The Pangos Best of Utah League (100 players strong) started last Monday night June 15th at the Karl Malone Training Center (Lehi UT) and provided us with a good initial look at several of the state’s top players. Besides myself, other scouts in the building included Tyler Glazier (Pro Insight) and BallerTV was live-streaming all games played.
Full length video re-plays of all 5 Pangos Best of Utah League games on opening night are now available on replay from Baller TV: https://www.ballertv.com/events/pangos-best-of-utah-league
Team rosters and league schedule can be accessed online at: https://www.fullctpress.net/20-best-of-utah-league.html
Here is a look at several of the top prospects that performed well:
* Jaxon Kohler 6’7” 2022 Coronado (Henderson NV)
Extremely skilled and hardworking PF has the footwork, scoring ability and intense competitiveness colleges love. All of those tangible and intangible elements were clearly on display on the league’s opening night and was arguably the shiniest star in attendance. Kohler scored an opening night-high 27 points (to go with 9 boards). Utah native spent last season playing alongside elite 2021 guard Jaden Hardy for Jeff Kaufman’s Coronado Cougars. Top 30 Game selection at last Fall’s Pangos All-West Frosh/Soph Camp is currently ranked #41 by ESPN.com, #60 by 247Sports.com and #69 by Van Coleman/Nothing But Net Magazine in 2022. Kohler has early offers from Utah, BYU, Texas Tech, Grand Canyon and UC-Santa Barbara.
* Jordan Ross 6’0” 2023 Pleasant Grove (UT)
Love the HM playmaking feel Ross, a very young PG with all the skills and hoop IQ to lead a winning team at the next level. Jordan has a crisp lefty 3-point stroke to go with laser passing ability that allows him to carve up opposing defenses despite his baby face and not yet fully developed physique. Ross had 14 points but it was his decision-making, court presence and his uncanny ability to create for himself and teammates (had several assists) that quickly caught my attention. Has made excellent progress since I last saw him at this past September’s Pangos All-West Frosh/Soph Camp in California (made Top 30 Game there). Early offers include Washington State and Cal Poly.
* Carter Welling 6’9” 2021 Corner Canyon (Draper UT)
I was very impressed with the confident 3-point stroke of the sharp-shooting Welling. Carter runs the floor well and is active on glass too. Good-looking stretch “4” scored 12 points in the game he played and has attracted offers from the likes of UC-Irvine, Cal Poly and Utah Valley.
* Bradley Thornton 6’7” 2021 West (Salt Lake City UT)
After missing this past season with an ACL injury, Bradley looks to be a Mountain West area sleeper in the making worth taking a long D1 look at. Thornton has a Mark Madsen-type physicality and body-type, excellent ability to finish in traffic and surprising range on his jump shot. Terrific student (3.9 GPA) had a monster 26 point outburst on opening night.
* Jaden Brownell 6’8” 2021 Alta (Sandy UT)
Agile face-up forward with nice touch on perimeter shot had a very solid effort on opening night, scoring 18 points (including three “3s”). Brownell can also be explosive in the post: https://twitter.com/SaltLakeRebels/status/1273070100514402305 Pacific, Cal Poly, Idaho State, Utah Valley and UT-Rio Grande Valley are among those programs showing interest.
* Preston Squire 6’11” 2021 Layton (UT)
1st player that caught my eye on the league’s opening night was Squire. Long center moves well and showed that he can push it in transition off the defensive rebound (had 6 boards) and finish at the cup. Very good student (3.5 GPA too).
* Micah Madry 6’5” 2023 Juan Diego Catholic (Draper UT)
Young Utah star on the rise is an athletic lefty SG that displayed a solid jump shot, nifty Euro-step to hoop and ability to make a post-entry pass as well.
* Brennan Rigsby Jr. 6’2” 2021 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant UT)
Don’t sleep on this ultra-bouncy Colorado native guard or you could be a prime poster-child on a future highlight video. Had the most impressive bang-out on a defender on opening night to go along with 17 points (2 threes).
