Pangos Rocky Mountain Summit: 2021 Standouts (Pt. 2)
The Pangos Rocky Mountain Summit was held at the end of August in St. George, Utah and featured some of the west coast’s best players and programs. While I was not personally in attendance for this event, I watched most…
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Continue ReadingThe Pangos Rocky Mountain Summit was held at the end of August in St. George, Utah and featured some of the west coast’s best players and programs. While I was not personally in attendance for this event, I watched most of the contests via the BallerTV streaming service. Below are my first set of 2021 standouts from the event.
Julian Hammond Julian Hammond 6'1" | SG Cherry Creek | 2021 State #209 Nation CO , Billups Elite: The 6-foot-2 guard is a two-sport star at Cherry Creek (CO) high school. During his junior year on the hardwood he averaged 22 points and seven rebounds per game while passing for 2,386 yards and 29 touchdowns on the gridiron. Hammond is a tough, do-it-all type of guard who just screams “basketball player” whenever you watch him. He’s always under control, doesn’t try to play outside his comfort zone and knocks down perimeter jumpers consistently.
Shane Nowell Shane Nowell 6'6" | SG Eastside Catholic | 2021 State #85 Nation WA , Seattle Rotary: Nowell didn’t have his best offensive game in the contest I watched, but his energy, defensive versatility and rebounding ability from the wing position allowed him to be impactful despite his shots not falling. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard has the size, length and lateral speed to guard 1-4 at the high school level and should be able to translate that versatility to the high major college level that he’s being recruited at.
Kaden Perry Kaden Perry 6'10" | C Battle Ground | 2021 State #16 Nation WA , Seattle Rotary: The Gonzaga-bound forward was one of the more impressive all-around prospects at this event. Perry, a 6-foot-9 jumping jack out of Battle Ground high school in Washington, is a quick leaper with great timing both when catching and finishing lob passes and when contesting and blocking shots at the rim. Perry is an active rebounder and rim-runner in transition whose energy results in playmaking for his team.
David Pickles David Pickles 6'9" | C Mercer Island | 2021 State WA , Team Lavine Gold: Pickles doesn’t do a whole lot of flashy or awe-inspiring things on the court, but his consistency, production and fundamental play on both ends are to be commended. The 6-foot-9 Mercer Island high school center has great hands and touch inside, finishes with well both his strong and off hand, and sets a really solid screen followed by a hard dive to the rim.
J.T. Tuimoloau, Seattle Rotary: We might not see Tuimoloau suit up in a college basketball uniform, seeing as he is the top-rated football recruit in the country, but if he chose a path of playing both sports at the next level, he would definitely succeed. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound forward/defensive end displayed impressive footwork, soft touch with either hand around the basket, and the type of grit, toughness and physicality one expects to see from a football player on the basketball court.