Frank Burlison

IRVINE – The roster for the second Hoops by Ugland Skills Summit, held Saturday at Beckman High, provided a nice representation for the best in Southern California – and beyond – in the Class of 2021.

Among the already well-known – in “media” and college recruiters’ circles – from the class making strong showing Saturdays were (listed alphabetically): A.J. Burgin (San Diego/pictured), David Elliott (Birmingham), Daniel Esparza (Sonora), Brenton Knapper (Colony), Josh O’Garro (Santa Clarita Christian), Malik Thomas (Damien) and Peyton Watson (Long Beach Poly).

And some of the other members of the class who showed why they’re destined for terrific junior seasons were point guards (also alpha listing): Jake Blazona (Santa Margarita) and Donovan Watkins (Corona Centennial).

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DOWNEY – The second SoCal Clash, put on by Beach City Hoops (@beachcityhoops), is set for Sunday (Aug. 11) at St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy High (7851 Gardendale Street).

A girls’ game has been added to the platform that pits standout basketball players from the Classes of 2020 and ’21 against one another.

The girls’ contest is scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m., following by the boys’ game two hours later.

Admission is $10, with kids 5 years of age and young admitted without charge.

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PHOENIX – The first-ever NCAA College Basketball Academy – the western version – wrapped up late Sunday morning at Grand Canyon University.

As the case with Session I, which ran Tuesday thru Thursday mornings, one of the dynamics of the assembled group of high school players (mostly in the Classes of 2020 and ’21, with a smattering from ’22) was the presence – and impressive efforts – of so many “non-west” kids.

By my official tabulation, there were 57 players with Florida listed as their home states among the approximately 300 athletes at the combined sessions.

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PHOENIX – From what I gather, players weren’t assigned to the four regional sites of the first-ever NCAA College Basketball Academy strictly based upon where they live.

A major factor, apparently, was in how readily a player could be transported to one of the sites – especially relative to air fare and if direct flights could be arranged for the athlete.

The necessity of athletes having to make one or more connections to flights was to be avoided (to lessen the odds of a player missing one of those changes and the relative chaos as a result).

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PHOENIX – Day I of the inaugural NCAA-front “College Basketball Academy” drew varying number of college coaches to its multiple “camp games” played Tuesday afternoon thru late evening.

At least that was the case for the “western” version of the event, which is being held at Grand Canyon University, in the impressive and well-conditioned campus arena and newly built Canyon Activity Center across campus.

The largest crowds of coaches – and schools they represented – were on hand for the games involved high school players already “identified” as well-better-than-average college prospects.

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