On The Borderline - A San Diego Spring AAU Live Period Primer
- Aaron Burgin
- 11 minutes ago
- 12 min read
In the pre-transfer portal era of college basketball recruiting, San Diego’s 2026 class would have been seen as one of those special classes with multiple Division 1 and Division 2 signees during the November early signing period.
Times have changed.
San Diego’s grassroots basketball programs are prepared to head to multiple gyms across Southern California and beyond for the May 16-18 NCAA evaluation period.
For the second straight year, it is the only period during the spring basketball calendar where D1 college coaches can evaluate players in person, as the NCAA eliminated the traditional April “live periods” to accommodate coaches hosting and recruiting transfer athletes.
If last year was any indication, fewer coaches will attend these events, which means fewer opportunities for borderline D1 prospects to raise their stock. 2025 saw the lowest number of players in San Diego sign with Division 1 programs in recent history – two, Carlsbad’s Jake Hall, who heads to New Mexico, and Cathedral Catholic’s Patrick O’Brien, who announced this week he would sign with USC. (A third prospect, Windward’s Louis Bond, who played with Gamepoint, signed with Idaho State).
Despite the sobering outlook, hope springs eternal, as several San Diego prospects enter the live period with D1 offers in tow, including a pair of 2027 prospects among the top 100 in their class.
Which of these players will take advantage of the opportunity and solidify their standing with coaches? Which prospects have the most to lose?
Which sleeper prospects will emerge? And where will teams be playing this weekend?
We’ve got your answers.
Guards dominate the 2026 D1 Bubble
While the faces at the top have changed over time, San Diego’s back court prospects have led the way for what’s a very deep and productive high school class.
Early on, it was then-San Ysidro guard Ty Ingram and Victory Christian’s Jaden Gray, the FTH co-freshman of the year in 2023, who were the standard bearers of that group.
Ingram has since moved on to Westchester High in Los Angeles, while 6-2 G Jaden Bailes (St. Augustine/Gamepoint),6-3 G Caleb Newton (Mission Bay/ Steelers Elite), CJ Aldrich (Rancho Buena Vista/ All In Elite 17u), Jalen Williams (San Marcos/ Players Play 17u) and Dax Hall (Santa Fe Christian/ Multilevel UA Rise) have filled the void.
Bailes, however, will join Ingram in leaving San Diego, as he is transferring to JSerra Catholic at the end of the school year.
Four members of the guard quintet have at least one Division 1 offer: Bailes leads the way with four - UC San Diego, UC Davis, Pepperdine and Dartmouth - Aldrich was offered by UCSD and Pepperdine, while Williams and Hall each report offers from the Tritons.
With the coaching change at UC San Diego, each of the guards will likely be auditioning over the course of the next five months to firm their standing with the new coaches.
Perhaps the top overall prospect playing on a San Diego 17u roster, however, is a 6-8 forward from Orange County, Brayden Kyman (Santa Margarita), who is the centerpiece of Players Play's 17u NXTPRO circuit team. Already committed to Washington State, Kyman has a chance to work his way into the Top 150 discussion with a strong spring and summer.
What other players have a lot riding on their spring performances?
One could argue that the most physically talented guard of that group is Newton, a hyper athletic scoring guard who can get buckets on each level.
His lone commitable offer currently is with CSU San Marcos. If he can put together strong showings with his Arizona-based team on the New Balance circuit, Newton has the size, length and explosiveness to move the needle at the D1 level.
Newton’s high school teammate, 6-7 Clay Grebing (Mission Bay/ Multilevel UA Rise), also holds a CSU San Marcos offer, but came off of a season where he dealt with bouts of inconsistency. When he was at his best, he was a big floor-spacing four man who could punish teams on the boards. Playing on the UA Rise Circuit with Hall will give him the chance to showcase those strengths.
Another player who entered the high school season with a lot of buzz and intrigue surrounding him is 6-7 Timothy Dorn (Mira Mesa/ Gamepoint). Coaches are intrigued by his combination of size, length and upside, but have questions about his motor, physicality and position. Recently joining Gamepoint on the 3SSB Circuit, he will have ample opportunities to answer those questions.
Tevaris Green (Torrey Pines/ Players Play) also emerged this year as a viable wing prospect that piqued the interest of several high level Division 2 programs. He has the size, shooting stroke, multi-level scoring prowess and passing feel that would assimilate at the high D2 level, even in the era of the transfer portal.
