Central Coast Section 2026 Names to Know

Britt Wright February 19, 2025 @ 10:01 AM

The CCS Play-Offs start next week. Over the past few weeks PH NorCal has seen a good group of 2026 prospects who are key to their teams success. With the Play Ins, and first rounds coming up next week these are the prospects to keep an eye on in this class.   [player_tooltip player_id='1806767' first='DeMarco' last='Hunter'] 6'6 W/F, Santa Cruz: As of this post Hunter is averaging 25pts a game. He's been dominant putting points on the board. He's shown he can score in the post using his strength and powering up. He's a wing with improving ball handling skills that allow him to take his defender off the dribble, he's shown he can hit the mid-range jump shot, and knock down 3's if left unattended. He's a good rebounder, and can defend his size, and out on the perimeter.   [player_tooltip player_id='1826998' first='Xavier' last='Barnett'] 6'0 CG, The King's Academy: Barnett is expected to show his all around skill set as usual when the play-offs come around. He's averaging 14pts, 6rebs, 3a, and 3stls a game. He's a playmaking point guard that gets it done. He's an excellent passer, seeing the whole court, along the perimeter and in transition passing it up. He's stronger than he looks, as he regularly drives into the paint taking on defenders with good finishes around the rim, paint jumpers, and floaters. He's a top notch defender and a rebounding guard.   [player_tooltip player_id='2710103' first='Claxton' last='Ladine'] 6'2 SG, The King's Academy: We haven't seen a lot of Ledine. He's a fast moving guard. He knocked down several 3's from the corners, used his screens to hit a 3 from the top at the buzzer. He'll use a extra dribble for the short corner jumper. He's a got a quick release. He can handle and move the ball. He played good denial defense when we watched. 15pts a game.   [player_tooltip player_id='2275971' first='Jerry' last='Williams'] 6'4 Guard, Menlo Atherton: The two sport athlete is having a breakout season on the basketball court. He's a big guard with handles, and vision finding players with no look passing when they're going to the basket. He makes long, strong, cross court passes that spreads the defense, and open holes for penetrating. He's a big guard that uses his body and balance driving into the paint. He has a jump shot from mid-range out to the 3pt line. He gets a good number of rebounds. He'll push, and pass in transition.   [player_tooltip player_id='2197849' first='Jacob' last='Sutton'] 5'11 Point Guard, Menlo Atherton: He's a bit underrated as a point guard, but does a good job of handling ball pressure in full and half-court. He runs the team with patience looking to get others going. He can get into the paint often when he makes up his mind. He plays with balance, and control while finishing in different ways. Floaters, paint jumpers, and taking on defenders through contact. He can hit the mid-range consistently. He makes good decision in transition, passing or settling the offense into half-court sets.   [player_tooltip player_id='2684096' first='Aiden' last='Atkins'] 6'5, F/W, Menlo Atherton: A two sport athlete that finds ways to use his physical strength, speed, and abilities on the basketball court. He jumps high for rebounds in traffic, finishes around the rim. He's a court runner, he defends multiple position. He can effect the game in different ways. He's got some handles and moves to finish.   [player_tooltip player_id='1988352' first='Alex' last='Osterloh'] 6'2 Guard, Sacred Heart Prep: He's a good size ball handler, and a willing passer, liking to to pass, and push it up in transition. He can run the point, and contribute working off ball. He has good penetration to the basket on the drive, he might score or kick it out to a shooter. He has a good jump shot, with range from the 3-point line. He's averaging 10pts, while helping rebound, 5 a game.   [player_tooltip player_id='2686620' first='JJ' last='Saucedo'] 5'11 Guard, Palma: He's an active guard with good defensive skills, always aware of where the ball is, a good help defender. He works mostly off ball but does have the handles to run point. He runs the court wide, he'll look to knock down open 3's in transition. He has a ball fake before driving from the perimeter, where he'll pull up for a mid-range jumper or take it all the way in. He did drive, and kick to find open shooters in the corners. He's a good passer and a ball mover in half-court.   [player_tooltip player_id='2269031' first='JT' last='Harreld'] 6'8 Forward, Palma: He long, probably still growing, with a frame to fill. He has good fundamentals, passing, setting screens, and moving around the post area, and towards the front of the rim. He's still developing for the most part, but does contribute. He has length to block and change some shots. He'll get stronger but he does help getting rebounds, he keeps the ball high when going up in the paint. He can use a dribble, or two getting closer to the rim.

The CCS Play-Offs start next week. Over the past few weeks PH NorCal has seen a good group of 2026 prospects who are key to their teams success. With the Play Ins, and first rounds coming up next week these are the prospects to keep an eye on in this class.