Fullcourt Press SoCal
“Top 50” Senior Players

by Dinos Trigonis*
(November 25, 2013)

The high school regular season in Southern California is just about to tip-off with games starting today.  The place to be this upcoming week appears to be the 62^nd annual Pacific Shores tourney at Redondo Union HS (Redondo Beach CA) where top teams like St. John Bosco (Bellflower CA), Westchester (Los Angeles CA), host Redondo Union, Poly (Long Beach CA), Compton (Compton CA), Campbell Hall (North Hollywood CA) and Mayfair (Lakewood CA) will square off. 

This is a good time to release our Top 50 Southern California senior (class of 2014) players.  This is the first of a series of four rankings (2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017) which will be released over the next week or so.  SoCal’s 2014 class is a very solid one with at least ten Top 100 caliber prospects led by likely 2014 McDonald’s All-American Game selections Stanley Johnson and Daniel Hamilton.

For purposes of these rankings: “Southern California” is the area bordering the Fresno area to the north and the Mexican Border to the south.

 Listed below are our Top 50 SoCal Senior selections (listed by order of rank) followed by a list of players deserving to be denoted as “Honorable Mention”.

Top 50 Southern California High School Seniors (2014)
(college destinations are listed in Italics)

 

 1.         Stanley Johnson                6’7”     SF  Mater Dei (Santa Ana CA) Arizona
Hoop Scoop’s#1 2014 player in the nation is a strong and skilled Paul Pierce-type SF that has a basketball IQ that is off the charts and his dominant performances last season as a HS junior (named MVP of the inaugural Tarkanian Classic) as well as at marquee 2013 events like the Pangos All-American Camp (earned camp MOP honors there) took his stock to the highest level.  After being courted by the likes of elite college programs like Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, Florida, UCLA and USC, Johnson settled on Arizona, where he will be an impact freshman next Fall.  Stanley will be chasing a historic 4^th straight Caifornia state title this season.

2.         Daniel Hamilton                  6’7”     SF  St. John Bosco (Bellflower CA) UConn
One ACC associate head coach called this sleek UConn-bound wing “wired to score” and he is just that.  Nobody scores the rock at a higher clip than Hamilton – a very good athlete with dangerous perimeter range.  Forms arguably the top perimeter duo in the nation with Bosco teammate and Hoop Scoop’s #1 junior Tyler  

 Dorsey.  When “DHam” is focused and on his game, there are not a dozen better 2014 prospects in the nation.  Daniel showed that he could put points on the board with anybody in country when he dropped 31 points in a Belmont Shore 101-93 win over Mo Williams Elite at the Las Vegas Fab 48 last July, joining Belmont Shore teammate Dorsey (35 points), Emmanuel Mudiay (31 points) and Malik Newman (32 points) in the 30 point club for that game.  Hamilton attended the McDonald’s All-American Game banquet last March to watch his brother Isaac receive the honors from the Golden Arches.  Next March, I expect him to be there again, this time to receive his own McDonald’s All-American ring.

3.         Jordan McLaughlin           6’0”     PG  Etiwanda (Etiwanda CA)   USC
Shifty PG has the 5^th gear and explosiveness college coaches love from a floor leader.  Jordan should excel in Trojan coach Andy Enfield’s fast-pace style of play.  McLaughlin has shown the capability of making big shots with the game on the line and gets the slight nod here at #3 over Parker Cartwright due to his slightly bigger frame and greater athleticism.

 4.         Parker Cartwright               5’9”     PG  Loyola (Los Angeles CA)   Arizona
Clever but small point guard has a knack for making the right play at the right time.  Great court instincts allow him to compete well against bigger, more athletic guards.  Excellent student is headed to Arizona next Fall and should be a factor in helping Sean Miller spread the substantial offensive wealth that is residing in Tucson these days.

5.         Thomas Welsh                    7’0”     C     Loyola (Los Angeles CA)  UCLA
Rapidly improved post showed at last June’s Pangos A-A Camp that he was ready for HM status and backed that up with an impressive July with LA Rockfish (including a “toe-to-toe” matchup with the heralded Myles Turner at the Las Vegas Fab 48).  Very good student is an important component of this year’s Bruin class for Steve Alford.

