SAN PABLO, Ca. – Sunday’s second day of the West Coast Elite All-Star Camp/Northern California at Contra Costa Community College proved a nice showcase for an impressive group of players from the Class of 2018.
Two of those were left-handed point guards that, through the two games they played earlier in the day and then during the Top 20 All-Star game late in the afternoon.
Elijah Hardy was a reserve on the Oakland Bishop O’Dowd team that won the 2015 State Open Division championship and then a starter last season for the Dragons when they lost in the Northern California Division III title game.
His jump shot was a bit erratic throughout the day but his passing was, at times, spectacular.
Logan Johnson (Mountain View Saint Francis) also had a strong sophomore season, helping his team to a NorCal Open Championship and 25-3 record.
The brother of the Miami Heat’s Tyler Johnson will see the attention he receives from college recruiters rise considerably over the next month.
That was apparent based upon the way he played Sunday, as a scorer, playmaker, rebounder and defender.
Point guard-types in the Class of 2017 who impressed me Sunday included two players from outside of California in 6-foot-3 Christian Popoola Jr. (Las Vegas Bishop Gorman) and 6-1 Calvin Fugett Jr. (Denver George Washington).
Three Northern California guards who are also on tap for sensational senior years are 6-2 Tim Falls (Dublin), an aggressive driver; 6-0 Bobby Santos (San Jose Valley Christian), one of the better jump shooters on display Sunday, and 6-3 Niamey Harris (San Francisco Mission), who is also one of Northern California’s better football prospects as a wide receiver.
And 2018 guards also turned in some eye-catching moments on Sunday: 6-3 Zach Chappell (Sacramento Capital Christian); 6-0 James Chun (San Francisco Archbishop Riordan); 6-3 Naseem Gaskin (Bishop O’Dowd); 6-3 Jake Wojcik (San Jose Bellarmine Prep); and 6-3 Derrick Langford (Richmond Salesian).
The best of the frontcourt players at the event was 6-7 senior-to-be Travis Friar (San Jose Archbishop Mitty).
He overpowered folks in the low post and tossed in a nice collection of driving dunks and jump shots.
Some other non-NorCal players who were among the most productive – and impressive – players Sunday included the Reno-area trio of Zach Burns (6-1/2018/Fernley), Jayden DeJoseph (6-5/2017/Carson) and Jalen Townsell (6-6/2018/Spanish Springs); and Los Angeles Price guard Freddie Reeves Jr. (6-1/2017).
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