The Pangos Best of SoCal League August Session tipped-off on August 16th at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church gym (Long Beach CA) and is running through August 31st – giving us a good view of several top prospects from Southern California. Besides myself, Ronnie Flores (Ball is Life) has stopped by so far to evaluate players. BallerTV is live-streaming all games played and Beach City Hoops and They Can Hoop have been in the house shooting video highlights.
Full length video re-plays of all past Pangos Best of SoCal League games are now available on replay from Baller TV: https://www.ballertv.com/events/pangos-best-of-socal-league-2021
All future league games will also be live-streamed by BallerTV.com
Team rosters and league schedule can be accessed online at: https://www.fullctpress.net/21-best-of-sc-league-aug.html
Below is a look at several of the league’s players that have stood out so far.
* Elijah Price 6’8” 2022 St. Anthony (Long Beach CA)
Price is one of the most versatile and underrated 2-way rising senior forwards in the West. Elijah can score at the rim with athleticism as well as from distance and is an excellent defender from all spots in the half-court. Reminds me a little of former Long Beach State star and Utah Jazz forward Bryon Russell. Very good student has received only 2 D1 offers so far (Cal Poly and Loyola Marymount) but has real long-term HM potential.
* Jimmy Oladokun 6’8” 2023 Damien (La Verne CA)
Active and assertive scorer had a game high 22 points in his team’s win on opening night and followed it with a 23 point effort last Wednesday night. Excellent student (4.0+ GPA) plays with great energy baseline to baseline, is active on the glass and has a long wing-span that allows him to be a disruptor on the defensive end. A year young for grade, Jimmy has attracted the attention of major schools like Stanford.
* Jazz Gardner 7’0” 2023 Los Altos (Hacienda Heights CA)
Fresh off a stint with the French Junior National Team, Gardner is an accurate face-up shooter with very good length and nice skill set. Jazz (currently ranked #41 nationally in 2023 by the 247Sports composite) had an unofficial visit at USC on August 16th.
* Drew Fielder 6’9” 2023 Southern Cal Academy (Los Angeles CA)
1st time seeing this Idaho native and I liked what I saw. Long and strong PF with nice interior scoring skills has recent offers from Washington and Nebraska.
* Jorge Ochoa 6’7” 2022 La Mirada (CA)
One of the finest scoring 2022 hybrid-forwards in the West has a smooth jump shot, confident scoring mentality and an impressive ability to finish above the rim. 2021 Pangos All-American Camp invitee and standout at last July’s Pangos Premier 80 Showcase is being severely underrecruited at the moment.
* Ring Malith 6’9” 2022 AOSS Prep (Corona CA)
One of the most underrated, versatile and skilled forwards in the West, Ring can score off the bounce and has nice touch that extends to the 3-point arc. 2021 Pangos All-American Camp invitee.
* Varick Lewis 6’4” 2023 Southern Cal Academy (Los Angeles CA)
High-scoring lead guard with extensive range on jump shot, Lewis scored 20 points (5 “threes”) on the league’s opening night. 2021 Pangos All-American Camp Top 60 Game pick will be a Western HM priority next spring/summer.
* Malik Moore 6’5” 2022 Heritage Christian (Northridge CA)
Moore is a skilled WG with a very smooth pull-up jump shot with deep range. Was on fire from distance last Wednesday night, pouring in 30 points (7 “threes”).
* Xavier Edmonds 6’8” 2023 Bishop Montgomery (Torrance CA)
Xavier Tillman-type PF is physical inside and on the glass and has nice face-up scoring ability.
* Will Smith 6’3” 2023 Bishop Montgomery (Torrance CA)
Excellent defender with rapidly improving scoring skills and his terrific GPA makes him an attractive Ivy and Patriot League target. Smith had 14 points (2 “threes”) on the league’s opening night.
* Maurice Wright 6’3” 2023 Santa Clarita Christian (Santa Clarita CA)
Wright is quick and athletic off the bounce as well as being a very pesky defender. Seems to get better every time I see him. Now is a good time to buy stock in this talented young combo-guard.
* Shamar Jones 6’5” 2025 Southern Cal Academy (Los Angeles CA)
One of the premier rising freshmen guards in nation. Jones has the full package and a work ethic to only get better. Shamar has top-notch scoring skills, excellent size for a lead guard and the physical tools to evolve into a lock-down defender.
* Juslin Bodo 6’10” 2023 Southern Cal Academy (Los Angeles CA)
Strong and physical Big competes with assertiveness on both ends and I liked the way he finished with authority at the cup.
* Tee Bartlett 6’10” 2025 Mater Dei (Santa Ana CA)
Massive young post with plenty of skill and potential. Older brother Derrick Newton played at Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood CA).
* Malachi Murrell 6’4” 2022 La Quinta (CA)
Murrell has been one of the surprises of the league’s August session so far. Strong and athletic wing with nice burst off the bounce and good perimeter scoring ability. SoCal sleeper worth monitoring his upcoming senior season.
* Timofey Rudovskiy 6’8” 2023 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth CA)
Russian import has nice length and a good-looking stroke. Intriguing long-term potential.
* Jermaine Rogers 6’3” 2022 Ayala (Chino Hills CA)
Assertive WG guard with confident scoring ability. Very good student too (3.8 GPA).
* Jaheim Nyam 6’3” 2022 West Nottingham (MD)
French native is a scoring threat in transition and a solid defender.
* Austin Persek 6’7” 2022 J Serra (San Juan Capistrano CA)
Rugged forward doesn’t mind banging bodies in the paint and has nice touch on his face-up jumper. Plays with twin brother Dane at JSerra.
* Christian Jones 6’3” 2023 Bishop Montgomery (Torrance CA)
Active guard plays with energy and can score points in a hurry.
* Jordan Williams 6’7” 2022 Chino Hills (CA)
Athletic PF plays extremely hard and is a big factor on the boards and on the defensive end.
* Will Brenner 6’8” 2023 Bishop Montgomery (Torrance CA)
Santa Monica (CA) transfer is a very improved PF that rebounds well, has nice passing ability and good scoring touch around the cup.
* EJ Vernon 6’3” 2025 Crossroads (Santa Monica CA)
One of the most promising young players here is Vernon. Talented WG with a smooth pull-up jump shot and nice overall feel for the game.
** first of a series of reports from the Pangos Best of SoCal League. We will be highlighting additional players in future reports
