SoCal Fall Prep Classic: Best F/C (Pt. 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ORANGE — Gerry Freitas and Santiago Canyon College played host to one of the biggest fall high school basketball events in the West over the weekend. The SoCal Fall Prep Classic featured top high school and prep school programs and prospects from Southern and Northern California, Arizona, Utah and Washington. Below we detail more of the best forwards and centers we watched.</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 continues to be one of the state's most productive big men. At 6-feet-9 with elite vertical and lateral athleticism, combined with his quick-twitch defensive instincts, the junior is a high rate offensive and defensive rebounder and legitimate rim protector. Offensively, Diop looks to dunk everything around the basket and has added a consistent jump hook to his right hand into his arsenal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2750203' first='Owen' last='Eteuati-Edwards'] | 2028 | Arcadia</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eteuati-Edwards is a promising young four man who blends strength, physicality and skill into a versatile offensive package. The 6-foot-7 sophomore is at his best around the rim where he uses his strong frame to bump into the chest of defenders, get them off balance and finish with either hand. Edwards also has face-up touch out to 17 feet and is a high level competitor on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2830146' first='Parker' last='Spees'] | 2026 | San Joaquin Memorial</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spees continues to raise his recruiting stock as one of the most skilled forwards in the state. At 6-feet-9 with fluid athleticism and a long, wiry frame, the Central California-based stretch four possesses fluid shooting mechanics with deep range and the ability to make shots in a variety of situations from spot-ups to pick-and-pop and trail opportunities. Spees showed improved confidence attacking closeouts and creating shots for himself off the bounce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2750220' first='Ryan' last='Doane'] | 2028 | JSerra</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Doane has become known as a skilled four with an inside-out scoring arsenal that is predicated on his fundamental footwork and soft touch from at the rim to the mid-range and out to the three-point line but he showed Saturday that he's working on his aggressiveness when attacking the rim off the dribble. JSerra coach Keith Wilkinson ran a couple of sets to clear out a side for his 6-foot-8 sophomore and Doane took advantage by driving to his right hand and finishing above the rim with authority.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2646533' first='Taiwo' last='Daramola'] | 2027 | Bakersfield Christian</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Daramola has shown steady improvement over the last two years and was highly effective in BCHS' action on Saturday. The 6-foot-8 junior is most impactful with his rim protection and rebounding as his combination of length and vertical athleticism results in numerous changed and altered shots around the basket. Daramola stays true to his strengths offensively as an at-rim finisher and active offensive rebound put-back player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Will Openshaw | 2026 | Timpview (UT)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Openshaw fuses his long, wiry frame, mobile transition rim-running and high energy and effort into a versatile forward prospect who brings impact to both ends of the floor. The 6-foot-9 senior, who is committed to BYU, is an active rim-runner and finisher with quick pop off the floor. Openshaw is also a polished scorer in half-court offense with his ability to hit open catch and shoot threes and score to either hand with his back to the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->