Underclassmen Bernard, Reichle impress at All-West

NORWALK, Calif — There was no telling what the basketball junkies attending the Fullcourt Press All-West camp were going to get, with it being held on the weekend of the Fourth of July holiday and all. But the media who descended upon Cerritos College July 3rd and 4th were by no means disappointed in the haul of players assembled by Dinos Trigonis and Etop Udo-Ema. The camp provided a strong collection of Southern California products, some talented players from outside the SoCal bubble and a good mix of guys from different graduating classes. The most impressive performance from the class of 2016 goes to Jordan Griffin of Corona (Calif.) Centennial high school, who led Team White to a 72-68 victory over Team Black in the Top 25 game. Griffin is one of the best outside shooters that Southern California has to offer and he provided plenty of his patented “rise-and-fire” moments on the weekend. At times it seems like Griffin has a bionic right arm due to his ability to consistently repeat the same shooting motion over and over and over. Griffin’s high school and Compton Magic AAU teammate, UCLA-commit Ike Anigbogu, participated in the first of the two-day camp, but was notable nonetheless. My superior and Hall-of-Fame basketball writer Frank Burlison (BurlisonOnBasketball.com) quipped that Anigbogu will lead the CIF in dunks next season and I don’t see any way that doesn’t happen. Anigbogu is a load in the paint at 6-foot-9, 240 pounds with meat cleavers for hands. Johnny McWilliams, another Compton Magic product, earned a spot in the Top 25 game, and rightfully so. McWilliams, who moonlights as a wide receiver at San Marcos High in the San Diego area, is a high IQ basketball player who is tough on the defensive end and a good jump shooter. La Mirada’s version of “Stretch Armstrong,” class of 2016 wing Vittorio Reynoso-Avila, might have the longest wingspan of any person under 6-foot-5….Ever. In the history of the world. I’m not kidding. Reynoso-Avila was very good on the weekend and uses his length to his advantage on the defensive end. The best part about his game is his ability to move off the ball and knack for cutting into the weak spots of the defense for easy looks. Omaje Smith of Foothills Christian in San Diego dominated the Top 50 game to lead Team White over Team Black, 82-59. Smith was a terror in transition and got to the basket whenever he pleased. Class of 2016 “Sleepers” Point guard Berry Roseborough IV had a good weekend. At 5-foot-9, the Sacramento Monterey Trail prospect is quick and crafty with the basketball in his hands and can score from anywhere on the court. Forward Wyatt Maker, a 6-foot-8 guy from Palma HS in Salinas (Calif.), runs the floor well, has a good set of hands and does nice job on the defensive end. The honors for best player in the class of 2017 goes to sharpshooting Zach Reichle of Wilsonville (OR) High.

(Pictured above: Class of 2017 guard Zach Reichle. Photo credit: Devin Ugland)

Reichle started out the weekend as “86,” because that was the number on the back of the jersey he was wearing. But as the 6-foot-3 lefty continued to pepper in shots from 3-point range, he became “the guy.” Reichle has interest from a number of college programs, including Oregon State, Oregon, Stanford and UC Irvine. The staff at UCI extended a scholarship offer to Reichle on Saturday morning. Las Vegas Shadow Ridge product Jerell Springer came in as a guy who was under-the-radar, but his performance created a buzz. Another player from this class who did a lot of good things was Corona (Calif.) Centennial PG Isom Butler. Butler, who plays AAU ball with “Buckets on Deck,” is a strongly-built kid who is explosive in the open court. Granada Hills (Calif.) wing Michael Mensah wasn’t shy about getting his, and the shots were falling, so why not? Norman (OK) product Winston Nelson is hard working 6-foot-7 rising-junior. Nelson, who plays high school hoops with highly-touted PG Trae Young (who I watched at the Pangos All-American Camp), runs the floor and can knock down the jumper out to 17-feet. The top performer from the class of 2018, and one of the best players at the camp regardless of class, was Compton Magic and Los Angeles Windward's Jules Bernard.

(Pictured above: Class of 2018 wing Jules Bernard. Photo credit: Devin Ugland) Bernard, who picked up an offer from USC on Friday, is of the point-forward mold at 6-foot-5. He does a little bit of everything on the offensive end of the floor. Class of 2018 Maka Ellis of Las Vegas Sierra Vista HS and Top Gun AAU showed off his high IQ play and deft shooting touch. Ellis is getting both mid and high-major college looks and is deserving of them. Six-foot-9 big man Barrett Keith is another rising-sophomore to keep an eye on. Keith hails from Frisco, Texas, attends Independence high school and has a good understanding for how to play with his back to the basket. Bryce Meadows, a 2018 point guard from Scottsdale, Arizona, has a lot of potential moving forward. Meadows plays fast, sometimes too fast, but has an endless motor and that’s something that cannot be taught. The best freshman-to-be was 6-foot-7 wing Isaiah Mobley. Mobley will be playing at Rancho Christian high school in Temecula for former San Diego State player Ray Barefield. Harvard Westlake-bound incoming freshman Cassius Stanley graced the gym with his superior athleticism on Friday, while fellow 2019 prospect Makani Whiteside provided flashes of why he’s considered a top SoCal 2019 player.

The Top 50 and Top 25 game rosters are pictured below: