Matthew Ochalla Matthew Ochalla 6'3" | SG/CG Gilbert | 2028 State IA displayed his versatile shot creation profile throughout this event. His vertical explosiveness and quick first step allowed him to dominate as a scorer. Deep range off the dribble pull-up threes looked effortless for him. And his fluid handle and shiftiness aided his production as a tough shot maker. This combined with his athletic tools made him an absolute chore for every defender that had to check him one on one, because his downhill threat was just as lethal as his pull-up jump shooting. He showed himself to be a physical and relentless downhill attacker, finishing layups through contact and around contests. While also exploding on the rim with powerful slams. Shaking defenders to create space and just charging past them was a recipe that most defenders couldn’t suppress. Furthermore, his talent as a scorer allowed him to leverage his playmaking at a high level. Consistently, Matthew drew extra defenders and punished the defense with savvy reads. His passes in transition also stood out to me. He made some great hit-ahead passes that led to easy buckets for his squad. Lastly, he was a highly engaged defender that put his athletic tools and physicality to use. Locking up opponents, picking pockets, and jumping passing lanes for steals.

Ochalla moved to Gilbert from Wisconsin before his sophomore year and emerged as one of the top scorers in the 2028 class last season. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to see him play live last year as he suffered an injury before the Tigers reached the state tournament, so I’m really looking forward to seeing him hoop. He’s a three-level scorer with good size, can play with or without the ball, and is a versatile defender. He should be one of the best players in the gym on Saturday.

Ochalla, a move-in to Gilbert from Wisconsin, has been fantastic in his sophomore season for the Tigers, averaging 15.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game on 46-40-82 shooting. He has good size on the wing at 6-3/6-4 and is a crafty three-level scorer with good footwork and a pure stroke off both the dribble and the catch.