6.         Robert Cartwright              6’2”     PG  Flintridge Prep (La Canada CA) Stanford
Cerebral and tough point guard is a natural leader and very good on-ball defender.  Terrific student is exactly the type of player

Johnny Dawkins needs to run the Stanford offense. 

7.         Namon Wright                     6’4”     WG  Pacific Hills (Los Angeles CA) Missouri
Smooth SG has an impressive ability to slash and score as well as all the physical tools necessary to be a lock-down defender at the next level.  Headed to the SEC next Fall and should do well in Mizzou’s up-tempo system.

 8.         Tra Holder                            6’0”     PG  Brentwood (Brentwood CA) Arizona State
Quick point can really put points on the board.  Terrific at changing directions off the bounce, Holder is hard to contain in the open court and is an underrated passer as well.  Looks to be the heir apparent to Sun Devil PG supreme Jahii Carson.
 
9.         Isaiah Bailey                        6’5”     WF  Compton (Compton CA) Fresno State
Ultra-athletic wing has really shown that he can knock down jump shots with great regularity of late. Would have been the Westaraarityritshots with great regularity as of late.  Would have been the West shots with great regularity as of late.  Would have been the West  

Coast’s top unsigned senior had Rodney Terry not smartly snagged him before the Fall Signing period expired.  Has as much upside as any West Coast wing in this class not named Johnson or Hamilton.

10.       Tre Kell                                 6’4”     WG  St. Augustine (San Diego CA) San Diego State
Arguably the West Coast’s top perimeter shooter, Kell will be a very nice piece to San Diego State’s future puzzle.  Will need to improve defensive abilities substantially to be the star many project him to be in the Mountain West.
 

11.       Christopher Sandifer        6’4”     WG  Taft (Los Angeles CA)  UTEP
Lefty sharp-shooter is a very dangerous offensive weapon when hot as well as a deceptively good athlete.  Consistency is the key to his long-term success.

12.       Idrissa Diallo                        6’10”  C     Middlebrooks Academy (Los Angeles CA) Cal

 Great post physique with improving offensive skills on the block make him the kind of prospect his future college coach Mike Montgomery can mold into a productive player.

13.       Devin Watson                      5’10”  PG   Army/Navy Academy (Carlsbad CA
Originally committed to Oregon State this fall, this quick PG and the Beavers decided to part ways just before the Fall Signing Period.  Outstanding shooter led Pangos Elite to the championship of the Pangos Summer Sweet 16 – defeating USC-bound Jordan McLaughlin and Prodigy Elite in the final.  The laws of recruiting “supply and demand” would indicate that he will get plenty of high-major looks this season.
 

14.       Joe Furstinger                    6’9”     PF   Santa Margarita (CA) New Mexico
Very improved “face-up” PF has the range on his jump shot to extend defenses and is a great fit for Craig "Noodles" Neal's Lobo offense. Joe also doesn't mind mixing it up inside.is a great fit for Craig “Noodles” Neal’s Lobo offense.  Joe also doesn’t mind mixing it up inside.
  

15.       Chandler Hutchinson       6’5”     WF   Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo CA) Boise State
Agile WF moves extremely well without the ball and has a very nice touch on jump shot.  Very good student is a national sleeper in this class.
 

16.       Tavrion Dawson                 6’7”     WF   Serra (Gardena CA) Cal State Northridge
Multi-dimensional forward has ability to get to the cup off the bounce as well as pull-up for the mid-range jump shot.  Future college coach Reggie Theus will have a lot to work with.  Love his upside.

17.       Ron Freeman                      6’5”     WG   Serra (Gardena CA) Cal State Fullerton
Very underrated wing has made tremendous improvement over the past year.  Freeman has the skill set and potential to play multiple perimeter positions at the next level.  Outstanding get for 1^st year Titan coach Dedrique Taylor.  

18.       Bryan Alberts                      6’3”     WG   Village Christian (Sun Valley CA) Gonzaga
Injury-prone guard is skilled with an accurate jump shot and should be a good addition to Gonzaga’s perimeter future. 

