Hometown Favorites Basketball Weekend Standouts Pt. 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The weekend of Aug 27/28, Jump Beyond Sports in Torrance, CA played host to the 4th annual Hometown Favorites Basketball Weekend presented by former Gardena Serra standout and current pro basketball player, Pooh Jeter. In addition to several basketball drills sessions, the event gave local high school players the opportunity to connect with local professionals outside of basketball as well. Featuring numerous guest speakers, the even concluded with several five-on-five scrimmages. I was able to attend the event on Saturday, Aug. 27 and was able to see some familiar players as well as some I haven't seen play yet. Here's a look at some of the top standouts I saw.<br><br><strong>1. Gavin Hightower - Windward 2025</strong><br><br>Hightower is a player I've seen a couple of times before and he's got the tools to be a really solid point guard. He has strong handles and stays in control of the ball. He can dribble against defensive pressure and knows how to break a press. Very good court vision in transition and in the halfcourt. He's quick on the break and he makes the right play whether that's taking the scoring opportunity or making the pass to a running teammate. On the defensive end, he has quick hands and puts a lot of pressure on the ball-handler.<br><br><strong>2. [player_tooltip player_id='992482' first='Darius' last='Carr'] - SoCal Academy 2023</strong><br><br>Carr has really developed into a solid combo guard. He has the handles and the vision to play the point and he has the size and scoring ability to play shooting guard. He's a strong guard too who can finish through contact at the rim. Very comfortable as the primary ball-handler; he sees the court well and is a very good passer. He's quick too and he gets out in transition. Has consistent range out to the three-point line. Comfortable creating his own shot in the halfcourt. He's a solid defender especially getting back in transition and preventing fast-break scoring.<br><br><strong>3. [player_tooltip player_id='1310858' first='Zyier' last='Beverly'] - Washington Prep 2023</strong><br><br>Beverly has been one of the top stockrisers of the summer. He's picked up a couple of D1 offers and is primed for a big regular season. He's one of the best finishers I've seen at the rim. He looks to finish strong and can use his length to extend through traffic. He has very good size for a forward and he's an athletic rebounder. Boxes out well and he crashes the offensive glass to get put-backs. Has shooting range out to the three-point line. He covers a lot of ground on the defensive end and can be a shot blocker in the paint.<br><br><strong>4. Jason Crowe Jr. - Lynwood 2026<br></strong><br>Crowe already has the feel of a veteran point guard even though he is barely a freshman in high school. He can dribble against defensive pressure and break down the defense without a screen. Crafty ball-handler who can get to his spots in the halfcourt and control the tempo. Does a good job finding balance between scoring and playmaking. He can find the open teammate and can create his own shot. Good midrange jumper and solid pull-up in transition. Quick first step and can hit defenders with the little step-back jumper. . </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->