SCOTTSDALE – Jalen Green, while playing in a game with a variety of quality prospects, left little room for debate as to who was the best player in the Chaparral High gymnasium was Thursday night during the first day of the HoopHall West.
Green, a transfer from San Joaquin Memorial in Fresno, scored 33 points as Prolific Prep – a “prep school team” based in Napa, CA – slammed another “prep school” program, Hillcrest Prep of Phoenix, 88-71, behind his 33-point performace.
The best of the players in the Class of 2020 yet to sign a National Letter of Intent, Green hit three 3s to go with four rebounds, a steal and an assist as his squad took an eight-point advantage after the first quarter in the nationally televised affair.
He had another 3-pointer among his three buckets and two free throws as Prolific – now ably led by one of the terrific “grassroots” coaches in the business, Joey Fuca of the Lakeshow club program – pounded its advantage to 24 points at intermission.
Texas Tech University-bound guard Nimari Burnett (along with Green, part of the Why Not program that advanced to the championship of the Nike Peach Jam in July), hit three 3s in the second quarter and finished with 13 points as Prolific improved to 12-zip.
Hillcrest was never closer than the final margin while getting 19 points from sophomore forward Sadraque Ngana and 15 more from University of Arizona-bound (and Compton Magic veteran) Dalen Terry.
In the first game of the triple-header, Albany Academy of New York blistered Pinnacle of Scottsdale (best known in hoops circles as the alma mater of Nico Mannion), 76-54.
Andre Jackson of Albany, who signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of Connecticut last month, scored 26 points while banging four or five of the most impressive dunks in the house Thursday.
In the evening finale, Christ the King of New York City edge the host school’s team, 77-73.
Games resume Friday at 3 o’clock local time.
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