Our 3rd annual National Preview turned out to be the best yet. Taking place in Orange County, it featured the best of the best of youth basketball players. With teams from all over Southern California, Northern California, and Nevada, the competition was intense. This event hosted 75 Varsity boys teams, with a handful playing in our top “OPEN” division. These teams were able to play against other schools outside of their district in preparation for their high school seasons. Moving forward, you can expect this to be a can’t-miss event when it comes to high school basketball in Orange County.
That’s the level of competition we like. I have 4 guys ranked in the Top 5 in class of 2025, 2026, & 2027 so these guys need games like this! The hospitality was unmatched.
Daimar Harris – Head Coach, Desert Pines High School
4-0 Teams
Canyon– Despite missing two of their best players, Canyon’s fast-paced level of play proved to be a problem for opponents.
La Mirada – Junior, Julien Gomez and Freshman, Gene Roebuck proved to be a dominant duo all weekend. As chemistry and defense continues to improve, expect La Mirada to be an Open level team come playoffs.
Montgomery – Coming in from San Diego, the Aztecs were dominant all weekend. Their depth and chemistry left defenses frustrated, and their unselfishness causes every player on the court to be a threat with the ball in their hands.
Dana Hills – With an offense lead by senior, Collin Haugh, the Dolphins can score buckets at will. They play fast paced and have great chemistry which keeps the ball moving at all times.
Hillcrest – The duo of Mckel Shedrick and Nate Bowden allowed Hillcrest to be a force all weekend. Playing with energy on both ends will help this team go far in their upcoming season.
LB Wilson – A fast paced team who plays with passion and energy. They have great depth and can make a deep run this season.
Northwood – A well-coached team who plays very unselfish basketball. This team keeps the ball moving at all times and never lets defenses relax.
Oaks Christian – With a good combination of seniors and younger players, this team has solid depth. They stick to their system and are well-coached allowing them to stay solid down the stretch in close games.
Santiago – Definitely a young team, with only 3 seniors on their roster, but their chemistry and depth will help them go far this season.
Villa Park – Junior, Dakari Harris showed his versatility all weekend and helped push a very good Spartans team to their 4-0 record.
Weekend Standouts:
- Carter Bryant (Corona Centennial): In a LOADED 2024 class, it is no surprise that Carter is ranked near the top. The #10 player in the country is committed to Arizona and has all the makings of a pro. He is 6’8 and lengthy. He can shoot it from anywhere off the catch and off the dribble and is bound to catch a highlight when he gets around the rim. Coming off a CIF championship and a semi-final appearance in the State Championship, Centennial is looking to show they are the best team in California.
- Gene Roebuck (La Mirada): The 5 star freshman showed that he is ready for high school basketball. He was dominant in all aspects and showed a pro-level skillset with the ball in his hands. He was hitting shots from deep and bullying defenders in the paint. Gene is a name to remember and will definitely be a player to watch in the upcoming season.
- Collin Haugh (Dana Hills): The senior from Dana Hills is a flat out shooter. Giving him an inch of space on the perimeter is basically a layup to him. He can score off the catch or off the dribble and has drastically improved his downhill game. He is crafty around the rim and does not shy away from bigger defenders.
- Aaron Glass (Rancho Cucamonga): Aaron has a skillset and competitive fire that will make him a threat at the next level. He embraces the competition and has a game to back it. He can score in a variety of ways, and showed he is deadly in iso-situations. He can hit tough shots from the perimeter but also play with great pace and control when getting downhill. Only a junior, Aaron is going to continue to get better and better.
- Justin Perez (Saugus): Justin is a senior who helps lead a very fast-paced Saugus team. He can shoot it from the perimeter but uses his quickness to get downhill. He has a high IQ and can create good looks for his teammates.
- Derrion Manson (Lincoln): The senior guard is explosive and plays with fire on both ends. His on-ball defense is intense creating deflections and turnovers for him to get out on the break where he can finish above the rim. He is not afraid to hit the open man and has improved his pace when in traffic.
- Mckel Shedrick (Hillcrest): Mckel is a junior who showed his versatility all weekend. He has a lengthy frame and can finish through contact. He uses his athleticism to be a threat on both the offensive and defensive boards.
- Julien Gomez (La Mirada): Julien is a high level junior who has proven he is a pure scorer. The lefty can get downhill at will but if the defense sags off, he can hit shots from deep at a high rate. He is unselfish with the ball in his hands and hits the open man when defenders slide over to help. After averaging 26.6 points a game as a sophomore, expect a big junior year from Julien.
- Luke Barnett (Mater Dei): The 6’4 wing was extremely impressive all weekend. Although just a sophomore, he plays aggressive and has proven you can’t give him any space. He has a quick release and can shoot it from deep. He is sneaky athletic when getting downhill, showing he can finish above the rim.
- Darrion Lilly (Weston Ranch): An extremely versatile junior, who plays with fire and a high motor. He can hit threes if you leave him open and is not afraid of contact inside. He uses his big frame to grab rebounds and has the ability to start fast breaks, creating buckets for himself and others.
- JJ Harris (Windward): A lengthy junior who isn’t afraid of big moments. He has a quick release and hit crucial shots in close games all weekend. He is sneaky athletic and can get downhill when defenses closeout hard on him.
- Brayden Burries (Roosevelt): Ranked as the #27 Junior for a reason, Brayden showed that he is a next level player. His athleticism is off the charts, finishing above the rim on multiple occasions. He showed that he has improved his perimeter jumper and overall plays calm and under control. With a loaded roster behind him, expect Burries and Roosevelt to be an Open level team come playoff time.
- Yeshua Kesse-Beda (Rancho Christian): Yeshua is an athletic junior who plays aggressive when getting down hill. His length allows him to finish well at the rim and he is not afraid of contact. He is very active on the glass and helps his team in more ways than just scoring.
- Yaseen Singleton (Sheldon): An extremely explosive guard who gets downhill at will. His first step has burst to it and he plays with his head up at all times, making the right passes when defenders help. In transition he can finish above or dish to others for open buckets.
- JJ Sanchez (Montgomery): A junior with good size and handles, he plays under control at all times. He never lets defenses speed him up and uses his high IQ to make the right plays. He uses his footwork and craftiness to get buckets around the rim and can extend beyond the three point line when needed.