California Names to Watch For: Part I

Tom Lemming

May 11, 2023 @ 02:06 PM

I looked at some of California's top prospects from my initial 2023 travels. These young men were names that impressed me at my CA photoshoot. Some are no-brainer power-five prospects and some are sleepers waiting to be discovered. Stay tuned as I continue my trek around the country evaluating some of the nation's best.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   [player_tooltip player_id='282722' first='Makari' last='Kenion'] 5'7” 150 is a slot receiver for Pittsburg HS, CA. He's a smooth ballplayer with 4.5-speed, excellent hands, and burst. Also plays corner and shows quick twitch athletic ability. Holds a 3.8 GPA. Class of 2025.   RJ Mosley, 6'3” 175 is a fast-rising wide receiver from Pittsburg HS. Proved to be a deep threat with strong hands and deceptive speed. Good length, leaping ability, and timing. Holds a 4.1 GPA. Has a 35-inch vertical jump and also stars in basketball. Class of 2026.   [player_tooltip player_id='780463' first='Truly' last='Bell'] is a 6' 170 athlete from Pittsburg HS who shows big-time skills at wide receiver and corner. Runs great routes, is technically sound, and catches everything within his frame. Holds a 4.0 GPA and is a rising star with big-time skills.   [player_tooltip player_id='406739' first='Bradley' last='Ruffin'], 6' 298 is one of the top DT prospects in Northern California. The class of 2025 prospect dominates at the point of attack, shows great hands, excellent strength, and exceptional balance. Tough against the run and holds a 3.2 GPA.   Bobby Shaw is a 6'2” 165 wide receiver from Pittsburg HS. This 2024 prospect is known for his ability to make acrobatic catches look routine, he shows big-time speed, is an excellent route runner, and excels at high-pointing the ball. Holds a 3.8 GPA. His father played for Cal and in the NFL.   Another big star from Pittsburgh HS is linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='723693' first='Etene' last='Pritchard'] 6'2“ 190 in the class of 2025. An outstanding athlete with a nose for the ball, he has great sideline-to-sideline movement skills, plays smart, and excels in coverage. Holds a 3.5 GPA. Rising star and could become a national name.   Marley Alcantara is a 5‘7“ 160 quarterback from Pittsburg HS in the 2025 class with good all-around skills. He has a good arm, can run, and also does a good job of commanding an offense. Holds a 4.2 GPA. A natural at the position despite his lack of great size. Impressive sophomore film.   [player_tooltip player_id='723728' first='Elijah' last='Bow'] 5'9” 195 running back from Pittsburg HS can surprise you with his power (benches 300), shows good balance, burst, vision, and averaged close to a first down a carry. Holds a 3.9 GPA. Also shows a very good pair of hands.   One of the top prospects in northern California is [player_tooltip player_id='282716' first='Jadyn' last='Hudson'] 6'2” 185 from Pittsburg HS. He is one of the premier safety prospects in California. Physical, with loose hips, he is quick in transition and plays with a whole lot of confidence. Very good recovery speed and production. Class of 2025.   Quarterback Palenapa Mataafa 5'9” 177 from Berkeley HS is small but very efficient, with a live arm and good instincts. Impressive movement skills & leadership ability. Holds a 3.5 GPA. Class of 2025.   Eli Moulton 6' 210 is a talented center and defensive end for Berkeley HS. Shows very good footwork and is a team leader. He's a coach on the field who dominates as a run blocker and on the defensive side is a sure tackler. Holds a 3.9 GPA. Class of 2024.   Nate Garland 5‘9“ 160 plays both running back and cornerback for Berkeley HS. He excels in man coverage and shows excellent range. Known for his ability to run down swift receivers from behind. Second team all-league and the school's defensive player of the year. Holds a 3.3 GPA. Class of 2025.

I looked at some of California's top prospects from my initial 2023 travels. These young men were names that impressed me at my CA photoshoot. Some are no-brainer power-five prospects and some are sleepers waiting to be discovered. Stay tuned as I continue my trek around the country evaluating some of the nation's best.