Club Opening Weekend: Forwards/Centers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ORANGE COUNTY — The last weekend of March marked the opening weekend of club basketball and individual showcase events across Southern California. We were in attendance at various events and below we detail the athletic wing standouts we saw.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Andrew Williford | 2026 | AZ Compass Prep</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williford has a versatile skill-set that, at 6-feet-5 with a strong, burly frame - he uses to impact the game in a variety of ways on both ends of the floor. The left-handed junior has the ability to rebound, push the break and make decisions, he can drive to the rim and score through contact and he can also score around the basket in half-court offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2436295' first='Godson' last='Eyita'] | 2027 | St. Joseph</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eyita is one of the more skilled big men in California's 2027 class and while his scoring tools stand out clear as day when you watch him, perhaps the best part of his game is his passing. Eyita is patient with his touches and finds cutters and shooters out of the low and high post. Scoring-wise, the 6-foot-9 sophomore can do a little bit of everything from soft-touched finishes off of a post move to stepping out on the perimeter and knocking down a catch-and-shoot opportunity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Jonas Onware | 2026 | Long Beach Poly</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Onware is a fast-improving, high academic center whose best traits as a prospect right now are his defensive instincts, shot blocking and all-around rim protecting instincts. The 6-foot-9 junior boasts a 4.0+ GPA and has plenty of IQ left over on the basketball court. Onware has great vertical athleticism, stays vertical when contesting shots at the rim and is a mobile rim-runner and athletic finisher at the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2425762' first='Josh' last='Irving'] | 2026 | Pasadena/Team CPSA</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Few prospects out west have the combination of size, length, athleticism and end-to-end mobility that Irving has. The wiry 6-foot-10 center is most impactful as a rim protector, defensive and offensive rebounder and versatile ball-screen defender. Offensively, Irving is a mobile rim-runner who can fluidly catch, gather and finish above the rim or serve as a lob threat and ball screener in half-court offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2436298' first='Mahamadou' last='Diop'] | 2027 | San Gabriel Academy</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Diop's mix of a high motor, ability to change ends of the floor, elite stamina and explosive vertical athleticism make him one of the state's top 2027 prospects regardless of position. The 6-foot-9 center is an efficient finisher around the basket because everything he does in the lane is quick, simple, explosive and results in a dunk. Diop is also an active pursuer of offensive rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Miles Duda | 2028 | C.M. Russell (MT)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Duda was one of the most skilled big men I saw all weekend despite being among the younger prospects we viewed. The 6-foot-8 forward flashed an advanced feel for the game with his back to the basket and scored with jump hooks, drop steps and with power moves through the chest of defenders. Duda also stepped out behind the three-point line and stretched the floor off the catch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2509672' first='Siyahe' last='Siaisiai'] | 2026 | Folsom/Jaylen Wells Elite</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Siaisiai was the surprise of the weekend for me as the 6-foot-9 center impressed with his sure-handed finishing ability on transition rim-runs and ability to change shots around the rim on the defensive end. Siaisiai is still a raw all-around prospect but his high motor and willingness to do the little things on both ends are a great foundation to build on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->