The 2022 Pangos Best of SoCal League tipped-off earlier this month (March 4th at McBride HS/Long Beach CA) and ran through March 14th – giving us a good view of several top HS prospects from Southern California. Full length video re-plays of all past Pangos Best of SoCal League games are now available on replay from Baller TV: https://www.ballertv.com/events/pangos-best-of-socal-league-2022
League team rosters can be accessed online at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jgyvBF1tqYsYaGMgrZwWItf-TlCNkDfAKtOf0u3YQB4/edit
Here a few video-highlights of the league shot by Beach City Hoops: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca1OTQDrrXo/
Below I highlight players from the league’s all-star game as well as a few more that stood out.
Pierre Geneste 6’11” 2023 Heritage Christian (Northridge CA)
Long and active big man finishes well and with authority around rim and is rapidly developing into a premier rim-protector and rebounder. Left his mark in the league’s all-star game – tying Arik Mawien as the game’s high scorer (21 points). Haitian import is a MM+ prospect with potential to be higher.
Seven Bahati 6’5” 2024 Donda Academy (CA)
Bahati is poised for a break-out Spring after playing limited minutes on a loaded Donda Academy/CA squad this past season. Pogo-stick WG with nice rotation on jump shot is the kind of “3 & D” player coveted by HMs. Bahati has the length to be a disruptive defender and nice passing skills that make him a well-rounded player. I believe that Seven has Top 50-75 national potential. Early offers include UC-Santa Barbara and Loyola Marymount but I expect that list to grow exponentially over the next 2 years.
Arik Mawien 6’4” 2023 Capo Valley Christian (CA)
Arik is a quick and slashing WG with nice touch on his perimeter jump shot. Pepperdine commit runs well in transition and can finish with accuracy at the cup. Impressive in the league all-star game – scoring 21 points (3 “threes”).
Elijah Price 6’8” 2022 St. Anthony (Long Beach CA)
Price is clearly one of Cali’s top unsigned seniors. Long, athletic and oozing with long-term potential, Elijah has versatile scoring skills and a growing list of offers that include Pacific and Cal Poly. Plans to play during the April live periods with Carson Lightning (coached by his dad) at the Pangos Spring Sweet 16 in Las Vegas NV (April 8-10) and Pangos Spring Live in Long Beach CA (April 22-24).
Sean Oliver 6’6” 2023 Wilson (Long Beach CA)
One of SoCal’s top 2023 sleepers to keep an eye on is Oliver. Strong and athletic WF with versatile scoring skills and a Jimmy Butler-type physique was impressive during the entire league and was well-deserving to be selected to the league all-star game (scored 10 points).
Cyprian Hyde 6’10” 2023 Vista (CA)
Hyde is a skilled, agile, bouncy and productive post that always comes to play. Cyprian’s league scoring high game was 27 points (5 “threes”). Stretch post is emerging as a valuable WCC, Big West & Big Sky target this spring/summer.
Zyier Beverly 6’8” 2023 Washington (Los Angeles CA)
Quick and very bouncy forward with improved offensive skills is shaping up to to be one of California’s top junior sleepers this spring. Beverly had a league-high 23 points and his fine play earned him a spot in the league’s all-star game. League video highlights: https://twitter.com/TheyCanHoop/status/1504583913288527879
Juslin Leon Bobo 6’10” 2023 SoCal Academy (CA)
I really like the development of Bobo over the past 9 months. Strong and physical Big Man is finishing his touches around the rim with authority and is a major factor on the glass.
Solomon Bailey 6’1” 2025 Crossroads (Santa Monica CA)
Bailey is a fearless, swiss-army knife wing that loves to attack the cup at every opportunity and has a motor 2nd to none. Gives me flashbacks of the uber-athletic but undersized WG Montel Hatcher (Santa Monica HS/UCLA) who was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in the 1987 NBA Draft.
Shamar Jones 6’5” 2025 Southern Cal Academy (Los Angeles CA)
Jones had to wait his turn this past season on a loaded SoCal Academy squad but let’s be clear, he is one of the most talented freshmen on the West Coast with HM potential. Athletic young WG with high-octane scoring skills and excellent physique. League video highlights: https://twitter.com/TheyCanHoop/status/1504582351925309454
Timofey Rudovskiy 6’8” 2023 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth CA)
Rudovskiy is one of the most underrated junior players in SoCal. Big wing sharpshooter with range on his jump shot and ability to flush it on defenders at the rim, TR is a potent offensive weapon. Timofey has nice potential to be used as either a big WF or a stretch forward. League video highlights: https://twitter.com/TheyCanHoop/status/1504584997612646400
Tyrone Riley 6’5” 2024 St. Pius/St. Matthias (Downey CA)
Fresh off an impressive soph season, Riley is a young lefty guard with a versatile skill set worth paying attention to. Crafty off the bounce with a smooth perimeter stroke.
Isaiah Chappell 6’9” 2023 Crossroads (Santa Monica CA)
I am very high on the future promise of Chappell. Big body PF has a soft perimeter touch and terrific academic resume. High character prospect with great work ethic and attitude. Father Mike Chappell played at Duke/Michigan State.
Devin Curtis 6’10” 2023 Heritage Christian (Northridge CA)
Curtis played his 1st full season this year after bouncing back from past injuries. Skilled forward with a nice scoring touch, he is still settling into his body due to a huge growth spurt and his great length and potential is too obvious to ignore and merits a long D1 look.
Will Smith 6’4” 2023 Bishop Montgomery (Torrance CA)
Smith is the kind of effective 2-way player that has real value at the D1 level, especially with his top-notch academic resume. Strong defender with improved jump shot led his Knights to the CIF-State Open Division Southern regional semi-finals – losing to eventual state champ Corona Centennial. Will had 14 points (2 “threes”) in the league all-star game.