19.       Robbie Berwick                  6’4”     WG  Atascadero (Atascadero CA)  Florida State
Scrappy wing guard has a potent outside stroke and has always exhibited an excellent basketball IQ.  Will give Leonard Hamilton a “glue guy” with lots of intangibles in the ACC.
 

20.       Razhaun Bear Henderson   6’5”     WF  Village Christian (Sun Valley CA)
Lefty swingman is a strong and physical rebounder with underrated perimeter range.  Rhode Island is among the schools showing serious interest for this projected spring signee.

21.       Terrell Carter                       6’8”     PF    Redondo Union (Redondo Beach CA)
West Torrance transfer was one of the top surprises of the summer!  Strong and burly like a WWF fighter, Carter is a physical rebounder with a soft touch in the paint.  Should be the object of strong spring recruiting attention.
 

22.       Jack Willliams                     6’8”     PF    Chaminade (West Hills CA) Long Beach State
Nimble hybrid-forward runs floor very well and is active on the glass.  Love his energy.

23.       Stanley Roberts                  6’8”     PF     Peninsula (Palos Verdes CA)
Strong PF has an underrated perimeter touch and is a very good positional defender down low.  Son of former NBA player Stanley Roberts Sr. is a much better athlete than he gets credit for.

24.       Justin Bibbins                     5’9”     PGBishop Montgomery (Torrance CA)Long Beach State
Cerebral lead guard is small but is a very quick PG that makes plays on both ends.  Like former 49’er star playmaker Casper Ware, Bibbins has tremendous heart and competes on every play!

25.       Jeremy Liberman               6’1”     PG      Calabasas (Calabasas CA)   Wyoming
Heady floor general has legitimate 3-point range.
 

26.       Derek Newton                     6’6”     WF      Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood CA)
Crafty combo-forward finds ways to score and has real 3-point range.

27.       Deontae North                    6’4”     WG     Centennial (Corona CA) Long Beach State

Wing with size proved that he could knock down jump shots this summer.  Good local pick-up for the 49’ers.

28.       Jamar Atoh                          6’6”     2014   Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga CA)
Cal State Fullerton signee is an undersized PF that has good hands and finishes with regularity on the block.
 

29.       Brian Beard Jr.                    5’9”     PG      Rancho Cucamonga (CA)
“BB” is as good an on-ball defender as exists in Southern California as well as an underrated 3-point shooter.  Orange Lutheran transfer plays with plenty of swagger.

30.       Kyron Cartwright               5’10”  PG      Compton (Compton CA) LMU
Speedy PG has no problem evading defensive pressure.  Will be a pleasant addition to Max Good’s Lions next Fall.

31.       Evan Wardlow                     6’5”     WF  El Camino Real (Woodland Hills CA) Santa Clara
Athletic wing finishes well in transition.   2014 sleeper is a very nice recruit for Kerry Keating.

32.       Iziahiah Sweeney               6’3”     WG     Compton (Compton CA)
Very athletic guard can explode to the hoop.

33.       DJ Ursery                             6’3”     WG     Crespi (Encino CA)  Pacific
Lefty wing is a wiry scorer.

34.       Ajon Efferson                      5’11”  PG      Pasadena (Pasadena CA)
High scoring PG will make tons of offensive noise this season.

35.       Chris Sullivan                      6’3”     WG     Poly (Long Beach CA)
Strong and physical guard will definitely be on the West Coast scouting radar screen this year.

36.       Julian Richardson             6’3”     WG     El Camino Real (Woodland Hills CA)
Son of former UCLA great and NBA player Pooh Richardson has a legit 3-point stroke.
 

37.       Victor Joseph                      5’10”  PG      Rancho Cucamonga (CA)
Cat-quick point is hard to contain off the bounce.

38.       Taelin Webb                                    5’11”  PG      Roosevelt (Corona CA)  CS Northridge
Deceptively good athlete can really stroke the 3-ball.  Will be a factor in the Big West.

39.       Antonio Singleton              6’4”     WG     Cabrillo (Long Beach CA)
Strong WG is an excellent defender and underrated 3-point shooter.

40.       Elijah Stewart                      6’5”     WF      Westchester (Los Angeles CA) LMU
Loyola Marymount signee is a long wing with upside that is sound defensively.

