Bakersfield, CA – This past Friday, May 19th, myself and Clutch Clips Hoop hosted our 2nd Annual Prospect Preview Showcase at Garces Memorial High School. The event featured 60 players from the classes of 2024 – 2027 (incoming seniors to incoming freshmen) from various cities in the Central Section: Fresno, Clovis, Kingsburg, Selma, Visalia, Sonora (NorCal), Reedley, Hanford, Sanger, Dinuba, and Bakersfield. The showcase featured three games where players were grouped by their graduation class and separated into two teams per game. Following the three showcase games, there would be a Top 60 Game and a Top 30 Game, as players were picked for one of those two games based on their performance in their respective showcase games. The first showcase game was the Class of 2026/2027 Game, the second was the Class of 2025/2026 Game, and lastly the Class of 2024/2025. After deliberation between me, the coaches, the scores table, and media in attendance, we determined the players who were in the top 30 and who were the next 30 to play in the two all-star games. All 5 games can be watched on BallerTV using the following link:
The Top 60 Game was a close one but Team Black prevailed over Team White by a score of 91-86. Sophomore Chance Hertel led all scorers with 17 and was co-MVP of the event, along with Elias Gish with 14 points and McKae Amundesn with 10 points. The Top 30 Game featured a lot of talent, but the player that stole the show was Connor Amundsen, who had not played in live competition in the Central Section in more than 7 months. Amundsen looked really good and from what I saw, has not missed much of a beat, as he finished with a game-high 23 points and connecting on 5 threes. Amundsen earned co-MVP with fellow senior and Clovis North teammate, Jordan Espinoza, who had a big double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds.
The remainder of this article takes a look at my Top 35 Performers from the showcase. Although a majority of the players from the Top 30 Game are in this article, there are some players that were not selected for the top all-star game that are in my top 35. There is no rank order to the list of players in this article, but instead, they are listed in alphabetical order. The following information is provided for the players below: a brief evaluation of each player’s skill set and strengths of their games, how they performed in the event, as well as all relevant player information. We begin this article with rising senior Connor Amundsen.
2024 5’11 Connor Amundsen (Clovis North/Fresno CA)
Amundsen is a lead guard that makes quality decisions while on the ball, the vision to find open teammates, and moves to create his own scoring opportunities. Amundsen is coming off season-ending shoulder surgery and was cleared for full contact play less than a month ago on May 1st. I had not seen him live since last October, and despite the 7-month hiatus, Amundsen did not miss a beat and was the Most Outstanding Player of the Prospect Preview Showcase, as he would have 19 points and 23 points respectively. Amundsen keeps the ball on a string, surveys the floor with precision passing to find open teammates in tight windows, and plays with great pace to keep relentless pressure on the defense. Despite his high level of play at the point, Amundsen has the moves and handles to create space from his opponent, great footwork and use of the pivot to find openings in traffic, is a knockdown perimeter shooter with range from beyond the arc, and is a creative finisher over height in the paint. Amundsen’s ability to create for others, as well as score it from 3-levels makes him a tough assignment for any opponent. Great to see him back and look forward to a productive summer before Amundsen takes the court for his senior season.
2026 5’8 McKae Amundsen (Clovis North/Fresno CA)
Amundsen is a crafty lead guard with impressive court vision to make plays when on the attack and can knock down the 3-ball with consistency. Amundsen was co-MVP of the Top 60 Game, as he finished with 10 points and a handful of assists. Amundsen has a tight handle on the ball, shifty moves when creating off the perimeter, able to find teammates in tight windows when on the attack, and is a creative finisher over height around the cup. Amundsen is an efficient shooter from the perimeter, with the ability to connect off the dribble or the catch-and-shoot. He made some impressive passes in the open court and thrives as a playmaker when on the attack in transition.
