The 2023 Pangos Best of SoCal Showcase was held last weekend this (Saturday May 20th) at Assumption Greek Church Gym/Long Beach CA). This event showcased several top HS prospects from Southern California (and beyond).
Full length video re-plays of all Pangos Best of SoCal Showcase games (with play by play) are now available on replay from Baller TV: https://www.ballertv.com/events/pangos-best-of-socal-showcase-2023-long-beach-ca-bfe4b88b09034f8bad0beff38bb8c572
Game event rosters and schedule can be accessed online at: https://www.fullctpress.net/23-pangos-bofsc-showcase.html
Below I feature 2025, 2026 and 2027 players from the event as well as a few more in this classes that stood out. A report outlining top prospects from 2024 will follow soon.
Kaden Bailey 6’3” 2026 Crean Lutheran (Irvine CA)
Bailey is one of the purest scorers in the national freshman class. Plays with great poise and pace. Underrated passer too. Kaiden had an event-high 37 points in Top Freshman Game has been invited to the 2023 Pangos All-American Camp in Las Vegas. Has early offers from UC-Santa Barbara, UC-San Diego, Seattle and Texas Arlington with interest from UCLA and Oregon.
Brannon Martinsen 6’7” 2026 Mater Dei (Santa Ana CA)
Although he couldn’t get to Long Beach in time for the 1:00pm Top Frosh Game, Martinsen jumped into the Top Soph Game and this young skilled forward didn’t miss a beat – going for 15 points (3 “threes”). High Major prospect is very skilled with an inside-out game of nifty footwork in the paint and a feathery touch from distance that makes him a tough matchup for opposing defenses. Very good student too.
Shamar Jones 6’5” 2025 Mountain House (CA)
NorCal native is an athletic WG that can put points on the board. Shamar can explode to the rim and finish and is a crafty finisher in the paint. Jones had game high 21 points in Top Soph Game.
Izaiah Fiallos 6’0” 2026 Centennial (Corona CA)
I love the confident scoring instincts of this young strong guard. Izaiah always comes to play and is always in triple-threat position. Poured in a team-high 31 points here and is poised for a break-out season next Fall at Corona Centennial. Very good student (3.7 GPA).
Kellen Hampton 6″7″ 2025 Southern California Academy (CA)
Hampton is a strong and high scoring Hybrid-Forward that has legit 3-point range. NorCal native’s fine play this Spring with Team Lilliard 16u has coaches and scouts taking notice.
Jeremiah Hampton 6’4” 2025 Windward (Los Angeles CA)
Hampton is a crafty and rangy lefty wing that can connect from distance too. Jeremiah had 23 points (5 threes) in his 2nd game of the day. Like his long-term promise.
Marco Varani 6’7” 2025 Bellevue (WA)
The event had a few out of area guys show up and I really liked what I saw out of the Seattle native Varani. Long and skilled swingman with very nice long-distance stroke had 17 points (5 threes) in Top Soph Game. Terrific upside!
Jayden Harris 6’6″ 2025 Windward (Los Angeles CA)
Harris was impressive in action here. Athletic and active wing with length can score in a variety of ways and he’s also disruptive on the defensive end. Harris (15 points in Top Soph Game) has very nice long term upside.
Malachi Knight 6’3” 2025 Leuzinger (Lawndale CA)
Knight continues to make strides in his development. Good 3-point shooter with blossoming athleticism had 19 points (2 “threes”) in Top Soph Game. Dad Eric Knight played at Westchester HS/Los Angeles for the legendary Ed Azzam and University of Portland. Belmont Shore 16u standout with solid D1 potential has had a very good Spring.
EJ Vernon 6’6” 2025 Crossroads (Santa Monica CA)
Strong and skilled swingman has grown at least 3 inches from last year. Vernon (a good student) finishes well though contact on his drives to the cup and has nice face-up shooting range. High character/high academic prospect with increasing athleticism should be on the radar of every Ivy and Patriot League program as well as other top academic D1s.
Steven Evans-Glynn 6’4” 2025 San Ysidro (CA)
San Ysidro/CA WG & Belmont Shore 16u star is a sleek athlete with terrific slash and score ability and the requisite bounce necessary to punch it on defenders at the rim. Buy stock now!
