Cameron Walker is one of the most gifted high school scorers this county has ever seen… and he’s a junior. By Owen Main

Three of the area’s top players squared-off in back-to-back-to-back games on Wednesday night in the “Challenge” round of the Mission Prep Christmas classic. Here’s a quick break-down and photos from three of Wednesday night’s games.

Photos by Owen Main

Cameron Walker – Righetti

Walker is a physical beast. The junior had 30 points in the challenge game on Thursday and looked pretty tired after the overtime victory. In the days when the Lakers had Shaquille O’Neal, I used to call every possession that Shaq didn’t touch the ball a bad one.

I probably feel the same way about any team Walker is on at this level. I’m pretty sure Walker has grown since I saw him last year. The team Righetti played looked pretty solid as well, but they just didn’t have an answer for the offensive juggernaut that Walker was all game long. Someone said to me it was the “quietest 30 points they’ve ever seen.” Walker makes his free throws and consistently gets himself good shots. Look for him to lead the Warriors to a really good season this year.

[See image gallery at www.fansmanship.com]

2) Robbie Berwick – Atascadero

Robbie Berwick is the reigning Tribune SLO County Player of the year. The senior guard committed to Florida State during the fall and will be playing in the ACC next year.

Friday night’s game against perennial power Campbell Hall was the second game I’ve seen him play this year. Two things strike me about Berwick. First, he plays will high levels of intensity on both ends of the floor. He is responsible for scoring the ball, but he plays defense and rebounds as well on an undersized Greyhounds team. Second, the elevation Berwick consistently gets on his jumper is a unique thing. Many high school and college players don’t jump that high on their 3-point shots. Berwick’s elevation allows him to get a shot off anytime he wants.

Berwick’s team is really fun to watch, too. Coach Matt Knudsen has a small team, but they play effectively by putting pressure on opposing defenses and shooting the 3-pointer very effectively. Their style was enough to beat Campbell Hall on Wednesday night.

[See image gallery at www.fansmanship.com]

3) Quinton Adlesh – Mission Prep

Like Walker, Adlesh is also a junior. Also similar to Walker, the point guard from Mission Prep has also grown over the past year. In the nightcap on Wednesday, Adlesh’s Royals gave themselves a chance to win against a pretty solid all-around team in Crespi.

Adlesh showed why several Division 1 schools have shown interest and why Cal Poly has already made an offer. His court game and vision are very good. Physically, he’s gone from a sophomore who looked like a really strong and potentially undersized college guard to a right-sized guard who doesn’t have to dominate the ball all the time. Balancing clutch shooting at appropriate times with getting teammates involved has to be a tough thing for a player like Adlesh, but it seems like he’s figuring it out pretty quickly and Mission will once again be a very good team this season.

[See image gallery at www.fansmanship.com]

This year marked the 14th iteration of the Mission Prep Christmas Classic Tournament, featuring 16 teams from all over the country. In an area that averages far fewer than one Division I college recruit for every senior class, the Christmas Classic is a golden opportunity to see high-level high school basketball here on the Central Coast.

Mission Prep sophomore point guard Quinton Adlesh is one of only a few San Luis Obispo-area players being recruited by Division I schools. By Owen Main

Last week, teams from Pennsylvania, Colorado, Utah, Washington, and all over California descended on San Luis Obispo and brought their styles with them. A team from Marin County operated machine-like — no player was above about 6’3”, but everyone ran, handled the ball, rebounded, and seemed to shoot really well. A team from Seattle that eventually was the tournament runner-up featured multiple players who will play Division I college basketball. The Utah state runners-up showed flashes of brilliance, but were beaten by a quicker team from Philadelphia.

Two teams from southern California featured sons of former NBA players — Seven-footer Kameron Rooks from Mission Hills (son of Sean Rooks) and Lamond Murray, Jr. from tournament champion Bishop Montgomery. Both look like they’ll be Division I players.

