Long Beach, CA – This past weekend Dinos Trigonis hosted his annual Ron Massey Memorial Fall Hoops Classic at McBride High School. The event featured some of the top high school programs and players in California, and by default nationally, as some teams played in showcase games and others were part of the Pangos Elite 8 Challenge of Champions bracket. I was focused on Court 1 throughout the weekend, which featured all of the teams from the Pangos Elite 8, as well as teams like Campbell Hall, Santa Margarita Catholic, Lynwood, Pacifica Christian, and Bishop Montgomery to name a few.
The Pangos Elite 8 Division consisted of the following teams: Centennial Corona, St. Joseph, Roosevelt of Eastvale, St. John Bosco, Mater Dei, Crean Lutheran, St. Bernard, and Winward. Some of the nation’s top players in their respective classes were on display in this division such as Carter Bryant, Tounde Yessoufou, Brandon McCoy, Elzie Harrington, and more. Bradyn Burries of Roosevelt only played in one game Saturday night, as we were told he had a prior family engagement that kept him out of the rest of the event and is a key reason I did not have him listed as one of the top 25 performers from the event, despite his 16-point game helping his team edge out a win over St. Bernard. For an excellent recap of the entire event, see articles written by Frank Burlison who always does a great job recapping all the games from events with scores and player statistics.
In this article, I take a look at my Top 25 Performers from the Ron Massey Classic. I did not see every game of the event, which would be a reason why some players are not included but may have performed well in the game(s) they played in and might be mentioned by other scouts in attendance. I provide a brief summary of how each player performed at the 2-day event, recorded statistics from the games, the players’ information, and some notes on the players’ skill set. The players below are NOT in ranked order but listed alphabetically, but I would have Tounde Yessoufou as the overall Most Oustanding Player of the event, as he averaged 30 points per game in the Pangos Elite 8 Division. We begin with Drew Anderson.
2026 6’7 Drew Anderson (Santa Margarita Catholic/RSM CA)
Arguably one of the biggest stock risers from the Ron Massey Classic was the tall and lengthy sharp-shooter, Drew Anderson. Anderson went for a game-high 29 points in a loss to Campbell Hall and knocked down 5 threes in the process. Anderson has a smooth stroke from the perimeter, is highly efficient from the 3-point line off the dribble or the catch-and-shoot, has enough handle to attack off the wing, moves well off the ball on back-cuts for open looks at the basket, and has the size to shoot over most defenders. Anderson is solid on the boards, alters shots in the post, and showed he can make good reads from the top of the key. Intriguing prospect in a deep class.
2026 6’6 Tajh Ariza (St. Bernard/Playa del Rey CA)
Ariza had an impressive weekend and has made great strides with his ability to score the ball from the perimeter, as he is living up to the projected long-term potential he has as a prospect. Ariza was on fire in the 1st half of the opening round of Pangos Elite 8 Bracket at the Ron Massey Classic, as he scored 21 of his game-high 26 points and connected on 4 threes. This was followed up with an 18-point performance in the Vikings’ final game of the weekend. Ariza looked much more comfortable creating his own shots off the dribble, especially from beyond the arc, as he has the length to shoot over most perimeter defenders, the handles and moves to create off the bounce, gets good lift on his mid-range jumper, and is a creative finisher around the basket. Ariza does a solid job on the glass, likes to push the tempo, and is becoming a versatile defender who can guard on the wing with the size to defend on switch-offs. He made nice use of the spin move to create separation with the body control to get quality looks on his shots.
2026 6’2 Kaiden Bailey (Crean Lutheran/Irvine CA)
Bailey has been one of the top scorers for the 2026 class in California since his freshman campaign and that was on full display at the Ron Massey Classic. Bailey had a slow start by his standards, finishing with 14 points against Centennial Corona. Bailey picked up the pace on Sunday, as he would drop 25 points and 33 points in his last two games for an average of 24 points per game. Bailey has the moves and handles to create his own shots off the dribble, plays with good change of pace to create space from his defender, and can knock down tough perimeter shots with consistency.
2025 6’5 Brandon Benjamin (Mater Dei/Santa Ana CA)
Benjamin carried the scoring load for the short-handed Monarchs at the Ron Massey Classic and showed why he will be a welcomed addition to go along with standout sophomores Brannon Martinsen and Luke Barnett. Benjamin had games of 20 points, 25 points, and 18 points for an average of 21 points per game. Benjamin has great footwork and body control, and moves to create shots within fifteen feet, as well as handles and moves to create shots off the bounce, and has a nice mid-range jumper. Benjamin does a solid job on the boards, plays with nice pace, and makes nice reads from the high post to cutting teammates.