Adam Grissom 6’6” 2025 Heritage Christian (Northridge CA)
Big and strong WG can finish through contact as well as as connect from mid-range. Key cog on Taft’s 2023 LA-City CIF title squad had 18 points (2 threes) in Top Soph Game.
Rocco Gaffoglio 5’11” 2025 Foothill (Santa Ana CA)
Sharpshooting lead guard has very deep and accurate long distance range as well as has the quickness with rock to create his own shot. Rocco was the leading scorer in Top 40 Soph Game with 20 points (4 threes).
Dillan Shaw 6’5” 2025 Heritage Christian (Northridge CA)
Shaw is a young wing with size and a dangerous downtown stroke. Had 13 point in Top Soph Game.
Isaiah Cunningham 6’3” 2025 Lincoln (Tacoma WA)
Strong and physical defender is a WG that loves to apply pressure and push the tempo.
Isaiah Johnson 5’10” 2025 Campbell Hall (North Hollywood CA)
I really like the poise and floor vision of Johnson.. Pin-point passer is quick off the bounce and does a nice job setting the table for teammates. Son of top NBA trainer Chris Johnson.
Preston Cole 6’9” 2025 Oak Park (CA)
Young and long post-forward with soft touch on jump shot which extends to the 3-point arc. Excellent student too.
Steven Melina 6’4” 2026 Oak Park (CA)
One of the pleasant revelations here was Melina. Sturdy wing with strength and a potent outside shot had 26 points (4 threes) in Top Frosh Game. One to monitor in SoCal’s 2026 class.
Jordan Ballard 6’3” 2026 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks CA)
Athletic wing can elevate and finish at the rim. Ballard had more than respectable 19 points (1 three) in Top Frosh Game and is expected to a key member of Notre Dame’s squad next season.
Jalen Bailes 6’2” 2026 St. Augustine (San Diego CA)
Muscular combo-guard with crafty offensive skills has nice scoring instincts. Bailes had 23 points (3 threes) in Top Freshman Game.
Ty Ingram 6’2” 2026 San Ysidro (CA)
High-scoring guard did not have one of his better offensive outputs here (he still had 16 points/2 threes in Top Frosh Game) but make no mistake about it, this athletic jump shooter can really put points on the board. Son of Tyrone Shelley (former San Diego State forward and current head coach at Southwestern JC/CA).
David Fidelis 5’10” 2026 Cleveland (Reseda CA)
Quick lead guard with dangerous 3-point stroke. Impressive in the Top Freshman Game with 22 points (6 threes).
Wyatt Richmond 6’2” 2027 Lake Forest CA
Richmond is an Orange County name for the future. Standout in 8th grade (2027) Game had a game-high 23 points (3 “threes”). Agile wing with natural scoring skills and instincts is headed to Crean Lutheran/Irvine CA next Fall to join heralded 2026 guard Kaiden Bailey.
Other players worth noting for their fine play (in alphabetical order):
Efe Atane 6’3” 2027 Santiago Charter School (Orange CA)
Christopher Cain 6’4” 2025 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth CA)
Danaus Cockrell 5’7” 2025 Inglewood (CA)
Noa Edwards 6’2” 2026 Arcadia (CA)
Logan Elo 5’10” 2027 Rancho Santa Margarita CA
Darion Jones 6’0″ 2027 Villegas Middle School (Riverside CA)
Jayden McCoy-Flores 6’2” 2025 Lakewood (CA)
Joaquin Rigdon 6’3” 2026 Servite (Anaheim CA)
Merisol Speat 6’3” 2025 Castaic (CA)
Austin Unegbu 6’4” 2025 Poly (Long Beach CA)
Bryce Williams 6’8” 2026 Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood CA)
Tai Williams 6’3” 2025 Jordan (Long Beach CA)
Denis Woods 6’3” 2025 Bishop Montgomery (Torrance CA)
Nicholas Zanotti 6’3” 2025 Heritage Christian (Northridge CA)
Luke Zuffelato 6’5” 2025 Santa Barbara (CA)