2025 6’1 Arman Arisian (Clovis North/Fresno CA)
Arisian is a guard/wing that makes his presence felt in numerous ways on both ends of the court and has the handle and poise to operate at the point. Arisian had a solid showing in his opening game, as he would finish with 12 points and earned a spot in the Top 30 Game. Arisian has the handle and court vision to operate as the facilitator when needed, does a solid job on the glass to push the pace of play, is an accurate shooter from the perimeter, and is able to absorb contact through traffic when attacking the basket. As one of the people at the event stated, “Arman is one of my favorite players to watch for his age group”, as he makes the plays that lead to wins. Defensively, Arisian is a solid on-ball defender and has the footspeed and lateral agility to stay in front of most perimeter players.
2025 6’7 Ry Atkins (Summerville Union/Sonora CA)
Atkins is a skilled wing/forward that can operate in the post and has the skills to create off the perimeter with range on the 3-ball. Atkins made the farthest drive of any player coming from Sonora in NorCal, which is about 4 hours plus away. Despite the long haul, Atkins made the most of his opportunity scoring 10 points and earning a spot in the Top 30 Game. Atkins dominates the glass, has solid footwork and moves to score in the post, as well as the handles and moves to create off the perimeter. Atkins connected on a couple of threes at the showcase and displayed his ability to stretch the defense and open up driving lanes to attack. Solid mid-range jumper and NorCal sleeper. Atkins has good court vision, makes good reads off the screen, and makes good passes from the top of the key. Impressive skill set and strong, athletic build.
2025 6’3 Remy Barnes (Hanford West/CA)
Barnes is a guard/wing that can score it from 3 levels, capable of defending multiple positions, and excels in the open court. Barnes was a last-minute addition and he made the most of his opportunity, as he would score 10 points in his first game and earned a spot in the Top 30 Game where he added in 9 points. Barnes uses his long wingspan to lock up perimeter players, has active hands to jump passing lanes, and turns defense to offense for easy transition points. Barnes has good handles, makes good use of the wide crossover to get by his defender, and is accurate on the stop-and-pop jumper off the dribble from the mid-range to the 3-point line. Barnes is a creative finisher around the basket, has nice touch on his floater over bigs in the paint, and is an underrated rim protector. He will have a big season stats-wise for the Huskies as Jaden Haire graduates this year.
2026 6’2 Aidan Beechler (Clovis East/Clovis CA)
Beechler is a combo guard/wing that has made serious strides as a facilitator and can score the ball in a variety of ways. Beechler played the role of playmaker in his first game, as he would account for at least five assists, as well as 8 rebounds to earn a spot in the Top 30 Game. Beechler has a strong handle on the ball, surveys the court to make the right reads at the point, has the moves to attack off the dribble, and gets downhill with the physical build to finish through contact at the cup. Beechler does a solid job on the glass, gets up the court to initiate transition offense, and has the vision to advance the ball or take it coast to coast. Beechler can stretch the defense with the 3-ball, which opens up driving lanes and puts pressure on the opponent. Plays well on and off the basketball.
2028 6’1 Tristan Beechler (Reyburn Middle School/Clovis CA)
Beechler is a heady lead guard that has the court vision and confidence to make plays, as well as create his own scoring opportunities with range from deep. Beechler was the Most Oustanding Player at our Future Prospects Showcase back in December, so we decided to invite him to participate with next years high school players in the Prospect Preview. Beechler had 11 points in the opening game and was impressive running the offense at the lead guard spot, which earned him a spot in the Top 30 Game. Beechler plays with great poise and pace, has the court vision and size to survey the defense, makes nice reads in tight windows, and does a solid job on the glass to push the ball up the court. Beechler has shifty moves and handles to create off the bounce, gets into the teeth of the defense, has a smooth perimeter shot he hits with frequency from the mid-range to the 3-point line. The feel and control at which he plays with are years ahead of his grade.
