By: Sean Harris

WCE SoCal Summer Tip-Off: Top Performers

West Coast Elite SoCal Summer Tip-Off

Over the weekend there were over 1,000 teams playing in West Coast Elite events. I had the pleasure of attending the SoCal Summer Tip-Off in Irvine, California at the Momentous Center. All types of ages had the chance to play but I narrowed in on the 17U action to find the best players in the gym. Here are my top standouts from the weekend of the three 17U levels.

Boys Future of the West

Mansour Sanneh – SF – 6’5” – WCE Valley 17U Swilling (2024 Palmdale)

  • Defensive-minded wing who has active hands in the passing lane

  • Facilitator that always has his eyes up

  • Cleans the glass and likes to push in transition to create easy buckets

Kesh Reys – PG – 6’1” – Players Only 17U Red (2024 Price)

  • Will defend the opposing team’s best guard or wing every game

  • Slasher that puts pressure around the rim with great footwork

  • Has a quick first step and handle to get into the paint and set up his teammates

Zach Khatib – SG – 6’2” – Team WhyNot South Bay Red (2026 Redondo Union)

  • Defends full court as a forward that can guard almost any position on the floor

  • Can shoot the ball but likes to put the ball on the floor

  • Has a good game from inside and outside as a playmaker for himself and others

Jason Van Horn Jr. – PG – 6’3” – AOSS 17U Diamond (2025 AOSS Prep)

  • Three-point sniper OTD and OTC

  • Unselfish as a playmaker and can thread the needle in P&R and transition

  • Great off-ball defender and rebounds well for a guard

Jasyre Robinson – SF – 6’8” – AOSS 17U Diamond (2024 AOSS Prep)

  • Defensive animal both as an on-ball defender and as a weak side shot blocker

  • Amazing cutter that knows how to fill a lane and finish at the rim

  • Impacts the game as a rebounder that can be a one-man fastbreak

Diego Martinez – PG – 6’3” – WCE LA HS 17U Nat’l South DeGroot (2024 J Serra)

  • Steady guard who is a set-up guy and brings pace and leadership to the floor

  • Strong rebounder and defender with his frame and athleticism

  • Can shoot and is excellent at finishing through contact

Troy Wilson – PG – 5’11” – Pasadena HS (2026 Pasadena)

  • Off-ball guard that can score with his jumper and has hangtime around the rim

  • Knows how to run an offense when needed and create for teammates

  • Defensively causes a lot of pressure all over the court while defending up

Desmond Ever – PG – 5’11” – Pasadena HS (2025 Pasadena)

  • Crafty in the paint with his floater game and through finding guys

  • Takes the challenge of defending the opposing best guard every game

  • Willing to take the big shot whether a deep three of making decisions at the rim

Gavin Hightower – PG – 6’1” – WCE UAA (2025 Windward)

  • Acrobatic point guard who is lightning fast with the ball

  • Strong build that makes other guards not want to match up on either end

  • No problem finishing through contact and has eyes in the back of his head

Mazi Mosley – PG – 6’4” – WCE UAA (2025 St. Francis)

  • Shifty combo guard that makes amazing decisions with the ball in his hands

  • Thin frame but holds his own on the defensive end with his smart play

  • Has no problem playing off-ball as a three-point shooter

Kaiden Bailey – PG – 6’3” – Kings of Basketball Varsity (2026 Crean Lutheran)

  • Three-level scorer and does it all on both ends

  • Has no fear when going to the rim and not afraid to take the big shots

  • Active hands in the passing lane and causes pressure on-ball

Jacob Majok – PF – 6’7” – Kings of Basketball Varsity (2026 Crean Lutheran)

  • Athletic forward who grabs everything off the glass and finishes high at the rim

  • Ridiculous shot blocker who can cover one side of the floor to the other

  • Doesn’t need the ball in his hands to impact the game

17U Elite

Luke Griffin – PG – 5’10” – WCE LA HS Nat’l McCullough (2025 Saint Monica Prep)

