Scouting the Opposition: Players who impressed in the SLAM Rising Stars Classic

The SLAM Rising Stars Classic has long served as a breeding ground for some of the future stars of College Basketball. College mainstays such as Green Archer Aljun Melecio, Blue Eagle Thirdy Ravena and FEU Tamaraw Hubert Cani. These players were already sought after even before the Rising Stars Classic, but playing well in the game simply solidified their status as among the very best in High School hoops.

(Photo Credit: Jaime Campos, Spin.PH)

The same could be said for this year's iteration of the Rising Stars Classic, as UAAP Juniors MVP Juan Gomez de Liano was able to solidify his status as one of the best High School players in the country after his MVP performance in the game. However, it wasn't just Juan who was able to put on a show.

Here are some of the other names who impressed in the Rising Stars Classic:

Juan Gomez de Liano

Of course, we have to talk about the Juan (*gets tackled*) who was crowned with the MVP plum during the all star game. That's none other than the UAAP Juniors MVP himself, Juan Swish. 

To be frank, Gomez de Liano didn't have a very good game. He scored "just" 16 points (on 5/16 shooting to boot) to pair with 7 rebounds and 2 assists. He settled for jumpers for most of the night, but when it mattered the most, he got to the paint and managed to draw some key fouls during the dying moments of the game. 

Let's say, Juan didn't win MVP. Would it have mattered? Honestly, no. He's already managed to prove himself in various fields. But his performance was simply added proof that the UP Fighting Maroons has a stud in its hands, and they're incredibly lucky to have him.

L Jay Gonzales 

UAAP Season 79 Finals MVP L Jay Gonzales has been unrecognized by many. It doesn't help that he plays in an FEU Baby Tamaraws team that has Kenji Roman as its main guy, and a Baby Tamaraws team that isn't exactly known to have a megastar in the level of a Belangel or a Gomez de Liano. However, Gonzales showed that he's a contender to be one of the best HS point guards in the league.

He committed 5 turnovers, but that isn't that surprising in an all star game that's fast-paced and played between players who aren't too familiar with each other. But what impressed with Gonzales was his fearlessness. Despite not having that big of a frame, he was relentless in attacking the rim, scoring off a number of acrobatic drives to the basket.

L Jay still has a number of things to work on, but no doubt about it, he's someone to look out for. He has the confidence of being the Finals MVP, and the knowledge that he has what it takes to play well among the very best in High School hoops.

Rhayyan Amsali

Every time I'm asked about Rhayyan Amsali, I talk about a player who has skills way advanced for his age and size, but one with a number of flaws to his game as well. In the Rising Stars Classic, his advanced skills took stage.

His jumper still needs work (not really the form, more of his strength on his shot), but his playmaking certainly showed in this game. He was able to show off some nifty dribble moves not just to get to the basket, but also to create for his other teammates. Amsali made quick decisions with the basketball, always with the knowledge of what to do already.

16 years old, but definitely one High School player to watch out for. Rhayyan Amsali still has two more years remaining in his High School career. Two more years to show just how good of a prospect he really is. The Rising Stars Classic may have served as the beginning of that journey of his.

Will Gozum

Talk about Gozum to a casual fan, and there's a big chance that you're going to be talking about his stint as one of the bigs of the Batang Gilas U16 that famously beat China in the FIBA Asia U16 tournament. In the Rising Stars Classic, Gozum showed just how good of a player he is/

He isn't your typical modern big who can attack the basket and create his own shot. He's an old school big, capable of rolling to the basket and grabbing rebounds using his length and size, That doesn't mean that he has no touch. In fact, he has some great touch on some of the shots he made inside the post.

In the Rising Stars Classic, he was able to show to a national audience that there's a reason why he was in that Batang Gilas squad. With one year left of High School basketball for him, he can further strengthen his claim as a blue-chip recruit.

John Lloyd Clemente

In essence, John Lloyd Clemente had a bad game in the Rising Stars Classic. It took him 16 shots to score his 13 points, and his free throw shooting wasn't that promising. But there were plenty of reasons to be impressed with JLC.

What stuck with me when it came to Clemente was his desire to take over. His dribbling and slashing still needs a ton of work, but the very fact that he wanted to go for the kill so badly was an encouraging sign for any team. He also made a clutch three pointer which cut down the lead for Team Punks, even though they ultimately lost the game. 

Right now, Clemente is known as a very good second option who does a number of things well. With his performance in the Rising Stars Classic, it's clear that JLC is ready to take the next step in his career. The step to becoming the true alpha dog of one team.

Aaron Fermin 

You can make an argument that Aaron Fermin was the best big man in the Rising Stars Classic. He performed in that game by mixing it up. He did the things which he's best in, but at the same time, he mixed it with things which he desires to be.

In his Rising Stars profile in SLAM PH, Fermin mentioned that he wants to become a wing player in the future. I scoffed at the idea, but his good movement and ability to shoot the basketball made me understand that there are things that can be worked on for him to be a wing. Of course, Fermin's rebounding and ability to score around the basket were key components of his performance as well.

Right now, Fermin is a big man. No doubt about it. But as he showed in the Rising Stars Classic, he has the tools to become a wing man in the future with good movement and promising shooting. There's work to be done, but that's something which Fermin isn't new to.

Karl Penano 

Penano has largely been under the radar because of his lowkey play in the UAAP Juniors Division, but he was able to show in the Rising Stars Classic that he's a big man who's worth getting in the Collegiate level.

For one, he's lost a considerable amount of weight ever since his Season 78 stint. He's much quicker compared to before, but he hasn't lost his strength which makes him finish around the basket. Penano is kind of like Will Gozum. He isn't your typical modern big man, but is a good big man nonetheless. 

Great, solid big men are rare in College hoops nowadays. They're either replaced with imports, or are pinned to the bench in favor of smaller line-ups. Penano is someone who could change the minds of coaches, and very well be a solid big man for any collegiate team out there. 

Guilmer Dela Torre

Dela Torre wasn't as smooth as Gomez de Liano nor as flashy and exciting as L Jay Gonzales. But Guilmer was able to balance out being reckless and controlled at the same time.

His shooting was off in this game (in fact, he had difficulty pulling up for jumpers), but what impressed was how he was able to take control of his team. He was steady in doing so, placing his teammates in good spots to score buckets. Guilmer was also able to score off a number of lay-ups, whether it be in the half court or in fast breaks.

Dela Torre is still a year away from playing for the Arellano Chiefs in the NCAA Seniors Division, but AU can breathe easy. They have themselves a guard who they can allow to take control of the team from the get go. He's a fearless player, but also knows how to control the floor at a high level.