2025 6’ Nolan Birchall (Clovis North/Fresno CA)
Birchall is a guard that does a number of things to positively impact the game and is a threat from beyond the arc. Birchall had a solid showing in his first game, as he finished with 12 points, connected on a pair of threes, and earned a spot in the Top 30 Game. Birchall is a Swiss army knife on both ends of the court. He has a solid handle, the moves to create off the bounce, moves well off the ball to square up for catch and shoot threes, and the court vision to make plays when attacking the basket. Birchall is a pesky perimeter defender that generates turnovers and does a solid job on the glass for a guard.
2025 6’2 Chris Browe (Kingsburg/CA)
Browe is a combo guard that can make plays for others and is improving as a scorer. Browe does a solid job on the glass, looks to push the ball in the open court, and makes quality decisions when on the attack. Browe had 6 points in his first game and 9 points in the Top 60 Game and will be a key piece for the Vikings next season.
2025 6’2 Giovanni Cadenasso (Clovis North/Fresno CA)
Cadenasso is a wing/forward that does a solid job on the glass, has the handle to push the pace of play, and has a nice touch on finishes around the basket. Cadenasso had 8 rebounds and 6 points in his first game which earned him a spot in the Top 30 Game. Cadenasso is another player that does multiple things that have a positive impact on the game. He does have good handles, and a nice mid-range shot.
2025 5’10 Jonavon Darrington (Clovis West/CA)
Darrington is a shifty and gritty lead guard that can knock down tough shots at a high clip from the perimeter. Darrington was on fire in his first game, as he was knocking down tough shots off the bounce from the mid-range and behind the arc for a game-high 16 points connecting on 4 threes. Darrington has shifty moves when on the ball to create separation from his defender, makes nice use of the hesitation to keep his opponents on their heels, has a nice burst of speed when attacking off the perimeter, and is a creative finisher around the basket with touch on the floater. The multi-sport athlete showed he has not lost a step since I last saw him before he transferred from San Joaquin Memorial to Clovis West and had a solid season on the football field. Darrington has good court vision, is capable of finding teammates when going at the basket, and is a lock-up on-ball defender.
2024 6’3 Jordan Espinoza (Clovis North/Fresno CA)
Esponiza is an athletic wing/forward that impacts both ends of the court in a variety of ways and has really developed a diverse scoring arsenal. Espinoza put up 12 points in his first game before turning it up in the Top 30 Game and earning co-MVP honors with Amundsen, as he would put up a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Espinoza has great footwork to operate in the interior, which allows him to use the pivot foot and body control to find openings to score in a variety of ways. Espinoza has good handles, makes good use of the crossover to get downhill, and has the physicality to finish through traffic or stop and pop from the mid-range. Espinoza is enough of a threat from the 3-point line to force his defender to over-pursue, which opens up lanes for him to attack. Defensively, Espinoza has the lateral quickness and ACTIVE hands to lock up on perimeter players, as well as the strength to switch off on bigger players. Espinoza is an elite rebounder for his size, which was on display in a play where he had 4 rebounds in a row that resulted in a tough putback bucket.
2025 6’4 Erick Estrella (Central Valley Christian/Visalia CA)
Estrella is a forward that controls the glass, has the moves to score around the cup, and plays bigger than his height reads. Estrella had an impressive showing in his first game, as he would score 16 points and dominate the paint offensively, which earned him a spot in the Top 30 Game. Estrella controls the boards, earns easy points on putbacks, rolls hard off screens making himself available for the ball, and has good touch around the basket. Estrella runs the floor well in the open court and was the recipient of transition passes to score the ball. CVC will have a solid duo with Estrella and Stroud next season.
2027 6’4 James Galpin (Immanuel/Reedley CA)
Galpin is a forward that controls the glass, alters shots around the basket, and has nice touch on finishes around the cut. Galpin had 10 points in the opening game and added 9 points in the Top 60 Game. Galpin has a little handle and showed he can space the floor with the 3-ball. Lots of upside over the next four years of his high school career.
