Double Pump Spring Hoop Fest: Best of the Sophomores (Part II)
Anaheim, Ca. — With most of SoCal’s big name club teams playing out of state for the second live viewing period of the spring, it was a little more difficult to navigate which games to watch at the Double Pump Spring Hoop Fest at American Sports Center.
Fortunately for me, and my colleagues Aaron Burgin and Joel Francisco, a handful of 16s and 15s EYBL teams didn’t make the trip to Indianapolis for the second session of the EYBL Circuit, providing us with some viewing pleasure on Friday and Saturday.
Here is the second set of top sophomore performers from Anaheim this weekend:
Camren Pierce, Prodigy 17s
Pierce continues to make strides as playmaker because of the fact that he has the ball in his hands the majority of the game at the club level. The 6-foot point guard came off the bench for Etiwanda this past season, but the more reps he gets at the club level, the better he looks as a decision-maker who can get into the paint and create for others.
The Truth 16s guard Devan Sapp was consistent shooting the basketball from 3-point range.Devan Sapp, The Truth 16s
Sapp is a do-it-all type of guard with a strong frame and high motor. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder out of Archbishop Mitty was knocking down catch-and-shoot 3-pointers with consistency, taking defenders into the paint off the dribble and finishing through contact, but his presence was most important on the defensive end where he can guard multiple positions and rebound well for his size.
Jordan Shelley, BTI Prospects
Shelley plays with an all-out style and energy that are difficult for opponents to keep up with for an entire game. He’s a blur with the ball in his hands and tough to stop when he gets a full head of steam on the break. Shelley bullies his way into the paint no matter who is in the way and finishes well through contact.
Antonio Singleton, Prodigy 16s
Singleton has scoring in the front of his mind and can do so in a variety of ways. The 5-foot-10 combo guard out of Hesperia high is both quick and shifty, has a plethora of dribble moves in his arsenal, and can make the toughest shots look easy. Singleton tends to prefer breaking defenders down off the dribble and stepping back to his left for a mid-range or 3-point jump shot.
Brantly Stevenson, Prodigy 17s
Stevenson is going to learn a lot about the point guard position this spring and summer playing for Prodigy. He already has the necessary feel and basketball IQ for the position, but can also score in the paint with a floater. He puts immense pressure on the defense with his ability to get paint touches and kick to open teammates.
J.T. Tan, Cal Supreme 16s
A traditional big man is difficult to guard on the club level, especially he gets touches. That’s the case with Tan, a 6-foot-7 forward out of Rolling Hills Prep. Tan has a wide body, soft hands, impressive footwork and touch with either hand around the basket. Most teams are used to an up-and-down, run-and-gun type of atmosphere, but Cal Supreme can dump it down to Tan on the block and he goes to work to change the pace of the game.