Compton Magic Runs Away From The Field at the 2010 Pangos Sweet 16

Compton Magic Runs Away From The Field
at the 2010 Pangos Sweet 16
by Dinos Trigonis
(April 25, 2010)

The 2^nd annual Pangos Sweet 16 was held on April 24-25, 2010 @ Cabrillo High School (Long Beach CA) and Lynwood High School (CA).  The 64 team field attracted asizeable contingent of media and scouts including Adam Gorney (Rivals.com), Frank Burlison (Long Beach Press-Telegram), Joel Francisco (ESPN.com), Dinos Trigonis (Fullcourt Press, Hoop Scoop andNothing But Net Magazine), Etop Udo-Ema (Fullcourt Press & Hoopmasters), Greg Hicks (Scout.com),Dave Nahabedian (Networx), Thom Jones (TJ Sports), Matt Rodriguez (BallisLife.com), Dave Keefer & Dave Rogahn (CaliforniaPreps.com), Neal Nieves (Coast to Coast Recruiting) and Victoria Sun & Roy White (West Coast Hoops Report).

Compton Magic won 4 straight games including an 85-53 blow-out win over Sacramento-based Play Hard-Play Smart in the title game to win the Gold Division crown.  Tourney MVP 5’10” senior Jahii Carson (Mesa/Mesa AZ had 21 points for CM.  Compton Magic now joins Belmont Shore (Fullcourt Press Easter Classic champions) and California Supreme (Double Pump Spring Classic champs) as one of only 3 Southern California-based squads to claim major tourney titles so far this spring.  In the Silver Bracket Final, it was Pasadena Success edging 1 Tough School 52-50 while in the Bronze Bracket Final it was San Diego Warriors over Hooptown 17.  HAX 17 outlasted TNL Admirals in the Showcase Division Final.

Below we highlight several standouts from the event.

Jahii Carson                    5’10”   2011    Mesa (Mesa AZ)
Tourney MVP had his way all week-end long by land (slithering through defenses at will) or by air (elevating for Spud Webb-like slams)!  Carson has all the tools high-major programs desire in a PG prospect.

DeAndre Daniels           6’8”     2011    Taft (Woodland Hills CA)
Texas-bound swingman is very capable of being an offensive machine as his 35 points (on 13/24 shooting that included 5 “threes”) versus Organized Chaos clearly shows.

Darius Nelson        6’5”     2011    Sheldon (Sacramento CA)

Is there a shooter in the West (or in the nation) with more confidence than the younger brother of former Duke star and NBA player DeMarcus Nelson?  Darius was on fire from long-range (22 points including 4 “threes”) against Compton Magic in a Gold bracket semi-final.

Norvel Pelle             6’9”     2011    Price (Los Angeles CA)
Pelle was nearly sensational by almost pulling off a triple-double (8 points/15 rebounds/9 blocks) in a hard-fought semi-final effort against Compton Magic.

Cezar Guerrero     6’0”     2011    St. John Bosco (Bellflower CA)During his Sunday morning game versus 805 Elite, Cezar displayed his improving playmaking game by dishing out 11 assists (including several pin-point passes in transition)

as well as his usual outside accuracy (21 points).  Followed up that performance with a solid 10 points/6 boards/5 assists against Organized Chaos.

Charles Standifor      6’4”     2010    Bridgeton Academy (ME)
Tough and gritty wing willed PHPS to the Gold final.

Damien Cain  6’6”  2011  Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood CA)Chuck Hayes-type blue collar PF is a producer both on the glass and in the post.  Love his poise and business-like attitude on the floor!

Wesley Saunders     6’5”     2011    Windward (Los Angeles CA)Athletic swingman makes plays on both ends.

Grant Jerrett                          6’8”     2012    La Verne Lutheran (La Verne CA)
Once this super-skilled post adds additional weight and strength, he will be a dominating force for years to come.

Alex Fertig                             6’3”     2012    Buchanan (Fresno CA)
Smart and tough combo-guard has excellent 3-point range.  Father Jack Fertig was a former assistant at Fresno State and USC.

Brian Bock                             6’3”     2010    Eisenhower (Rialto CA)
Bock’s incredible “turn and catch” 3-point heave while falling out of bounds against Team Odom was perhaps the top shot highlight of the weekend.

CJ Cooper                             6’0”     2011    La Verne Lutheran (La Verne CA)
Savvy point with a feathery touch should be the object of much D-I interest this July.

Ronnie Stevens                     6’9”     2011    Serra (Gardena CA)
Defensive stopper put his finishing touches on a very impressive weekend with a 13 point/8 board effort versus Organized Chaos.

Dominique Dunning             6’4”     2011    Centennial (Corona CA)
New Mexico-bound wing is a bona-fide winner that competes on every play.

Askia Booker                         6’1”     2011    Price (Los Angeles CA)
Crafty floor general is evolving into a big-time scorer.