East County’s Julian Lebel (6-5 W, Christian/ Gamepoint 3SSB) has also intrigued coaches with his productivity and energy on the boards, mismatch capability as a small-ball “point forward” and defensive prowess.
Other 2026 prospects to watch
Brayden Kyman, 6-8 W, Players Play/ Santa Margarita (OC)
Will Malual, 6-9 C, Players Play/ Crean Lutheran (OC)
Wyatt Tilson, 6-3 G, Gamepoint/ La Jolla Country Day
Lincoln Grogan, 6-3 SG, Gamepoint/ St. Augustine
Diego Ortiz, 5-10 G, San Diego All-Stars/ Mira Mesa
Runnar Miller, 6-3 F, 4S Elite/ Madison
Isaiah Owens, 6-2 W, Multilevel UA Rise/ Victory Christian
Kameron Dodson, 6-3 W, Multilevel UA Rise/ Riverside Poly
John Odhiambo, 6-9 C, Gamepoint 3SSB/ Rancho Christian
Braylon Lucas, 6-1 G, Team Keenan Allen/ Hoover
Jordan Walker, 5-8 PG, Slight Work Hoops/ Olympian
Sammell Humphries, 6-0 G, The City Elite EYCL/ Montgomery
2026 Sleepers to Watch
Francis Parker SG Ezekiel Walker was poised for a breakout campaign last season until CIF ruled him ineligible for the entire season due to transfer rules. Spring will give him the first opportunity to unveil the dramatic leap he’s made as an athlete to complement his dead-eye shooting ability from three, plus his physical growth, as he now stands near 6-3, making him a prospect to watch. He’s on Multilevel’s 17u UA Rise squad with Hall, Grebing and Victory Christian’s Jaden Gray.
Another player on the Multilevel Team that will intrigue college coaches is 6-5 Michael Brown (San Marcos). The big-bodied forward is versatile (can hit shots out to the college three and has refined post game) and is extremely productive. While positionally undersized, his skill and productiveness is undeniable.
Scripps Ranch didn’t have a great season, but they have a pair of intriguing forwards with size and athleticism that have emerged as legitimate college prospects over the course of the year.
6-6 Charlie Barajas (San Diego All-Stars) (pictured, right) and 6-8 Alex Gerhant (Gamepoint 3SSB) have different approaches to the game – the lefty Barajas has “three-and-D” and is a solid straight line driver, while Gerhant has good feel around the block and can score off the catch from midrange – but in an era where skilled bigs are at a premium, both will get looks at some level. Their teammate, 6-4 Gavin Hallock (San Diego All-Stars) is also an intriguing wing prospect.
Steele Canyon 6-9 post Jacob Allen continues to make strides, but generally hovers below the radar, but expect it to change if he puts together solid performances for the San Diego All-Stars.
Up in Fallbrook, 6-1 Elliott Watkins had a massive junior campaign, averaging nearly 21 points per game. He has a college ready frame and solid burst, which is worth noting because he is still 16 years old (turns 17 in the fall). He is one of the more intriguing long-term prospects in the county, and will suit up for Gamepoint 17u Elite (the program’s second team), which includes underrated prospects Lawrence Lam (6-6 G/F, Westview), Jeramiah Turner and 6-3 Dre Cleaves (Tri-City Christian), 6-3 Yanler Ramos (Army Navy) and 5-9 PG Junior Galvan (Del Lago Academy).
Another guard who played Division 4 basketball that in my eyes should be considered among the top Prospects at his position is 6-1 G Mickleson Laguerre (Crawford, pictured center) Playing on the SDA 17u Premier team, he will have the ball in his hands a lot, and his creativity, speed and unorthodox scoring will turn heads.
Cathedral Catholic 6-5 wing Tyler Vosburgh appears to be on the cusp of a breakout senior year, and has some solid metrics to go along with a quick-trigger jump shot that is among the most accurate in the region. He will suit up for Players Play 17u second team, which has a number of underrated prospects, including 6-8 Mason Jones (La Costa Canyon), a wide-bodied space eater in the paint who has come a long way with his productivity and conditioning; 6-2 Zander Ovies, who has overcome a lot of adversity during his HS career and appears to be ready for his star turn; and 6-4 W Jordan Barnhart, who is coming off of a breakout season at Sage Creek and has the ball skills and shooting to turn heads.
