Freedman, Bernard, Singleton lead All-West standouts

• Tweet

• Tweet

NORWALK, Ca. – The much-better-than-average depth in the western classes of 2018&19 was on display on Sunday’s second and final day of the Pangos All-West Frosh/Soph Camp at Cerritos Community College.

Wrapping up the action were Top 60 and Top 30 all-star games, which followed two rounds of games on Sunday morning and early afternoon.

In the first game the “White” jersey-wearing squad defeated its “Black” counterpart, 92-69.

Six-foot-five Trey Johnson – who, along with his father, made the 16-hour trek, by automobile, from Idaho Falls to Southern California to participate in the camp – scored 15 points for the winning squad to garner Most Outstanding Player honors (from my perspective, at least).

The sophomore from Hillcrest High hit a couple of deep 3s (one of those while being fouled) and rebounded consistently well above traffic.

In the second (and final) contest, the White prevailed over the Black, 96-87, in the Top 30 game.

And the biggest reason (literally and figuratively) that was the case was the low-post play of 6-7, 220-pound Riley Battin (Oak Park in Southern California).

Battin suffered an injured right knee (which required surgical repair) early in the spring and didn’t return to on-court action in July.

And, although still lugging a heavy brace on the knee, Battin was the most dominant and efficient post player (at least offensively) in his two camp games and the all-star game on Sunday.

Two of the better prospects at the event weren’t in the building for the Top 30 all-star game.

Six-five freshman Cassius Stanley was a no-show on Sunday because his Studio City Harvard-Westlake squad had some fall league action.

His high-wire act – my-oh-my he is one major league leaper – provided some of the most spectacular moments on Saturday.

And a lot of those rim-reverberating dunks were set up by passes from Spencer Freedman, a 6-foot-sophomore from Santa Ana, CA, Mater Dei who was likely the best passer and jump shooter, as well, at the event

He, too, wasn’t on hand for the Top 30 game (he had to finish an academic assignment).

Joining as Freedman and Battin as two more of the most consistently impressive players from the Class of 2018 at the camp were 6-4 David Singleton (Torrance, CA, Bishop Montgomery) and 6-5 Jules Bernard (Los Angeles Windward).

Mix Battin, Bernard, Freedman and Singleton with another post – say, Taeshon Cherry (San Diego St. Augustine) – and one would have a representative “all-2018 starting five” by way of Southern California.

If you’re curious as to the “biggest surprises” in the camp (once again “from my perspective”), I’ll offer up freshman Jake Kyman (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, Santa Margarita) and sophomores Daijon Davis (Garden Grove, CA, Orangewood Academy), Ben Baker (Berkeley) and Marlon Cunningham (Albuquerque High in New Mexico)

My “all-camp” selections (listed alphabetically):

 

Top 10 Sophomores

Tim Allen 6-5 (Mesa, AZ, Desert Ridge)

Wayne Arnold 6-3 (Compton Dominguez)

Riley Battin 6-7 (Oak Park, CA)

Jules Bernard 6-5 (Los Angeles Windward)

Taeshon Cherry 6-8 (San Diego St. Augustine)

Spencer Freedman 6-0 (Santa Ana, CA, Mater Dei)

Kamaka Hepa 6-9 (Barrow, AK)

Wes Slajchert 6-3 (Oak Park, CA)

David Singleton 6-4 (Torrance, CA, Bishop Montgomery)

Brandon Williams 6-2 (Encino, CA, Crespi)

Next Five: Ben Baker 6-2 (Berkeley); Marlon Cunningham 6-7 (Albuquerque); Jamal Bey 6-5 (Las Vegas Bishop Gorman); Daijon Davis 6-4 (Garden Grove, CA, Orangewood Academy); Trey Johnson 6-5 (Idaho Falls Hillcrest).

 

Top 10 Freshmen

Pierre Cockrell 5-10 (Napa, CA, Prolific Prep)

Jonathan Daniels 5-10 (Northridge, CA, Heritage Christian)

P.J. Fuller 6-4 (Seattle Garfield)

Jaime Jaquez 6-4 (Camarillo, CA)

Isaac Johnson 6-8 (American Fork, UT)

Rylan Jones 5-11 (Logan, UT)

Jake Kyman 6-5 (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, Santa Margarita)

Isaiah Mobley 6-8 (Temecula, CA, Rancho Christian)

Elijah Scranton 6-4 (Sun Valley, CA, Village Christian)

Makani Whiteside 6-2 (Bellflower, CA, St. John Bosco)

Next Five: Amir Adams 6-3 (North Hollywood Campbell Hall); Ethan Anderson 5-10 (Los Angeles Fairfax); Kaveon Batiste 6-6 (Los Angeles Pacific Hills); Dijaun Chumack 6-0 (Los Angeles Fairfax); Robert McRae 6-3 (Los Angeles Fairfax).