COTC: 2020 Crème game standouts (Part II)
Aaron Burgin’s Crème of the County brainchild completed its fourth installment Saturday at Army-Navy Academy in Carlsbad.
The event featured nine games over the course of the day with squads facing off from the classes of 2023 up to 2019.
The COTC has always been one of the best events to view San Diego’s top and uncovered talent and this year’s edition didn’t disappoint.
Here is the second set of top performers from the class of 2020 Crème game.
Brandon Angel, Torrey Pines
Angel is another intriguing long-term prospect out of the San Diego area due to his size and length at 6-feet-6 to go along with his smooth 3-point shooting ability. Angel is one of the best catch-and-shooters in all of Southern California’s junior class and is beginning to get some pop in his legs in transition and half-court drives.
Torrey Pines forward Brandon Angel had his sharpshooting 3-point range on display in Saturday’s Crème of the County.Kailen Rains, San Ysidro
Rains just continues to sprout up and now stands at a legitimate 6-3, pushing 6-4. Rains has developed a versatile offensive scoring package, complete with catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, a middle-game with a floater and now the ability to throw down dunks in transition.
Bryson Stephens, Rancho Christian
Stephens was one of the more explosive athletes at the guard position in the event. The 5-foot-11 guard out of Rancho Christian is a hard-nosed perimeter defender with quick hands and impressive lateral speed. Offensively, he’s most effective on the break where he can blow-by defenders and finish above or through contact.
Brantly Stevenson, Etiwanda
Stevenson appears to be next in line in the litany of talented guards to come out of Etiwanda high. The 6-foot-3 signal caller has very good feel for the game, especially when creating out of high ball-screen action in the half-court setting. Stevenson has good acceleration into the paint and utilizes the two-footed jump stop to his advantage when making a decision.
Jalai O’Keith, Foothills Christian
O’Keith had a rough first few minutes as he tried to do things outside of his comfort zone, but once he settled into his role and got back to what he does best, he made a big impact on the game. O’Keith is an active and athletic 6-foot-5 wing with good open court speed and rebounding ability for his position.
Austin Cook, Damien
Cook was another player who didn’t start out how we’re used to, but his impressive second half effort made up for his slow start. The 6-foot-4 wing settled in from 3-point range, but the most impressive aspect of his performance was his activity on the defensive glass. Cook has the strength and body to be a solid rebounder for the 2/3 position and he showed flashes of that Saturday.