Garces Memorial Elite 8 Challenge: Standout Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Tuesday, Dec. 30th, I stopped by Garces Memorial High School in Bakersfield, CA, to watch the semifinals of their annual Elite 8 Challenge. I was able to watch most of the Consolation side second game between Garces and Arvin, but did not keep my own stats for that one. The rest of the statistics provided are my own, as I stat games I attend live, which includes points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals. This was one of those events you go to as a scout that is local to your area, looking to find some names and talent to add to your notes, and it did just that. This article takes a look at 9 standout performances from Day 2 of this event and the range if grad class is 2026-2029. 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 at the Elite 8. The players are listed in alphabetical order, not ranked order, and we begin with Luke Diaz.</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":"Luke Diaz","_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":"Chavez Titans-Delano","_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-6958aaa7a98d3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot combo guard plays with a relentless motor, is a good positional rebounder, can space the floor from beyond the arc, and impacts the game playing on or off the ball. Diaz had a strong first half in what was a tough battle between the Titans and the Mustangs in the Elite 8 semifinals, as he would score 8 of his total 12 points in the first half connecting on a pair of threes before Stockdale caught fire after the break to win 57 to 39. Diaz has good handles, the moves to create off the dribble, gets into the defense for routine paint touches, and is a crafty scorer around the basket with the reverse lay-up and the floater. Diaz moves fluidly off the ball to get to his shot spots, is accurate with the 3-ball off the catch to open up driving lanes, and uses the pump-fake to get his defender off the ground to attack the basket. Diaz is a solid on-ball defender that gets into his opponent's dribbling space and forces poor decisions and turnovers. </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":3290013,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Thaddeus Dyer","_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":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Tehachapi Warriors","_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-6958aaa7a99ee"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot-4 wing/forward is active on the glass, has touch on shots within 20 feet of the basket, is a quality rim protector, and can score in bunches around the basket. Dyer was consistent throughout the game putting points on the board to help the Warriors stave off a relentless Kennedy of Delano, as he would go for 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks to show his impact in the paint on both ends of the court. Dyer has good footwork and touch to score close to the basket, crashes the boards to give his team second chance scoring opportunities, limit opponents to single shot possessions, outlets the ball off the glass to get up the court, and uses his on-court speed and length to get ahead of the defense and had a dazzling dunk in transition against the Thunderbirds. Dyer is accurate with the face-up jumper from the mid-post, has enough handle to put the ball on the deck and attack from the top of the key, and seals off his defender in the pick and roll action to score on the dive. He has a lengthy wingspan, good timing and instincts, and blocks or alters shots in the paint, as well as the agility to close out and alter shots on the perimeter. I saw Dyer the first week of the season at the 58 Freeway Shootout, and he looked much more fluid and in basketball shape coming off the football season at the Garces Elite 8 Challenge, and could be a weapon in the SYL-Mountain league that lacks true interior size outside of Gavin Christian of South Bakersfield. </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":"Conner Jenkins","_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":"5'11u0022","_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":"Tehachapi Warriors ","_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-6958aaa7a9c20"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 5-foot-11 lead guard controls the pace of play, makes quality decisions with the ball in his hands, and can create his own scoring opportunities. Jenkins had a solid showing in the Warriors semifinal win over Kennedy of Delano, as he would score 8 points and pull down 4 rebounds to help get his team to the championship game. Jenkins moves well off the ball, gets to his shot spots, has the handles to probe the defense, and the moves to create space from his defender, with accuracy on the mid-range jumper off the dribble. Jenkins has a good burst off the bounce, is a crafty scorer around the basket, with use of the reverse and up-and-under lay-ups to score around height. Jenkins is solid on the glass, can push the ball up the court, and has good instincts on the defensive ends to get steals or deflect shots on close outs. Intriguing part of a young group of players for the Warriors that could help the program have a successful next couple of seasons. </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":3290043,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Simon Kebede ","_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":"Stockdale Mustangs-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-6958aaa7a9d0e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot-1combo guard has a strong handle on the ball, is able to score on or off the ball from the perimeter effectively, and continues to show improvement as a playmaker, given that he draws a lot of attention from opposing defenses. Kebede had a good first half of play, but it was his 3rd quarter explosion from beyond the arc that gave the Mustangs the boost it needed to build a near double-digit lead that expanded in the fourth quarter, as the combo guard would go for 16 points connecting on 4 threes, along with 6 rebounds, and 6 assists to showcase his ability to impact the game in various ways, not just as a scorer. Kebede has solid handles, uses the crossover, between-cross, behind-cross, and hesitation to create space from his defender, is accurate with the jumper off the bounce, from the mid-range to the 3-point line, and has a good burst of speed when his defender overplays him, allowing him to score at the basket with the Euro-step or reverse lay-ups, and touch on the floater. Kebede has good court vision, finds open players off the drive and kick pass, as well as the dump off pass to teammates in the dunker spot. Kebede is active on the glass, pushes the pace of play in the open court, and can find open teammates up the court. </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":"Owen