With Covid-19 hampering the organization and hosting of the annual Pangos All-American Camp that normally features 100-plus top HS prospects coast to coast on 3 courts, Pangos decided to do a spin-off event this year to celebrate and showcase approximately 40 of the nation’s top seniors (2021) in a different format: regional team competition. 4 regional teams (East, West, Midwest and South) were constructed to compete in a Final 4 type format with a semi-final double-header on Day 1 and winners and losers facing off for 3rd place and the championship on Day 2.
Thus, the Pangos All-American Festival on November 7-8 @ AZ Compass Prep (Chandler AZ) was born and proved to be a smashing success not only from a marquee talent standpoint but also from an elite competitive one as well. Plenty of 5-star and 4-star matchups ensued and the media/scouts in attendance like Frank Burlison, Ronnie Flores, Krysten Peek, Chad Groth, Matt Babcock and Justin Young, video-outlets like Ball is Life, Ball Dawgs, Overtime, Slam Hoops and Fresh Focus Sports as well as the thousands of fans and college coaches watching the live-stream on BallerTV.com got their money’s worth.
BallerTV.com live-streamed all 4 games at the event (they are also now available for replay):
https://www.ballertv.com/events/pangos-all-american-festival-4-2020
In Semi-Final I it was 6-10 2021 Duke-bound Paolo Banchero (O’Dea/Seattle WA) sparking the West to a 125-99 run-away win over the East, scoring 30 points and grabbing 11 boards in the process. Banchero’s terrific effort was complimented by his West backcourt teammates Kentucky signee 6-3 2021 Nolan Hickman (22 points and 4 dimes) and Arizona-bound 6-5 2021 Shane Nowell (19 points including 4 “threes”). 6-3 2021 Quran McPherson (Woodstock Academy/CT) had a team-high 29 points for the East while LSU signee 6-8 2021 Alex Fudge (Lee/Jacksonville FL) added 16 points.
In Semi-Final II, 7-0 2021 Chet Holmgren (Minnehaha/Minneapolis MN) and 6-9 2021 Jabari Smith (Sandy Creek/Tyrone GA) locked 5-star horns in a Midwest vs. South see-saw battle with the South making a late 2nd-half run to pull-away from their Midwest counterparts 116-106. The South was led by Smith (23 points and 3 “threes”), TyTy Washington 21 points and Trey Alexander (19 points). Despite being on the losing end, Holmgren was sensational – finishing with 20 points (including 4 “threes), 10 boards, 11 blocks and 4 assists. Holmgren’s Midwest teammate and Michigan signee Kobe Bufkin had a game-high 24 points.
In the 3rd Place Game on Sunday, Chet Holmgren made a #1 player in the nation statement in the Midwest’s 146-107 win over the East. Holmgren erupted for a 2K-type performance with 25 points,19 rebounds, 14 blocks and 5 assists while Ahamad Bynum (29 points), Brandon Weston (29 points) and Pierre Brooks (23 points) also had big scoring games. Georgia-Tech signee Dallan Coleman had a game-high 31 points for the East while Memphis-bound Josh Minott added 22 points/7 rebounds.
In the championship game it was an intense battle with the South, behind the stellar play of event MVP Jabari Smith (22 points/8 boards/2 blocks) outlasting the West 98-91. Smith got plenty of assistance from Kentucky signee 6-9 2021 Daimion Collins (Atlanta/TX) who scored 9 points and had 5 blocks, LSU-bound 6-9 2021 Jerrell Colbert (Houston/Germantown TN) who grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds to go along with 6 points and Tennessee signee 6-4 2021 Jahmai Mashack (Etiwanda/CA) added 9 points, four boards, 3 assists and excellent perimeter defense. Banchero was named game MVP for the runner-up West (17 pts/13 boards) and Nolan Hickman helped keep the West in contention all game long with 24 points, 8 boards and 4 assists. Former D1 college assistant Joe Espocito (now head coach at Cesar Chavez HS in Phoenix AZ) coached the South.
National scouts Frank Burlison and Ronnie Flores selected the event’s 10 person all-tourney team:
Jabari Smith (Event MVP/South)
Paolo Banchero (Runners-Up MVP/West)
Trey Alexander (South)
Kobe Bufkin (Midwest)
Daimion Collins (South)
Rahsool Diggins (East)
Nolan Hickman (West)
Chet Holmgren (Midwest)
Shane Nowell (West)
TyTy Washington (South)
Below, we will highlight players that were members of the championship South squad. We will follow up this article with 3 additional ones which will highlight each of the other three regional teams.
