Nor Cal Preview Prospects

Britt Wright July 11, 2022 @ 09:40 AM

July 2-3, The Nor Cal Summer Preview was held at Chabot College in Hayward, CA. 3 courts. The first game started at 9:30, the last at 6:30 Many of these teams will be competing in the live period coming up July 6-10 all around the country. Here’s more players who we thought played well. D’Arion Brown 5’9 2025 PG of Jessie Bethel HS. He’s a calm and steady prospect with good skills to play both guard positions. He’s a confident ball handler with good vision and passing skills. He showed good patience and made sure there was spacing in the half-court. He’s a stocky guard who’s comfortable taking the shot with the game on the line. [player_tooltip player_id="1503658" first="Jacob" last="Gilchrest"] 6’6 2024 W/F of Twelve Bridges HS. It was our first look at the versatile prospect who showed a quality set of skills on the offensive side of the ball. He handled in open court with excellent vision and passing, he scored inside with length and toughness finishing with the left or right. He scored in different ways on the perimeter, knocking down 3’s in rhythm, off the dribble, and taking it into the paint. He’s on The Wright’s Watch List. Shamar Jones 6’5 2025 G/F of SCA A physically strong prospect with an improving set of skills. He has lengthy arms, big hands to control the ball with one when he goes swooping into the paint for finishes at the rim including dunks. He can create for himself working on the perimeter. He has a reliable 3pt shot that’ll go in. He gets to his spots off the dribble, and into the paint to challenge shot blockers. He can rebound, and defend multiple positions when locked in. [player_tooltip player_id="1264593" first="Zemaury" last="Erfe"] 6’1 2024 PG of Sacred heart Cathedral HS. Erfe was in constant attack mode from all angles at this event. He’s a sharp handler with vision who has the speed and quickness, using stop and go, and other ways to get into the paint. He found players with slick passing off the dribble and in transition. He’s not afraid of contact, yet his floater and paint jumper were going down. Leo Ricketts 5’10 2024 PG of De La Salle HS. We like the feistiness in Ricketts game. He’s a competitor who gets after it on both sides of the ball. He’s probably a pass first point guard with good vision, he doesn’t shy away from scoring opportunities, he’ll shoot the 3ptr if he’s open. He handles and attacks in transition, he can get into the paint with his dribble. He’s a hard working on ball defender. We’ll see more of him. Mekka Okereke 6’8 2023 F of San Leandro HS. Okereke has upside. He’s got the size, and athleticism thing working in his favor. He has good hops. His overall development is a bit behind, nevertheless he has something to work with. He gives good effort going after lobs, tip ins, and rebounds. He can block shots too. He does okay defending his position. We’ll put him in the late bloomer column. [player_tooltip player_id="1498199" first="Vincent" last="Jackson"] 6’5 2023 G/F of Justin-Siena HS. A big guard with solid handles in open court, he’s a good passer, sees the court well, and gets to where he wants to go, usually towards the basket. He has good balance on strong attacks to the paint from the perimeter, and along the baseline. He has a paint jumper. He’ll get his rebounds, and defend. [player_tooltip player_id="1502521" first="Xavion" last="Bell"] 5’11 2023 PG of Weston Ranch HS Bell has experience at the point guard. He handles ball pressure bringing it up court, he sees the court and will make the long pass up. He does a good job of balancing the court, showing patience, and running half-court sets. He has a solid mid-range jumper off the dribble and can knock down 3’s in transition. [player_tooltip player_id="1497986" first="Travis" last="Hightower"] 6’6 2023 W/F of Justin-Siena HS. A long slender wing/forward with good ball handling skills. He’s hard to contain when he gets that first step on you driving it from the wings, using his long strides and length to get it right at the rim. He’s a good jumper with length that helps change shots, and get him rebounds to push the action off the dribble in transition. He has a paint jumper. His length, and foot speed helps him guard from post to perimeter. He’s on the Watch List. [player_tooltip player_id="1418821" first="Evan" last="McKnight"] 6’10 2024 Center of Ygnacio Valley HS Standing 6’10 and in the class of 2024 McKnight has room to grow his game. He understands his limitations, gives good effort, and has a good attitude. He’s a contributor on the defensive side with presence in the paint with some rim protection. He can score inside off rebound put backs. He’ll defend his post position. He’s on Wright’s Watch List.