2025 6’7 Kade Bonam (St. John Bosco/Bellflower CA)
Bonam displayed his offensive versatility over the weekend and led the talented Braves squad in scoring, as he would go for 13 points and 18 points respectively and made his presence felt from the post to the perimeter. Bonam has handles and moves to create off the dribble, is effective from the perimeter, has the footwork and moves to score in the post, and has the physical build to finish through contact. Bonam can operate off the wing and is a force going downhill, but is at his best scoring when he looks for the mid-range jumper making him tough to defend. Bonam does a solid job on the glass and can push the pace of play in the open court.
2024 6’8 Carter Bryant (Centennial/Corona CA)
Bryant was the most impressive all-around player at the Ron Massey Classic, as he showed his ability to create shots, make plays with the ball in his hands, control the boards to push the pace of play, and was altering and blocking shots on the perimeter and in the post. Bryant had a cool 13 points in Saturday night’s pretty easy win over Crean Lutheran and followed that up with an impressive stat line in the Huskies two-point semifinal win over St. Joseph, as he would score 12 points, connecting on 4 threes, to go along with 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks. Bryant has displayed the vocal leadership needed on a revamped Centennial team that has won 3 straight Section titles and is one of the top prospects in the senior class nationally. Bryant has the moves and footwork to score in the post, as well as the moves and handles to create shots off the dribble with a smooth jumper, and the height to shoot over most perimeter defenders.
2026 6’4 AJ Johnson (Pacifica Christian/Newport Beach CA)
Johnson was the leading scorer for the Tritons in their two showcase games at the Ron Massey Classic with games of 15 points and 13 points. Johnson has solid handles, uses his length and the crossover to get separation from his opponent, is accurate from the perimeter off the dribble, and has good touch on the floater. Johnson has good court vision, the size to see over defenders, and the ability to make quality reads when on the attack. He will be relied upon to be more of a scoring threat this season with the graduation of Parker Strauss.
2026 6’3 Jason Crowe Jr. (Lynwood/CA)
Crowe has been one of the top scorers in the 2026 class nationally and coming off an outstanding freshman campaign that culminated in leading the state of California in scoring. Crowe had his offensive skill set on display at the Ron Massey Classis, as he would put up 25 points before the bench players finished out the last 4-plus minutes of the game. Crowe has great moves to create separation off the dribble, keeps relentless pressure on the defense, plays with good pace and feel, and can score from 3-levels. Crowe is accurate with the 3-ball, weaves through the defense to get to his shot spots, has nice touch on his floater, and is a creative finisher around the basket. Crowe has various moves and counter moves to generate space and hits difficult shots routinely.
2025 5’11 Rocco Gaffoglio (Foothill/Santa Ana CA)
Gaffoglio showcased his relentless motor on both ends, along with his ability to create scoring opportunities from the perimeter off the bounce or the catch-and-shoot. Gaffoglio has shifty handles and moves to create space from his defender, takes and makes tough perimeter shots off the dribble from the mid-range to the 3-point line, and is a creative finisher over size around the basket. He does a solid job defending opposing guards and moves well off the ball to get open looks. Gaffoglio plays with good pace and change of direction to keep his opponent off balance.
2025 6’6 Elzie Harrington (St. John Bosco/Bellflower CA)
Harrington did not put up huge scoring numbers but highlighted the numerous ways he impacts the game with the ball in his hands. Harrington had games of 12 points and 11 points, with 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the latter. Harrington has the size to control the boards, the lead guard skills and court vision with the height to find teammates all over the court, and can get his own buckets when he looks to attack the defense. Harrington is accurate with the 3-ball, has the moves to get downhill, the length to finish over taller players around the basket, and has a nice pull-up jumper. Plays with good pace, changes it up to keep his defender guessing, and makes quality decisions.
2025 6’6 J.J. Harris (Windward/Los Angeles CA)
Harris was one of the biggest stock risers of the weekend, as he displayed his versatility on both sides of the court and has ideal length and size that coaches find appealing at the next level. Harris put on two impressive performances on Sunday, as he put up 27 points and 15 points respectively. Harris has the moves to create off the perimeter, is accurate with the 3-ball off the bounce or the catch-and-shoot, and has the handles to put the ball on the deck and attack the basket. Harris has a long wingspan, disrupts passing lanes, controls the glass with the ability to push the ball up the court, and can defend multiple positions. Really like his long-term upside.
