Youth Movement shines at COTC 8 - A Full-Time Hoops recap
While it's still early in their high school careers, San Diego's 2026 and 2027 recruiting classes have an opportunity to be special.
The eighth installation of the 3P Creme of the County gave a glimpse of why these classes are so highly regarded beyond the city limits.
The 2026 class showed off the depth of its talent in two of the best games of the day, the 2026 Creme and Select games.
In the Creme Game, an East team led by Isaiah Rogers (6-2 2026 G, Corona Centennial/Players Play) stretched what was a 2-point second half game into a 109-88 blowout win.
While many of the top recruits in the class had strong performances - Zander Ovies, Jaden Bailes, Wyatt Tilson, Lincoln Grogan, Ty Ingram, CJ Aldrich, Alex Williams, Dreydan Cleaves and Runnar "RJ" Miller all had around double figure scoring - it was the 24-point performance by Helix G Jason Black that was arguably the surprise of the event.
Black's performance earned him an MVP title and a berth to the event's final game, the Creme de la Creme game.
The 2026 Select game had one of two sudden death finishes, with Mission Bay G Ajani Jones knocking down a baseline three to give his West team the victory. Jones. Maranatha Christian G Dash Ekeroth, Cathedral Catholic F Kai Carlson and Olympian G Sammell Humphries had strong games for the West squad. The East squad got solid performances from Mira Mesa G Diego Ortiz, Mar Vista G Darius "DK" Montgomery, Sage Creek G Vaughn Young, San Marcos transfer Chris Crowell and Poway G Grant Rodriguez, whose effort plays at 5-11 gave his team multiple second chances.
In the 2027 Creme Game, 6-5 W Jeremiah Profit (he attends Temecula Valley but plays AAU for San Diego-based Gamepoint) dominated the competition and helped lead his team to an emphatic victory.
Flanking him on the winning East team with standout performances included San Marcos G Richie Ramirez (below, right), who had an impressive game on both sides of the ball; Ramirez's San Marcos teammate Jackson McCall, Mt. Miguel F Jasen Hughes Jr., and El Camino W Justin Johnson (below left), who was to thenamed Creme de la Creme Game for his efforts.
The West 2027 team was led by St. Augustine G Drew Parker (below, center right), who scored 15 points, Mater Dei Catholic G Donovan Bryant, Del Norte G Riley Farrokhi, Rancho Christian G James Wilson and Temecula Valley G Fabian Ruiz.
The 2027 Select Game saw the East team make a miraculous 25-point comeback (they trailed 33-8 in the first half) to win 75-72 on a sudden-death three by 5-10 Rancho Buena Vista G Jeremiah Justice. 6-2 Rancho Bernardo W Aryasb Kont and 6-1 Rancho Christian G Luke Bareh were named co-MVPs.
In other games:
In yet another comeback performance, the Creme de la Creme Game saw a West team led by 2024s Tony Duckett (6-3 G Carlsbad), Jael Martin (6-7 F, Carlsbad) and JJ and Alek Sanchez (6-4 and 6-5 2025 Ws Montgomery) erase a 15-point first half deficit to defeat Team East 119-106. For their efforts, 2026 G Ty Ingram and 6-4 2024 W Ian de la Rosa were named co-MVPs for their team.
6-4 2025 Eastlake G Jordyn Webster led a comeback performance by the West team in the 2025 Creme Game, as they overcame a 10-point deficit to defeat the East 102-87. Webster, Montgomery twins JJ and Alek Sanchez, San Ysidro G Miles Anderson were among the West standouts. On the east, St. Joseph Academy G Angel Ochoa, San Ysidro G Steven Evans-Glynn, San Diego F Jayden Wade, Mission Bay F Pablo Balderas and Cathedral Catholic G Patrick O'Brien had strong effort in the loss.
6-4 Vista W Cody Myers and 6-2 St. Augustine G Johnny Stone garnered the 2025 Select Game MVP honors.
The 2024 Session MVPs included 6-5 San Marcos F Mazen El Bissat, 5-8 Cathedral Catholic G Andrew Garcia, 6-1 La Jolla G Michael Contreras and 6-5 Vista Murrieta W Donovan Ford.
6-5 F Taj Ingram and 6-1 G Troy Tommina claimed MVP honors in the 2028 Creme Game.