Max Heller                              5’10”   2011    Torrey Pines (San Diego CA)
Very cerebral PG makes sound decisions and can knock down open shots.

Isaiah Brame                         6’2”     2012    Monrovia (Monrovia CA)
Active wing pumped in 15 points and collected 12 boards in Pasadena Success’ Silver Division title game win over 1 Tough School.

Grant Verhoeven                  6’7”     2012    Central Valley Christian (Visalia CA)
Fast rising 2012 prospect had a double-double” (10 points/15 boards) against Belmont Shore.

Brendan Keane                     6’9”     2011    St. Joseph’s (Alameda CA)
Very physical center runs the floor well and can catch the rock in the paint and finish with consistency.

Michael Caffey                      5’10”   2012    Centennial (Corona CA)
While Caffey often gets over-looked on a Compton Magic team deep with heralded prospects, he is a very valuable piece to their puzzle – providing dependable ballhandling, making sound decisions and being an excellent on-ball defender.

Jay Larinan                            6’5”     2011    Dos Pueblos (Goleta CA)
Strong wing has an impressive 3-point stroke.

Bryce Thompson                  6’1”     2012    Salesian (Richmond CA)
Combo-guard plays with energy and has very deceptive athleticism.

Solomon Singer                    6’5”     2010    Santa Monica (Santa Monica CA)
Slashing scorer is athletic and has 3-point range.

Bruce English                       6’1”     2011    La Verne Lutheran (La Verne CA)
Energizer combo is dangerous in transition.

Maceo Bell                             6’4”     2012    Skyline (Oakland CA)
Athletic wing is a potential lock-down defender.

Kyle Wilson                           6’3”     2010    Trabuco Hills (Mission Viejo CA)
Outstanding 3-point shooter.

David Andoh                         6’7”     2012    St. Teresa (San Jose CA)
Only a mid-day Sunday injury slowed down this crafty scoring combo-forward.

Corey Walker                         6’3”     2010    Santa Monica (Santa Monica CA)
Solid ballhandler and pesky defender.

Keith Taylor                           6’6”     2010    Impact Prep (Las Vegas NV)
“Lunch-bucket” combo-forward defends well.

Henry Vinson                                    6’3”     2011    Eisenhower (Rialto CA)
Slashing scorer is a tenacious defender.

Justin Childress                    5’11”   2012    Loyola (Los Angeles CA)
Polished playmaker can run a team.

Nick Stover                            6’5”     2012    Windward (Los Angeles CA)
Younger brother of UCLA postman Anthony Stover is quickly establishing his own D-I basketball identity.

Josh Burton                          6’4”     2012    Frederick Douglas (Los Angeles CA)
Assertive forward may be headed to Cathedral (Los Angeles CA) for his junior season.

Demetrius Balark                  6’1”     2012    Kellis (Glendale AZ)
Confident young lefty point has a smooth 3-point stroke.

Marcus Bagnerise                6’7”     2011    Blair (Pasadena CA)
Long forward is active on the glass (grabbed 8 boards versus 1 Tough School).

Dominique Lanier                 6’2”     2011    Lakewood (Lakewood CA)
Swift shooting guard has an array of offensive moves at his disposal.

Mervyn Lindsay                    6’4”     2011    JW North (Riverside CA)
Smooth wing has a nice feel for the game.

Marcus Fuggins                    6’7”     2011    Citrus Hill (Perris CA)
Physical post is a solid rebounder.

Emmett Duvall                       6’6”     2010    Crenshaw (Los Angeles CA)
Undersized PF rebounds well and can score in traffic.

Brendan Otero                      6’5”     2012    Palisades (Los Angeles CA)
Scoring wing forward attacks the glass with authority.

Josh Hearlihy                        6’6”     2012    Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood CA)
Agile forward has nice skill package.

Christian Garrett                   6’5”     2011    Stoneridge (Simi Valley CA)
Late-blooming guard with length had an impressive 1^st half performance against LA Rockfish.

Jordan Wilson                       5’8”     2013    Windward (Los Angeles CA)
Speedy playmaker has a potent perimeter stroke.

Malcolm Allen                       5’9”     2013    Centennial (Las Vegas NV)
Quick point is a terrific student.

Jalon Wilson                          5’9”     2013    Palisades (Los Angeles CA)
Heady young point is the son of Pepperdine Associate Head Coach Marty Wilson.

Daylin Billingsley                  6’7”     2013    Yucaipa (Yucaipa CA)
Raw forward is oozing with potential.

Jared Wilson                         6’2”     2012    Ventura (Ventura CA)
Hard-working and tough lead guard gives maximum effort.

Tyler Dorsey                          6’4”     2015    Ribet Academy (Los Angeles CA)
Talented wing has a bright future.

***Photos by Nick Koza (SportsAmp.com)