Friday’s Best: IE Classic
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – Day 3 of the Inland Empire Classic featured more exciting basketball. Etiwanda matched up against Rancho Cucamonga and Colony faced Silverado in the semifinals of the tournament. These games featured several players who stood out among…
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Continue ReadingRancho Cucamonga, CA – Day 3 of the Inland Empire Classic featured more exciting basketball. Etiwanda matched up against Rancho Cucamonga and Colony faced Silverado in the semifinals of the tournament. These games featured several players who stood out among the rest.
Jahmai Mashack (Etiwanda, 2021, Wing) Maishack is a two way player. His team is nicknamed “Clamp City” and he is the epitome of that nickname. Mashack plays lock down defense, and is one of the most impressive defenders in high school basketball. He shuffles his feet, communicates to his teammates, and knows when to dart into passing lanes. On offense, Jahmai displays a consistent jumper. He did a great job coming off pin downs and screens to make several jumpers off o catch and shoot situations. On the fast break, Mashack does a great job of getting out in transition for easy finishes. Jahmai plays with a high motor and isn’t afraid of contact. He had several plays where he got inside the paint to clean up misses for his teammates. Colleges looking for a two way wing need to take a look at Mashack.
Cam Pierce (Etiwanda, 2020, PG) Pierce is a floor general. The speedy guard does an excellent job of running his team’s offense and setting his teammates up for easy buckets. Pierce plays with aggression and a second speed. Over the course of the game, Pierce repeatedly was able to penetrate into the lane and kick outside to open shooters or find others for easy conversions under the bucket. In addition to his play making skills, Pierce also can score the ball when needed. He has a very good mid range jumper which he can hit either catch and shoot or off the dribble when creating for himself. At the 3 pt line, his jumper is more of a set shot but it is still effective.
Jaidyn Simpson (Colony, 2023, Wing) – Filling in for an injured Brenton Knapper, Colony needed someone to step up and the 6 ft wing Simpson answered the call. Jaidyn is a high IQ player who didn’t force shots and took what came to him. He shows ability to hit the outside shot as he knocked down two 3’s. He also got to the rim when needed and shot a high percentage. Simpson finished the match up against Silverado with a game high 16 points in the win.
Austin Bunn (Colony, 2024, Guard) Another player who stepped up due to Colony’s injuries to the starting lineup was Austin Bunn. The freshman guard showcased his potential on both ends of the floor. Bunn plays with a big heart and a high motor as he was emotionally charged when he was on the court. Despite his young age, Bunn was able to pump up his teammates with his timely drives to the rim. Bunn finished with 13 points.
Jalen Hartwill (Silverado, 2020, Guard) Hartwill is a very underrated player who showcased his ability to get the ball in the bucket. Leading his team with 14 points, Hartwill was able to score in numerous ways. He hit pull up jumpers, floaters, and had a couple tough finishes in traffic. His range also extends out to the 3 pt line as he hit two 3s. Hartwill shows patience and has some craftiness to his game as he utilized pump fakes in the key to create some space to get his shot off. On defense, Hartwill did a great job on containing Denim Dawson as he held him to 10 pts, his lowest point total in the tournament. Hartwill is currently a sleeper that has a chance to create some buzz as the year goes on.