Keller","_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":"Tehachapi Warriors","_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-6958aaa7a9df5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6-foot guard controls the pace of play, is able to score in volume from beyond the arc, and is a solid on-ball defender. Keller was cooking in the first half against Kennedy of Delano, as he would connect on 3 threes, but the Thunderbirds would not go away. Keller got hot down the stretch in the 4th quarter and finished with a game-high 18 points and 2 steals. Keller keeps the dribble alive to survey the defense, uses the crossover, between-cross, and hesitation moves to get his defender off balance, moves fluidly off the ball to get to his shot spots, is accurate with the 3-ball off the bounce or the catch, and gets into the paint with the strength to score through contact, as well as score with creativity around the basket. Keller is a tough on-ball defender, has active hands and good lateral movement to stay in front of opposing players, and has the instincts to defect passes, poke the ball out, or jump passing lanes to get the ball out in transition. The senior guard will be relied upon to steady the ship, as several of the other perimeter players are underclassmen and he had moments in the semifinals that showed he is able to lead the young Warriors players. </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":3290153,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Malakhi Lopez","_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":"Garces Memorial Rams-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-6958aaa7a9f4f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lopez is an athletic and bouncy player that excels in the open court, can space the floor from beyond the arc, and is a solid perimeter defender that can disrupt play for the opposition. The 6-foot-1 combo guard has solid handles, uses the crossover, between-cross, behind-cross, and hesitation to get his defender off balance, has a good burst off speed off the bounce with long strides to get by his initial defender, is a creative scorer at the basket with the Euro-step or reverse lay-ups in his arsenal, and moves fluidly off the ball to get to his shot spots for open looks off the catch, with accuracy on the 3-ball. Lopez is a good positional rebounder, can push the ball up the court, or make the outlet pass and get up the court to score in transition. Pesky on-ball defender that has the lateral quickness, footspeed, and active hands to deflect passes, jump passing lanes, or poke the ball out and generate steals. </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":3290174,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Brandon Nodora","_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":"5'10u0022","_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":"Chavez Titans-Delano","_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-6958aaa7aa039"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 5-foot-10 lead guard can score in volume from beyond the arc, plays with good pace and poise with the ball in his hands, and looks to be the future of the Chavez program. Nodora was on fire in the first half, as he connected on 3 threes and was pivotal in helping his team stay close going into the half. Nodora would finish with 16 points and 4 threes in total to tie the game-high individual scoring leaders from Stockdale. Nodora keeps the dribble alive to survey the defense, uses the low crossover and hesitation moves to create off the dribble, keeps his dribble low to the ground when attacking off the perimeter or the ball screen, moves fluidly off the ball to get to his shot spots, and is accurate with the 3-ball off the bounce or the catch. Nodora has good touch on the floater down the lane, is a creative scorer around the basket, and has good court vision to find open teammates off the drive and kick pass. Intriguing young guard to track over the next few years, playing in a smaller area and league. </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":3290195,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Phio Pacris","_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":"5'9u0022","_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":"Stockdale Mustangs-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-6958aaa7aa11b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 5-foot-9 shooting guard is effective from beyond the arc, is active on the glass, and is a talented two-way sleeper in the 2028 class for the South Valley. Pacris has handles, shifty moves to create off the dribble, with the crossover and hesitation moves to create space, he gets good lift on the jumper off the bounce or the catch, with accuracy from the mid-range to the 3-point line, and moves quickly on the court to find openings and gaps to attack, with quick bounce to be a good positional rebounder that allows him to push the pace of play. Really good off ball movement to get to the shot spots, where he was effective with the 3-ball off the catch on 3 of the 4 he connected on in the win over Chavez. He would end up with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals, to highlight his active on-ball defense that led to several more steals he was not accredited with but played a role in the turnover. Good backcourt mate to go with the player I will write about next, freshman Miguel Zayas, and both are underclassmen.</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":3290211,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Miguel Zayas","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_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":"Stockdale Mustangs-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-6958aaa7aa20a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 5-foot-8 lead guard has the goods to be a high-level point, that is already showing he can lead the Mustang offense in the few games I have seen him play live, as he has a strong handle on the ball, quick movement with shifty handles, tight-crossover, behind-cross, between-cross, pace, and change of direction moves all in his arsenal, keeps the dribble alive to probe the defense and find openings to make plays, whether that is off the pass or the shot. Zayas has a great burst of speed off the dribble, gets good lift on the stop-and-pop middy, and is a creative scorer around the basket. His court vision and patience are what resonate with me the most as a lead guard, with the strength to absorb contact or use the Euro-step and reverse lay-ups to score around the basket. He had 6 points off 2 catch and shoot threes and followed that with 10 in the title game and an All-Tournament Team selection. Really good on-ball defender that has the grind and desire to impact both ends at a high-level, and the future of the Mustang backcourt from what I have seen in a small sample size. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->