Underclass Standouts at Nevada Live

LAS VEGAS — Many of the best high school basketball teams and prospects from California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah made the trip to Vegas for the inaugural Nevada Live Invitational. More than 120 programs packed the Las Vegas Basketball Center - and surrounding high school gyms - to play in front of college coaches in the final scholastic live viewing period of June. Below we break down incoming freshmen and rising sophomores who turned in standout performances on the weekend.    Forbes has never met a three-point shot he doesn't like and it's clear the Mater Dei staff has given him the green light to get plenty of live game reps this summer. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard has deep range, shoots a clean and easy ball and is always shot-ready off the catch. The Monarchs have thrown Forbes directly into the fire at Section 7 and Nevada Live as he's played big minutes off the bench and has taken big shots in crucial, late-game situations. The incoming freshman averaged 10.3 points per game at Nevada Live.     Mariles' shooting ability and off-ball movement, combined with Damien's offense running like a well-oiled machine, led to the rising sophomore being highly-effective in catch-and-shoot and off-movement shooting opportunities. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard is one of the region's most consistent perimeter jump shooters and he further established that at Nevada Live.     Gardner looks to be one of the more polished all-around incoming freshmen and a really nice addition for Crean Lutheran. The 2030 prospect already has intriguing positional size, strength and athleticism to go along with his three-level scoring ability. Gardner carries himself with a lot of confidence and an aggressive mentality on the offensive end which led to production and big shot-making late in games. Gardner knocked down a buzzer beating game-winner Sunday afternoon against Carl Hayden (AZ).     McQueen is a super smooth point guard who showed the ability to take over a game as a scorer or playmaker for others. The wiry 6-foot-1 sophomore used his crafty handle and change of speed and direction to get defenders out of position and got into the lane where he scored with a floater, crafty layup or pull-up jumper. McQueen's steady and high percentage scoring and passing abilities led St. Anthony to the Dean Martin Division title.     There are few freshmen in the country who can score at the rate and with the variety that Conroy brings to the table. The 6-foot point guard is an elite perimeter jump shooter whose ability to manipulate the defense with his handle and quickly flow into his rhythm jumper allows him to create and score in isolation situations. Conroy's advanced offensive skill-set, and natural physicality, extends to his ability to generate contact and get to the free throw line where he converts at a high rate.     Craig showed impressive feel for the game as a scorer and creator which bodes well for a young Santa Margarita team that is in the middle of a rebuild/reload. The 5-foot-11 incoming freshman showed poise when attacking the rim in transition and has a smooth finishing package to go along with some high IQ playmaking ability. Craig flashed good presence in half-court offense, as well, with his ability to navigate and make decisions out of ball screens.     Arnold's offensive feel, talent and natural gifts were on full-display in San Gabriel Academy's dominant run to the Sammy Davis, Jr. bracket championship. Few point guards - regardless of class - have the basketball feel and IQ that Arnold brings to the point guard spot as his ability to balance playmaking and scoring is second-to-none in SoCal's 2029 class. Arnold showed elite passing instincts, mid-range and at-rim scoring ability and a high level of poise and patience with the ball in his hands.

LAS VEGAS — Many of the best high school basketball teams and prospects from California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah made the trip to Vegas for the inaugural Nevada Live Invitational. More than 120 programs packed the Las Vegas Basketball Center - and surrounding high school gyms - to play in front of college coaches in the final scholastic live viewing period of June. Below we break down incoming freshmen and rising sophomores who turned in standout performances on the weekend.