The 2022 Pangos All-American Festival presented by Puma was held this past weekend at McBride High School in Long Beach, California and we made the journey across the desert from Las Vegas to watch some of the nation’s top prep prospects in the rising junior and senior classes go head-to-head in a regional team format put together by Pangos Camps Director Dinos Trigonis.
The format featured four ten-man teams from the East, South, Midwest, and West playing a set of semi-finals on Day One then depending on winners and losers, a third place and Championship game on Day Two. Here is our breakdown of those games followed by a look at the top talent on the All-Tournament team and some players that we felt were the next best “near misses” that deserved to be recognized. So, with that in mind let’s look at the weekend games and the top performers from the action at the 2022 Pangos All-American Festival:
The Semi-Finals:
Semi-Final No.1: South 133 – West 114
This one was close at the end of the first half as the South squad stormed back late to close to just one point behind at the half 49-48 behind two late three-point buckets by 6’6″ 2023 Michigan State commit Gehrig Normand. And that was an omen of what that second half was going to become! As the South used a smothering interior defense led by 6’9″ 2023 Robert Hastings (6 blocks), 6’9″ 2023 Zayden High, and 6’8″ 2023 Alabama commit Sam Walters to deny opportunities in the lane coupled with the sniper-like three-point shooting of Normand, 6’3″ 2023 Wesley Yates, and 6’3″ 2024 Mercy Miller to open up a huge lead and roll to a 133-114 victory over the West.
The South was led by Mercy Miller with 31 points (6-threes), Gehrig Normand 26 points (6-threes), and Wesley Yates 20 points (3-threes) while Zayden High chipped in with 16 points and Sam Walters added 14 points in the win. The West’s top gun was 6’3″ 2023 Tru Washington who had 26 points and a handful of assists. He had solid support from 6’7″ 2024 power-man Pharoah Compton with 22 points (10 dunks) and 6’6″ 2023 wing Mookie Cook (an Oregon commit) who added 20 points. Also, in double figures for the West included 6’8″ 2024 combo-forward Carter Bryant with 12 points, 7’0″ 2023 post Jazz Gardner with 11 points, and 6’2″ 2024 Styles Phipps who chipped in with 10 points in the loss.
Semi-Final No.2: Midwest 125 – East 102
The nightcap was close for the first eight minutes, but a 13-2 run in the next two minutes led by the inside play of 6’9″ bookend forwards Flory Bidunga and Drew Fielder coupled with the wing scoring of 6’4″ 2023 Providence commit Garwey Dual opened a double-digit lead that they held throughout the rest of the half over the East squad. In the second half, the Midwest behind 6’2″ 2023 Michigan State commit Jeremy Fears and 6’3″ 2023 Brooklyn Hicks upped the tempo to run away from the East for a 125-102 victory!
The Midwest was led by 6’9″ 2023 Drew Fielder with 26 points (5-threes) and 6’9″ 2024 Flory Bidunga who added 25 points (9 rebounds). They received solid support from the backcourt trio as Garwey Dual finished with 21 points, Brooklyn Hicks added 17 points, and Jeremy Fears finished with 16 points (7 assists). Also in double figures for the Midwest were 6’6″ 2023 Ohio State commit Devin Royal with 12 points and 6’6″ 2024 wing Anthony Gilkes who chipped in with 10 points. The East’s top gun was 6’3″ 2024 Jalil Bethea who had 29 points (all in the 2nd half), He received solid support from 6’9″ 2024 Quinfang Pang and 6’0″ 2023 Ty-Laur Johnson who added 15 points each, while 6’10″ 2023 Carey Booth (Penn State commit) and 6’5″ 2024 Dylan Harper added 13 points in the loss.
The Championship Games:
3rd Place Game: West 118 – East 102
This one was close early as the West pushed out to a seven point advantage behind 7’0″ 2023 Juslin Bodo’s play on the blocks midway through the the first half, but the East came back behind the scoring of Dylan Harper to cut it to a one point margin 50-49 at the half. But the West just had to much firepower in the 2nd half as Tru Washington led the scoring down the stretch along with support from Bodo, Carter Bryant, Mookie Cook and 6’5″ 2024 Seven Bahati to outgun the East down the stretch to win a 118-102 victory in the Pangos All-American Festival Third place game.
The West was led by Tru Washington with a 32-point (9 rebounds/4-threes) outburst. He got solid support with six other teammates in double figures headed by Juslin Bodo with 19 points (7 rebounds), Carter Bryant with 16 points and Seven Bahati with 14 points. The rest of the double-digit scorers included Mookie Cook 13 points (12 rebounds) and Pharoah Compton with 10 points. The East’s top gun was Dylan Harper with 26 points (7 rebounds/7 assists) with solid support from 6’10″ 2023 Carey Booth who added 22 points (6 rebounds) and Ty-Laur Johnson who finished with 18 points (7 assists). Rounding out the double-digit scoring for the East were Jalil Bethea with 16 points and Quinfang Pang who chipped in with 10 points in the loss.
