Edison’s MLK Super Saturday Showcase: Standout Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fresno, CA - Last Saturday, January 17th, I attended the annual Edison MLK Super Saturday Showcase, which featured 5 games, as the opening game between Mission Oak and Sunnyside was canceled due to the heavy fog that has blanketed Central Cali the past week or so. The 5 games were as follows: Sanger West v. Coalinga; McFarland v. Justin Garza; Fresno Christian v. Edison; Centennial v. Clovis; and Hoover v. McLane. I was in attendance for the first four games but had to hit the road before the final game of the showcase. In this article, I take a look at 9 players that had standout performances at the guard position at the showcase. I will follow this article up looking at standout wings and forwards. In this article you will find the following information: player's information, relevant statistics, and a brief description of each player's skill sets and how they performed in the games I watched. The players are listed in alphabetical order, not ranked order, and we begin with Justin Armbrister.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Justin Armbrister","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Sanger West Hornets (Fresno)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69726d54d6880"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot-1 combo guard is an athletic and bouncy player, is a tough on-ball defender that turns defense to offense, and can score in volume in transition. Armbrister turned it up on defense early and forced Coalinga to turn the ball over several times for easy transition buckets, followed by a strong 3rd quarter, for a total of 11 points and 5 steals, with a 3-ball in the mix of his point total. Armbrister has good footwork, lateral quickness, active hands, and good instincts to poke the ball out, deflect passes, jump passing lanes, and stay in his opponents dribble space to force turnovers at half-court, allowing the Hornets to get out and run. Armbrister moves well off the ball, can get to his shot spot, and is effective with the 3-ball off the catch. Attacks downhill and is a crafty scorer around the basket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Carter Cabiero","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Justin Garza Guardians (Fresno)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69726d54d69ca"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 5-foot-9 shooting guard has been the consistent floor spacer for the Guardians this season, can score in volume, and has been the key reason Garza has stretched leads, or closed the gap when down, for the Guardians this season, and Saturday was no different against McFarland. Garza was down by three, 19 to 16, at the end of the first quarter but Cabiero would catch fire and connect on 3 threes in the second quarter to help boost the Guardians lead to 18 going into the half. Garza would win by 32 points, 90 to 58, and Cabiero would be a big reason the game got out of hand quickly, finishing with 12 points all on three pointers. Cabiero moves fluidly off the ball, gets to the corners or wings to get shot ready, and has a quick yet smooth release on the jumper, with accuracy from beyond the arc off the catch. He is a tough on-ball defender, has the build to score through contact around the basket, and has a nice stop-and-pop middy. But it is his 3-point shot that has proven most productive and needed by the Guardians this season, as it opens up the offense for teammates to drive to the basket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Derek Jimenez","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Centennial Golden Hawks (Bakersfield)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69726d54d6aeb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot guard can catch fire from beyond the arc, is a high-level perimeter defender, and has the court vision to make plays off the dribble drive or up the court in transition. Jimenez has been out for most of the season with an ankle injury and there was concern he might not be able to suit up for his senior season, or at least not until playoffs. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see him warming up and was told by his pop he was good to go, which could be a needed piece to help stretch the floor for the high-tempo G-Hawks. Jimenez was pivotal for Centennial, who struggled to score the ball against Clovis High, as he would come off the bench and score 10 points, connecting on a pair of threes, and snag 3 steals. Jimenez has solid handles, has the moves to create off the dribble, moves well off the ball to get to his shot spots, and is accurate with the 3-ball off the catch or the dribble. Jimenez has good lateral footspeed, active hands to dislodge the ball from his opponent, the wingspan to deflect passes or jump passing lanes, and showed he is ready to impact both ends of the court with three steals. Jimenez played more limited minutes on Monday in a tough fought win over North Bakersfield, as he is still getting into game shape. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Brian Moton ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Edison Tigers (Fresno)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69726d54d6c03"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot-2 combo guard has a physical and athletic build, is a solid perimeter defender that looks to turn defense to offense, and gets to the basket off the bounce to score through contact. Moton led the way for what looked like an improved Edison of Fresno squad that has taken its lumps this season, as he would score 12 points to lead the Tigers in a loss to Fresno Christian. Moton has a strong handle on the ball, uses the crossover, between-cross, behind-cross, and hesitation moves to get his defender off balance, gets good lift on the mid-range jumper off the bounce, is able to score through contact or with the reverse or Euro-step lay-up to evade contact. Moton is a good positional rebounder, as was evident with his 6 rebounds, which allows him to push the ball up the court, get second chance points off the put-back, and has the vision to make good reads off the drive and kick pass or from the top of the key to cutters off the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jaedon Morris","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Edison Tigers (Fresno)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69726d54d6d14"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot-2 combo guard is active on the glass, can space the floor from beyond the arc, and runs the floor well in the open court. Morris had a solid showing against Fresno Christian, as he would score 11 points and