La Jolla’s 2026 back court is one of the best that most coaches have yet to discover. 6-0 Leo Hawkinson (From The Jump 17u) started the season on fire, and is a legit three-level scorer with underrated vision. His back court mate might be an even better long-term prospect, as 6-3+ Brody Sessa (Sixth Man 17u, pictured left) has good size, feel and makes up for a lack of explosiveness with craftiness and strength.
Other sleepers to watch: Ronnie Scott (Christian/ Coastal Elite), River Diaz (Southwest SD/ West Coast Flight); Romeo Wright (Bishop’s/ Multilevel); Cyrus Sadri-Ahwazi (Rancho Bernardo/ 4S Elite). Khalid Deiranieh (Southwest SD/ 4S Elite); Aidan Bestul (Ramona/ 4S Elite); Josiah McDowell (Lincoln/ Slight Work Hoops)
Up Next: The 2027 Class has Star Power
Behind the class of 2026 sits a class that might burn brighter at the top, as San Diego’s rising junior class has one prospect already considered a Top-60 prospect in the nation, and a player on a San Diego AAU team’s roster that is also in that mix.
Tavid Johnson (6-3 G, Francis Parker) capped a huge sophomore year by being named to the All San Diego Section first team, and his play thus far in spring suggests he is prepared to take another step forward. ESPN recently ranked him No. 57 in their 2027 National Rankings, the first San Diego player to appear in the rankings since Mikey Williams. Johnson is playing up on All In Elite’s 17u UA Next team, which plays on the top Under Armour Circuit.
Jeremiah Profit (6-5 W, Temecula Valley) hails from just outside of the county, but has been a longtime member of Gamepoint. Profit’s name has also appeared in the Top 100 rankings of several recruiting services. Like Johnson, Profit will have plenty of opportunities to validate his ranking playing on the Gamepoint 17u 3SSB team, which plays on the top Adidas circuit.
Richie Ramirez (6-2 G, Santa Ana Mater Dei), an assertive downhill scoring and playmaking combo guard, had a breakout season from a statewide perspective for San Marcos, earning three Division 1 scholarship offers in the process (UC San Diego, Pepperdine, UC Santa Barbara). He will run with the Gamepoint 16u 3SSB team, which is loaded with some of San Diego’s top 2027 talent.
Alongside Ramirez, 5-9 PG Tristan Anderson (Olympian) has already electrified onlookers this spring with his combination of flash, quickness, scoring and playmaking prowess. After a season that saw him lead the Eagles to their second consecutive CIF crown (D3 in 2024, D2 in 2025), Anderson is on the verge of becoming a household name, despite his diminutive stature.
Another undersized, yet dynamite prospect that will be on display is 5-9 G Jerry Stokes (Bonita Vista/ San Diego All-Stars 16u). Stokes, a dynamic athlete who high jumped 6-6 in track and field this season, had a big season on the hardwood as well, leading the Barons to an undefeated South Bay League title.
A rapidly improving and rising prospect, 6-5 Tyler Humphrey (Torrey Pines via Mt. Carmel) has held his own playing 17u on Players Play’s 17u team, seen as one of the top programs on the Puma NXTPro Circuit. A big shooting wing who is a consistent floor spacer with solid ball skills, Humphrey has as high a ceiling as any prospect in the class.