2024 6’3 Aliaun Iscandari (Campbell Hall/North Hollywood CA)
Iscandari makes plays on both ends of the court, bringing relentless effort and hustle while playing under control. Iscandari had solid showings in both of the Vikings showcase games, scoring 16 points and 19 points respectively over the weekend and showed he can space the floor with the 3-ball. Iscandari has a good burst of speed off the bounce, is a creative finisher at the basket, has active hands that routinely turn defense to offense, and does a solid job on the boards and running the floor in transition.
2025 6’8 Douglas Langford (St. Pius X-St. Matthias/Downey CA)
Langford was one of the more dominant post players at the Ron Massey Classic, as he was throwing down everything near the rim and bullying through contact when going up for finishes and scored 18 points in his team’s Saturday showcase game followed by 11 points in Sunday’s win over Veritas Prep. Langford controls the glass, makes the quick outlet path, runs the floor well in transition, and has nice touch on his shot within 15 feet. He has solid footwork, good body control, and has nice back-to-the-basket moves.
2026 6’3 Brandon McCoy (St. John Bosco/Bellflower CA)
McCoy showed why is ranked in the top 10 nationally for the class of 2026, as he made countless plays on both ends of the court. McCoy had games of 12 and 10 points this past weekend, but it was his passing, tenacious on-ball defense, and shot-creativity from the mid-range that impressed the eyes in the gym. McCoy has a long wingspan, active hands, and gets into his opponents’ dribbling space and creates turnovers that lead to transition points. McCoy has nice footwork, gets good lift on his jumper, and makes nice use of the pivot to connect on tough jumpers routinely. He does a solid job on the glass, plays with good pace, can accelerate to blow by his defender, and can rise up over opposing rim protectors. Although McCoy is already a top-10 player, he still has room to improve and will be a lethal 3-level scorer and elite two-way player when all said and done. Fun player to watch.
2024 6’ Quincy Phillips (St. Anthony/Long Beach CA)
Phillips had an impressive showing against Lynwood, as he had a game-high 26 points with 23 coming after the break that led to a win. Phillips has solid handles and moves to create off the dribble, gets downhill and does not waste dribbles, plays with good pace to weave through the defense, and the strength to finish through contact around the basket. Phillips has solid footwork and moves to create separation needed to get off his jumper. Phillips added in 12 points on Sunday in a win over Rolling Hills Prep.
2024 6’2 Aaron Powell (Campbell Hall/North Hollywood CA)
Powell was one of the top scorers at the Ron Massey Classic and will be the driving force offensively for the Vikings this season. Powell had one of the top-scoring performances in his first showcase game, putting up 28 points connecting on 6 threes in the process. Powell followed that up with a 19-point performance in his second game with 13 of those points coming after halftime. Powell is lightning-quick on the court, has nice body control when on the attack, is a creative finisher at the basket, and has limitless range from beyond the arc. Powell makes great use of the hesitation to keep his defender off balance, can stop on a dime, gets good lift on his jumper, and makes good reads when the defense collapses on him. Volume scorer that can hurt the defense from various spots on the court.
2026 6’3 Julius Price (St. Joseph/Santa Maria CA)
Price was one of the more electric lead guards at the Ron Massey Classic, as he displayed his ability to make plays, break the defense down, and create his own scoring opportunities. Price had 19 points in the Knights opening win over Mater Dei and followed that up with a 16-point showing in a tough loss to Centennial Corona. Price has elite handles, the moves to create the separation needed to get his shot off from the perimeter, great speed off the dribble to get into the teeth of the defense, the court vision to find open teammates, and the creativity with the ball to fake out defenders for open looks around the basket. Price has a smooth stroke from the perimeter and is a legit 3-level scorer. He is underrated as an on-ball defender and has quick hands that lead to turnovers and transition points. Price, along with Yessoufou, will be one of the best duos in the state.
2026 6’2 Isaiah “Slim” Rogers (Centennial/Corona CA)
Rogers has been one of the fastest-rising prospects in the 2026 class and is gaining recognition nationally. Rogers showed he will be a key piece of the new-look Huskies roster and was the team’s leading scorer at the Ron Massey Classic, finishing with 16 points and 15 points in the two games he played in, as both teams played reserves in the championship game. Rogers keeps the ball on a string, fluid moves to create off the dribble and generate space from his defender, has a smooth stroke from the perimeter, and the court vision to make pin-point passes to open teammates. Rogers is a solid on-ball defender, plays with great pace and poise with the ball in hand, and makes great use of the hesitation and redirection to keep his opponent off balance.
