We took in each days on the Ron Massey Memorial Fall Hoops Basic at McBride (Lengthy Seaside, Calif.) and overview what we discovered from the occasion. Though the problem of champions title recreation was a letdown, the occasion taught us loads and launched us to some high quality younger prospects. We additionally current the occasion’s all-tournament group.
1. Tounde Yessoufou Might Be Particular
St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.) was the final entrant into the eight-team Problem of Champions bracket and the Knights didn’t disappoint, primarily due to their ultra-talented 2025 wing. Final season, he was on our production-based 15-man Underclass All-American group for freshmen (2025). We additionally really feel the Benin native is a prime 15 prospect within the nationwide sophomore class primarily based on what he displayed at Ron Massey. Yessoufou has lengthy displayed super ending capacity, terrific palms on the catch and the boards and a bodily stage of play that you just simply don’t typically discover in a sophomore. What Yessoufou added to his offensive recreation is deeper vary on his leap shot, higher ball expertise and the power to create house off the dribble. He additionally assaults the offensive and defensive glass with a vengeance and has improved his horizontal explosiveness since final season. Bundle all that collectively and you’ve got essentially the most spectacular total participant on the occasion. Yessoufou averaged 33.7 ppg in three Problem of Champion video games, together with a 40-point efficiency in a 71-64 loss to defending CIF Open champ Centennial (Corona, Calif.). Yessoufou was working exhausting for his factors due to his expanded ball-handling duties and drained a bit throughout his second recreation on Sunday within the 77-73 comfort remaining loss to St. Bernard (Playa del Rey, Calif.) by which he completed with 30 factors. As soon as this highly effective sophomore improves his play off pick-n-roll conditions, learns to make faster actions off the ball to place himself in prime scoring place and will get extra snug along with his teammates, the sky is the restrict for him and his group.
2. The Trinity League Race Will Be Enjoyable
The kingpin of the Trinity League, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), captured the 2022 Ron Massey Problem of Champions championship with a 55-42 victory over Centennial (Corona, Calif.), as freshman (2026) small ahead Che Brogan led the way in which with 16 factors. Now, the championship recreation was tempered as a result of Centennial didn’t play its regular starters (the Huskies return three from a group that completed ranked No. 1 in California and No. 5 within the FAB 50) and in response the Monarchs substituted liberally. Regardless, the Monarchs have a completely totally different and improved look since we final noticed them earlier in the summertime at Part 7 in the course of the scholastic stay interval and different occasions. An inflow of gifted first-year gamers, together with Brogan, will do an admirable job in aiding the Monarchs in its try to hold two outstanding streaks alive. Mater Dei is seeking to win its league title, shared or outright, in 2022-23 for the thirty fifth consecutive season and is the one program to seem within the ultra-competitive CIF Southern Part open playoffs yearly since its inception in 2013-14. In June, these streaks appeared in severe jeopardy, however Ron Massey confirmed us it is going to be thrilling to see if different Trinity League groups can put a halt to each streaks. Brogan is a giant motive for the thrill, because the slashing left-hander within the mould of Manu Ginóbili is off to a great begin for the Monarchs. He earned all-tournament honors after averaging 14.3 ppg in Mater Dei’s three victories. Brogan can rating effectively off the dribble, strikes effectively with out the ball and has good defensive instincts in addition. He’s the son of 1985 McDonald’s All-American and present Mater Dei assistant coach Tom Lewis, who performed for present Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight. Brandon Martinsen is one other 2026 for McKnight that may make an affect and like Brogan he’s additionally a lefty with a mess of expertise. Martinsen is 6-foot-8 (about three inches taller than Brogan) with good taking pictures and passing expertise, and can also be a fluid athlete for his measurement and grade stage. One other freshman is 6-foot-3 Luke Barnett, a gifted spot up shooter he made some noise at Ron Massey. The Trinity League champ will make the CIFSS Open playoffs and the occasion confirmed Mater Dei will probably be in a nip-and-tuck battle for the league crown with the likes of St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) and Santa Margarita, to not point out JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.). St. John Bosco performed within the Problem of Champions bracket and misplaced by one level (56-55) within the semifinals to Centennial and has a gifted group of play-makers. The Braves had an opportunity to win on the buzzer, however Kade Bonam’s 16-footer simply missed. The 6-foot-7 sophomore confirmed loads of enchancment because the finish of final season and will probably be a giant motive why the Braves will problem for the Trinity League title. Santa Margarita didn’t play within the bracket, however the Eagles have loads of measurement and good group protection and will probably be powerful to beat at dwelling. JSerra didn’t play on the occasion, however has a gifted roster led by 6-foot-9 2024 ahead Sebastian Rancik.