41.       Devinir Durisseau              6’8”     PF       Sylmar (Sylmar CA)
Well-built PF is a solid rebounder.

42.       Ian Fox                                  6’0”     PG      Redondo Union (Redondo Beach CA)
Savvy lead guard must be guarded out to the 3-point line.

43.       Josh Rideau                                    6’6”     WF      Westchester (Los Angeles CA)
Athletic forward runs floor really well and is a very good defender.

44.       Lew Stallworth                    5’11”  PG      Hart (Santa Clarita CA)
Strong as a bull lead guard can make perimeter shots.

45.       Evan Fitzner                                    6’9”     PF       Parker (San Diego CA) St. Marys
Skilled forward needs strength and bulk as well as toughness to be a factor in WCC.

46.       Johnnie Vassar                  5’11”  PG      JSerra (San Juan Capistrano CA)
Quick but erratic playmaker has good ball skills.

47.       Fatai Eke                               6’7”     PF       East (Bakersfield CA)
Active post competes on every play.

48.       Reverend Maduakor          6’5”     WF      Narbonne (Harbor City CA)
Below the radar swingman is athletic with an excellent mid-range game.

49.       Justin Strings                      6’5”     PF       Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach CA) Sac State
Undersized power forward is a physical rebounder.

50.(T)  Myles Stewart                      6’4”     WG     Westchester (Los Angeles CA)
3-point shooter always provides the customary stiff defensive pressure expected of Ed Azzam-coached players.

50. (T) Tide Osifeso                        5’9”     PG      Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga CA)
Quick and heady point is elusive to defensive pressure.

50. (T)  Devin Burleson                   6’8”     PF       Highland (Palmdale CA)
Big post is a load down low and a terrific student.

Honorable Mention (by order of height):

