Standout 17u Wings at the West Thriller

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CERRITOS, Calif. — The Elite Hoops Association (EHA) circuit West Thriller has become one of the west coast's best non-live events and a must-stop for circuit and non-circuit programs looking to get competitive games prior to jumping into their respective shoe company or independent events. We were at Cerritos college for Sunday's action and below are the wings who stood out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Austin Birley | 2028 | Select Basketball</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Birley was extremely effective as a driver, slasher and finisher in transition and half-court offense. The 6-foot-5 sophomore wasted no movements off the bounce as he used a fundamental handle and understanding of angles to get by defenders and into the lane where he extended to the rim to score. Birley also impacted the game as a lane-filler in transition and timely off-ball cutter which led to easy layups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1945830' first='EJ' last='Popoola'] | 2027 | BTI United</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Popoola had his athleticism and physicality on full display as his ability to get downhill in transition and on straight-line drives in the half-court led to high percentage finishes at the rim. The 6-foot-5 right-handed twin brother out of Palisades was also effective as a lob-catcher and finisher as an active lane-filler in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2194355' first='Gene' last='Roebuck'] | 2027 | Team Why Not</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roebuck was making his Team Why Not debut over the weekend and looked right at home as his advanced scoring skill-set translated immediately. The 6-foot-5 La Mirada high school product was cashing in on off-dribble threes and mid-range jumpers in isolation where he used his crafty ball-handling and physicality to create space from defenders to generate open looks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2948288' first='Jakobi' last='Oware'] | 2028 | Team CPSA</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oware continued to show why he is one of the highest upside prospects in SoCal's 2028 class. The 6-foot-6 sophomore has an elite offensive skill that translates to the next level with his smooth pull-up jumper from three-point and mid-range levels of the floor. Oware's physical and athletic profile with his long, wiry frame and fluidity as a ball-handler and transition lane-filling threat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2916714' first='Mattai' last='Carter'] | 2027 | Cali Gold</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carter is one of the most underrated prospects in California who is coming off of a strong junior season at Loyola. The 6-foot-3 wing is a bouncy vertical athlete with blurring open-court speed who is difficult to stop when he's downhill with a head of steam in transition. Carter attacks the rim with reckless abandon and his quick elevation allows him to explode and finish above rim protectors. He's a class of 2027 prospect for high D2 and low D1 programs to keep track of over the next 12 months.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1406767' first='Munir' last='Greig'] | 2027 | Team Why Not</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greig is as talented as they come on the wing with his combination of ball skills, creativity off the bounce and ability to manipulate defenders with changes of speed and direction. That combination made him an effective half-court driver and finisher as it was near-impossible for defenders to keep him in front and out of the lane. The 6-foot-6 Coronado (NV) prospect is also a good positional defender and rebounder who can push the break in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2915701' first='OJ' last='Popoola'] | 2027 | BTI United</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Popoola is a versatile wing prospect whose offensive skill-set allows him to do a little bit of everything on the floor. The 6-foot-5 lefty can create for himself in isolation where he can get to the rim and finish through and above contact or get into a smooth and balanced pull-up jumper from three and mid-range. Popoola is a multi-positional defender who had a number of impressive blocked shots on Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2136800' first='Zion' last='Grissom'] | 2027 | Team Lillard</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grissom is a long, wiry 6-foot-6 lefty who is best in spot-up situations with his ability to stretch the floor with off-catch threes. The Northern California product has a quick and high release to go along with his fundamental shooting mechanics which made it tough for defenders to impact his shot even with a good close-out. Grissom can also get to the rim and score in the lane on straight-line drive opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->