEC at Texas A&M. There are few players in the country who possess the combination of size, length, mobility and vertical athleticism that Irving has. At 6-feet-11, the Pasadena high school product is most effective as a rim protector where he challenges, alters or blocks countless shots in the paint, when you add that in with his fluid lateral movements, you have a defensive anchor waiting to be molded. Offensively, Irving is still raw from a skill-set standpoint but is super effective as a lob threat in ball screen action or when spacing to the short corners. The senior has plenty of offensive tools to build on.   [player_tooltip player_id='1956507' first='Luke' last='Barnett'] | Mater Dei | Class Rank: 16 | Commitment: Kansas   Barnett isn't the typical blue chip recruit that Kansas targets but he is elite at one of the most important parts of the modern game: Three-point shooting. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard is one of the country's premier perimeter jump shooters with the ability to knock down triples off the catch, on the move, off of screens and does it all with deep range, a quick release and unmatched confidence. Barnett connected on 94 three-point shots last season which was good for 10th in the state and, with a handful of departures from the Monarchs roster this season, he will likely be even more of a focal point of the team's offense.   [player_tooltip player_id='2622334' first='David' last='Abisogun'] | Fairmont Prep | Class Rank: 18 | Commitment: Texas State   Abisogun is a late-blooming big man with a deep offensive skill-set and plenty of upside to be tapped in to. The 6-foot-8 lefty has a combination of traditional back to the basket scoring feel to go along with face-up touch on the perimeter and the ability to drive out of the triple threat and score to his strong hand. Abisogun's biggest offensive strength might be his passing ability as he finds cutters and open shooters out of the post and can trigger offense at the top of the key.   [player_tooltip player_id='2425674' first='Jacob' last='Majok'] | Crean Lutheran | Class Rank: 19 | Commitment: UC Riverside   Majok has the potential to be a valuable four man, even a small ball five, in the Big West Conference. At 6-feet-7 with a college ready frame and athleticism, the senior forward is a slashing and finishing threat in transition and half-court offense either with the ball in his hands or as a lane filler and cutter. Majok has shown flashes of ball skills and perimeter shooting ability that, if developed properly, could mold him into a player who could slide to the three spot.   [player_tooltip player_id='2131798' first='Jonas' last='Oware'] | Long Beach Poly | Class Rank: 20 | Commitment: Yale   Oware's academic profile had Ivy League recruit written all over him and that's exactly where he ended up after an official visit to Yale. The 6-foot-9 center has enjoyed slow but steady improvement to his game on both sides of the ball and has developed into an effective rim protecting and rebounding presence with the lateral mobility and length to become a good defender in a variety of ball screen coverages. Oware needs continued development of his offensive skill-set but does have a strong fundamental base and good touch around the basket.

In the era of the transfer portal, more international recruitment and now G-League recruitment, we're seeing a trend among Southern California high school basketball players: Commit while the offer is there. Many of our top 20 prospects in the region have committed prior to the early signing period with seven big names coming off the board in the last few weeks. Below we take a closer look at those players and how they fit with the college program of their choice.