Get Better Hoops Showcase standouts
Earlier this month, former Montgomery High, Sacramento State and Puerto Rican national team standout Joel Jones hosted his first annual Get Better Hoops Showcase and youth camp. The well-organized camp featured top-notch training from some of San Diego and Los…
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Continue ReadingEarlier this month, former Montgomery High, Sacramento State and Puerto Rican national team standout Joel Jones hosted his first annual Get Better Hoops Showcase and youth camp.
The well-organized camp featured top-notch training from some of San Diego and Los Angeles’ top basketball skills gurus.
Before the camp, a group of the top prep players – headlined by Mississippi State signee Iverson Molinar and Duke signee Boogie Ellis – participated in a showcase game against Los Angeles-based Team Veritas and a mix of their 2021 and 2020 prospects.
Here’s a quick recap of what we learned.
2019 G Iverson Molinar (headed to Mississippi St.) is a world-class athlete on the basketball courtBoogie, Iverson put on a show
The showcase game’s headliners – Ellis and Molinar – showed why the are among the country’s top guard prospects.
Ellis made a concerted effort to facilitate, throwing pinpoint lobs, no-look passes and on-point outlets to his teammates. When he needed to, he scored, shooting it effectively off the catch and with the pull-up.
Molinar is a special athlete with a smoothness to his game that you rarely see. He effortlessly gets to the rim and finishes through contact and gets above the rim with the best of them.
South Carolina is getting a nice three-and-d prospect in Woodstock Academy W Trey AndersonTrey Anderson returns with a bang
It was the first time I saw former Mater Dei W Trey Anderson since he graduated in June. He did a prep year at Woodstock Academy and signed with the University of South Carolina.
He has clearly elevated his game in his prep year, displaying a vastly improved body and athleticism to complement his marksmanship from the perimeter.
Anderson fits the “three and D” wing mold that is the rage at the professional level.
Montana-bound Derrick Carter Hollinger’s motor and versatile skill set were on displayCarter-Hollinger brothers impressed
San Diego has its first brother dynasty in some time, and it comes by way of the Carter-Hollinger clan. Two of the three brothers were on display, as 2019 wing Derrick (headed to Montana) was flat out dominant, and 6-4 2021 G Derrien showed flashes of high level play. Watch out for their younger brother, 6-1 2023 G Derrius. He might just be the best of the bunch.
2020 St. Augustine W Chibuzo Agbo headlined an impressive group of rising seniorsSan Diego ’20 prospects looked strong
There’s been some discussion about San Diego’s 2020 class not being as strong as recent classes. But several prospects on hand made a strong case that the demise of that class is overstated.
St. Augustine wing Chibuzo Agbo has a college-ready body and shoots it at a prolific clip. Torrey Pines forward Brandon Angel at 6-8 is blossoming into a strong stretch-4 wing prospect. Foothills Christian point guard Yassine Gharram is evolving into a potential high-major lead guard. The biggest surprise, however, is the growth – both physically and game wise – of 6-5.5 wing Jalai O’Keith, who looks more and more confident with each viewing.
2021 Sonora G Daniel Esparza is set to have a huge spring with Team VeritasDaniel Esparza primed for big spring
Poised to make a big splash this spring is 2021 Sonora PG Daniel Esparza of Team Veritas 16u. Coming off a season where he broke the Raiders single-game scoring record, Esparza didn’t back down from the challenge of guarding Ellis, and challenged Ellis when he had the ball in his hands. Esparza has an explosive first step going to his right, and gets to his spots efficiently. He willingly drops dimes to his teammates, but gets into the paint and can score through contact or via a potent runner.
At 6-2, he isn’t small for the position either. While the top of 2021’s guard class includes some big names like Devin Askew, Isa Silva and Malik Thomas, watch out for Esparza.
In the 2022 class, Esparza’s Sonora teammate Marqui Worthy is also “worthy” of your attention. He has a burly frame, but is quite quick off the bounce and strong enough to finish through contact. He shoots a set shot from three, but knocks it down consistently.
International flavor boosting Team Veritas
Veritas’ group had several prospects from Latin America who are becoming household names stateside. 6-9 2021 C Deiman Reyes, a Colombian national, possesses a beastly frame and raw explosiveness around the rim. But what caught my attention were the two threes that he shot comfortably. While this certainly isn’t his wheelhouse, it definitely adds to the intrigue surrounding him.
6-7 wing Carlos Rosario – of the Dominican Republic – is a rising senior with a ton of upside. He has a long, wiry frame, handles the ball smoothly off the wing, and can knock down the corner three with regularity. In transition, he is a dynamic finisher unafraid to punch it over a defender.