We evaluated all the sessions of the Pangos Jr. Triple Crown Camp at Cerritos (Calif.) College on Sunday, plus the three All-Star Games, and the following five players caught our eye as promising young talents on the SoCal hoops scene.
Related: Pangos Jr. Triple Crown 30 Standout Performers
Pangos Jr. Triple Crown
Five Breakout Performers
(listed alphabetically)
Riley Battin (Homeschool) 6-6 2018 PF
This power player with a true back-to-the-basket game was the most consistent post player in attendance. He used his body well to get position and finish with short turnarounds or bank shots. He also displayed the ability to make the correct decision when he got the ball inside and his mid-range shot was on target Sunday.
Naseem Gaskin (St. Leo School, Los Angeles) 5-10 2018 PG
When the camp began, Gaskin was on the far court and quickly caught the eye of San Diego-based scout Aaron Burgin (Full-Time Hoops) because of his ability to push the ball and create. When we got a chance to watch him more closely, he was as good as advertised. Gaskin was active defensively and a blur in transition. He does need to work on being aggressive 100 percent of the time on the court to maximize his natural talent, which is plentiful.
Jamal Hartwell (Frank D. Parent, Inglewood, Calif.) 5-9 2018 PG
This flashy lead guard was hitting outside shots at a high percentage and kept his handle tight for the most part. Hartwell also does a solid job of continuously attacking the defense with his dribble. Many young guards with his advanced ball-handling ability simply dribble and go nowhere, but Hartwell did a good job of dribbling with a purpose. His feathery jump shot makes his already solid floor game that much more dangerous.
Race Parks (St. John, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) 6-7 2018 C
The son of former NBA, Duke and Marina (Huntington Beach, Calif.) two-time all-stater Cherokee Parks, Race had a slow start but really picked it up as the day went on. He’s a bit raw facing the basket, but Parks runs the floor well, has solid hands and can finish well. Race’s best basketball is yet to come and he’s likely to be a height comparable to his father (6-foot-11). He wears a size 16 shoe and has some projectable skills.
Makani Whiteside (Our Lady Help of Christians, Los Angeles) 6-0 2019 W
We’ve seen Whiteside on plenty of occasions over the past year and his improvement has spiked sharply. His frame continues to add inches and his improved face-up game makes him a dangerous offensive player. Whiteside was finishing drives with both hands on Sunday and attacking the rim with a purpose. He’s also an excellent passer, but must improve on reading the defense instead of pre-determining whether he’s going to shoot, drive or pass.
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