Best Available: NorCal’s 2018 Class
Here is a look at the top available prospects in the class of 2018 in Nor Cal (listed alphabetically)
6’9 DF/C Jordan Brown of Prolific Prep in Napa
Brown is far and away the top prospect in Northern California, signed or un-signed, in the class of 2018. He is an athlete combo postman with long arms and good hands.
Brown is a complete package skill-wise, showing the ability to score inside and outside. He has a hard-to-guard jump hook on the block and uses his left hand effectively. He shoots the ball well mid-range and has a nice one-bounce drive from the high post area.
Maybe his best asset is the ability to pass the ball against double teams in the post. Those double team happens about 80-90% of the time and Brown shows tremendous poise against them. He sees the court well against the pressure and has a unique ability to find the open man.
Brown is a high-level rebounder who pursues the ball well and consistently comes up with the ball in traffic. He is also an accomplished shot blocker.
Brown’s only real need is to develop a little more bulk and strength as he prepares for his relatively brief stay at the college level. He will be a pro and the only question is whether or not he will be a one-and-done.
But without a doubt, Jordan Brown will be playing this game for many years to come.
6’4 CG Zach Chappell of Capital Christian HS in Sacramento
Chappell is a real athlete combo guard with a nice skill set who can score in bunches at times, he has been almost un-guardable in a half – court setting, displaying a variety of ways to score.
Chappell is a good shooter with long 3-point range. He is a solid driver with good burst and a nice first step. He also has a nice middle game, showing a consistent ability to pull up, both in transition and in the half court.
He clearly can create for himself and also for his teammates. He is very effective with the b all in his hands. Chappell is a matchup nightmare who attracts a ton of attraction from opposing defenses.
He is also a big-time rebounder from the guard position. He could use a little more consistency at the defensive end.
One issue for Chappell is that he has a tendency to try for the home run play a bit too much.
He is a solid mid-range prospect.
6’9 C Cade Hoppe of Oak Ridge HS in El Dorado
Hoppe is a strong and aggressive five-man who works hard at both ends of the floor. He is very active and he moves well without the ball. He is effective setting screens, both on ball and away from the ball.Hoppe has an impressive all-round skill set on the block. He dribble operates well, can use his left hand adeptly, has a solid up and under move and a nice mini-jump hook. He has an ok one- bounce drive from the mid-range area and he can shoot it some with 3-point range which allows him to stretch the defense.
Hoppe is a solid rebounder who is active on the glass. He is a capable defender who will battle and compete on each possession.
Hoppe is in the low-plus/mid minus range as a prospect. That could go up by season’s end due to the lack of available big men.
6’7 PF/SF Elias King of Jesuit HS in Carmichael
King is a competitive combo forward who impacts the game in different ways and never lacks for effort He’s a skilled low post player with a nice turnaround shot and a clever jump hook. He gets to the basket on the drive and finishes consistently, both short and mid-range. King also can shoot it some with 3-point range.
King has two main assets. 1) He is a solid rebounder at both ends who goes after the ball aggressively 2) He is an excellent passer who has a unique ability to find the open man.
His biggest need at this point is to develop more bulk/strength.
King, who is considering attending prep school in his fifth year (to enhance his physical development and his recruitment, is a ballpark mid minus prospect.
6’8 SF Jonathan Ned of Heritage HS in Brentwood
Ned is a slender and athletic combo forward with long arms who scores in a variety of ways.
Often times in the scouting/evaluation someone would ask “who is he like?” Ned is “like” Kevin Durant. No, he is not that level of player but their playing styles and physical makeup are similar.
Ned is a nice all-around scorer. He has a solid pull up floater that is not easily guardable due to his length. He has a one-bounce drive from the mid-range area with an ok first step. Ned can also shoot it fairly with 3-point range and he is a capable post up player who has a turnaround shot and a mini-jump hook.
While Ned does need some work defensively, he does have the ability to block and/or change shots.
Ned needs to develop more physical strength and he must get tougher. Most importantly, he needs more consistent effort.
Ned does have some academic issues and is likely headed the junior college route. But in terms of a pure basketball evaluation, he is a mid-minus to mid-major level prospect.
6’9 PF/C/SF Tiveon Stroud of Selma HS
Stroud is an athletic combo forward/postman with un-tapped potential.
He has capable ball handling skills and seems to be more comfortable facing the basket than playing on the block.
He finishes well in transition and has a nice ability to break down defenders on the drive.
Stroud rebound the ball well due to his length and athleticism.
Due to academic difficulties Stroud will be going to junior college. But there is a lot of upside to his game. With proper focus and effort (that is lacking at this point), he is a mid major prospect.
6’3 CG Lunden Taylor of San Joaquin Memorial HS in Fresno
Taylor is a fairly athletic combo guard with a solid all-around game.
He has solid ball handling and passing skills and he has the ability to make plays in transition. He can pull up in the half court, shoots it ok with 3-point range and has a nice first step on the drive.
Taylor has the ability to create for himself and for others and for the most part makes good decisions. He is most comfortable playing the point and having the ball in his hands but is effective playing off the ball as well.
He is an excellent rebounder from the guard position, currently averaging seven boards per game.
Taylor recruitment has seemed to drop off for whatever reason, but he is in the low plus/mid minus range as a prospect.
6’2 CG Cashemin Williams of Central HS in Fresno
Williams is an athletic combo guard with speed to burn.
Up-tempo is his game and he pushes the break hard on every possession. He attacks non-stop and gets to the basket and finishes in transition quite often. When he gets a full head of steam he is difficult to stop…
In the half court he shoots it ok with 3 range (shot selection is a little shaky) and he’s a good driver with a nice first step who can break down defenders consistently.
Williams is erratic at times and forces it some. He must learn to make better decisions and value the ball more, but there is no denying his talent.
Williams is somewhere in the mid minus to mid major range as a recruitable prospect.