2026 6’5 Elias Gish (Clovis North/Fresno CA)
Gish is a lengthy and rangy wing/guard that is a knockdown 3-point shooter and an underrated defender and rim protector. Gish was co-MVP of the Top 60 Game and had a team-high 14 points connecting on a pair of threes. Gish is one of the best long-term prospects in the 2026 class in the Central Section and has the skill to be one of the better offensive players in the area over the next few years. Gish has the handles and moves to create separation from his opponent, the height and length to rise up and shoot over most perimeter defenders, and has a smooth stroke from outside. Gish moves well off the ball, has limitless range beyond the arc, controls the boards to push the ball up the court, and has solid court vision to make plays in the open court. Gish is an underrated shot blocker and versatile defender that is capable of guarding the 1-4 position effectively.
2024 6’5 Darian Green (Central East/Fresno CA)
Green is an athletic and springy wing/forward that controls the glass and scores off turnovers and putbacks. Green is versatile on defense, capable of defending on the wing and the interior, and has great touch on finishes at the cup. Excels in the open court and does a solid job of running rim to rim.
2027 5’10 Sier Harbin (Central East/Fresno CA)
Harbin is a crafty lead guard that can create his own offense or make plays for others. Harbin opened up the event with a strong showing scoring 12 points with a pair of threes and some stylish buckets. Harbin has dynamic handles, shifty moves to create off the dribble, capable 3-point shooter with the ball in hand, and a nice touch on his floater over size in the paint. Harbin has good court vision, makes good reads when on the attack, and has good speed when accelerating off the hesitation. Harbin will be a key piece for the Grizzlies within the next two years.
2025 6’1 Chance Hertel (Clovis West/Fresno CA)
Hertel is a wing/guard that can space the floor with the 3-ball, has sneaky bounce, and scores in volume. Hertel was co-MVP of the Top 60 Game and led all scorers with 17 points. Hertel has solid handles, makes good use of the crossover to get downhill, and has nice touch on finishes around the basket. Hertel moves well off the ball, finds openings in the defense, and has good form on his perimeter shot. He showed he can connect on the 3-ball off the catch and shoot or the dribble. There is a lot to like about Hertel’s game and he is just scratching the surface of where he could be by the end of high school.
2025 6’3 Loukas Jones (Clovis North/Fresno CA)
Jones is a combo guard that can make plays to get others involved and is a knockdown perimeter shooter. Jones had 8 points and 6 points respectively in both games he played, but showed his growth as a facilitator and made countless plays to get others involved as a Top 30 game selectee. Jones is a lights-out shooter from the 3-point line with limitless range, has the moves and handles to create off the dribble, has a nice pull-up jumper, and is a creative finisher around the basket. Defensively, Jones is able to defend the 1 through 3 positions effectively, has active hands to disrupt the dribbling space of his opponents, and generates turnovers that lead to transition points. Jones does a solid job on the glass, which allows him to push the pace of play, and continues to develop his lead guards skills with the court vision and passing accuracy to run the offense.
2026 6’ Jace Kellogg (Clovis West/Fresno CA)
Kellogg is a shifty combo guard with dynamic handles, moves to shake his defender, and the court vision to drop dimes when on the attack. Kellogg came out in attack mode in his first game, as he would finish with 16 points and earned a spot in the Top 30 Game. Kellogg has a tight handle on the ball, dynamic handles and shifty moves to create separation from his defender, great burst of speed off the dribble to get downhill, has a lethal stop-and-pop mid-range jumper, and has nice touch on his floater over size in the paint. Kellogg keeps the ball on a string, surveys the floor well to find open teammates in tight spaces, and is an effective 3-level scorer with the ability to hit tough shots consistently from fifteen feet to the 3-point line. Kellogg moves well off the ball to get open for catch-and-shoot opportunities, and his off-the-dribble 3-ball is tough to defend with his ability to blow by most defenders.