Championship Game: Midwest 120 – South 99
The Championship game looked to be a barn-burner on paper, but the Midwest squad broke it open in the first ten minutes of the game building a quick double-digit lead, that expanded to 19 points, before a couple of late threes helped cut the lead to 57-43 at the half. The Midwest featured a tough on-ball defense and 50% shooting from three to build the lead behind Garwey Dual, 6’5″ 2024 Robert Hinton and Brooklyn Hicks. The second half started with the Midwest opening the lead out to 23 points 71-48, before Mercy Miller and Wesley Yates led a run for the South to cut the lead to nine with six minutes to play. The Midwest stiffened defensively at that point and regained control to win going away by twenty-one points 120-99 over the South.
The Midwest’s top gun was Garwey Dual who finished with a festival high 33 points (13-19 from field/3-6 on threes), he received solid support from 6’9″ 2023 Drew Fielder who totaled 24 points (10 rebounds / 3-4 on threes), 6’5″ 2024 Robert Hinton with 19 points (8-8 from the field/3-3 on threes). Flory Bidunga and Brooklyn Hicks both chipped in with 14 points, while Jeremy Fears added 8 points and had 9 assists in the win. The South was led by the Festival’s overall leading scorer Mercy Miller with 32 points (6 rebounds/4 assists) while Sam Walters added 18 points, Wesley Yates had 13 points and Gehrig Normand chipped in with 12 points in the loss.
2022 Pangos All-American Festival All-Tournament Team
Players Listed by Height
PLAYER HGT POS CLASS SCHOOL (CITY,STATE)
Flory Bidunga 6’9″ PF 2024 Kokomo (IN)
Tournament co-MVP burst onto the national radar this summer, but never burned brighter than he showed in Long Beach, averaging 20 points, 9 rebounds, 3.5 blocks. He still has ways to go on offense, but what he does, he does efficiently. He is willing and able to play anywhere you need him to on the defense end, off the switch on the perimeter or from help side around the lane. Future NBA Lottery Pick has interest from Indiana, Arizona State, Iowa, Auburn, Creighton, and Wake Forest so far, stay tuned!
Drew Fielder 6’9″ PF 2023 Southern Cal Academy (CA)
Multi-Skilled Face-up power forward can flat out knock it down from three or drive and finish with the flush or dunk oop off the roll. He averaged 25 points and 4 assists while knocking down 5 of 8 behind the 3 point arc. He has excellent ball skills and can play the three, four or five spots at the next level. He should be at the top of the priority list for high majors looking for a face up four or long, rangy combo forward.
Jayden Hastings 6’9″ C 2023 IMG Academy (Bradenton FL)
This Big-time shot blocker flat out attacked every shot in the paint rom baseline to free throw strip. He averaged 5.5 blocks and 7 points, but don’t let the stats fool you, he made players change their shot and look over their shoulder around the hoop and helped the South win on Day One and move to the Finals. So much so, he impressed scouts that he belonged on All-Tournament squad. He has impressed college coaches too and has Clemson, Florida, Georgia Tech, Miami-FL, and Boston College showing interest.
Sam Walters 6’8″ CF 2023 The Villages Village School (FL)
Alabama commit has excellent ball skills and a sweet left handed stroke that he hits with consistency when he gets his feet set! He showed that stroke while averaging 16 points and 5 boards for the weekend while knocking down 13-19 from the field including 6-10 from three. Once he adds upper body strength and ability to finish at the rim off the dribble look for him to star for the Crimson Tide.
Mookie Cook 6’6″ WF 2023 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler AZ)
Oregon commit was solid all weekend long. He averaged 15 points and 9 boards (12 boards in 3rd Place game) and has excellent skills to swing at the 2-3 spots at the next level! He has big hops and can explode to the rim off the dribble or pass. He is a good passer who sees court on break and will mix it up on the glass too.
Garwey Dual 6’4″ SG 2023 Southern Cal Academy (CA)
Providence commit has a never-ending motor and it was running on high all weekend as he put up major numbers averaging 27 points and 6 rebounds and flat out defending with wild abandoned. He picks pockets in transition and moves his feet with best in the half-court. He has continued to lift his game all summer and is developing a solid jumper to go with a solid handle and explosion to the hoop!
Mercy Miller 6’3″ CG 2024 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (CA)
This Houston commit lit it up all weekend from the three averaging 31.5 points and 4 assists while hitting ten threes. He has solid ball skills, can play either guard spot and has ability to knock down jumper off the move or finish drives with bounce or through contact. Has all the tools to be an impact talent when he arrives on the Cougars’ campus in the Fall of 2024. In the meantime he’s a junior on the fast rise in our rankings!
