GOODYEAR, Az. – The first-ever Pangos Arizona Fall Showcase, held Saturday at Desert Edge High, was highlighted by the presence of two of the best post players from the state, 6-foot-10 Malik Ondigo and 6-9 Nigel Shadd.
Ondigo, a June graduate of Dysart (in El Mirage) who is expected to attend Worcester (MA) Prep School in the fall, and Shadd, a senior at Tri-Cities Christian in Chandler, were “twin tower” standouts for Kenny Mullins’ Arizona Factory club program during the spring and summer tournament and camp scenes.
But there were also a whole lot outstanding backcourt prospects on display scattered throughout the scholastic classes.
*Nico Mannion has yet to play a game for Pinnacle High in Phoenix.
But Mannion, whose father, Pace, played at the University of Utah and for six seasons (and six teams) in the NBA, is already rated the No. 1 point guard in Arizona – if not entire west – in the Class of 2020.
Mannion didn’t play in the first of five games contested – one featuring players from the Classes of 2021 (eighth-graders) and 2020 (prep freshmen) – because, quite frankly, he is too advanced for that level of competition.
He did play in the Class of 2019 (sophomores) contest, thought, and was clearly the most polished player in the game with eight points, six assists and five rebounds.
*Mannion and five contestants in the 2019 clash, 5-foot-11 Josh Holloway and 5-9 Josh Ursery (both of Surprise Valley Vista); 6-foot Derrick Williams (Tucson High); 6-0 Josh Baker (Phoenix McClintock); 6-6 Emmanuel Taban (Glendale Apollo); 6-3 D’Maurian Williams (Avondale Westview); 6-7 Walter Talley (Phoenix Desert Vista) and 6-8 Dischon Thomas (Phoenix Hillcrest Prep), were selected to play in the day’s final “Best of the Best Game” (players from the first four contests were eligible to be selected).
Mannion couldn’t play because of a family commitment.
But Ursery, Baker and Taban, in particular, were outstanding in both the 2019 and Best of the Best games.
Ursery may have been the quickest player (with or without the ball in his hands) at the event, and used his long arms and big hands to harass opponents defensively, too.
His block of a dunk attempt by D’Maurian Williams in the Best of the Best game was the most spectacular play of the event.
Baker showed off an impressive variety of scoring tools in both the 2019 and Best of the Best games, hitting deep jumpers, mid-range floaters and to-the-rim slashing buckets.
Taban has remarkable shooting range for a player of his size and age. He hit three 3s in the 2019 game while scoring on a turn-around 12-footer and a transition dunk.
*Three intriguing prospects from the Class of 2018 game, also chosen to the Best of the Best, are 6-2 Bryce Meadows (Phoenix Aspire Academy), 6-3 Koby Jones (Peoria Centennial) and 6-10 Steele Bennett (Phoenix Desert Vista).
Meadows hit deep 3s in both the 2018 and Best of the Best affairs and Jones was quite the pogo-artist in the 2018 contest with a couple of dunks, a deep 3 and a smooth finish on a drive from the left baseline.
Bennett is also a member of Arizona Factory program and among the best of the “bigs” in the state’s junior class.
*Standouts in the 2020-21 Game included 6-3 Anthony Garza (Phoenix Shadow Ridge), 6-4 Terence Jaylen-Green (Phoenix Hayden) and 6-5 Kendyl Watson (Phoenix Paradise Valley).
Garza had 14 points, 15 rebounds and three blocked shots; Jaylen-Green had nine points (including a 3 and a bank shot from about 12-feet; and Watson (the brother of Paul Watson of Fresno State) had 11 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots.
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