A few years ago, I attended the tournament and one team (who will remain nameless) had 2-3 Division I recruits. They also had 11 coaches. And 13 players. I counted. Also, they brought their own public address announcer. It was a sideshow. An awesome, fun, completely non-SLO County entourage. They dominated the entire tournament, on and off the court. It was a sight to behold, and one of many that the Christmas Classic brings for our viewing pleasure each year.

The contrasting styles, and the fact that there are so many teams with their OWN distinct styles is a side of preps basketball that we rarely get the opportunity to enjoy here in San Luis Obispo. While high school hoops are always fun to watch here, the tournament is a great way for local fans to get a glimpse of what’s happening elsewhere. And to see guys who might be real stars later-on.

You want proof? Throughout the tournament, a series of banners hung on the wall of the Mission Prep gym. The banners featured images of players like James Harden, Jrue Holiday, Tywon Lawson, Malcom Lee, Tyler Honeycutt, Brook and Robin Lopez, and others. The images featured 16-18 all of these players in their NBA jerseys. And they had all played in this tournament.

On Thursday, a local kid named Cameron Walker — a sophomore at Righetti high school — took a lob pass from a teammate and threw it down two-handed. Walker will almost certainly play Division 1 basketball — possibly in a major conference like the Pac 12. And, for one weekend at least, Walker wasn’t the only one.

_______________

Host Mission Prep lost a close game on Saturday to Taft. Photos by Owen Main

[scrollGallery id=80]

Photos by Owen Main

[scrollGallery id=79]

Brighton used hot shooting to stay close, but Imhotep imposed their will in the paint in the second half. By Owen Main

Day Four of the Mission Prep Christmas Classic was the best day by far. After sorting themselves out earlier in the tournament, the field featured the most even matches of the week.

One of those great matchups featured Imhotep (PA) and Brighton (UT). These two teams had somewhat different styles and both teams were really talented. Brighton had a lead for much of the game, but Imhotep took control down the stretch to win 55-52.

[scrollGallery id=78]

San Luis Obispo hung tough early, but eventually fell to Miramonte 67-47 on the third day of the Mission Prep Christmas Classic. The Tigers are now 5-7 on the season, including 0-3 in the tournament.

[scrollGallery id=77]

San Luis Obispo kept it close early, but Miramonte pulled away in the second half. By Owen Main

Righetti has some really nice players, but Marin Catholic played quite well together, pushed the pace, and held-off the Warriors for a 59-49 victory. Marin Catholic’s Nick Calcaterra scored 32 points, including all 17 of their points in the first quarter.

Righetti’s Cameron Walker dropped 26 in the loss. Saturday is the final day of the tournament.

[scrollGallery id=76]

Cameron Walker throws down two of his 26 points in the Righetti loss on Friday. By Owen Main

Mission Prep’s annual Christmas Classic tournament is happening this week. On “Challenge Day,” teams from the National and Elite brackets were paired. The tournament runs through Saturday.

In the first game I got to, LaVerne Lutheran went up against Marin Catholic, with La Verne Lutheran winning 61-35.

[scrollGallery id=73]

The nightcap featured host Mission Prep against a visiting Bishop Montgomery squad with plenty of Division I college talent, including Lamond Murray Jr., and a relentless defense to top the hosts 72-57. Mission Prep showed poise to keep the lead around 15 for most of the second half, keeping the game within reach.

[scrollGallery id=74]

Lamond Murray Jr. is one of many super-talented high school players featured in this year’s Mission Prep Christmas Classic. By Owen Main

Day One of the Mission Prep Christmas Classic featured challenge games, with teams from the National and Elite brackets going head-to-head.

There were two games at San Luis Obispo High School. In the first game, Miramonte played Grandview (Colorado). The Colorado squad played a tough, team-oriented style and came out on-top 70-46.

[scrollGallery id=71]

In the nightcap at San Luis Obispo High School, the home Tigers were overwhelmed by Utah state runner-up from last season, Brighton 64-19.

[scrollGallery id=72]

Photos by Owen Main (With no help from the “white balance” function on his camera)…