SACRAMENTO – The first-ever, two-day Nor Cal Frosh/Soph Camp wrapped up Sunday afternoon at Foothill Hill after showcasing a healthy percentage of the best of the region’s boys’ underclass hoops talent.
All due respect for Shawn Hadnot and Ryan Diew (of the Sacramento Magic club program) and their crew for putting on such a high-quality event – especially for the first time out of the chute.
I’ve put together a list (alpha sorting) of the 12 guys that most impressed me over the two days (a couple of guys played only on Saturday), not just based upon “potential” but in terms of their overall effort and attitude, as well as athletic and basketball skill.
As has been the case each time I’ve watched him (including last month during the Pangos All-West Frosh/Soph Camp in Long Beach), Tyran Stokes – still more than a year away from making his high school debut – crushed it Sunday morning in the first of two games I watched before heading to the Sacramento Airport for the trek home to the Laguna Niguel chapter of The O.C.
The 6-foot-6ish and 210-poundish Stokes (pictured) – yes, those are estimates – has only been 14 years old since Oct. 12.
As impressive as his physical dimensions, strength and sheer athletic profile are, it’s his “feel” for the game that sets him apart from even some of the guys I’ve watched at the same stage of development who’ve gone on to NBA careers.
His passing – on the move, from the post or on outlets – would make a lot of quality college juniors and seniors envious.
Some of the guys I saw for the first time Sunday morning (they played for the “Cal” camp squad, which was the only team among eight that I didn’t’ watch Saturday) that sparked me to make on-paper and mental notes about them were sophomores Caden Pinnick (Loomis Del Oro), and Joshua Bonney and Sean Carroll (both from Rio Americano in Sacramento).
Bonney and Carroll combined for – give or take – seven 3s when I watched Cal play Stokes-led USF.
Pinnick (who also plays football and baseball; and – why not? – he’s also got a 4.0 GPA) hit a couple of deep jumpers but also made some quality plays with the ball in transition.
Top 12 Performers
Alec Blair 6-4 Concord De La Salle Fr.
Quentin Bundage 5-8 San Francisco Riordan So.
Amari Davis 6-7 Sparks, NV (Spanish Springs) So.
Marcellus Jackson 6-5 Sacramento Capital Christian So.
Amani Johnson 6-3 Richmond Salesian So.
Mikey Lewis 6-3 Denver Prep So.
Marcel Longmire 6-3 Fairfield Armijo So.
Ryan Pettis 6-2 San Mateo Serra So.
Ben Roseborough 6-4 Sacramento So.
Tyran Stokes 6-6 Pittsburg Rancho Meadows MS 8th
Tyler Thompson 6-4 Fairfield Vanden So.
Zion Wilburn 6-5+ Pinole Valley So.
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