LONG BEACH – Three key elements to what should once again be one of the top high school teams in Southern California next season were on display Saturday at McBride High during the Pangos All-American Preview Camp.
Senior-to-be, 6-foot-7 Kendyl Sanders and the junior-to-be, backcourt duo of Caleb Versher and Joshua Palmer of Playa del Rey St. Bernard were among the elite performers during the one-day event that attracted 90 or so players – some of whom traveled from as far as Florida and Georgia to attend.
Coach Tony Bland’s St. Bernard Vikings (among the eight programs in the CIF Southern Section’s Open Division Playoff field this past season) lose one of the west’s best guards in senior Tyler Rolison, a two-time all-CIF SS selection.
But Versher (a starter as a sophomore) and Palmer (a rapidly improving player closing in on 6-4) will make up one of the west’s top starting backcourts in 2023-24.
And Sanders, who also worked out Friday and Saturday with the Nike/EYBL Why Not 17s squad, has had a strong “spring” the past month or so, and should be among the most heavily western-based forwards in the 2024 senior class this summer and fall.
Each of Vikings’ trio played two camp game but had to depart before the Best of the Best All-Star game.
But that left expanded opportunities for other players to shine in the all-star clash.
Among those were the aforementioned “long distance travelers” in 6-5 freshman Jaron Saulsberry (Norcross, GA); 6-4 sophomore Alexander Lloyd (Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Westminster Academy); 6-4 junior Sabien Cain (Carmel, IN, University); and 6-6 senior Chris Arias (Jacksonville, FL, Providence School).
Lloyd (pictured) and Arias (who is already committed to the University of Jacksonville) were also terrific during a spring Pangos event in Long Beach a year ago.
Lloyd, who scored 22 points (including four 3s) in the white jerseys’ 138-101 all-star game victory Saturday night, is a consensus Top 25 or so “prospect” in the national class of 2025.
He’s a teammate of two of the national Top 25 headliners, twins Cameron and Caden Boozer, on the Miami-based Nike/EYBL Nightrydas club program.
Saulsberry was a key element for a Norcross team that went 26-5 and lost in the Georgia State championship semifinals.
He was as good a “prospect” as there was on display Saturday.
Cain averaged 20.3 points per game this past season as University went 22-3 while losing to Park Tudor (40-37) in the Indiana State 2A championship game.
Other standouts included:
*The Irvine Crean Lutheran duo of Kaiden Bailey (a first-team all-Orange County selection) and Braeden Davidson continued to show why they make up one of the best Class of 2026 backcourts anywhere.
*Another Orange County-based player, 6-8 Andrew Nagy (Orange Lutheran), rebounded consistently and scored well from the low post and perimeter for the white jerseys in the all-star game. He should have a terrific senior season for Coach Daniel Dunbar in 2023-24.
*Junior guard Jordan Houegban (who led the state in 3-pointers last season for L.A. Brentwood Academy) hit eight 3s in one of his two camp games.
*Bryce Bedgood, a 6-8 junior who helped the Valencia High Vikings win their final 16 games and the State Division IV championship, scored in a lot of ways Saturday – many times, with his off (left) hand via in-the-lane finishes.
*Six-nine Magoon Gwath (from Euless, TX, Trinity) will be one of the best 2023-24 “post-grads” as a member of the Southern California-based Veritas Prep program after relocating from Dallas.
A high-quality runner and jumper, Gwath also showed decent jump-shooting and handling ability throughout Saturday.
*And two of the better sub-six-foot guards in Southern California, junior Darrell Morris (Valencia West Ranch) and freshman Timmy Anderson (Pasadena Blair), were the quickest players – with or without the ball in their hands – at the event.
I was suggested this blog by my cousin. I’m no longer positive whether or not this post is written by him as no one else recognize such unique approximately my trouble. You’re wonderful! Thanks!