Saturday rewind: Battle at the Bay Top wings, Part 1
In this article:
Mission Bay head coach Marshawn Cherry’s Battle at the Bay has given us upsets, dramatic finishes and stellar performances over its four installations. The fifth annual showcase gave us all that and then some by the halfway mark of the…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingMission Bay head coach Marshawn Cherry’s Battle at the Bay has given us upsets, dramatic finishes and stellar performances over its four installations.
The fifth annual showcase gave us all that and then some by the halfway mark of the event. Punctuated by the Game 3 70-69 thriller between Santa Fe Christian and Montgomery, the showcase provided a great day of hoops.
In the first reports, I discuss the wings that stood out in the games I attended.
Kevin Patton Jr Kevin Patton Jr 6'8" | SF Mountain Pointe | 2023 #130 Nation CA-S , 2023 W, Rancho Christian
An explosive athlete with a smooth offensive game, Patton tied for team-high scoring honors with Rodney Brown Rodney Brown 6'6" | CG Rancho Christian | 2023 State #163 Nation CA-S with 21 points in RC’s win over La Costa Canyon. At 6-7, the senior’s game translates well to the college level on the perimeter due to his smooth shooting stroke, ability to attack closeouts and handle from the perimeter, and his excellent finishing ability. He sometimes takes plays off on the defensive end, and his motor is inconsistent, but the tools are there. Shortly after the game, Patton committed to the University of San Diego, so any Torero fans in the stands got a sneak preview of what’s to come, and it was a great preview indeed.
Christian Brown Christian Brown 6'5" | SF La Costa Canyon | 2023 State CA-S , 2023 W, La Costa Canyon
The fact that a player like Brown still has no offers at this stage is mind boggling. The 6-5 sharpshooter got going early with 3 triples in the first quarter, and finished with a game-high 26 points. He moves well without the ball, darting to his spots on the wings and baseline (he’s also excellent at slipping screens) and has a quick release so he doesn’t need much time to get his shot off.
JJ Sanchez JJ Sanchez 6'4" | CG Montgomery | 2025 State CA-S , 2025 F, Montgomery
Sanchez fits the mold of the “position-less” basketball player that has grown in popularity at every level of basketball. As my colleague Devin Ugland opined in his report, Sanchez’s ability to impact the game despite having pedestrian athleticism is super impressive. He processes the game at a much higher level than his counterparts, and continues to dominate due to his footwork, patience and impressive court vision. He carved up attempts to double team him in the post by quickly passing to open teammates on the perimeter or cutting to the basket.
Zion Applewhaite, 2024 F, Del Norte
If there is a player on display this weekend who screams “untapped potential” it’s Applewhaite. The 6-4+ junior wing has a great basketball frame, and shows flashes of catch-and-shoot ability from the corners. He also can attack the defense with his right hand off the wing or baseline attacking closeouts. His effort level and physicality must improve to realize his upside.
Micah Brickner, 2023 F, Scripps Ranch
Brickner was the other wing who I feel has yet to scratch the surface of his ability. The brother of Marist standout Isaiah Brickner, Micah’s game is based on his effort and athleticism at this stage. He plays hard almost every possession, crashes the boards on both ends and is an athletic rim runner. In many ways, his game is more undersized five than it is wing, but you see flashes of handle in the open court and shooting from midrange. He could use a stint at juco to continue to refine his skills, but the base is there.