Rumble for Rosecrans: Top Performers (Pt. 1)

<p>FULLERTON — The annual Rumble for Rosecrans Tournament co-hosted by Sunny Hills, Fullerton, Norwalk and Troy high schools kicked off the season with a strong field competing for an early season tournament championship. We were able to check out three of the games from Tuesday’s action and came up with a list of top performers from those contests. Below are our evaluations of those players from Anaheim Canyon’s win over Oak Hills, Riverside Hillcrest’s victory over Troy, and Aquinas’ win over Santa Fe.</p> <p><strong>Brandon Benjamin,</strong> Anaheim Canyon - Benjamin is listed as a freshman on the Canyon roster but his skill-set around the basket is much more matured than you’d normally see from a first-year high school player in his second game. The 6-foot-3 forward scored all 16 of his points in the painted area with a variety of low-block and interior moves. Benjamin has the Mikan Drill mastered as his left and right hand finishes are equally as effective and he understands how to get the right angle in the post.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="994925" first="Dennis" last="Evans"]</strong>, Riverside Hillcrest - Evans recorded an early season triple double with 10 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocked shots in a lopsided win over Troy. Evans, a legitimate 7-foot center, was blocking and deterring shots in the paint and made it difficult for the opponent to get off jump shots because of his length and high IQ positional defending.</p> <p><strong>Deshawn Gory</strong>, Riverside Hillcrest -  Gory is an intriguing long-term wing prospect in the class of 2024. The 6-foot-5 sophomore is a smooth and bouncy athlete who excels in transition where he uses his long strides to glide to the rim for paint finishes. Gory is also a consistent three-point shooting threat who can put the ball on the floor and create shots for himself off the bounce. Gory finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds on the night.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="971259" first="Emerson" last="Marks"]</strong>, Anaheim Canyon - No matter how much transfer movement happens in the spring and summer, one thing remains constant in the Orange County hoops scene and that’s Anaheim Canyon having a good point guard. This year it’s 6-foot-1 senior [player_tooltip player_id="971259" first="Emerson" last="Marks"]. Marks can score when he needs to with a pull-up triple or crafty drive and finish around the rim, but it’s his pace and IQ within the Canyon offense that makes him so effective. Marks is an accurate and willing passer who uses ball screens and transition opportunities to find open teammates.</p> <p><strong>Jaden Goodall</strong>, Anaheim Canyon - Goodall is trending as one of the top young prospects in Orange County and his performance against Oak Hills solidified that positioning. The 6-foot-5 sophomore wing scored an easy 15 points with his ability to break down a defender in isolation and get to the rim and finish or draw a foul and convert the freebies at the free throw line. Goodall has nice offensive feel off the bounce and will be a player to track over the next three seasons. </p>