While most of West Coast’s top seniors (2020 class) are off the board, there are still some quality prospects available, especially for the lower NCAA DI level as well as for the NCAA DII, DIII, NAIA and JC ranks. The COVID-19 pandemic has further complicated matters, making late signing opportunities for unsigned high school and JC players few and far between.
The recent Fullcourt Press Diamond in Rough Senior Showcase on Sunday May 31st at Dream City Christian School (Glendale AZ) gave 50+ unsigned seniors and JC players from Arizona, California and Nevada a chance to show their skills in front of several NCAA D2, D3, NAIA and JC coaches in attendance as well as many more watching the games on the Ballertv.com live-stream. Besides myself, other scouts in the building included Chad Groth (Area Codes Basketball), Anthony Ray and George Courtney (Arizona Preps) and Bruce Williams (Prep Hoops) as well as the Arizona Republic’s prep writer Richard Obert.
All appropriate safety precautions were be taken to ensure the safety and health of all players, coaches, referees, scorekeepers and spectators involved including the mandatory wearing of masks and gloves when necessary, taking the temperature of and screening all those entering the playing facility, sanitizing the playing court area (balls, courts, benches, etc.) and seating areas before and after every game as well as other measures as needed to ensure the safety of all involved.
Full length video re-plays of all 5 Fullcourt Press Diamond in Rough Showcase games are now available from Baller TV: https://www.ballertv.com/events/fullcourt-press-diamond-in-rough-senior-showcase-31-05-2020
Listed below are the top prospects participating in the event.
Top 15 FCP Diamond in Rough Showcase HS Senior Prospects
* Tyrelle Hunt 6’5” Coronado (Hunderson NV)
One of the West Coast’s top unsigned seniors still available is an old school crafty scorer with underrated passing and ballhandling skills. Hunt has a very nice scoring touch that extends to the 3-point line, can get into and score effectively from mid-range and has the strength to finish at the cup. Affectionally nicknamed “Fat Daddy,” Tyrelle is NCAA qualified (3.0 GPA/ACT 25) and had previous offers from the likes of Southern Utah and Howard.
* Ty Hightower 6’3” La Joya (Avondale AZ)
I really liked what I saw out of this Southwest sleeper. Very athletic WG oozing with great long-term potential.
* Thomas Mullings 6’5” Greenway (Phoenix AZ)
One of the surprises of the event, Thomas is a very bouncy forward that can finish at the rim with power as well as protect the rim with authority. Late-bloomer is just scratching the surface of his potential.
* Martel Williams 6’3” Silverado (Las Vegas NV)
Strong and physical wing that can finish in traffic despite contact and is an excellent defender. Put up big scoring numbers during his HS career in Sin City.
* Kai Johnson 6’4” Oxnard (CA)
Athletic wing with nice physique and excellent long-term upside.
* Trevon Martin 6’5” Silverado (Las Vegas NV)
Slashing scoring wing with very underrated passing ability.
* Matthew Brookins 6’6” Westminster (CA)
Burly and productive PF that gets things done in the paint. Rugged rebounder had a 28 point game here. Older brother 6-11 Miles Brookins plays at Cal State Northridge after spending 1st part of his D1 career at LaSalle.
* Miles Sulka 6’3” Mountain Pointe (Phoenix AZ)
Sharpshooting wing was connecting well from 3-point range here.
* Stacy Johnson 6’1” Oxnard (CA)
Quick and crafty combo-guard as well as pesky defender was pivotal player in Oxnard (CA) stellar 2019-20 season.
* Deven Dahlke 6’2” St. Mary’s (Phoenix AZ)
Tough wing guard with a good shooter touch, especially from mid-range.
* Alexander Spaight 6’2” Canyon Springs (Las Vegas NV)
Savvy WG with an accurate 3-point stroke also has the ability to create his own shot.
* Drew Yezbak 6’0” Crean Lutheran (Irvine CA)
Tough point guard with confident perimeter stroke. Connected for 28 points in one game here.
* Michael Birket 6’5” Crean Lutheran (Irvine CA)
Assertive scorer was cooking here. Had 18 points and 20 points in his 2 games here.
* Ray Whitt 6’4” El Camino Real (Woodland Hills CA)
Rangy wing guard is an effective slashing scorer.
* Isaac Monroe 6’0” Peoria (AZ)
Crafty lead guard with deep range on his 3-point stroke.
* Nahson Harper 6’3” La Joya (Avondale AZ)
Slicing scorer also finishes well in transition
Other FCP Diamond in Rough Unsigned Seniors (2020) Worth Noting (by alphabetical order): 6-5 Manny Sedoh (Sunny Hills/Fullerton CA), 5-11 Kahan Shoulders (San Tan Charter/Gilbert AZ), 6-2 Ramiah Shoulders (San Tan Charter/Gilbert AZ), 6-1 Riles Neff (St. Bonaventure/Ventura CA), Kamari Webb (Tolleson Union/Tolleson AZ), Jacob Orrill (Vasquez/Acton CA), 5-11 Damien Martinez (California/Whittier CA) and Jon Michael Escobedo (Tolleson Union/Tolleson AZ).
Top 10 FCP Diamond in Rough Showcase JC Prospects
* Mark Boland 6’5” So. East Los Angeles JC (CA)
I was really impressed with the toughness, leadership and shooting touch of Boland here. Birmingham/Van Nuys CA product shot 40% from the 3-point arc this past season for a loaded and deep ELAC squad and is a full qualifier that is still available with 2 years of D1 eligibility. Potential to be a nice “3 & D” player for right D1 school.
* Mohammad Jafari 6’4” So. New Mexico JC (NM)
Lefty WG with a very smooth 3-point stroke. Full qualifier with 2 D1 years of eligibility left. Jafari shot the ball with impressive range here (23 points/6 threes).
* Jalen Williams 6’5” Fr. Scottsdale CC (AZ)
Quick slashing scorer is active on both ends. Shadow Mountain/Phoenix AZ product looks to be one of top JC freshman out West in 20-21.
* Makael Rainbow 6’2” So. South Mountain CC (Phoenix AZ)
Naturally instinctive scorer produced 38 points in a variety of ways in 2 games here, Leading scorer (15.1 ppg) for South Mountain CC this past season.
* Rajhan Billingsley 6’5” So. Mesa College (AZ)
Strong combo-forward is active on the glass.
* Lonnie Langston 5’11” So. Tohono O’odham CC (AZ)
Assertive lead guard is strong off the bounce, crafty finisher at the rim and pushes tempo in transition.
* Josh Harrison 6’1” So. Cerritos College (CA)
Crafty and assertive combo-guard has 2 years of D1 eligibility.
* Mycole Rodriguez 6’3” So. Central Arizona College (AZ)
Wing scorer had a nice 19 point outing here.
* Fred Toins 6’0” So. Tohono O’odham College (AZ)
Point guard is a nice passer and handles defensive pressure well.
* Kofi Aboage 6’3” Fr. Hawaii Pacific (redshirt transfer)
Physical wing is a nice slashing scorer. Played HS ball at Fairmont Prep (Anaheim CA) before redshirting this past year at Hawaii Pacific.
Other FCP Diamond in Rough Unsigned JC Players Worth Noting (by alphabetical order):
6-3 So. Elloheim Clark (Phoenix College/AZ), 6-1 So. Tyler Curvey (Scottsdale CC/AZ), 5-11 Fr. Alireza Shafiel (NM Military Institute/NM), 5-11 So. Devin Sheehy-Guiseppi (Mesa JC/AZ)
