Class of 2020: SoCal well-repped in Pac 12 Conference

<p>  LAGUNA NIGUEL – If you’re looking to project who the best of the freshman class – circa 2020-21 – during the Pacific 12 Conference season will be, you’ve stopped off at the right place.</p> <p>   Five members of my first-team choices for the All-Southern California Class of 2020 signed with programs within the conference last November or this spring.</p> <p>  Four of those are projected to be immediate starters: 2019-20 Player of the Year <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="931141" first="Ziaire" last="Williams"]</strong> (Sierra Canyon/Stanford), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="536607" first="Evan" last="Mobley"]</strong> (Rancho Christian/USC), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="536609" first="Josh" last="Christopher"]</strong> (Mayfair/Arizona State) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="536617" first="Ian" last="Martinez"]</strong> (JSerra/Utah).</p> <p>  The fifth, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="745392" first="Jaylen" last="Clark"]</strong> (Etiwanda), may not be a starter for a UCLA program that returns more key players than anyone else in the conference but should make a strong push for significant playing time.</p> <p>   Look for Mobley (pictured), Williams, Christopher and Martinez to be the leading candidates for Pac 12 Freshman of the Year as well as for all-conference honors.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>SoCal Class of 2020 Most Outstanding Player</u></strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="931141" first="Ziaire" last="Williams"]</strong>                  6-8         Sierra Canyon                                  Stanford</p> <p>Comment: The Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks transfer made his Trailblazers’ debut on Dec. 30 in the Classic at Damien/Platinum final vs. Sierra Canyon.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>First Team All-SoCal Class of 2020</u></strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="680196" first="Devin" last="Askew"]</strong>                     6-4         Mater Dei                                          Kentucky</p> <p>Comment: Jumped up a class when it became apparent there was going to be a PG need in Lexington.</p> <p><strong>B.J. Boston</strong>                        6-7         Sierra Canyon                                  Kentucky</p> <p>Comment: Should be one of four freshmen in the Wildcats’ lineup.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="536609" first="Josh" last="Christopher"]</strong>              6-4         Mayfair                                              Arizona State</p> <p>Comment: The most difficult player in the state to prevent from getting to the rim off the dribble.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="745392" first="Jaylen" last="Clark"]</strong>                       6-5         Etiwanda                                           UCLA</p> <p>Comment: Three-season standout at Centennial before moving to another IE power program.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="745395" first="Paris" last="Dawson"]</strong>                    6-2         Corona Centennial                          Portland State</p> <p>Comment: Took firm grip on the Huskies’ reins after several classmates transferred; Most Outstanding Player at Tarkanian Classic/National Division.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="536654" first="Keith" last="Dinwiddie"]               </strong>6-3         Fairfax                                                San Diego State</p> <p>Comment: Shared L.A. City Player of the Year honors with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="939985" first="Fidelis" last="Okereke"]</strong>.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="931148" first="Ty" last="Harper"]</strong>                           6-4         Santa Clarita Christian                    Prep School/TBD</p> <p>Comment: By way of Arizona and Georgia, helped his team bag the CIF SS</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="644871" first="Andre" last="Henry"]</strong>                     6-3         St. Francis                                          UC Irvine</p> <p>Comment: Helped his squad earn a trip to Sacramento before the COVID-19 wheels came off.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="536629" first="Mason" last="Hooks"]</strong>                   6-10       Harvard-Westlake                           Princeton</p> <p>Comment: His low-post power and skill anchored the program’s run to the CIF SS Open Division playoffs.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="536617" first="Ian" last="Martinez"]</strong>                     6-3         JSerra                                                 Utah</p> <p>Comment: The most spectacular Orange County-based player for the past two seasons.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="536607" first="Evan" last="Mobley"]</strong>                    7-0         Rancho Christian                             USC</p> <p>Comment: The No. 1 “prospect” in this national class.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="939985" first="Fidelis" last="Okereke"]                </strong>6-7         King/Drew                                         Cal State Northridge</p> <p>Comment: The most underrated post in SoCal in this class.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="644868" first="Clark" last="Slajchert"]                  </strong>6-1         Oak Park                                            Pennsylvania</p> <p>Comment: He and [player_tooltip player_id="536629" first="Mason" last="Hooks"] should have some sweet Ivy League battles over four years.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="644889" first="Devin" last="Tillis"]                         </strong>6-5         Windward                                         UNLV</p> <p>Comment: By the time he’s a sophomore, Tillis could be an all-MWC caliber performer in Las Vegas.</p>