Fall league basketball has taken itself to new heights, particularly on the West Coast. Because the COVID pandemic, many gamers all through the nation have been left with out anyplace to play through the fall and winter of 2020. Whereas many states have been shut down below state and county mandated precautions at the moment, states similar to Arizona have been nonetheless extensive open, enabling a floodgate of hoops to happen. Quick ahead 5 years and fall basketball has turn out to be a fixture on the west coast and LA’s most interesting occasion occurred this week: The HS Fall Invite.
Held at gyms all through the Metropolis of Angels, the HS Fall Invite blended lots of SoCal’s most interesting in opposition to a few of the greatest prep faculties on the west coast. Elite Hoops Affiliation founder Julius Von Hanzlik, occasion operator Gabe Hekmatniaz and NXT Up Hoops did an incredible job of getting individuals within the constructing, too. With over 100 D-1 coaches and numerous media lining the baselines, the HS Fall invite not solely offered a platform for gamers to obtain media publicity, but in addition to acquire D-1 Scholarships.
With the occasion working Tuesday by way of Sunday, we have been solely in a position to catch the primary 4 days, however that was greater than sufficient to see the abundance of expertise that the HS Fall Invite needed to provide.
Having already profiled the highest performers within the 2026 class, we now break down the highest 2027 gamers we noticed in Los Angeles:
DeMarcus Henry, 6’8, SF, AZ Compass Prep (Ariz.)
AZ Compass Prep’s newest switch from SoCal confirmed everybody on the HS Fall Invite why he’s rapidly trending in direction of 5 star standing. An electrical lefty wing, Henry has a silky easy jumper, can rating with restricted dribbles from the perimeter, and has the athleticism to complete excessive of you. The son of former Cincinnati Bengals extensive receiver Chris Henry has a terrific bloodline to match the perfect offensive arsenal of a jumbo swingman.
Paul Osaruyi, 6’10, PF/C, CIA Bella Vista (Ariz.)
The very best ranked junior that the Fall HS Invite needed to provide actually confirmed the immense expertise that has made him a consensus top-3 participant within the class of 2027 nationally. The Canadian massive man is a freak athlete who adjustments the sport on each ends, has shocking vary out to the 3-point line, and is simply starting to faucet in to the immense potential he has. Having already performed up with the Canadian Nationwide Crew a few years, Osaruyi is on monitor to be Canada’s subsequent main NBA prospect.
Gene Roebuck, 6’5, SG, La Mirada HS (Calif.)
Maybe essentially the most dependable scoring guard within the class of 2027, Roebuck lived as much as his repute by dropping 40 factors in his opening recreation on the HS Fall Invite. The tremendous bodily guard appeared to provoke contact at any accessible alternative, posted smaller guards, and shot the lights out from 3-point vary. Gene’s mixture of fixed productiveness and taking pictures contact have made him a consensus top-25 participant within the class of 2027.
Cherif Millogo, 7’4, C, St. Francis HS (Calif.)
The tallest participant that the occasion needed to provide confirmed why there’s a lot buzz surrounding him, even in an age when there are cameras at nearly each recreation. Having missed his complete sophomore season with a knee harm, Millogo was a little bit of a thriller man main as much as the HS Fall Invite. The large massive man confirmed off completely outstanding agility for a participant of his stature, utilized his size to alter the sport defensively, and confirmed shocking contact dealing with the basket. Georgia, Syracuse, and Alabama have been the primary three packages to place presents on the desk for the Burkina Faso product, however actually received’t be the final as he takes of Mission League completion in 2025-26 (Sierra Canyon, Harvard-Westlake, Notre Dame, and many others.).
O.J. Popoola, 6’5, SF, Palisades Constitution HS (Calif.)
The most effective two approach wings with measurement was Popoola, a junior switch from Voaygeur Faculty Prep in Detroit. The athletic lefty exhibited a dependable 3-point shot together with his ft set, was a monster finisher in transition, and had no drawback enjoying above the rim on each ends of the ground. The son of former UNLV guard Christian Popoola holds presents from UNLV, Cal, Oregon State, and Arizona State and has a proficient twin brother, E.J., who’s roughly the however is a right-handed wing.
Christian Rogers, 5’9, PG, Campbell Corridor HS (Calif.)
Whereas there have been many gamers who had greater names, Christian Rogers confirmed that he might maintain his personal versus the plethora of expertise that Bella Vista Prep had on the HS Fall Invite. A pacesetter on each ends of the ground, Rogers confirmed off extremely fast arms defensively, exhibited no scarcity of confidence as a shot maker, and introduced infectious power on each ends of the hardwood. Whereas he will not be the largest man, Rogers is the kind of participant who will give opposing lead guards matches in Southern California.