* Darius Henderson 6’4” 2022 Hunter (West Valley City UT)
Really like the potential of Henderson, an athletic WG that gets after it on defense and can score in a variety of ways. Darius connected for 10 points and showed ability to slash to the cup as well as dial from mid-range.
* Duncan Reid 6’4” 2020 Skyridge (Lehi UT)
High-level scoring wing has an offer from Southern Utah.
* Russell Gibson 6’1” 2024 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant UT)
Combo-guard is quick off the bounce and can score at the cup as well as beyond the 3-point arc (had 24 points).
* Cameron Brimhall 6’8” 2021 Lone Peak (Highland UT)
Excellent student (3.7 GPA) is active in the paint and can finish on the block.
* Cole Jessee 6’4” 2021 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant UT)
Wing with accurate touch beyond the 3-point arc had 19 points (three 3s).
* Garrett Windsor 6’4” 2021 Wasatch HS (Heber City UT)
3-point threat had 19 points (5 threes).
* Calvin Gustafson 6’7” 2021 Mountain View (Orem UT)
Physical PF can score (had 13 points) and was active on the glass all game long (grabbed 9 boards).
* Isaac Vaha 6’7” 2021 Pleasant Grove (UT)
Energetic forward produced a “double-double” on opening night (10 points/10 rebs). Pac-12 caliber football TE prospect too.
* Jackson Holcombe 6’6” 2021 Timpanogos (Orem UT)
Active forward was a regular visitor on the glass (had 10 rebounds).
* Harper Madsen 6’1” 2023 Olympus (Holladay UT)
Savvy lead guard showed range on his perimeter shot (2 “threes”) and ended with 14 points.
* Chase Dellos 6’7” 2021 Skyline (Salt Lake City UT)
Hybrid-forward has a nice opening-night effort (15 pts/5 rebs).
* Mitch Lind 6’0” 2022 Park City (UT)
Sharpshooting lead guard with a smooth perimeter stroke (16 points/2 threes).
* David Calvert 6’4” 2023 Fremont (Ogden UT)
Young wing with solid size has scoring punch (10 points).
* Nathan Sorensen 6’0” 2022 Copper Hills (West Jordan UT)
Combo-guard with nice 3-point shooting range had 11 point including three “3s”.
* Kolton Smith 6’3” 2022 Olympus (Holladay UT)
Strong rising junior SG with potent jump shot. Had 11 points (three “3s”).
* Aisake Toiaivao 6’0” 2021 Orem (UT)
Assertive point guard had 10 points and also did a nice job setting the table for teammates and playing good defense.
* Henry Irhig 6’5” 2022 Davis (Kaysville UT)
Big wing rebounds well (8 boards).
* Lucas McKane 6’3” 2022 Olympus (Holladay UT)
Like the scoring touch of McKane who had 10 points (including two “3s”).
* Jeff Lundberg 6’0” 2022 Alta (Sandy UT)
Lundberg is a hard-working combo-guard with quick release on his jump shot.
* Yorgio Golesis 5’10” 2023 Skyline (Salt Lake City UT)
Aggressive point guard wasn’t shy about attacking on the offensive end. Scored 11 points.
* Luke Moir 6’5” 2022 Copper Hills (West Jordan UT)
Wing can slash to score (had 11 points).
* Preston Condie 6’5” 2021 Carbon (Price UT)
Son of former Wasatch Academy coach Curtis Condie has a nice all-around game.
* Diego Mulford 5’8” 2023 Cyprus (Magna UT)
Small but tough point guard showed ability to dial from deep, connecting for 3 “threes” en route for 13 points.
* Jaxson Workman 5’10” 2023 Murray (UT)
Young point guard can deliver the rock with precision (had 4 assists).
** first of a series of reports from the Pangos Best of Utah League. We will be highlighting additional players in future reports
