Many high school standouts of tomorrow participated in the 2025 Pangos Jr. All-American Camp, which featured 140 players from across 13 states plus Canada. At the conclusion of the camp, 6-foot-1 2029 Phillip Reed Jr (Los Angeles) and 6-foot-2 2029 Isaiah Wright (Katy, Texas) were named the camp’s most outstanding player.
No one knows exactly what the future holds at the next levels of the game for middle school players who take their game serious. Some will be excellent high school and even standout college players. Some will peak early and others, such as 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, will go on to excel in other sports. Young, along with other notable athletes such as NBA standouts Evan Mobley, Jalen Green and Melo Ball, were all past participants of the Pangos Jr. All-American Camp. The camp’s 13th edition took place this past weekend in Long Beach, Calif., and gave seasoned evaluators a glimpse of some of the future standouts in high school and grassroots basketball.
The camp serves as a “coming out party” for many middle school standouts, but more importantly, gives young players a gauge of their skill level in comparison to some of their peers from across the country. It also gives camp director Dinos Trigonis and his network of regional and national scouts a first look at potential prospects who will soon attend one of Pangos’ four fall regional Frosh/Soph Camps and ultimately have the opportunity to get selected for the NBA-certified Pangos All-American Camp, which is traditionally reserved for 120 of the nation’s best rising seniors and juniors.
One player who get a good sense of where he stood at this year’s Jr. Camp was 6-foot-2 seventh grade (Class of 2030) point guard Omar Muhammad, a native of West Fresno who incorporates some elements of a prototypical New York City point guard into his game. Muhammad gave his effort a “B-” but rest assured he probably received a more positive final grade from the assembled scouts on hand that watched his explosive skill set, advanced handle and flair for the spectacular. “I think I have to work on my defense; I was able to get to the cup and it is good to see where you’re at,” Muhammad said.
Similar to many kids from West Fresno with hoop dreams, Muhammad (who attends Reyburn in Clovis) patterns his game after Green, the Houston Rockets’ standout two-guard who attended this same camp in 2016. Muhammad’s game, however, is more reminiscent of an explosive Fresno St. point guard who also spent some time with the Rockets and played for Trigonis’ travel ball club (Belmont Shore), Tito Maddox. Muhammad also reminds us a bit of former Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.) guard Xavion Brown, who earned a scholarship to Appalachian State out of high school in 2020.
Muhammad was one of three seventh graders “moved up” to play in the “Best of the Best” All-Star Game generally reserved for the camp’s Top 30 performers and/or prospects. The others were 6-foot-2 Jayden Jones of Heritage Core Prep (Northridge, Calif.) and 6-foot Logan Gardner of El Rancho Charter School (Anaheim, Calif.). None of the trio had a particular standout all-star game, but did more than enough to deserve a spot alongside the top class of 2029 prospects that will enter high school this fall.
The Best of the Best game MVP for the victorious White-jersey wearing club in its 73-62 win was 6-foot 2029 Quali Giran of Carson, Calif., who put his stamp on the game early and finished with a team-high 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Giran has a nice assortment of offensive skill and pull-up jump shots that he uses and plays both ends of the floor. Once Giran smooths out his stop and starts to take advantage of his first step, watch out because the sky is the limit. The MVP for the Blue-jersey wearing club was 5-foot-11 combo guard Brendan Fragela of St. Thomas Apostle (Miami, Fla.), one of the camp’s top perimeter marksmen with a savvy game who makes the correct reads. Fragela hit two 3-pointers down the stretch to keep his team in range and finished with a game-high 14 points to go along with five rebounds.
Others who played well for the White club were 6-foot 2029 Max Bengson of Heritage Christian (Northridge, Calif.), who displayed good defensive instincts and finished with 11 points, and 6-foot-1 2029 Dekoda Ray of Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate (Mission Viejo, Calif.), who hit two deep range bombs and finished with 10 points. For the Blue club, 6-foot-2 2029 Donnell Meekins Jr., who will play for his father at Mayfair (Lakewood, Calif.) beginning this fall, played with energy, hit a 3-pointer and battled inside for seven points.
In close voting, two talented players were selected overall camp co-MOPs: 6-foot-1 2029 Phillip Reed, Jr. of St. Jerome (Los Angeles) and 6-foot-2 2029 Isaiah Wright of Adams Junior High (Katy, Texas). Reed Jr. has a nice package of instincts, passing ability, with a mid-range game to boot. Wright is a well-known commodity in the Lone Star State and impressed out West with a variety of scoring skills and change of pace.
Maddox had his son, 5-foot-3 2031 Honor Tyler-Maddox, participate and was just one of the many former prominent players whose sons were in attendance. Tyler-Maddox has good vision and attends ABA Academy (Garden Grove, Calif.). When Maddox was gaining eligibility at Fresno State in 2000, one of the best rebounding forwards to ever play for the Bulldogs was finishing up his eligibility. New York native Larry Abney was that hard working player and his son, 5-foot-6 southpaw sixth grader (2031) Austin Abney, was the MVP of the 5th/6th Grade Game. Abney had a 34-point camp game and a few other high scoring moments. He father played 12 years professionally and is now part of the L.A. Clippers’ coaching staff. Noel Felix, another Fresno St. player from that era who briefly played in the NBA, had his son in attendance as well. Felix went to Inglewood (Calif.), but his son, 6-foot-6 2029 Roman Felix, lives in Clovis, Calif., and was arguably the best shot blocker in attendance.
Another member of the Clippers’ staff, former NBA player Dahntay Jones, also had a sixth-grader in attendance: Dahntay Jones Jr., of Heritage Christian (Northridge, Calif.). Jones has good length for his class and a promising game.
Two other sons of former NBA players participated in the Best of Best Game: 6-foot-1 2029 Myles Mobley of DNA Prep (Chatsworth, Calif.), the son of Cuttino Mobley, and 5-foot-11 2029 Tristan Ariza of Los Angeles. Ariza’s dad is 2003 Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Basketball Trevor Ariza, who prepped at Westchester (Los Angeles) before going on to UCLA and the NBA. His older brother Tajh currently attends Westchester and is one of the nation’s best prospects in the 2026 class.
Other event standouts included 6-foot-2 2029 C.J. Ani Jr. of Bret Harte (Hayward, Calif.), 2029 5-foot-11 Keifer Johnson of Thurgood Marshall (San Diego, Calif.), and 6-foot-9 Malachi Armour of Hillside Innovation Academy (Romoland, Calif.) Ani is a big shot maker, Johnson has a terrific combination of skill and stamina and Armour is oozing with potential. Armour is the type of young player who will improve rapidly once he reaches the high school level.
Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