*           Isaac Deese                            5’9”      PG       Mayfair (Lakewood CA)
*           Michael Nwabuzor                  5'10"  PG   Mayfair (Lakewood CA)
*           Layon Gooden                        5'10"  PG  Westchester (Los Angeles CA)
*           Mark Thomas                          5'11"  PG   Millikan (Long Beach CA) 
*           Maleke Haynes                       5’11”    PG       El Camino Real (Torrance CA)
*           Uchenna Okeneme                6’0”      CG      Narbonne (Harbor City CA)
*           Ali Sakr                                   6’0”      CG      Kennedy (Delano CA) 
*           Lucio Bolado                           6’0”      PG       Maranatha (Pasadena CA)
*           Mark Borgeson                       6’0”      CG      Alta Loma (Alta Loma CA)
*           Kameron Murrell                     6’1”      CG      Poly (Long Beach CA)
*           Dakoda Golden                       6’1”      WG      Charter Oak (West Covina CA)
*           Joey Covarrubias                   6’2”      WG      Cantwell (Montebello CA) 
*           Max Tinsley                            6’2”      WG      Chaminade (West Hills CA)
*           Luca Ferrari                            6’2”      WG      Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks CA)
*           Derrick Bruce                         6’2”      WG      Centennial (Corona CA)
*           Larry Bush                             6'2"       WG     Calabasas (Calabasas CA
*           Craig Bond                              6’2”      CG      Alta Loma (Alta Loma CA)
*           Rashad Jackson                     6’2”      WG      Garces (Bakersfield CA)
*           Luis Medearis                          6’2”      CG      View Park (Los Angeles CA)
*           Murshid Randle                       6’2”      CG      Central (Fresno CA)
*           Billy Rowan                             6’2”      WG      Victor Valley (Victorville CA)
*           Brian Enriquez                        6’3”      WG      St. John Bosco (Bellflower CA)
*           Dijon Shepard                         6’3”      WG      Fairfax (Los Angeles CA)
*           Jackie Davis                           6’3”      WG      Rolling Hills Prep (Palos Verdes CA)
*           Khalil Bedart-Ghani                 6’3”      CG      Loyola (Los Angeles CA)  Yale
*           Marquis Reed                         6’3”      WG      Upland (Upland CA)
*           Brian Finley                             6’3”      WG      Santa Fe Christian (Solana Beach CA)
*           Kalin Peters                             6’3”      WG      Rancho Dominguez Prep (Long Beach CA)
*           Ben Perez                               6’4”      WG      San Marcos (San Marcos CA)
*           Nick Hamilton                          6'4"      WF      Westchester (Los Angeles CA
*           Daylen Lawrence                    6’4”      WG      Rancho Cucamonga (CA)
*           Christopher Ballew                  6’4”      WG      Muir (Pasadena CA)
*           Matt Herring                            6’4”      WF      Santiago (Corona CA)  
*           Joe Rushing                            6’4”      WF      La Verne Lutheran (La Verne CA)
*           Khalid Washington                  6’4”      WG      Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos CA)
*           Adam Carter                           6’4”      WF      La Mirada (La Mirada CA)
*           Quincy Thomas                      6’4”      WF      San Pedro (San Pedro CA)
*           Bishop Mency                         6’5”      WF      Chino Hills (Chino Hills CA)
*           Malik Marquetti                       6’5”      WF      Millikan (Long Beach CA)
*           Cameron Young                     6'5"      WF      Westchester (Los Angeles CA) 
*           Fritz Eibel                                6’5”      WF      La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad CA)
*           Charles Rochelin                    6'6"      PF       El Camino Real (Woodland Hills CA) 
*           Mario Soto                              6’6”      PF       Mater Dei (Santa Ana CA)
*           Dillon Reise                             6’6”      WF      Mayfair (Lakewood CA)
*           Keith Thomas                          6’6”      WF      Serra (San Diego CA)
*           Marsalis Johnson                    6’6”      PF       Village Christian (Sun Valley CA)
*           Deshawn Hill                           6’6”      PF       Compton (Compton CA)
*           Darius Hamilton                      6’6”      PF       Central (Fresno CA)
*           Bono Zedan                            6’6”      WF      Middlebrooks Academy (Los Angeles CA)
*           Arinze Anakwenze                  6’6”      PF       Muir (Pasadena CA)
*           James Brown                          6'6"      PF       Morningside (Inglewood CA) 
*           Spencer Vering                       6’6”      PF       Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista CA)
*           Adam Turner                           6’7”      WF      Roosevelt (Corona CA) 
*           Jason Carter                           6’7”      PF       View Park (Los Angeles CA)
*           Erik Reider                              6’7”      PF       Mission Hills (San Diego CA)
*           Austin Smith                            6'7"      PF      Calabasas (Calabasas CA)  
*           Marcos Soto                           6’7”       PF       Westlake (Westlake Village CA)
*           Blair Orr                                  6'8"       PF       El Camino Real (Woodland Hills CA) 
*           Dane Norman                         6’8”      PF       Foothills Christian (El Cajon CA)   
*           Eli Chuha                                6’8”      PF       East Valley (Redlands CA)
*           Olisameka Nwachie               6’8”      PF       Fairfax (Los Angeles CA)
*           Jordan Poland                         6’8”      PF       La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla CA)
*           Aleks Abrams                         6’8”      PF       Oaks Christian (Westlake Village CA)
*           Dylan Osetkowski                   6’9”      C         JSerra (San Juan Capistrano CA)
*           William Brooks                        6’10”    C         Rancho Dominguez Prep (Long Beach CA)
*           Lamont Tyler                           6’10”    C         Villa Park (Villa Park CA)

*A note about the author of these rankings: Dinos Trigonis has been the Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of the Fullcourt Press web site and scouting service as well as an event operator, basketball coach and skills instructor since 1993.  Dinos played varsity basketball at Long Beach Wilson High School and is a graduate of Long Beach State (BA - Political Science) and Temple Law School (Juris Doctorate).  While at Temple Law School in Philadelphia, Trigonis founded and was the editor-in-chief of the Temple Political & Civil Rights Law Review.  As head coach & director of the Belmont Shore Basketball Club (based in Long Beach CA), Dinos has coached 120-plus players that have received NCAA Division I scholarships as well as 19 players that have reached the NBA. Some of the major events that Trigonis has created and organized include the Pangos Dream Classic, Pangos All-American Camp, Las Vegas Fab 48 (directs with Gary Charles & Grant Rice), Pangos All-Frosh/Soph Camps and Tarkanian Classic (directs with Grant Rice).

** Photos courtesy of Nick Koza (SportsAmp.com)