Hoops 2.0 Showcase Fall League: Under The Radar Prospects

David Vuong

December 11, 2020 @ 02:34 AM

LOS ANGELES,CA - Usually this is the time of the year where high schools start hosting tournaments but with 2020 we are lucky to even have showcases and tournaments to look for. At Hoops 2.0 So Cal Fall League, the final week of play presented an opportunity for more under recruited prospects to make a name for themselves. https://twitter.com/TheSlamNJam/status/1337177006782504960 Ka’son Smith (2021, Wing, Team Inland/Victor Valley HS) A 2 sport star who excels on the gridiron. Smith is huge kept secret on the basketball court. The 6’5" 2021 wing has a lot of bounce to his game and uses his springs especially on the fast break where he will rise up for a jam. He also has the potential to take his man off the dribble to finish at the rack, and showed the ability to also shoot from mid range off the dribble. On defense he does a great job contesting shots and also helping weakside. Smith currently has 2 offers to play WR at the D1 level. Not being able to play in the AAU circuit this summer is lowering his visibility to basketball coaches and programs should definitely have him on their radar.   [player_tooltip player_id="951214" first="Uriyah" last="Rojas"] (2021, Guard, Prodigy/Los Osos HS) Talk about shooting the lights out. Rojas burned the nets on Sunday with his red hot shooting from deep. You know you are on fire when every single make is all net and no rim. The 6’3" guard excels with the catch and shoot. He also can jab and shoot off the triple threat but his bread and butter is going to be spotting up or coming off of a pin down to get his shot off. Rojas also has a high IQ as once defenders start over aggressively closing out, he will hit them with a fake to get himself an easy bucket at the rim. On defense his fundamentals are there as he shuffles his feet and plays the passing lanes well. Rojas is well coached as his AAU team is headed by former pros Tracy Murray and Cameron Murray.   Michael Mahlen (2020, Guard, CABC/Testoro HS) Another shooter who scorched the nets. Mahlen is a crafty guard who is a lights out shooter. He did a great job hitting the open 3 and also shooting off of screens. Mahlen is a high IQ guard who took what the defense gave him. When the defenders went under the screen he would splash a 3, and when they went over he had a couple shifty moves and counters which got him to the basket. D3s and NAIAs should take a good look at Mahlen.   Kayjohn Hillman (2021, Wing, Team Inland/Oak Hills HS CA) A transfer from Pinkston HS in Dallas, Texas, Hillman was another player who showed the potential to play at the next level. The 6’4" G/F shot efficiently from the field, being most effective from the corners where he hit swished several threes. Against smaller defenders, Hillman on a couple possessions sealed off his man and scored easily inside. Hillman also did a great job anticipating missed shots and leaking for the easy layups. Hillman is a prospect worth keeping an eye on.   Biko Johnson (2020, Guard, Fastbreak/King Drew) Johnson, who is taking a year of prep, displayed crafty lead guard skills on the court. The former King Drew guard is creative off the dribble, finding ways to break down the defense and getting into the lane for layups or drawing defenders and finding the open man. Johnson has some flair to his style as he has the propensity to throw no look passes and bullet pass dimes. Johnson who previously had more of a scoring guard role has really taken the floor general role seriously and is blossoming into a true talent.