The 2020 Fullcourt Press Spring League tipped-off this past Saturday-Sunday (February 22-23) at McBride High School (Long Beach CA). The league’s opening weekend featured several impressive performances, appearances from McDonald’s All-American Game voter Frank Burlison (BurlisonOnBasketball.com), regional scout Devin Ugland (HoopsByUgland.com) and Alex Carmon from Beach City Hoops was in the house shooting video highlights.
All games were live-streamed by BallerTV.com and can be viewed via these links:
Saturday February 22nd: https://www.ballertv.com/events/fullcourt-press-spring-league-1?channel=webbanner&channel_source=events/fullcourt-press-spring-league-1
Sunday February 23rd: https://www.ballertv.com/events/fullcourt-press-spring-league-2?channel=webbanner&channel_source=events/fullcourt-press-spring-league-2
While we are still waiting for several of the league’s expected players that have just finished or are still finishing their HS playoffs to join the league, listed below are several standouts from the league’s opening weekend. Others will be featured in the next reports.
Jazz Gardner 6’10” 2023 Los Altos (Hacienda Heights CA)
Very promising young forward with excellent length and plenty of skill to go along with it averaged 20.8 ppg this past weekend (tied for #2 scorer in the league so far with Jorge Ochoa). Gardner is clearly the prospect with the most long-term upside at the league, possessing impressive scoring touch around the cup, terrific passing skills for a big man and sufficient range from beyond the 3-point arc. Currently nationally ranked as Nothing But Net Magazine’s #40 freshman prospect.
Ben Shtolzberg 6’3” 2022 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks CA)
Very confident scoring guard and underrated athlete has a mamba-type scoring mentality. Love his toughness and high academics (terrific student) too. Ben was on-fire all-weekend long here, being tops in scoring per game (31.0) as well as best scoring game (42 points including 8 threes).
Jorge Ochoa 6’7” 2022 La Mirada (La Mirada CA)
Ochoa is one of the most skilled, scoring soph forwards in the West with ability to finish at the rim, with his back to the basket, from mid-range or beyond the 3-point line. Jorge’s 20.8 weekend scoring average was good enough to be tied with Jazz Gardner for #2 spot in the league so far. Underrated athlete is presently nationally ranked as Nothing But Net Magazine’s #92 sophomore prospect.
Tajavis Miller 6’3” 2022 Servite (Anaheim CA)
One of the West’s top all-around soph lead guards is strong, active and armed with an accurate 3-point stroke. Very good rebounder and defender recently unofficially visited the University of San Diego.
Brendan Terry 6’5” 2021 Crossroads (Santa Monica CA)
Emerging sleeper out West is a strong and athletic WF with improved perimeter scoring touch. Displayed his scoring prowess last weekend – averaging 18.0 ppg (#6 in league). Yale, Princeton, Pepperdine, Cal State Northridge and Southern Utah are among the current schools showing interest.
Jalen Pitre 6’7” 2021 Gahr (Cerritos CA)
Blossoming junior lefty forward with versatile offensive skills and ample athleticism is a West Coast sleeper to track this spring and summer.
Elijah Evans 6’4” 2021 Dominguez (Compton CA)
Strong wing can score in a variety of ways. Capped off a stellar Sunday with a 31 point explosion. UC-Santa Barbara and Cal State Fullerton are among the schools noticing this SoCal sleeper.
Brandon Perez 6’2” 2022 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks CA)
Tough, confident, hardnosed guard with excellent 3-point range. Very good student was the #8 leading scorer through the league’s first weekend (17.6 ppg).
Everett May 6’5” 2021 Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos CA)
Everett is quickly gaining acclaim as one the region’s best shooters. May had one of Saturday’s best scoring efforts with 23 points.
Joaquín (JQ) Strong 6’7” 2022 St. Bernard (Playa del Rey CA)
Skilled young forward can score both on the block and by facing up. Son of former Xavier & NBA forward Derek Strong averaged 17.0 ppg this past weekend including a game-high 25 point performance.
Kevin Bradley 5’11” 2021 Crenshaw (Los Angeles CA)
Speedy and ferocious PG with terrific court vision and passing ability. Very nice scoring skills too. Son of former Crenshaw star Kevin Bradley Sr. (who played at Utah) had a personal weekend best scoring effort of 29 points.
Jermaine Rogers II 6’2” 2022 Ayala (Chino Hills CA)
Strong guard is quick in transition and can finish at the rim. Jermaine averaged 14.8 ppg last weekend including a break-out 29 point outburst on Saturday.
Xavier Edmunds 6’7” 2023 Bishop Montgomery (Torrance CA)
Love the ruggedness and energy of this productive young PF. Edmunds rebounds well outside of his area and is an active rim-protector. Next great Bishop Montgomery player for coach Doug Mitchell.
Ashton Hardaway 6’6” 2023 Bishop Montgomery (Torrance CA)
Ashton is only scratching the surface of his high potential. Still growing into his body, Ashton already has the basketball IQ, work ethic & character to be a future HM recruit. Strong frame allows him to score through contact and has a nice touch on jump shot. Ashton (a good student) averaged 17.7 ppg this past weekend at the league.
Gabriel Cummings 6’2” 2022 Poly (Long Beach CA)
Lefty sharpshooter has deep 3-point range and scored at a high clip last weekend (tied for #4 leading scorer at the league – 20.0 ppg)
Luke Jacobson 6’5” 2022 Glendora (CA)
Big lefty wing with nice shooting touch and excellent grades (3.6 GPA). SoCal soph sleeper has same last name & attends same HS as Casey Jacobson (Stanford/NBA) did but is not related.
Darrell Morris 5’8” 2024 Palmdale CA
Young point guard with impressive scoring skills and hoop instincts was really putting up big numbers versus high school level competition here – averaging 20.0 ppg (tied for #4 leading scorer at the league) including a 29 point outburst. Fantastic court vision and passer too.
Ashlan Morris 6’0” 2022 Clovis (Fresno CA)
Crafty point guard has a smooth perimeter stroke. Excellent student too (3.7 GPA).
Nathan Clark 6’2” 2021 Pacifica Christian (Santa Monica CA)
Off-guard with nice 3-point range competes hard on every play.
Other Top 12 scorers per game from the league’s opening weekend:
6-1 2022 Marques Calcote (Morningside/Inglewood CA) 17.0
5-10 2021 Cameron Walker (Turlock/CA) 15.5
5-10 2022 Jontue Cooper (Mayfair/Lakewood CA) 15.0
* First of three periodic reports about the 2020 Fullcourt Press Spring League.