2020 Pangos All-American Festival South Team
(in alphabetical order)
KJ Adams 6-7 2021 Westlake (Austin TX)
Kansas-bound swingman is quick and athletic in transition and has the strength to finish through contact at the rim. Texas native is always in attack-mode, has a nice mid-range game and will thrive in Bill Self’s Jayhawk system when steps foot in Lawrence KS next Fall. Averaged 9 points and 4 rebounds per game during the South’s championship run. Presently ranked #50 nationally by Van Coleman/Nothing But Net Magazine. 2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video Highlights: https://twitter.com/balldawgs/status/1327391998148427777
Trey Alexander 6-3 2021 Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City OK)
Sharp-shooting WG made clutch shot after clutch shot here. Rangy player moves well without the ball and is an underrated defender. Trey averaged 17.5 ppg and 5 rpg here and earned a well-deserved spot on the all-tourney team. Alexander just committed to Auburn, picking the Tigers over Kansas and Arkansas. Currently ranked #38 nationally by Van Coleman/Nothing But Net Magazine. 2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video Highlights: https://twitter.com/balldawgs/status/1325808614003499011
Jerrell Colbert 6-9 2021 Houston (Germantown TN)
LSU signee was an unsung hero for the South. Rim-running and athletic PF was active all weekend long – averaging 10 points and 10 rebounds per game. Texas native is currently ranked #30 nationally by Van Coleman/Nothing But Net Magazine. 2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video Highlights: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wxd3eyjd824kp6a/Jerrell%20Colbert%20Mix.mov?dl=0
Daimion Collins 6-9 2021 Atlanta (TX)
Very long, athletic and active Lone Star state PF proved to be a great 1-2 interior punch with Jabari Smith on the winning South squad. Kentucky signee’s pro upside is thru the roof. Collins averaged a double-double (12 ppg/10 rpg), had 5 big blocks in title game and earned a well-deserved spot on all-tourney team. Nephew of proud uncle and well-known SoCal basketball figure Harold Jones. Van Coleman/Nothing But Net Magazine has him currently pegged in the #25 slot nationally. 2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video Highlights:
https://twitter.com/balldawgs/status/1325799440452526084
Jahmai Mashack 6-4 2021 Etiwanda (CA)
Mashack is a hard-working, active and athletic wing that has signed with Tennessee.
2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video Highlights: Jahmai was instrumental in the South’s championship run, making great plays on both ends of the floor. Currently ranked #48 nationally by Rivals.com. 2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video Highlights:
https://twitter.com/balldawgs/status/1326259514501332992
Mason Miller 6-9 2021 Houston (Germantown TN)
Son of former NBA sharp-shooter Mike Miller, this long lefty has plenty of perimeter range and accuracy of his own. Miller connected for two big 2nd half threes in championship game. Currently ranked #85 nationally by Van Coleman/Nothing But Net Magazine, the final two for Mason appear to be Indiana and Creighton.
Jabari Smith 6-9 2021 Sandy Creek (Tyrone GA)
Smith went toe to toe with both Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero here on successive days and not only sparked his South squad to title (earning event MVP honors in process) but also squarely put himself into the Class of 2021’s cream of the crop prospect conversation. Auburn signee and future SEC star has the elite skill package and athleticism to be a NBA lotto pick. Jabari showed excellent touch on his perimeter touch and his length and athleticism makes him a formidable defender and rebounder. Smith is ranked #4 nationally by Van Coleman/Nothing But Net Magazine. 2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video Highlights: https://twitter.com/balldawgs/status/1325576436997005312
Glenn Taylor 6-6 2021 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler AZ)
A very late, last-minute addition to the event, this Las Vegas NV native did not waste this opportunity to prove that he belonged. Taylor is an athletic swingman that is a tenacious defender and an effective slashing scorer. Taylor has offers from San Diego State, Cincinnati, TCU, Loyola Marymount and Nevada but looks like he will wait and be a Spring signee. 2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video Highlights:
https://twitter.com/balldawgs/status/1325954731672395777
TyTy Washington 6-4 2021 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler AZ)
Arguably the fastest-rising 2021 player in America, Washington continues to impress and get better at every viewing opportunity. Strong lead guard with high octane scoring skills and Sam Cassell-type savvy, TyTy loves to compete and is a consistent positive producer on both ends. Averaged 18.5 points, 7.5 boards and 4.0 assists per game here – earning all-tourney honors. Washington’s recruitment is in the final stretch with Creighton and Illinois appearing to be the favorites to land his John Hancock on a National Letter of Intent. Currently ranked #67 nationally by the 247Sports.com Composite. 2020 Pangos All-American Festival Video Highlights: https://twitter.com/balldawgs/status/1326378229473701890