Tru Washington 6’4″ CG 2023 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler AZ)
This lefty floor leader has the tools to run the show or swing to the wing and drill jumpers with regularity. He really got it rolling in the second half of semis and ended the weekend averaging 29 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists an outing! He has a quick first step and deadly step back jumper to set up drive or shot plus he sees court in transition. He has LSU, Arizona State, Mississippi State, New Mexico, and Grand Canyon, but list could grow substantially.
Jeremy Fears 6’2” PG 2023 Joliet West (Joliet IL)
Tournament Co-MVP and Michigan State commit was the catalyst for the Midwest squad as they won the Festival crown. He averaged 12 points and handed out 7 assists per game while being a terror on the defensive end for opponents’ lead guards. Make no mistake, he has all the tools to be a major piece as that coach on the court that has been the difference in the Spartans making deep runs in NCAA’s in the past, now the future.
Ty-Laur Johnson 6’0″ PG 2023 St. Benedict’s (Newark NJ)
This crafty floor general has good quicks and can score from the three when needed but is at his best on penetration hitting the open man on the move. He averaged 16.5 points, 8 assists and 3.5 rebounds over the weekend and showed why Creighton, DePaul, Memphis, Mississippi, St. John’s and VCU are already interested in this quick rising senior point.
NEAR MISSES: (TOP PERFORMERS & SURPRISES)
PLAYER HGT POS CLASS SCHOOL (CITY,STATE)
Juslin Bodo 7’0″ C 2023 Southern Cal Academy (CA)
He really impressed in 3rd Place game going for 19 points on 9-12 shooting while grabbing 7 boards. He is long and explosive off the ground on glass or finish. Raw, but on the rise prep school big!
Carey Booth 6’10″ PF 2023 Wolfeboro Brewster Academy (NH)
Penn State commit was solid all weekend capped by a 22 point and 6 board outing in the third-place game. He has good face up skills can roll off pick and dunk or kiss glass and has solid feet on both ends on the blocks.
Carter Bryant 6’8″ CF 2024 Sage Hill (Newport Beach CA)
Smooth shooting combo forward put his name among the list of elite rising juniors to watch with his sweet shooting stroke and ability to finish off the dribble. He averaged 14 points for the weekend and definitely stepped up performance here!
Pharoah Compton 6’7″ PF 2024 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler AZ)
Big-time rebounder and finisher who has great hands and catches everything thrown his way around the hoop and explodes and finishes with power! He really had it on display in semis scoring 22 points including 10 nasty dunks.
Gehrig Normand 6’6″ SG 2023 Birdville (North Richland Hills TX)
Michigan State recruit was on fire in the semis knocking down shots from inside and outside the 3 point arc in route to 26 points. He backed it up with 16 points in 3rd Place Game and will help open the court for Bigs at Michigan State in the future.
Robert Hinton 6’5″ SG 2024 Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood CA)
This solid shooting wing was on fire in the championship game going 8-8 from the field including 3 threes to total 19 points for his Midwest squad. He has good length and size to play wing at the next level.
Dylan Harper 6’5″ SG 2024 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey NJ)
Son of former NBA guard Ron Harper probably should have been on All Tourney squad after scoring 26 points, grabbing 7 boards and handing out 7 assists for his East squad in 3rd Place Game. He has good range from three and can finish through contact on the drive. Definitely among best wings in junior class. He has interest from Duke, Auburn, Georgetown, Indiana and Michigan at this point.
Wesley Yates 6’4″ SG 2023 Beaumont United (Beaumont TX)
This smooth wing guard averaged 16.5 points for the weekend. He has range to NBA 3-point arc, can attack and finish in traffic or rise and score over Bigs in lane. He has interest from Ohio State, Baylor, Auburn, Washington, Texas, LSU, Gonzaga, Stanford and Houston.
Jalil Bethea 6’3″ CG 2024 Archbishop Wood (Philadelphia PA)
Another East squad member who had some historic numbers, especially the second half in the semis where he scored all 29 of his points in the game including 5 threes. He followed it up with 16 points in Sunday’s 3rd place game. He has a solid handle and perimeter stroke that will bring serious high major interest. Watch out as he adds strength.
Brooklyn Hicks 6’3″ CG 2023 Timberline (Lacy WA)
Definitely one of the big surprises for me at the Festival as he flat out plays with a never-ending motor! He averaged 15.5 points for the Midwest, making a big difference with his effort on both ends, especially on defense. Look for lots of interest outside Northwest if he doesn’t sign early!
A note about Van Coleman: https://nbnmagazine.com/van-coleman/