2027 5’10 Spencer Kubit (Clovis West/Fresno CA)
Kubit is a crafty combo guard that controls the pace of play with the ball in his hands, has the court vision to find open teammates, and can knock down the 3-ball off the dribble or the catch-and-shoot. Kubit had 11 points in the opening game and added 8 points in the Top 60 Game. Kubit has good handles, makes good use of the toss-crossover dribble to create separation from his defender, and has a smooth stroke from the perimeter with range on the 3-ball. Plays with good pace and keeps his opponents off balance with the change of speed and good burst when getting downhill.
2025 6’5 Jaren Mayberry (Clovis West/Fresno CA)
Mayberry is a lengthy wing/guard that does a solid job on the glass, uses his wingspan to keep perimeter players in front of him and alter shots in the paint, and has the handle to push the ball up the court. Mayberry is coming off an injury as well, and played limited games on JV this past season. Given his height and length, Mayberry will be a player that is needed for Clovis West this season on a guard-heavy roster. Mayberry has nice touch on his jumper, the handle to attack from the wing, and able to finish over height in the paint.
2025 6’2 James Miller IV (Roosevelt/Fresno CA)
Miller is a shifty lead guard with the physical build to bully his way through defenders, as well as the moves and handle to evade opponents to get to his shot spots. Miller is another player coming off a season-ending injury who I had not seen since the Clovis West Summer Shootout last June. I had Miller in my top 5 for the class of 2025 after his freshman campaign and was interested to see where his game was at currently, and similar to Connor Amundsen, Miller looked healthy and asserted himself in his first game scoring 15 points and making the Top 30 Game. Miller has a dynamic handle on the ball, keeps the ball on a string while weaving through traffic, has the court vision to find open teammates in tight windows, and makes great use of the hesitation and redirection to keep his opponents on their heels. Miller has the moves and handles to create separation from his defender, can score from 3-levels off the dribble, and is a creative finisher around the basket over and around size in the paint. I was most impressed with his on-ball defense, as he made life very difficult for the players he matched up against in the showcase. Big junior season coming.
2026 5’10 Josh Padilla (Clovis North/Fresno CA)
Padilla is a shifty lead guard that is poised with the ball in hand, can create his own offense when needed, and is a tough on-ball defender that generates turnovers and easy points in the open court. Padilla had a solid showing overall and scored 11 points in the Top 60 Game. Padilla has a tight handle on the ball, has shifty moves to create off the dribble and get by his defender, can knock down the 3-ball with consistency, and is a creative finisher around the basket. Padilla has active hands on defense, good foot speed to stay in front of his opponent, and generates perimeter turnovers. As a facilitator, Padilla sees the floor well, makes good decisions with the ball in hand, and keeps constant pressure on the defense with good touch on his floater. Tough two-way guard that makes his presence felt on the court and is a good athlete.
2027 6’5 Cobi Posas (Undecided)
Posas is a lengthy wing/forward that has great touch around the basket, can space the floor with the 3-ball, and excels when in the open court as a rim runner. Posas was one of the top players at our middle school showcase back in December and he has participated in some quality national events like the Pangos Junior All-American Camp, Neo Elite Camp, and CP3 MS Combine. Posas wasted no time in the opening game of the event, as he would finish with 22 points, and showed he could score around the basket and from beyond the arc. Posas controls the boards, has the handle to push the ball up the court, alters shots around the basket, and has the length and agility to be a versatile defender on the wing or in the post. Posas attacks downhill, is effective from the perimeter off the dribble, and has good footwork and body control to score in the paint with the baby hook and other creative ways around the basket. Posas has nice touch around the cup and could be one of the better long-term prospects in the Central Section if he continues to develop as a wing/slasher.
