Collegiate Radar: Monte Vista Mustangs
The 2014 State Champion Monte Vista Mustangs are ready to compete in the East Bay Athletic League. Led by center Kris Bortz and an army of three point snipers, Head coach Nick Jones looks to use his team’s inside out…
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Continue ReadingThe 2014 State Champion Monte Vista Mustangs are ready to compete in the East Bay Athletic League. Led by center Kris Bortz and an army of three point snipers, Head coach Nick Jones looks to use his team’s inside out game to their advantage. On the JV squad there are several perimeter players that will continue to shoot well, compete and develop into solid pieces on the varsity program for the next couple of seasons.
*This player list includes players that have the potential to play collegiate hoops which includes NCAA Divisions 1, 2, and 3 as well as the NAIA and Junior College levels. As of the date of this article, here are the players I have seen that currently display the most collegiate potential.
- Kris Bortz (2019) 6’7 Center, Varsity
The mustangs tank in the middle is the most dominant interior force in the EBAL. A solid frame to match his height, Kris finishes through contact with relative ease. He moves around the court well as a cutter where he can take advantage of the penetration his teammates create from the perimeter. His most underrated ability is his passing. Able to anticipate double teams, he willingly accepts the extra defensive attention before throwing the rock to cutters or shooters on the outside. Kris should be a walking double double this year and his passing ability helps round out his game to play at the next level.
- Kyle Cain (2021) 5’9 Guard, JV
The young sniper has a smooth shooting stroke to match his length. Able to create his own shot or create space off of the dribble, Kyle is a gym rat who adds something to his game every year. His improved change of speed dribbling has allowed him to become a consistent scoring option for the Mustangs JV roster. As he grows, these skill sets will continue to sharpen.
- Ben Chase (2021) 5’8 Guard, JV
The leading scorer from last years freshman team, Ben has some deep range on his three point shot. He is a tough minded scorer who is one of the most intense competitors around and his teammates feed off of his passion. He defends well and is a much improved attacker off of the dribble. Using his new change of speed abilities, he draws defenders towards him before showcasing improved passing vision. Another gym rat who adds a new skill or two every summer, Ben will be an exciting player to watch by the time he is a senior.
- Adam Damian (2021) 6’1 Forward, JV
An intriguing young talent on the roster, what makes Adam stand out his is combination of size and shooting ability. He has very good mechanics that augment his size by shooting over defenders with ease. He has a strong motor and a quiet confidence that every shot is going in. He is a solid defender and should continue to improve as he adds height to his frame to match his skill level. He is also an underrated passer as he displays an ability to find cutters on the floor.
- Tyler Economos (2021) 5”10 Guard, JV
The sneaky athletic mustang is a strong defender who pressures the defense to ignite his teams fast break. In transition he attacks looking to dunk if possible and this really takes his teammates energy to another level. His physicality helps him be a strong rebounder as well. He is best as a slasher off of the dribble or a cutter but is a strong passer, able to look off defenders with a nice feel for the game.
- Noah Rivas (2020) 5-9 Guard, Varsity
A very strong court awareness for the game allows Noah to make excellent passes with ease. The Varsity football stud has a great change of pace off of the dribble and can get to his spots on the floor with little effort. If you remove his passing options, Noah can still make teams pay with pretty good shooting mechanics. Noah is a guard that programs need to keep an eye on as he can lead a team with his confidence and toughness on both ends. It can’t be stated enough that he has a special feel for the game and that is evident when you watch him drive and kick to others.
- Jack Stallard (2019) 5-11 Guard, Varsity
One of the top three shooters in the EBAL, Jack makes everyone in the building believe that all of his shots are going in. A quick and fluid shooting stroke that barely touches the net on the way down. If you’re not careful, he can literally set your nets on fire. He is very strong moving off of screens and reading how the defense reacts.
- Trent Stechschultze (2019) 6’0 Guard, Varsity
This strong southpaw is a player that can score in bunches. A strong attacker to the basket as well as a shooter from the perimeter, Trent is a good compliment to the other members of the team. He is effective in the paint, midrange as well as the three and is a fan of contact as his physical frame is enough to handle the punishment.
- Noah Villanueva (2019) 6’1 Guard
A smooth handle and fluid shooting stroke are what make Noah effective on the floor. His ability to knock down shots by shooting over defenders with his wingspan allow him to penetrate defenses off of the dribble. A solid change of speed and huge stride length help Noah display his strong ability to make his teammates better. In the area of playmaking and basketball I.Q., the game comes easy to Noah as he always knows where his teammates are on the floor. Poised and quietly confident, Noah can help a program with his steady play on both ends as a player that is solid at his craft and knows who he is as a player.