Las Vegas Talent on Showcase

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By JAMES KERTI

LAS VEGAS, NV — The Fullcourt Press Las Vegas Spring Showcase displayed some of the city’s top underclass prep talent on Wednesday night.

The showcase led off with the freshman game, which featured a slew of talented young prospects, especially from Bishop Gorman.

Bishop Gorman’s Stephen Zimmerman displayed his developing handle and passing, to go along with his already impressive size and shot blocking.

Other Gorman forwards contributed as well. Six-eight Christian Jeter showed off his mid-range game, while 6-5 Nick Blair‘s strength and leaping ability helped him control the glass.

Durango’s Marcus Berkeley and Valley’s Shea Garland also stood out with good strokes from beyond the arc.

The sophomore game, in which Zimmerman and Jeter also participated, included some promising point guard prospects.

Noah Robotham’s handle and body control allowed the Bishop Gorman guard to finish a few tough drives at the rim. Obim Okeke, also from Gorman, impressed with his combination of a strong build and above-average passing and court awareness.

Canyon Spring’s Shaquile Carr broke down his defenders and drove to the basket with confidence. Palo Verde’s Darryl Gaynor stuck out defensively while also displaying a good all-around offensive game.

Valley forward Spencer Mathis’s exceptional leaping ability and motor set him apart from the competition.

In the junior contest, Desert Pines’ Julian Jacobs controlled the game with his outstanding all-around point guard skills on both ends of the court. He announced his commitment to Utah after the showcase.

Other guards who played well included Clark’s Sir Washington, Green Valley’s Ikaika Pladera-Castelli, and Juwan Major from Las Vegas HS.

The senior game, which included some players from the junior game, capped off the evening.

In a game that had an abundance of capable guard play from Las Vegas seniors, juniors Pladera-Castelli, Major, and Jacobs  stood out again.

Valley’s 6-5 Caleb Carter also looked good, scoring both on outside shots and dunks in transition.

I’ll be covering the Nevada Basketball Development Spring League the next four weekends.

Check back frequently for my updates!

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