Malachi Scott 6’7” 2022 Compton (CA)
Scott is shaping up as a top JC recruiting target this spring! Pogo-stick forward with improved scoring skills is constantly in motion.
Mister Burnside 6’3” 2024 Paraclete (Lancaster CA)
Burnside is one of the better scoring soph (2024) guards in the West. Excellent pull-up jump shot with strength to get to and finish at rim. Scoring confidence is growing rapidly. League video highlights: https://twitter.com/TheyCanHoop/status/1504585800066822187
Nils Cooper 6’5” 2023 Crossroads (Santa Monica CA)
One of SoCal’s most undervalued juniors, Nils is a rangy wing with bounce at the rim and soft touch from the perimeter. Son of former Lakers great Michael Cooper is a terrific student (4.0+ GPA) too. Should be an Ivy League and Patriot League target at a minimum.
Anthony Gilkes 6’6” 2024 SCA Academy (CA)
The league provided me with my first glimpse of Gilkes and I was definitely impressed. Athletic and talented young swingman has plenty of HM upside. New York native scored at a high clip and in a variety of ways with explosion to rim.
Maurice Wright 6’2” 2024 Santa Clarita Christian (CA)
Quick lead guard is a pesky defender that pushes rock in transition very effectively and can finish with consistency at the cup. Wright also has scoring range to the 3-point arc.
Josh Goodall 6’7” 2024 Canyon (Anaheim CA)
Jaden Goodall 6’6” 2024 Canyon (Anaheim CA)
Goodall twins are rapidly developing into two of SoCal’s better 2024 prospects. They are long and skilled with emerging athleticism as well as very good students.
Alier Bech Kuch 6’8” 2024 Orangewood Academy (Garden Grove CA)
I really like the upside of Kuch who is a long and athletic forward that is a promising long-term prospect worth keeping track of. Kuch had 16 points in the league’s all-star game.
Snookey Wigington 5’8” 2022 SCA Academy (CA)
Snookey is one of the better unsigned point guards in SoCal. Quick off the dribble and possessing a quick release on his accurate jump shot that extends past the 3-point line, Snookey can score at a high clip. Son of Pookey Wigington who was 1987 CA State JC player of the year and state champion at Ventura College/CA (coached by Phil Mathews) and played for PJ Carlesimo at Seton Hall.
Dillan Shaw 6’5” 2025 Heritage Christian (Northridge CA)
Shaw is a promising young wing guard with plenty of scoring punch. Uncle is Washington Wizards assistant Mike Batiste (Arizona State/former NBA forward and long-time overseas pro).
Jeremiah Whitmore 6’6” 2023 Fountain Valley (CA)
Whitmore has the physical tools and upside as well as an underrated perimeter stroke to garner attention as a D1 WF prospect.
Will Brenner 6’8” 2023 Bishop Montgomery (Torrance CA)
A junior Big with potential to make a move onto the recruiting radar this spring and summer is Brenner, a big and strong PF with soft perimeter touch and plenty of upside.
Deacon Toliver 6’6” 2023 Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga CA)
One of the more intriguing 2023 SoCal sleepers is Toliver. Athletic and active forward with nice frame can score around cup and in transition. Good rebounder & defender too.
Other players worth noting for their fine play (in alphabetical order):
Kaden Bailey 6’2” 2026 Orange Lutheran (Orange CA)
Kenneth Bailey 6’2” 2023 Orange Lutheran (Orange CA)
Tracy Bryden 6’9” 2024 Faith Baptist (Canoga Park CA)
Alessandro Burns 6’4” 2023 Western (Anaheim CA)
Rodney “RJ” Chastang 6’3” 2025 St. Jeanne de Lestonnac (Temecula CA)
Mateo Durán 6’0″ 2023 St. John Bosco (Bellflower CA)
Preston Ezewiro 6’4” 2025 Leuzinger (Lawndale CA)
Thomas Girma 6’8” 2022 SoCal Academy (CA)
Christian Griffin 6’1” 2022 Bishop Amat (La Puente CA)
Adam Grissom 6’6” 2025 Heritage Christian (Northridge CA)
Aeneas Grullon 6’0” 2025 Heritage Christian (Northridge CA)
Aaron Harris Jr. 5’8” 2024 ROC Academy (CA)
Marcel Hayes 6’4” 2022 Poly (Long Beach CA)
Aliaun Iscandari 6’3” 2024 Campbell Hall (North Hollywood CA)
Malachi Knight 6’1” 2025 Leuzinger (Lawndale CA)
Malik Larane 6’1” 2023 Knight (Palmdale CA)
Mason Lumori 6’4” 2023 San Gabriel Academy (CA)
Ryder Maddox 6’4” 2024 Poly (Long Beach CA)
Eme Ngo 6’5” 2023 Renaissance Academy (CA)
Zander Ovies 6’0″ 2026 Torrey Pines (San Diego CA)
Deacon Perry 6’5” 2024 Heritage Christian (Northridge CA)
Jet Pokossy 6’9” 2023 Orangewood Academy (CA)
Mansour Sanneh 6’5” 2024 Palmdale (CA)
Vieux Sannah 6’4” 2025 Palmdale (CA)
Javon Smith 6’0″ 2023 Orange Lutheran (Orange CA)
Parken Steffen 5’10” 2024 Rancho Christian (Temecula CA)
Zion Watt 6’5” 2023 Crossroads (Santa Monica CA)
Markee White Jr. 6’5” 2026 Orange Lutheran (Orange CA)
Kam Williams 6’0” 2022 St. Paul (Santa Fe Springs CA)
Moses Wright 6’4” 2025 Rosamond (CA)