2025 6’3 Abram Potts (San Joaquin Memorial/Fresno CA)
Potts is a shooting guard that can score in various ways and is a knockdown shooter off the bounce or the catch-and-shoot. Potts hit some tough shots in his first game and finished with 12 points, connecting on a pair of threes, followed by 10 points in the Top 30 Game. Potts has dynamic handles, moves to create off the dribble, creates the space needed to get his shots off, has a smooth stop-and-pop mid-range jumper, and is a creative finisher at the basket. Potts moves well off the ball, gets to his shot spots for catch-and-shoot opportunities, and has the court vision to make plays. Potts is known for being one of the top pure shooters in the Section, but has continued to expand his offensive arsenal as a 3-level scorer.
2026 5’11 Sean Smith (Clovis West/Fresno CA)
Smith is a crafty lead guard that can make plays for others or create his own offense with range from beyond the arc. Smith played more of the facilitator in the first half of his first game, but got going in the second half and finished with 10 points and knocked down 2 threes to earn a spot in the Top 30 Game. Smith has tight handles, quick moves to shake his opponent, nice burst of speed off the dribble to get to his shot spots, and has range with the 3-ball. Smith has solid court vision, makes quality decisions with the ball in hand, and has nice touch on his floater over height in the post. Capable of hitting tough shots off the dribble efficiently.
2026 6’7 Parker Spees (San Joaquin Memorial/Fresno CA)
Spees is a lengthy wing/forward that can light it up from beyond the arc and emerging as a high-level two-way player. Spees had it going from the 3-point line in his opening game, as he would connect on 5 threes and finish with 15 points and a spot in the Top 30 Game. Spees moves well off the ball and has the size to shoot over most perimeter defenders, enough handle and nice use of the long crossover to get by his opponent, can score it from 3-levels with nice touch on the mid-range jumper, and has nice feel for finishes around the basket. Spees moves well to stay in front on smaller players on defense, has the size and length to defend post players, and does a great job on the boards, which allows him to push the ball. Spees has good court vision, is an underrated shot blocker, and in my opinion, is one of the top long-term prospects in the Central Section regardless of class. Spees will be much more involved in the rotation next season for the Panthers with the graduation of seniors Armari Carraway and Mike Davis.
2025 6’ Silas Rodriguez (San Joaquin Memorial/Fresno CA)
Rodriguez is a poised lead guard that controls the pace of play and gets downhill to force the defense to contract, which frees up shooters on the perimeter. Rodriguez had 10 points in his first game followed by 8 points in the Top 30 Game, where he showed he can score off the dribble from the perimeter, as well as being a creative finisher over height in the paint. Rodriguez has a solid handle on the ball, has the shifty moves to create space from his defender, plays with good pace and control, and makes good reads to open teammates when on the attack. Rodriguez has a nice jumper that he knocks down with accuracy, and moves well off the ball to be a catch-and-shoot threat. Tough defender that puts relentless pressure on opposing ball handlers.
2027 6’ Ty Schalk (Clovis North/Fresno CA)
Schalk is a lights-out shooting guard that can create his own buckets or knock down shots off the catch and shoot, with range from beyond the arc. Schalk came out the gates swinging, as he would put up 14 points with 4 threes to lead Team White in the opening game and earn a spot in the Top 30 Game. Schalk has solid handles, good moves to evade his defender when attacking off the perimeter, and a smooth stroke on his outside shot. Schalk was impressive hitting long shots off the dribble, as well as moving off the ball to get open for catch-and-shoot opportunities. Schalk is a player to keep an eye on over the next four years and will be part of a loaded guard core at Clovis North.
2025 6’6 Agustus “Gus” Swenning (Clovis North/Fresno CA)
Swenning is an athletic and physical forward that controls the glass and spaces the floor with the 3-ball. Swenning had a solid 8 points and 6 rebounds in his first game, which earned him a spot in the Top 30 Game where he had 8 points and 8 rebounds connecting on a pair of threes. Swenning uses his size to control the boards, has good touch on finishes around the basket, can play back to the basket or facing up, has enough handle to get downhill off the perimeter, and is a threat beyond the arc. Swenning has good bounce, alters shots around the cup, and gets up the court in transition to make himself available for easy layups and dunks. Swenning could be a key piece for Clovis North, as they look to replace the post presence of Jaylen Bryant and Malik Musleh.
