LONG BEACH, Ca. – The first “grassroots” Southern California-based boys basketball event of the spring/summer was held at in the gymnasium of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Saturday.
The COVID-10 pandemic has all but shut down “sports”, per se, in not only California but pretty much everywhere in the United States – and the rest of the world – since early March.
But reasonable health-related precautions were taken by event coordinator Dinos Trigonis and his staff for the Pangos Best of SoCal Summer Showcase Saturday, notably temperatures taken of each person going into the gym as well as spectators (and event personnel) abiding by the “wear a mask” edict.
Even a couple of the game referees wore masks (and, at least one, gloves) and, it seemed, a large percentage of players also donned masks when they weren’t playing in one of the eight games played Saturday involving players schedule to be in the eighth, ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th grades in the coming school year.
Following the conclusion of each game, participating players and spectators (mostly parents and other relatives of players) in attendance for the particular contests were encouraged to leave the gym in order to keep the number of people in the bleachers or in the gym as low as possible.
Each of the game included some of the better players from Southern California – and beyond – in their respective classes.
The most entertaining of the games was the “Top 20 Class of 2022 (juniors-to-be)” affair that was worn by the team wearing dark jerseys, 98-97, by way of a 25-footer by Henderson (NV) Liberty’s 6-foot-7 Joshua Jefferson that banked in as the buzzer was sounding.
Among those joining Jefferson as standouts in the game were Trinity League players Tajavis Miller (Servite), Scotty Washington (St. John Bosco) and Alpha Chibambe and Isaac Peralta (JSerra), as well as 6-7 Jalen Pitre (who transferred from Gahr to Long Beach Poly in the spring) and 6-10 Henri Adiassa (Crossroads).
The 6-5 Washington (who missed all but the final four games of last season because of a shoulder injury) and Pitre are technically members of the Class of 2021 (“seniors-to-be”) but have indicated “prep school” is possible for 2021-22.
My guess is that both players will have multiple offers from “high-level” college programs, which could make the need for prep school moot.
The Class of 2021 was represented in its Top 20 game (which wrapped up the action Saturday night), with the black jerseys cruising, 110-73.
Far and away the top performer in that contest was Wilhelm Breidenbach (pictured) of Mater Dei, who scored 23 points in a variety of fashions and dominated rebounding at both ends of the floor.
He’s the top California standing 6-8 or taller in the California of 2021.
He said that the coaching staffs from Marquette, Nebraska, Saint Mary’s and the University of Utah (alpha listing) are those that have been in contact with him the most (via telephone, texting and zoom meetings) of late.
That list is likely to expand before too long, based on how many college coaching staffs have perused the BallerTV coverage of that Saturday night game.
Breidenbach’s squad was aided by the likes of T.J. Wainwright (the all-L.A. City guard from Westchester who nailed five 3s), 6-5 Josh O’Garro (Santa Clarita Christian) and 6-7 Brendan Terry (Crossroads).
Among others who had strong moments were guard Brenton Knapper (Colony/he’s committed to Santa Clara), left-handed athlete-supreme Jaden Byers (Rancho Christian, incorrectly listed as JSerra on the game rosters), 6-5 Everett May (jump shooter-deluxe) and 6-7 Maxwell Lewis (Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix).
Lewis, originally from Las Vegas, is a terrific prospect who – technically – was a “senior” last season.
There was also a multitude of standouts in the Top 20 Class of 2023 (freshmen last season) game, notably: Xavier Edmonds (Bishop Montgomery), Maurice Wright (Paraclete), Jazz Gardner (Los Altos), Zach Davidson (Mater Dei) and the St. Bernard backcourt of Darius Carr and Tyler Rolison.
Eighth grade-standouts Saturday included 5-9 Darryl Morris (he lives in Lancaster but high school destination is to be determined), 6-4 Isaiah Elohim (Heritage Christian), 6-3 Kory Dodson (Riverside Poly), 6-4 Seven Bahati (Ribet Academy) and 6-5 James Evans (West Ranch).
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