2024 6’6 Tyrone Riley (St. Pius X-St. Matthias/Downey CA)
Riley had two strong showings in his team’s showcase games at the Ron Massey Classic, as he would score 20 points on Saturday and 22 points on Sunday, both were team-highs that led to wins. Riley has a smooth jumper off the dribble, long wingspan to disrupt passing lanes and control the boards, the handles to push the ball up the court, and alters shots on the wing and in the post. Riley has solid handles, makes good use of the crossover to get by his defender, and makes some high-flying dunks in the open-court and half-court settings. Gifted athlete that can create his own shots off the dribble and quality court vision to make plays.
2024 6’3 Darnez Slater (Roosevelt/Eastvale CA)
Slater continues to show that he is a legit Division 1 prospect and impacts the game in countless ways on defense and offense. Slater led the Mustangs with 21 points in an opening night thriller, as Roosevelt defeated St. Bernard in a comeback win. Slater followed that up with a team-high 17 points in a semifinal loss to St. John Bosco. Slater plays well on and off the ball, has the moves and handles to create shots off the dribble, has the physical build to bully through traffic in the paint, and has great footwork to pivot off his defender for tough fadeaway jumpers he hits routinely. Slater is capable of defending the 1 through 3 positions effectively, is the first on the ground for loose balls, and uses his quick leaping ability to control the boards amongst the bigs. Plays at a fast pace with control and the court vision to make tough passes in tight windows. Flat out competes every play.
2025 6’3 Owen Verna (Mater Dei/Santa Ana CA)
Verna stepped his scoring up this past weekend for the short-handed Monarchs and was on fire from beyond the arc in his last game with 4 threes. Verna had games of 13 points, 19 points, and 16 points, and showed the ability to score in a variety of ways. Verna has a solid handle on the ball, has a nice burst of speed when getting downhill, and uses his strong frame to finish through contact at the basket. Verna has a smooth shooting form, and is accurate from the perimeter off the dribble or the catch-and-shoot, as he moves fluidly off the ball to get to open spots. Verna does a solid job on the glass and pushes the pace of play in the open court. Plays with a relentless motor and makes quality plays.
2025 6’3 Caleb Versher (St. Bernard/Playa del Rey CA)
Versher was one of the more consistent scoring threats for the Vikings at the Ron Massey Classic, as he would have an impressive Day 2 scoring 24 points, connecting on 3 threes, followed by a 22-point performance to wrap up the weekend. Versher has a physical build that he uses to create and finish through contact in the paint, is effective with the 3-ball off the bounce, and does a nice job on the glass as a guard, which allows him to push the tempo in the open court. He has good court vision and makes quality reads when attacking the defense.
2025 6’2 Issac Williamson (Roosevelt/Eastvale CA)
Williamson stepped up big time on championship Sunday, as the Mustangs were without standout junior Brayden Burries on day 2, as he would score 16 points and a team-high 26 points in a tough 3rd place loss to St. Joseph and connected on 13 threes over the course of 3 games. Williamson has shifty moves to create separation, a quick release to shoot over taller defenders, the handles to weave through the defense, and the body control to finish through contact at the basket. Williamson plays with good on-court speed and makes good use of the hesitation to generate space from his opponent. He will be a key contributor along with Slater and Burries for the predicted Open Division Mustangs.
2025 6’1 Denis Woods (Bishop Montgomery/Torrance CA)
Woods was another player who took advantage of the platform at the Ron Massey Classic in front of eyes that matter in prep hoops. Woods led the Knights with 21 points and kept constant pressure on the defense attacking the basket. Woods showed the moves and handles to create off the dribble, made good use of the Euro-step to get by defenders, and was able to finish strong through contact. Woods has good foot speed and lateral movement to be a solid on-ball defender that generates turnovers.
2025 6’6 Tounde Yessoufou (St. Joseph/Santa Maria CA)
Yessoufou had another dominant showing at the Ron Massey Fall Classic, as he was the most dominant offensive force on the floor in a gym loaded with talent. Yessoufou would back up his outstanding showing from last year’s event, where he averaged 33 points per game, as he would have games of 27 points, 35 points, and 28 points for an average of 30 points per game and was named Most Outstanding Player by national scout Frank Burlison. His 35-point performance against Centennial Corona was special to witness, as he would knock down 5 threes, showed improved moves to create shots off the perimeter, and displayed his elite lift on the jumper to shoot over most defenders. Yessoufou dominates the glass, has great body control through traffic at the basket, and has the hangtime for some crafty finishes around the cup. Yessoufou continues to evolve as a perimeter/wing player, but with his size and athleticism, his bread and butter is within 15 feet. Tounde is set for another phenomenal season as he and sophomore Julius Price will have to carry the bulk of the scoring load for the defending NorCal Open State Champs.