  • Doesn’t force shots and likes to create for others

  • A point guard that knows how to play with and without the ball

  • Makes good decisions and is a smart defender

Lawson Holland – SG – 6’2” – WCE LA HS Nat’l McCullough (2025 Flintridge Prep)

Does a great job of sliding his feet and not fouling

  • Finds the open space as a knockdown shooter

  • Elite passer through the teeth of the defense

Courtney Hutchins – PG – 5’10” – Beach Buckets 17U Elite (2025 Westchester)

  • Lefty slasher that gets to the rim with ease

  • Picks the defense with great hands

  • Nice handle but does a good job of not over-dribbling

Isaac Brown – SF – 6’3” – Lakewood Elite (2024 Artesia)

  • Slasher that goes both ways and does a great job of filling gaps as a cutter

  • Athletic wing and guard defender

  • Quick moves with the ball to get around his defender

Cornelius Rollinsoa – SG – 6’4” – SoCal Fierce (2024 Gardenia)

  • Lefty swingman who gets to the rim both ways and finishes through contact

  • Can serve as a ball handler and create for others as well as play as a cutter

  • Very athletic as a rebounder and through off-ball help

Hunter Kennedy – SG – 6’5” – Genesis Hoops 17U (2024 Murrieta Mesa)

  • Three-point marksman from anywhere on the floor

  • Draws so much attention and creates space not only for himself but others

  • Doesn’t hesitate or care about getting hit and has quick feet on-ball

Jackson Pintens – SF – 6’6” – ESHS 17U (2024 El Segundo)

  • Underrated rim protector with length and quickness to defend bigs and guards

  • With the ball he is a slasher and creator

  • Provides excellent shooting from the forward spot and brings skills on the inside

Tyrell Miller – PF – 6’6” – Players Only 17U Grey (2025 Price)

  • Long and athletic wing that has bundles of energy

  • Does most of his damage as an elite rebounder and finisher

  • Very smart with his positioning as an offensive player and on the defensive end

17U

Airus Allen – SF – 6’2” – Squires – CCBC 17U (2024 Woodrow Wilson)

  • Pogo stick rebounder that puts pressure on the offensive glass all game

  • Outstanding finisher around the rim with both hands

  • Has great lateral quickness as a defender that can also block shots

Andrew Marz – SG – 6’1” – Solid Skills Elite (2024 Eagle Rock)

  • Deep range shooter

  • Slasher with the ball but provides consistent off-ball shooting

  • Has no problem getting into the paint and creating

Eric Castillo – PG – 5’9” – Solid Skills Elite (2024 Sonora)

  • Pesty guard defender

  • Quality spot-up shooter with a wicked handle

  • Lightning quick feet on both ends and uses speed to make up for his lack of size

Gio Valentin – PG - Castaic Lakeboyz Var (2024 Castaic)

  • Underrated bounce when going to the rim and as a rebounding guard

  • Lefty scorer that loves to operate in the mid-range

  • Defensively has no problem guarding up and holding his own

Lance Haworth – SG – 6’1” – WCE Central HS 17U (2024 Highland)

  • Plays well as an on-ball and interior defender who doesn’t foul

  • Doesn’t force shots and makes winning plays

  • Willing to put his body on the line

Joshua Pastor – PG – 5’11” – Players Only17U Black (2025 La Canada)

  • Combo guard that spaces the floor well as a spot up shooter

  • He knows how to get into the paint and keeps his head up to find open shooters

  • He is a bit undersized but uses his quickness to stay in front of other guards

Andy Rodriguez – PG – 5’4” – Whittier Tornadoes Var (2026 Laserna)

  • Very undersized but he doesn’t seem to care

  • Quickness to get into the paint and force the defense to collapse

  • Lateral ball handling is crazy and makes it nearly impossible to stay in front of