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Frank Burlison | High School Basketball | College Basketball

No “rust” for Burries and Williamson Saturday at McBride High

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LONG BEACH – Saturday’s opening day of the Pangos Best of SoCal Spring League at McBride High proved a nice showcase for many of the region’s better players for the 2023-24 season.

And, in the process, it also helped to confirm which of their high school teams are going to be among Southern California’s best next season, as well.

Some examples:

*Brayden Burries and Issac Williamson (pictured, left to right) – ineligible for all their sophomore seasons following their early winter transfer from Riverside Poly – helped show why their new high school program (Roosevelt in Eastvale) will be a Platinum Division participant in the Classic at Damien next December and a strong contender for a spot in the CIF Southern Section’s Open Division playoff field.

The 6-foot-4 Burries (Southern California’s top freshman in 2021-22) scored 37 points for the “Lakers” in their second game Saturday in every way conceivable, getting anywhere he wanted t on the dribble – regardless of size or quickness of defender – while also crushing it as a rebounder and finding open teammates consistently.

One of those Laker teammates was the 6-1 Williamson, a near life-long buddy and running mate (along with another Class of 2025 on the team, Myles Walker of JW North) of Burries.

He’s physically stronger than he was since the last time I watched he and Burries play (in a fall event at Chino High), better on his dribble while still retaining his terrific jump shooting range.

The left-handed Walker is a crafty point guard (his dad, Tony, and uncle, Billy, were also standouts at JW North before going on to terrific college careers at LMU and Long Beach State, respectively).

There won’t be a better backcourt anywhere in high school in 2023-24, with Burries and Williamson are teaming with 6-3 Darnez Slater, a junior standout this past season for Roosevelt Coach Steve Singleton.

*St. Bernard was a CIF SS Open team before losing by three points to Mater Dei Thursday night in a State Southern Regional Division I quarterfinal.

And three of the Vikings’ underclassmen standouts were back at it Saturday at McBride.

Six-seven junior Kendyl Sanders hit a lot of jump shots while doing a nifty job of clearing rebounds and sprinting in transition.

Six-four Joshua Palmer (son of UCLA assistant coach Rod Palmer) continued to show why he’s one of the most improved Class of 2025 prospects in Southern California, hitting several deep jump shots and banging in a couple of impressive dunks.

And one of the region’s top freshmen, 6-6 Tahj Ariza (son of 18-year, NBA standout Trevor Ariza), also was on hand to put his dynamic skill on display against players three and four years older (he’s only 14).

*Heritage Christian lost a two-point decision to Mater Dei in the CIF SS Division 1 quarterfinals.

But look for Coach Paul Tait’s Warriors to make strong run at an Open spot in 2024.

Three of the reasons why were found at McBride Saturday, in sophomores Tae Simmons (6-7) and Dillan Shaw (6-6), and 6-5 Seven Bahati – one of the most impressive athletes in the Class of 2024 anywhere.

Day II of the SoCal League gets underway at 11 a.m. Sunday at McBride.

 

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