Other 2027 prospects to watch
Paisios Polamalu, 5-11 G, Gamepoint 3SSB/ St. Augustine
Alijah Cheeks, 6-1 G, San Diego All-Stars/ Mission Bay
Lamar Smith, 6-4 WF, Dog Hours 17u/ San Diego
Anthony Etheridge, 6-4 W, Gamepoint 3SSB/ St. Augustine
Jackson McCall, 6-5 W, Gamepoint 3SSB/ San Marcos
Jasen Hughes, Jr., 6-5 F, 4S Elite/ Granite Hills
Chase Othick, 6-1 G, Multilevel UA Rise/ Santa Fe Christian
Justin Johnson, 6-5 W, UH Elite (AZ)/ El Camino
Kai Jones, 5-11 G, Multilevel UA Rise/ Francis Parker
Drew Parker, 6-4 W, Gamepoint 3SSB/ St. Augustine
Nico Mott, 5-11 G, Coastal Elite/ San Marcos
Brady Berlucchi, 6-4 W, Gamepoint 3SSB/ La Costa Canyon
Alejandro Gonzalez, 6-5 F, Gamepoint 3SSB/ La Jolla Country Day
Austin Brown, 5-9 G, Coronado
Tony Rutledge Jr., 6-4 W, Coastal Elite/ Murrieta Valley
Chayse Miles, 6-6 W, Gamepoint 3SSB/ Steele Canyon
Cameron Ackerman, 6-3 W, 4S Elite/ Kearny
Riley Farrokhi, 6-3 G, Del Norte
Gavin Fletcher, 6-0 G, Gamepoint 16u Red/Pacific Ridge
Wyatt Brown, 6-5 W, Gamepoint 16u Red/La Costa Canyon
Jamarion Hall, 6-4 F, San Diego All-Stars/ Morse
Alex Andrews, 5-8 G, Team N0W/ San Diego All-Stars/ Steele Canyon
Dawere Tut, 6-4 F, Gamepoint White/ Del Lago Academy
Caleb Williams, 6-1 G, Gamepoint White/ Tri-City Christian
Program Capsules
Gamepoint
3SSB Teams: Adidas Boys 3SSB Spring Series, Council Bluffs IA
Elite Teams: 3 Stripes Gold West/ The Stage Spring Live, Orange County
Top prospects
2028: Matt Bernal, Josiah Profit, Braxton Rolf, Tyler Treder, Boone Thompson, Anthony Lee, Jaylon Davis, Daxton Hyde, Rayan Dahi, Donovan Cronkhite, Sebastian Singh, Anthony Nayab (2029); 2027: Jeremiah Profit, Richie Ramirez, Tristan Anderson, Brady Berlucchi, Jackson McCall, Drew Parker, Anthony Etheridge, Paisios Polamalu, Chayse Miles, Alejandro Gonzalez, Wyatt Brown, Gavin Fletcher, Caleb Williams, Kemfon Ekiko; Chase Frushone, Jay Rodriguez; 2026: Jaden Bailes, Wyatt Tilson, Julian Lebel, Tim Dorn, Alex Gerhant, Max Meza, Lincoln Grogan, John Odhiambo, Donovan Pitts (2025); Jeremiah Turner, Dre Cleaves, Lawrence Lam, Elliott Watkins, Yanler Ramos
San Diego All-Stars
3 Stripes Gold West/ The Stage Spring Live, Orange County
Top prospects
2028 Lucky Davis, Brooklyn James, Holden Bell, Ayden Lundstrom, Cullen Finch, Jaren Wright, Romeo Flores (2029); 2027: Alijah Cheeks, Jerry Stokes, Peyton Price, Jamarion Hall, Nyno Lopez, Jayren Sunico, Lee Mannheimer, Mason Ruyeras; 2026: Diego Ortiz, Gavin Hallock, Travis Hasley, Jacob Allen, Mickleson Laguerre, AB Ochalla (2025), Aaron Owens (2025), Evan Woodland (2025)
Multilevel
UA Rise: UA Next Circuit, Hamilton, OH
Regional Teams: Attitude of Gratitude Spring Classic, El Segundo, CA
Top prospects
2028: Columbus Palmer, Trey Cavazos, Troy Tominna, Isaac Hudson, Michael Harvey, Khalil Curry, Jeremya Harnish, Tyson Tominna (2029); 2027: Kai Jones, Chase Othick, Jackson Carpenter, Jeein Kim, Brian Hammerstrand, Xander Willard, Nico Whitchurch, Aryasb Kont, Josiayah Bryant, Gavin George; 2026: Dax Hall, Clay Grebing, Ezekiel Walker, Kam Dodson, Michael Brown, Jayden Gray, Jaden Hitipeuw, Isaiah Owens
Players Play
Pro16/NXTPRO Live Period, Wichita, KS
Top prospects
2028: Amari Mitchell, Yigit Okur, Teddy Malewicz, Brandon Sykes, Lucas Albright, Brewster Gale; 2027: Jordan Askew, Tyler Humphrey, Zeffen Herceg, Breylon Jones; Decklen Richardson; Andre Chung, Hollis Sohn; 2026: Brayden Kyman, Jalen Williams, Tevaris Green, Wyatt Cann, Brayden Harris, Will Malual, Coen Sponsel, Harris Notrica, Trenton Mehl, Briggs Young, Mason Jones, Chase Rogowski, Tyler Vosburgh, Zander Ovies, Semote Katoanga, Jordan Marnhart
