The 2020 Pangos Rocky Mountain Summit tipped off Friday night August 28th at the Nets on Fire in St. George UT (2 hours North of Las Vegas NV and featured 70 travel teams from throughout the West as well as a squad from Illinois – playing “shootout” or match-up games in 17u, 16u and 15u levels.
BallerTV.com is live-streaming all the games for this event. Friday’s games are also archived and currently still available online and Saturday and Sunday’s contests will also be live-streamed: https://www.ballertv.com/events/pangos-rocky-mountain-summit
One of the top stories on Friday night was upstart Southern California program SoCal Buzz (directed by Burrell Lee) upsetting heralded 2023 guard Mike Williams (San Ysidro/CA) and Border Boyz (CA). Plenty of D1 talent is present here in St. George and I will have lots to write about after the event is over but here’s a look at 25 players that caught my eye on the 1st night. Follow-up recaps to this event will also highlight several additional D-1 prospects.
Paolo Banchero 6’10” 2021 O’Dea (Seattle WA)
Duke-bound PF hadn’t played an organized game since March but it didn’t take long for the rust to wear off last night in Seattle Rotary’s win over Prodigy Elite/CA. Strong and skilled around the rim, Paolo can also handle the rock in the open floor and space the floor with his fine perimeter shooting. Currently ranked #3 in national 2021 class by Van Coleman/Nothing But Net Magazine.
Nolan Hickman 6’2” 2021 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant UT)
Crafty and quick floor general can slice and dice defenses with his ability to evade defenders off the bounce and his fine shooting touch. Top 50 national 2022 prospect just announced his commitment to Kentucky, picking the Wildcats over Arizona, Kansas and Oklahoma (among others).
Mikey Williams 6’3” 2023 San Ysidro (CA)
Border Boyz might have been upset last night by Socal Buzz but Williams was serving up his usual electrifying highlights (scored 24 points). National social media sensation is one of America’s most exciting players regardless of class.
Lamaj Lewis 6’5” 2021 St. John Bosco (Bellflower CA)
Loyola Marymount commit with impressive WG size and overall skill package was one of the main catalysts for SoCal Buzz’s upset win over Border Boyz/CA on Friday night.
Jaxon Kohler 6’7” 2022 American Fork (UT)
One of the premier low-post producers in the West, Kohler got off to a good start here in St. George, displaying excellent post-work and a feathery shooting touch.
Rickie Isaacs 6’2” 2022 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant UT)
Making his 2020 grassroots last night was this play-maker supreme. Savvy PG with surgical shooting touch helped spark Belmont Shore to a big win over Salt Lake Metro last night. Arizona, Kansas, Arizona State, Gonzaga, Marquette, Texas Tech, LSU, TCU, Oklahoma, Cal and Florida State among thie programs in the mix.
Joseph Hunter 6’5” 2022 San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno CA)
Top 50 prospect continues to get better and keeps rising as a HM priority recruit. Hunter pushes rock swiftly in transition and uses his nice length well to finish at cup. Arizona, USC, Colorado, Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Washington State and Tennessee among the many HMs involved at the moment.
Jahmai Mashack 6’4” 2021 Etiwanda (CA)
Terrific defender has very improved perimeter scoring skills. Excellent student and Top 75 national prospect has offers from the likes of Arizona, Louisville, Tennessee and Texas.
Joshua Jefferson 6’8” 2022 Liberty (Henderson NV)
I love the strength, activity and skill level of Jefferson. Physical rebounder with excellent perimeter stroke is an outstanding student (3.8 GPA).
Jaylen Thompson 6’6” 2022 Southern California Academy (Los Angeles CA)
Athletic WF with USC offer has real HM potential. Bay Area native and Top 100 rising junior is transferring to new prep program Southern California Academy for his junior season.
Bradley Ezewiro 6’9” 2021 IMG (Bradenton FL)
Carson CA native and recent Oak Hill/VA grad is a big and bouncy lefty PF that attacks the basket with ferocity. Underrated 3-point shooter had a game-high 21 points in Belmont Shore’s victory over Salt Lake Metro Black. LSU signee is headed to IMG for a post-grad year of seasoning.
Koren Johnson 6’1” 2022 Garfield (Seattle WA)
Athletic lead guard was impressive in Seattle Rotary Black 16’s win over Salt Lake Rebels 16. Top 100 national rising junior and tough floor leader has HM offers from Arizona & Washington.
Jordan Ross 6’1” 2023 Pleasant Grove (UT)
Young point guard with excellent feel for the game has nice ability to beat you with the pass or shot. Rising number of Pac-12 programs, including in-state Utah, are taking notice.
Damarcies Moore 6’5” 2021 CICS Longwood (Chicago IL)
Good looking wing with good perimeter stroke played great in Team M.O.R.E win over tough Supreme Court/CA squad. Looks like a possible Windy City sleeper.
Tajavis Miller 6’3” 2022 Servite (Anaheim CA)
Muscular guard with very nice shooting stroke and tough defensive prowess has 16 points (two “3s”) as Belmont Shore ran past a scrappy Salt Lake Metro squad. Washington State, Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount and San Diego has offered Miller so far.
Wayne McKinney 6’0” 2021 Coronado (San Diego CA)
University of San Diego-bound scoring combo-guard has deep and confident 3-point stroke.
Jaden Brownell 6’8” 2021 Alta (Sandy UT)
Skilled forward is agile in transition and has nice spot-up shooting ability.
Brennan Rigsby 6’2” 2021 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant UT)
Very athletic guard with ability to connect from deep is a Rocky Mountain sleeper.
Darrien Williams 6’6” 2022 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas NV)
Sacramento CA-area native swing-man is a excellent 2-way player. Just transferred to Gorman for junior season.
Preston Squire 6’11” 2021 Layton (UT)
Long center has ability to stretch defenses with his accurate 3-point shooting.
Tyler Linhardt 6’7” 2022 King’s (Seattle WA)
Hard-working PF with a versatile skill set had 19 points for Seattle Rotary 16 on Friday night. Tyler has offers from Washington and Boise State.
Tyler Mrus 6’7” 2022 Seattle Prep (Seattle WA)
Sharp-shooting forward with nice mobility has an offer so far from Cal Poly. By the looks of things, it won’t be his last. Mrus had 19 points (2 “threes”) in Seattle Rotary 16 Black’s win over Salt Lake Rebels 16.
Quin Patterson 6’7” 2022 Mount Si (Snoqualmie WA)
Terrific student (3.99 GPA) has deep perimeter range on shot.
Daniel Rouzan 6’7” 2021 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas NV)
Strong PF can finish above and around the rim.
Bennett O’Connor 6’0” 2022 Mount Si (Snoqualmie WA)
Heady floor-leader knows how to run a team and has excellent jump shot as well. Very good student too (3.7 GPA)
Dedan Thomas Jr. 6’0” 2024 Liberty (Henderson NV)
Young point guard with high basketball IQ has the requisite skills to make plays on both ends. Thomas has early offers from UNLV (father Dedan Sr. played for Runnin’ Rebels) and LSU.