3. The Fundamentals Are Holding Many Prospects Again
There is no such thing as a query the general expertise pool in highschool basketball is healthier than ever earlier than. Younger gamers, together with many in Southern California, enter the highschool ranks fairly expert with the power to shoot and rating higher than gamers of a era or two in the past. Even the gamers with measurement (6-foot-5 and above) are anticipated to have the ability to shoot it and dribble simply sufficient to maintain defenses trustworthy. Tall gamers of yesteryear had been reared and pushed in direction of the publish, had been taught the sport inside-out and weren’t anticipated to do a lot else count on rebound and rim shield. With all of the taking pictures ability and athleticism, nonetheless, we do discover extra gamers than ever which might be uncontrolled that lack the fundamental fundamentals that may take their recreation to the following stage. Particularly these fundamentals are the the power to cease and begin off the dribble, transfer successfully and with function with out the ball and understanding how one can assault defenses within the half court docket setting. Enjoying underneath management is the fundamental elementary facet of the sport that lacks essentially the most and is holding gamers again from reaching their potential. There are just too many gamers (gifted ones too) that crash into defenders. Now from time to time it is going to occur, however the true elites of the sport hardly ever crash into defenders as a result of they know how one can cease, begin, and alter path. Usually occasions, a participant’s eval and popularity is made primarily based off his prowess within the open court docket. We’ll go on file in saying most gamers are spectacular within the open court docket; it’s the power to successfully break down defenders within the half court docket that separates the lads from the boys. Dribbling is essentially the most overrated offensive ability in basketball and far of the out-of-control narrative is as a result of younger gamers tend to attempt to create offense off the dribble. There must be an elevated emphasis on practising and perfecting leap stops, explosive first step dribbles off each pivot ft, using each the chest go and bounce go off the leap cease with each palms and in a managed method, and reducing exhausting and with function off the go. Younger gamers can be amazed how a lot enchancment in these areas, together with much less dribbling, would open up their recreation.
There may be all the time room for enchancment, but when the Ron Massey all-tourney group beneath is any indication, there may be loads of younger expertise that may blossom over the following few years.
2022 Ron Massey Memorial Fall Hoops Basic Honors
Most Excellent Participant:
Tounde Yessoufou (St. Joseph, Santa Maria) 6-6 F 2025
All Problem of Champions Group
(Listed Alphabetically)
Cade Bonam (St. John Bosco, Bellflower) 6-7 F 2025
Eli Bradley (Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas) 6-3 G 2023
Che Brogan (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-5 G 2026
Zack Davidson (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-8 F 2023
Eric Freeny (Centennial, Corona) 6-4 G 2024
Elzie Harrington (St. John Bosco, Bellflower) 6-5 G 2025
Christian Jones (Bishop Montgomery, Torrance) 6-3 G 2023
Aaron McBride (Centennial, Corona) 6-7 F 2023
Chris Nwuli (Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas) 6-8 F 2025
Kevin Patton (Rancho Christian, Temecula) 6-7 F 2023
Julius Value (St. Joseph, Santa Maria) 6-2 G 2026
Tyler Rolison (St. Bernard, Playa del Rey) 6-1 G 2023
Caleb Versher (St. Bernard, Playa del Rey) 6-3 G 2025
All-Showcase Group
(Listed Alphabetically)
Kaiden Bailey (Crean Lutheran, Irvine) 6-3 G 2026
Dylan Benner (St. Bonaventure, Ventura) 6-7 F 2024
Zyier Beverly (Washington Prep, Los Angeles) 6-8 F 2023
Carter Bryant (Sage Hill, Newport Seaside) 6-8 F 2024
Brayden Burries (Poly, Riverside) 6-4 G 2025
Jontue Cooper (Mayfair, Lakewood) 6-2 G 2023
Jason Crowe Jr. (Lynwood) 6-2 G 2026
Nils Cooper (Crossroads, Santa Monica) 6-6 F 2023
DeShawn Gory (Oak Hills, Hesperia) 6-6 F 2024
Jacob Huggins (Harvard-Westlake, North Hollywood) 6-8 F 2023
Brody Kozlowski (Nook Canyon, Draper, Utah) 6-8 F 2024
Osami Maciel (St. Paul, Santa Fe Springs) 5-10 G 2025
Aaron Montez (St. Anthony, Lengthy Seaside) 6-1 G 2023
Mason Pacheco-Robinson (Lakewood) 6-0 G 2023
Kinds Phipps (St. Mary’s, Phoenix) 6-2 G 2024
Rockwall Reynolds (Santa Margarita, RSM) 6-9 F 2023
Tyrone Riley (St. Pius-St. Matthias, Downey) 6-5 G 2024
Ben Roseborough (Monterey Path, Elk Grove) 6-4 G 2024
Alex Stewart (Pacifica Christian, Newport Seaside) 6-6 F 2024
Mikey Williams (San Ysidro) 6-4 G 2023
Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He will be reached at ronnie@ballislife.com. Don’t overlook to observe him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
