Prospect Spotlight: Eli Ramos (2019)
Walnut high school combo guard Eli Ramos never really considered taking the private school route his older brother Dwight tested.
Dwight, now a contributing forward at Cal State Fullerton, spent two seasons at Santa Ana Mater Dei – playing limited minutes as a sophomore – before transferring back to his home school for his breakout junior and senior seasons.
The younger Ramos said that staying home at Walnut was the best route for him to grow as a player.
“It was a better option for me,” he told Prep Hoops So-Cal. “My brother left Mater Dei and had a bigger role at Walnut and that’s what they wanted for me, too. I can showcase my skills more.”
Ramos has been a starter for the Mustangs since his freshman season when he put up averaged of 9.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
The 6-foot-2, 175 pounder improved as a sophomore, scoring 12.7 points and grabbing 5.8 rebounds a contest.
Walnut High combo guard Eli Ramos is working to up his recruitment.In order to take the next step in his game, Ramos said he used the offense to work on what he considers the weakest aspect of his game.
“I’m improving my jump shot more,” Ramos said. “My 3-point and mid-range shooting has improved this offseason and I’m just getting it ready for when season starts.”
Walnut won 20 games last season and lost a one-point overtime thriller to Los Angeles Loyola in its CIF Southern Section Division 1A playoff opener.
Ramos said that if the Mustangs want to play deeper into the postseason, they will have to unite on all fronts and he will have to excel is his expanded role.
“We all need to work together,” he said. “We need to buy-in, share the ball with our shooters. I have a big role this season. I have to do a lot of scoring and I’m the best defender on the team. I lock up the other teams best scorer every game.”
Ramos said he’s heard from a couple of Division I programs, including his brother’s current home of Fullerton and its Big West Conference foe, UC Irvine, as well as a few Division II programs.
“I think my recruitment will pickup even more,” Ramos said. “I didn’t start out well my freshman year, but I’ve been trying to get better every year and that’s what has happened.”
Ramos believes that he has plenty of transferrable skills to the collegiate level.
“I can get by just about anyone off the dribble,” he said. “I like to get to the basket and finish. I have good vision and handles. I’m explosive, fast and pretty athletic and I can lock up anyone on defense, honestly.”