knock down a pair of three to go with 5 rebounds. Morris moves well off the ball, has the handles and moves to create off the dribble, is effective with the 3-ball off the bounce or the catch, and has the frame to absorb contact when attacking the basket. Morris crashes the boards, has the handle to push the ball or make the outlet pass and get up the court, and played the best I have seen this season in three games I have watched the Tigers live. Morris is a tough on-ball defender, gets into his defender's space, and alters shots on closeouts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":3430245,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Aedan Norton ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Sanger West Hornets ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69726d54d6e2a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot-1 lead guard was one of the best finds of the day, which is one of the parts I love most about covering basketball, as the sophomore would knock down shots, make some impressive reads, turn defense to offense, and impact the game at a high-level. Norton scored 12 points, hitting two threes, 5 assists, and 4 steals in a dominant win by the Hornets over Coalinga. I have heard a lot about Sanger West and the Hornets were one of the reasons I wanted to be at this event, but it has been Parks and Ruffin that have been the names I have heard the most. Norton showed that he is in that mix of key contributors, as is evident by the nearly 11 points per game average for the season thus far. Norton has a smooth handle, keeps the ball on a string to survey the floor, has the moves to create off the perimeter, with the crossover, between-cross, and hesitation to create space, has the vision to find open players off the drive and kick pass, or go to the pull-up jumper, from the mid-range to the 3-point line. Norton moves well off the ball, gets to his shot spots, and shoots with confidence, as was evident with his pair of threes. Good on-ball defender that gets into his defender's space, has active hands to cause deflections, and gets the ball out in the open court to get easy points.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":3430249,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2956280' first='Payton' last='Powell']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Justin Garza Guardians (Fresno)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69726d54d6f38"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot-1 combo guard plays with relentless energy, impacts the game playing on or off the ball, is a tough perimeter defender that makes it difficult for opponents to get comfortable, and does a bit of everything to help his team win. Powell got it going in the second half to help stretch the Guardians lead over McFarland, as he would score 9 of his 12 points after the break, to go along with 11 rebounds for a big double-double. Powell hit a milestone in this game, as his last basket would get him to the career 1,000 point mark for Justin Garza, which is a nice addition to the win over McFarland. Powell has solid handles, uses the crossover, between-cross, and the hesitation moves to get by his defender, plays with the physicality to score through contact at the basket, or use the reverse or Euro-step moves to evade shot blockers in the paint, and moves well off the ball to get open looks from beyond the arc off the catch. Powell is a solid on-ball defender, a good positional rebounder to push the pace of play, or outlet the ball to run the floor in transition. Powell has been the consistent utility player for Garza and his senior leadership will be crucial down the stretch of league play, and in the playoffs, as Garza is likely to be slotted in the D3 playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Daryl Scott","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Fresno Christian Eagles","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69726d54d7043"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 5-foot-7 lead guard is shifty with the handles and moves, can space the floor from beyond the arc, and has the vision and decision making to find open teammates up the court or in the half-court setting. Scott had the hot hand early in the game against host Edison of Fresno, as he would connect on a pair of threes in the opening quarter to help build a lead the Eagles would never surrender, finishing with 9 points on 3 threes. Scott has a solid build, keeps the ball on a string to survey the court, makes good reads off the drive and kick pass, as well as finding his bigs on the dive out of the pick and roll action, moves well off the ball to get to his shot spots for open looks off the catch, where he showed accuracy with the 3-ball. Scott is an ideal lead guard for this Eagles team, as he can set the offense up or play off the ball and be a floor spacer to open up driving lanes for his teammates, in particular senior Leon Madec, to attack off the perimeter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":3430258,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Josiah Wilson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Justin Garza Guardians (Fresno)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69726d54d72b4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot-1 combo guard continued to show consistency as the leading scorer for the Guardians, his athleticism and bounce that make him a high-level two-way player, and more poise and patience in his shot selection and play-making. Wilson has a scorers mentality, and he is capable of making tough shots from various spots on the floor, but it was that, combined with his facilitating of the ball, that impressed me most, as he would put up a great stat line in the win over McFarland, with 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks. Wilson has dynamic handles, the use of the crossover, between-cross, toss-cross, hesitation, and spin-move to create space from his defender, elite bounce to get great lift on the jumper, with accuracy from the mid-range to the 3-point line, and the creativity to score with the Euro-step, spin-move, reverse, or up-and-under lay-up package. Wilson showcased his improved play-making with the vision to make reads off the drive and kick pass, finds his bigs out of the pick and roll action, and passes up the court off the defensive rebound, as he is a good rebounder. Wilson is a good perimeter defender, with the lateral quickness and active hands to deflect passes and jump passing lanes, and has great timing and the bounce to get up for what is becoming his signature chase-down block or weakside blocks in the half-court setting. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->