5th Annual TTP Middle School All-Star Game: Standout Performers

Bakersfield, CA - This past Sunday, March 22nd, I attended the 5th Annual Middle School All-Star Games, featuring the top girl and boy players from the South Valley of the Central Section. The boys game featured 20+ players from various schools in Kern County, which was won by Team AJ over Team Brandon, 62 to 39. This article takes a look at 6 standout players from Sunday's boys all-star game and includes the following information: players name, height, grad class, relevant statistics that I kept, how they played in the game, and their skill sets. The players are listed in alphabetical order, not ranked order, and we begin with Devaughn Bailey.   Devaugh Bailey |6'1| 2030   Bailey displayed the athletic and lengthy build to be a two-way impact player, with good touch around the basket and finds open spots in the defense around the basket. Bailey would end up with 8 points and 4 rebounds for the winning Team AJ. Bailey has good lateral movement, can defend perimeter players, as well as bigger players in the paint, and is active on the glass. Bailey had an impactful 2nd quarter, scoring 6 of his 8 points and giving his team the lead at the half it would never surrender.    Jacoby Calvillo |5'9| 2030   Calvillo put on a shooting display from beyond the arc, as he would show off his accuracy, along with his ability to connect from deep. Calvillo led his team in scoring with 14 points, knocking down 4 threes in the process, displaying fluid off-ball movement, the ability to square his shoulders, and has a smooth shooting form with range on the 3-ball. Calvillo has solid handles, the moves to create off the dribble, a good burst to get by his initial defender, and is effective with the stop-and-pop middy. Calvillo is headed to Liberty of Bakersfield, and will be a welcomed addition to space the floor and open up driving lanes. Impressive display of shooting.    Jacob Dinsing |5'8| 2030   Dinsing was the captain for Team Jacob and displayed the best guard/perimeter skill set of any player on either team, which was highlighted by his shot-making and facilitating to open teammates. Dinsing has tight handles, keeps the ball on a string to survey the defense, uses the crossover, hesitation, spin-move, between-cross, and behind-cross to create space from his defender, is effective with the jumper from the mid-range to the 3-point line off the bounce, displayed creativity on shots around the basket, and moves well off the ball to get to the open shot spot. Dinsing has good court vision, the decision-making to make the right read when on the attack, and has a great burst of speed off the dribble. Dinsing would lead the boys all-star game with 15 points, and did all he could to keep his team close. He will be attending Bakersfield Christian next year, and with the depth and youth of the current Eagle's roster, he will likely play JV, which would allow him to get more touches, but he does have the skill to play on Varsity if that is what the program decides.    Samuel Macias |6'5| 2030   Macias absolutely dominated the interior on both ends of the court, and put up a monster double-double, helping Team AJ win the boys all-star game and earning Most Outstanding Player of the game honors. Macias led his team in scoring with 14 points, but his impact on the glass was what impressed me most, as he would finish with 13 rebounds. Macias uses his length and height to control the glass, keeps the ball chest-high to keep smaller players from poking the ball out, has nice touch on shots around the basket, gets points on put-backs off the rebound, and makes some nice passes from the top of the key. Macias is a legit rim protector with the strides and agility to step-out and contest perimeter shooters, seals his man off in the paint to get open for entry passes, and can connect on the face-up mid-post jumper. Macias is set to attend Shafter High, but from what I saw on Sunday, he is a true next level prospect already and could use a bigger stage to get his name and game on the map, as the Generals play a local schedule and are not known for their boys basketball program. Having said that, if he stays at Shafter all four years, he will likely be a four-year varsity player, putting up big numbers, as I can't see why he wouldn't play varsity at Shafter as a freshman.    David Sanders |6'1| 2030   Sanders had a productive outing at the boys all-star game, as one of the more athletic and bouncy players on the court, and he will be a welcomed addition to the Driller program, as he is set to attend Bakersfield High next school year. Sanders finished with 9 points and 5 assists, and showed he can space the floor with the 3-ball, connecting on a pair in the all-star game. Sanders crashes the boards, has good touch on putbacks off the glass, and gets the ball out to his primary ball handlers, so he can run the floor and get ahead of the defense in transition. Sanders is a player to keep an eye on from the 2030 class, and with development on his overall skill set, he could be an impact guy for the Drillers in a few years.    AJ Turner |5'5| 2030   Turner was one of the top lead guards at the boys all-star game and was the team captain for Team AJ, who would win the game 62 to 39. Turner showcased a little bit of everything on both sides of the ball, as he would finish with 7 points, connecting on a 3-ball, 5 assists, and 2 steals. Turner has solid handles, keeps the ball on a string, has a good burst of speed off the dribble to get into the paint, and can score with creativity around the basket, or find the open man off the drive and kick pass. Turner moves well off the ball to get open looks off the catch, is effective with the 3-ball to open up the court, and is a solid on-ball defender, with active hands to deflect passes or poke the ball out from his opponent to get out and run in the open court.

Bakersfield, CA - This past Sunday, March 22nd, I attended the 5th Annual Middle School All-Star Games, featuring the top girl and boy players from the South Valley of the Central Section. The boys game featured 20+ players from various schools in Kern County, which was won by Team AJ over Team Brandon, 62 to 39. This article takes a look at 6 standout players from Sunday's boys all-star game and includes the following information: players name, height, grad class, relevant statistics that I kept, how they played in the game, and their skill sets. The players are listed in alphabetical order, not ranked order, and we begin with Devaughn Bailey.