Advertisement
basketball Edit

Pangos AA: Preston goes big

CERRITOS, Calif. -- For his senior season, five-star forward Billy Preston will play at national power Oak Hill. On Saturday at the Pangos All-American Camp he was showing while he'll likely be the go to guy.

Billy Preston
Billy Preston
Nick Lucero
Advertisement

PRESTON WILL SPEND SENIOR SEASON AT OAK HILL

Earlier this week five-star forward Billy Preston announced that he'll transfer from Dallas (Texas) API to Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill for his senior season. On Saturday, 2017's sixth-ranked player showed at Pangos All-American Camp why he's so highly regarded.

Strong, athletic and versatile matched with 6-foot-9 size is always a dangerous combination. When you add in skill and aggressiveness on the offensive end of the floor you get a very dangerous package. Preston went right at defenders with a series of off the dribble and post moves. The times that he didn't look to score close to the hoop he showed that he can bang home jumpers and that, when he wants to be, he's a very creative passer.

Preston continues to list USC, Arizona, Kansas and Maryland but remains open to adding other schools to his list.

CAREY GETTING TO THE POINT

Jalen Carey
Jalen Carey
Rivals.com

The No. 50-ranked player in the class of 2018, combo guard Jalen Carey has made his bones early as a crafty scorer who can get to the rim or shoot from deep.

While he's a natural scorer, the four-star junior to be is looking to maximize and expand his game. Because of that, Carey is looking to transition into playing more of a point guard and he said that he would ultimately like to be recruited as a floor general.

To this point he has scholarship offers from Rutgers, Seton Hall, Pittsburgh, DePaul, VCU, Fairleigh Dickinson, Temple, St. Joseph's, Monmouth and Rhode Island. Recently, Villanova reached out. Carey also said that he plans to visit both Rutgers and St. Joe's later on in the month of June.

"I think that I've had a really good spring," Said Carey. "I'm playing well here at camp and my summer team has been winning tournaments.

"I've been working on becoming more of a point guard and playing that game. I'm doing a better job of distributing the ball and defensively I've gotten better."

MORE SATURDAY NOTES

Tony Goodwin
Tony Goodwin
Rivals.com

Not everybody who is at Pangos entered the Cerritos College gym with a big reputation. For class of 2018 shooting guard Tony Goodwin, a reputation wasn't necessary because the athletic 6-foot-4 wing's high running motor and outstanding perimeter defense allowed him to stand out. Let's face it, not many players want to defend in a free wheeling camp setting like you see at Pangos. However, Goodwin got after it like he was playing in a state title game. Goodwin doesn't play with a travel team but the North Bethesda (Md.) Walter Johnson standout says that he's heard from Stanford, West Virginia, Florida, Wake Forest and Virginia.

Though he had plenty of overtures from shoe company grassroots teams, 6-foot-5 point guard Marcus Garrett elected to stay with his longtime summer team Swaghouse Elite. He's proof that you don't have to play for a big name shoe team or attend a nationally known high school to make big waves. He handles the ball with control, makes alert passes and on Saturday he also hit on some three point jumpers. Kansas, Arizona, Baylor, SMU, Oregon and Iowa State.

Three-star class of 2017 prospect Darius McNeill is a nice looking shooting guard option. The lefty showed good athleticism and that he's a capable shooter from deep. July should be a big month for McNeill who is one of those guys that could look good for an upper end mid major or a lower end high major depending on the best fit.

It has been a strong spring run for high school and summer teammates Isaiah Washington and Sid Wilson. In a class where the pickings at point guard are somewhat slim, Washington has proved why he's ranked in the 2017 Rivals150 and the current three-star may be angling for a rise to four-star status. He's a bull of the dribble, gets into the paint and finds teammates and he's started to hit pull-up jumpers with regularity. Another Rivals150 guy in 2017, Wilson is a 6-foot-6 wing with athleticism who has always showed flashes of excellence but he's struggled to be consistent. The past month or so he's really coming on and Saturday he put it all together as he slashed for dunks, played hard and even swished some jumpers. Washington has offers from the likes of DePaul, Providence, Minnesota and Rutgers to name a few. Wilson lists offers from Minnesota, Cincinnati, Providence, St. John's and others.

We will look forward to getting another look at power forward Brandon Huffman during July. A native of Alaska who now attends Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God, the 6-foot-8 three-star from the class of 2017 is looking more and more like a legitimate high major option. He's strong, finishes well around the rim and doesn't mind doing some of the dirty work. North Carolina has reached out to show interest recently and he's got offers from the likes of Rutgers, New Mexico, Tennessee and Baylor.

A couple of others catching our eye on Saturday were class of 2018 shooting guard Eric Ayala and class of 2017 Rivals150 big man Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree. Ayala is a crafty and aggressive off the dribble scorer who is making a big push to be included in the next set of 2018 rankings. Committed to Villanova already, Cosby-Roundtree is a garbage man deluxe. He's not without offense, but the way he cleans the glass, finishes above the rim and hustles for opportunities make him appear to be a good fit and the type of guy the 2016 National Champions have had good success with.

Finally, four-star point guard Brandon Williams recently claimed the No. 69 spot in the 2018 point guard Brandon Williams. It's looking like that's a bit on the low side for now. The Californian is a creator. He creates for himself off the dribble and at the rim, he hits jumpers and he has offers USC, California UCLA, Grand Canyon and he most recently added one from Arizona -- a place he has called his dream school.

Advertisement