Here is our report on the Hoop Review evaluation/workout from Thursday August 6th at Slam Academy in Hayward.
6’6 PF Vince Barringer of St Francis HS (2022)
Barringer is a hard-nosed four man with a competitive instinct who will battle consistently at both ends. Simply, this guy has a genuine work ethic.
He also has a pretty competent skill set. He’s a decent ball handler with a pull-up game in the half court. Barringer shoots it very confidently from the perimeter and he has some ability to get to the basket with the face up drive.
He is an aggressive rebounder who does go after the ball. He is a physical defender inside. He could help himself by increasing his athleticism.
Barringer is a solid and consistent performer and this should appeal to any college coach.
5’8 PG Brandon Bento-Jackson of Arcata HS (2023)
Bento-Jackson is a fairly athletic one man with an impressive all-around skill set. He brings a lot to the table.
He is a solid ball handler (he does have a tendency to over-dribble at times) and a good passer who can find the open man. He plays in attack mode and pushes the break on EVERY possession and makes a lot of plays in transition. He will go coast to coast unless you stop him.
Bento-Jackson is a good shooter with LONG range and lot of confidence (but he needs to step up shorten the distance if he has the freedom to do so). He can also penetrate into the lane and makes plays for himself and others.
He is capable on-ball defender who just needs to be a little more aggressive at it and attack on defense like he attacks on offense.
Put this kid on the 2023 radar- he definitely belongs there….
6’2 G/W Cameron Brown of Bishop O’Dowd HS (2022)
Brown is an intelligent guard/wing who is a jack-of-all trades type of player. He is versatile and can adopt to most any situation.
He can bounce it some and he is a pretty good passer who is unselfish. He moves well without the ball he shoots it ok with range. He has a clever floater in the lane.
Brown is a hard-working defender who plays good position defense keeping the ball in front of him and understands help concepts away from the ball. He is also a capable rebounder.
There is nothing flashy about him-just solid and consistent play. College coaches need to take note.
6’3 W Myles De Los Santos of Bishop O’Dowd HS (2022)
De Los Santos a skilled and an athletic wing who seems to have a knack for making the right play at the right time. He has solid IQ and knows how to play the game.
He is a capable ball handler and passer and makes some plays in transition. He is unselfish to a fault.
De Los Santos moves well without the ball and can get to the basket on the drive. He does need to prove himself as a perimeter shooter.
He can rebound the ball but needs to show the ability to defend on ball consistently.
De Los Santos is an intriguing prospect and does belong on the 2022 radar.
6’3 W Pawllos Habtom of Valley Christian HS (2021)
Habtom is a very athletic wing who can really turn on the jets. He runs the floor very well. And there is an aggressive approach to his game.
He can handle the ball and he attack in transition consistenly. He is a real good passer with nice court vision. He moves well without it. Habtom does a good job breaking down the defenders one by one and going to the hoop. His outside shot is a question mark at this point.
He persues rebounds well and has the athleticism to get to the ball. And he can defend on ball.
If Habtom can prove himself as an outside shooter then the sky is the limit for him.
6’4 G/W Michael Heidelbach of Turlock HS (2022)
Heidelbach is a long and wiry guard/wing who is active on the offensive end. He moves without it ok and he runs the floor well.
His best asset is his ability to shoot the ball. He does have 3-point range and he is effective at catch and shoot. Heidelbach can bounce it and shows the ability to pull up in transition. He does need to prove he can put it down and get to the basket on the drive.
He needs some work defensively and needs to prove that he can be an on-ball defender.
Heidelbach is a prospect to watch in the class of 2023 for sure.
5’8 PG Kingston Matin of St Joseph’s Notre Dame HS (2022)
Any coach can appreciate a player who “brings it” everyday and plays with the utmost of confidence. Such is the case with Matin.
He is a solid ball handler and a good passer who can score or facilitate as needed. He has a pullup game in transition and he can shoot it with range and he is not afraid to take the big shot.
Matin is a scrappy defender who can be a post for the opponent.
Do not overlook this kid because he does not have size. He plays big…
6’0 CG Justice Owens of Pioneer HS (2022)
Owens is an athletic combo guard with a pretty solid all-around skill set who runs well.
He can handle it well and gets things done on the break. He is a good passer who sees the court. Owen moves well without it and he is a fairly good shooter with 3-point range. He is a solid driver who can beat the defender one by one.
He is a capable defender who will get after you. Owens biggest need is to be more vocal on the court. And it will help if he develops bulk/strength to prepare for the next level.
Owens is a little below the radar at this point but he certainly is a prospect.
6’1 SG Henry Palmer of Bishop O’Dowd HS (2021)
Palmer is an athletic two guard who can impact the game in different ways.
He is an excellent passer who plays very unselfish and can help make those around him better (which is rare). He handles it fairly well and is a good driver with a nice hesitation move. Palmer does need to prove himself as a perimeter shooter. He has the ability to finish in transition.
He is a solid rebounder and a willing defender who is not afraid to get after you.
Palmer is a good one to have on your side and college coaches should take note.
6’1 SG Malik Taylor of Ryan HS (2021)
Taylor is a real athletic two guard with nice burst who can really score.
He’s a good ball handler and passer who is effective in transition. In the half court his best asset is his ability to drive (with an impressive first step). He is also a fairly good 3-point shooter who has a nice floater. Taylor does need to do a better job moving without the ball.
He plays in attack mode on offense and really takes it to you. He needs to learn to do that at the defensive end and show more effort there.
But Taylor is a legitimate prospect for the next level for sure. College coaches take note.
6’6 PF Kodey Weary of Western Ranch HS (2023)
Weary is a promising young four man with a solid all-around game. He has some versatility offensively and can score in different ways.
He can bounce it and shows the ability to beat the defender on the face-up drive and also to pull up. He is a solid post-up player who can dribble operate on the block. Weary has a turn-around shot, a mini jump hook and an up and under move. He also shoots it fairly well mid-range.
Weary is a capable rebounder who has the length to get to the ball.
He needs to play a little more fire (consistently) but he is a sure-fire division I prospect.
6’2 SG Nick Weitzel of St. Francis HS (2021)
Weitzel demonstrated his validity with his impressive performance at this session.
He is a competitive two-guard with a versatile package of skills. He has the ability to score from all three levels in the half court in addition to pulling up in transition.
Weitzel pulls up well mid-range, he can shoot it with 3-point range and he can get to the basket on the drive. He also moves well without the ball. And he’s a decent rebounder.
The kid is a bonafide competitor with skills who colleges should definitely take a look at.