South Bay Show
EHA x Made Hoops Cali Live Spring, Orange County, Cerritos CA
Top prospects
2026: Xavier Guerrero; 2025: JJ Sanchez, Alek Sanchez, Devin Hamilton, Kevon Fitzpatrick
Coastal Elite
3 Stripes Gold West Live/ The Stage Spring Live
Top prospects
(2028) Desmond Aniagyei, Ernest Donkoh, Isaiah Hill, Ryan Jacobs, Kyle Jacobs, Marcus Tuason, Aiden Abelardo, Aarav Sobte, Calvin Johnson (2029); 2027: Donovan Bryant, Maddox Mendoza, Nico Mott, Sam Jahries, Bryce McCammon, Kian Hendricks, Kaden Hall; 2026: Chris Crowell, Jocori Bartlett, Amari Council, Logan Vergenz, Mykah Simmons, Liam Hodgkinson; Jake Van Der Vorste; Ronnie Scott, Makai Orje, EJ Newman
4S Elite
3 Stripes Gold West Live/ The Stage Spring Live
Top Prospects
2028: Axel Ruiz, Tyler Johnson, Andrew Mikhail, Lucas Schalch, DJ Gatlin, Luke Tucker, Arthur Minton, Sean Josiah, Jeffrey Lee, Laelon Moore; 2027: Blake Jordan, Siraj Sharma, Jack Wisniew, Jasen Hughes, Jr., Tayden Bryant, Cameron Ackerman; 2026: Gage Blakemore, Cyrus Sadri-Ahwazi, RJ Miller, Ari Krasniqi, Aiden Bestul, Cash Heverly, Khalid Deiranieh, Lawrence Sanford (2025)
West Coast Flight
3 Stripes Gold West Live/ The Stage Spring Live
Top prospects:
2028: Boaz Koffler; 2027: Wyatt Myers, Orlando Duarte Hernandez, Xavier Prior; 2026: River Diaz, Jack Silberstein, Max Navarro, Andy Shipman, Dru Ballard
San Diego Sharks
The Stage Spring Live
Top Prospects
2029: Ayden Davenport, Jojo Elson, Roberto Soberanis, Lawrence Duffin; 2028: Jayden Dimalanta, Trey Goodlow, Theo Fraser, Leo Selig, JJ McCoy, Cooper Hamric, Dane Wolf, Sterling Strocco, Vanden Weatherford, Luke Kobar
Sixth Man SD
EHA Made X Hoops Cali Live, Orange County CA
Top prospects
2026: Jahaziel Catano; Brody Sessa; DK Montgomery, Vaughn Young; 2027: Matix Agee
Daygo Elite
The Stage, Spring Live, Orange County
Top Prospects
2028: Tyler Johnson, Damiano Giannola, Exsy Bandoy, Elijah Webb, Jacob Webb, Brady Clark
Adapt Academy
EHA X Made Hoops Cali Live, Orange County CA
Top Prospects
Boldyn Rimmer, Willy Santos, Cameron Kearney, Eli Schumacher, Zach Meister (2028), Issac Chapman (2028), Cade Carlson (2028)
Dog Hours
EHA X Made Hoops Cali Live, Orange County CA
Prospects of note:
2026 Terry Gant; 2027 Lamar Smith
FTG Elite
EHA X Made Hoops Cali Live, Orange County CA
Top prospects
2026: Kai Carlson, Daniel Mariduena, Alex Letu, Gabe Holleran, Talan Blach, Gabriel Holleran, Adam Samahat, Tyson Smith, Mason Moeller, Luke Rall (2025), Thomas Brzezinski (2025), Jacques Godard (2025) Adam Samahat (2028)
Team Now
EHA X Made Hoops Cali Live, Orange County CA
Top Prospects:
2028 Jonathan Okhueleigbe, Brooklyn James; 2027: Jerome Radcliff, Jaidyn Landers, Mahmood Alani, Andrew Ashton, Alex Andrews, Jayden Craton-Sherman
From The Jump
Game Time Events California Classic, Corona CA
Top prospects
2026: Jonathan Hawthorne, Leo Hawkinson, Mason Zennedjian, Zech Hollingsworth (2025), Sawyer Flint (2025), Kenneth Harvey (2025)
Slight Work Hoops
EHA X Made Hoops Cali Live, Orange County CA
Top Prospects
2026: Jordan Walker, Tristen Moore, Koa Cardeno, Nijil Sherrard, Xaiver King, Josiah McDowell, Ajani Jones, Alex Rivera, Jair Benjamin (2025)
Our Way
Game Time Events California Classic, Corona CA
