The Best F/C on Club Opening Weekend

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southern California — There were multiple club and individual showcase events in Southern California over the weekend as players and programs shift their focus from the high school season to the club season. We were able to hit three events - NXTPro in Seal Beach, the Pangos All-American Preview in Long Beach and the BattleZone at Orange Lutheran high school. We break down the top forwards and centers we watched.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1555179' first='Darius' last='Wabbington'] | 2027 | Compton Magic 3SSB</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wabbington is one of the most sought after 2027 prospects in the country and his return to Compton Magic was met by a feature role with plenty of touches on the offensive end which he took full advantage of. The 6-foot-10 center is a natural back to the basket scorer with his combination of physicality, footwork, touch and feel lending to his efficiency as a finisher around the rim. Wabbington also stepped out onto the perimeter where he knocked down face-up three's and 15-footers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2552733' first='Donovan' last='Palmer'] | 2028 | Compton Magic 16u 3SSB</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore out of Arizona overwhelmed opponents with his high motor, transition mobility and willingness to play a physical brand of basketball inside. Palmer is a 6-foot-8 rim-running center with soft hands, touch and good footwork in the paint which led to him earning and finishing high percentage at-rim shots. Palmer used his mobility and effort and energy to impact the defensive end as a rebounder and shot-changing rim protector.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Drake Walsh | 2028 | Team CPSA 16u</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Centennial (OR) high school product had his offensive skill-set on full display at the NXTPro event in Seal Beach. Walsh can face-up and attack defenders off the dribble and use his strong frame and broad shoulders to initiate, absorb and finish through contact inside. He can stretch the floor to the three-point line with time and space and showed some playmaking ability in short roll situations. Where Walsh impressed the most was with his dedication to crashing the glass during a 9 a.m. game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Dylan McGhee | 2027 | Team Inland</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McGhee is a relative unknown prospect outside of Southern California but that should change this spring and summer. The DNA Prep junior has all the physical and athletic tools you look for in a four man with his long, wiry frame, quick-twitch first and second jumps and fluid perimeter movements and ball handling. At 6-feet-8, McGhee tends to spend the majority of his time on the perimeter where can break defenders down off the bounce, get to the paint and finish above the rim. He also showed flashes of perimeter jump shooting ability.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Hermann Kone | 2029 | Compton Magic 15u 3SSB</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There won't be many bigs on the 15u level as polished and talented as Kone. The 6-foot-9 freshman is mobile, highly coordinated, has soft hands and is a quick vertical athlete around the rim. Kone was dunking everything around the rim, catching and finishing fluidly in traffic and dominated the glass. Big men will continue to become more valuable and Kone is one of the best in 2029 out west.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2436298' first='Mahamadou' last='Diop'] | 2027 | Dream Vision 3SSB</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Diop has established himself as one of the top centers out west in the 2027 class. There are few players who impact the defensive end of the floor like Diop does as he possesses elite timing, ability to contest without fouling and lateral speed that allows him to switch and contain guards and execute various ball screen coverages. Offensively, Diop is an active and athletic rim-runner and lob finisher with an improving jump hook.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2436264' first='Nick' last='Welch Jr.'] | 2027 | Cali Gold 3SSB</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Welch is a no-nonsense, hard-hat type of interior presence who has great feel and skill as a back to the basket scorer and does his work early in the possession to seal deep post position for high percentage finishes. The broad-shouldered, physical junior seeks out and plays through contact, knows how to head hunt when screening and plays to his strengths as an interior scorer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Yann Kamagate | 2028 | Compton Magic 3SSB</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a lot that can be said about Kamagate's Southern California debut and the most simple way to describe him is: next level and beyond. The 7-footer has high major athleticism, a body and frame that only has upside to build on and a versatile offensive skill-set highlighted by his aggression as a dunker and ability to put the ball on the floor and break down defenders off the bounce. Kamagate impressed with his defensive instincts and desire to protect the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Zane Zilliax | 2028 | Dream Vision 16u 3SSB</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zilliax is a super-skilled, perimeter oriented four-man who is best when stretching the floor with his smooth three-point shot. The 6-foot-8 sophomore out of Seattle has a high release with deep range on his jumper and has the athleticism and ball skills to attack closeouts and finish at the rim on straight-line drives.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->