2024 6’3 Tad Tibbett (Immanuel/Reedley CA)
Tibbett is a forward/wing that controls the glass, has the frame to score amongst taller players, and able to defend on the wing as well as in the post. Tibbett had an impressive showing, as he would score 12 points in his first game, and followed that up with a dominant 15 points in the Top 30 Game, as he punished the opposition in the paint. Tibbett does a great job on the glass, has nice touch on finishes around the basket, is able to hit the mid-range shot, makes quality passes from the post, and does a solid job of playing to his strengths. Another first-timer for me and there is a lot to like about Tibbett’s game and toughness.
2024 6’3 Mikah Tolpezninkas (Immanuel/Reedley CA)
Tolpezninkas is a wing/forward that has the physicality to finish through contact at the basket, as well as catch fire from beyond the arc. Tolpezninkas had 7 points in each game and showed that he can space the floor with the 3-ball, as well as use his strong build to muscle through contact around the basket. Tolpezninkas has good handles, makes nice use of the crossover to create space between his defender, and can get downhill to attack the basket. He moves well off the ball and is ready to fire from the perimeter off the dribble or the catch and shoot with range. This was my first time seeing Tolpezninkas live and he will be a key piece for an Immanuel team that will enter next season with higher expectations than the previous 3 seasons.
2025 6’ Tarrin Valenzuela (Roosevelt/Fresno CA)
Valenzuela is a tough lead guard that has a solid handle on the ball, is able to bully his way through traffic at the cup, and has solid court vision to make plays on the attack. Valenzuela had an impressive first game, as he would score 12 points, connected on a pair of threes, and earned a spot in the Top 30 Game. Valenzuela has a tight handle on the ball, moves to shake his defender, able to create shots off the dribble, and is a creative finisher around the basket. Valenzuela has impressive court vision, makes quality decisions when on the attack, and makes good reads to open teammates. Tough player that does a solid job defending opposing ball handlers.
2025 6’2 Elijah Wade (Garces Memorial/Bakersfield CA)
Wade is a physical combo guard/wing that is able to finish through contact around the basket and effectively defend the 1 through 3 positions. Wade was one of only a handful of Bakersfield players in attendance and took advantage of the event being held at the school he attends, as he would score 16 points in his first game and earned a spot in the Top 30 Game. Wade has solid handles, makes good use of the crossover to get by his defender and attack the basket, and has the physical build to finish through contact around the basket. Wade is effective enough from the 3-point line, which opens up driving lanes he looks to attack. Wade continues to improve as a shot-maker off the dribble, has the court vision to find open players when on the attack, and uses his long wingspan to stay active on the glass and alter shots from the weak side. Wade is a lock-up defender, has great lateral movement, active hands to disrupt the opponents’ dribbling space, and creates turnovers and easy transition points.
2024 6’4 Brice Watley (Dinuba/CA)
Watley is a wing/forward that does a solid job on the glass, has good touch on finishes around the basket, and is versatile as a defender. Watley had 8 points in his first game and earned a spot in the Top 30 Game. Watley works nicely off the pick and roll, finds openings in the short corner for open looks, and showed the ability to hit the mid-range jumper.
2026 6’ Cliff Willis (South/Bakersfield CA)
Willis is a lead guard that controls the pace of play, has solid court vision to find open teammates when on the attack, and can score the ball from 3 levels. Willis was another last-minute addition and he earned a spot in the Top 30 Game by scoring 9 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and making some high-level passes to the open man. Willis has nice handles, makes good use of the hesitation and redirection to get his opponent off balance, is accurate with the 3-ball off the dribble, and is improving as an on-ball defender that creates turnovers and easy points. Willis plays with poise, makes quality decisions when operating at the point, and keeps pressure on the defense as a playmaker and a scorer.
