New Year’s Basketball Madness Top Standouts Pt. III

New Year&#8217;s Basketball Madness Top Standouts Pt. III

David Yapkowitz

January 11, 2024 @ 04:00 PM

Last week, Bernstein High School played host to the New Year's Basketball Madness Tournament. The event was held from Jan. 2-6 and featured two different brackets of pool play. The Silver Division was won by host Bernstein while the Gold Division was won by Crenshaw. I was able to attend the event and here's a look at some additional standouts I saw. 1. [player_tooltip player_id='843753' first='Alyssa' last='McKenzie'] - Fairfax 2027 McKenzie is only a freshman but has advanced skills. She is a forward, maybe a center in smaller lineups. She can handle the ball a bit in transition and can make moves off the dribble in the halfcourt. She runs the floor well on the break and is able to finish in transition off a pass. She positions herself well around the basket and is a good rebounder on both ends of the court. Has solid upside. 2. [player_tooltip player_id='876157' first='Aaliyah' last='Serpas'] - Arleta 2024 Serpas is a bit of a combo guard. She's a natural playmaker who can find open teammates on he break; does a good job pushing the pace in transition. She's also comfortable looking for her own shot. She's quick off the dribble and can play against defensive pressure. Consistent midrange jumper off the pull-up and can shoot from three-point range. 3. [player_tooltip player_id='843755' first='Nylah' last='Moore'] - Eagle Rock 2027 Moore is only a freshman and stood out by her movement off the ball. She makes good cuts/dives to the basket and is able to catch a pass. Puts herself in position to get easy buckets. She's slight but long and tall and tries to establish position in the post. More of a lengthy forward. She boxes out well in traffic. 4. [player_tooltip player_id='843631' first='Desiree' last='Gage'] - Fairfax 2026 Gage is quick with the ball in her hands. Crafty ball-handler who can break the defense down. She's a smaller guard who is able to get to her spots on the court; reads the defense and reacts. Good crossover. Sometimes has to slow the game down a little bit but can be effective. Able to get into the paint off the dribble.

Last week, Bernstein High School played host to the New Year's Basketball Madness Tournament. The event was held from Jan. 2-6 and featured two different brackets of pool play. The Silver Division was won by host Bernstein while the Gold Division was won by Crenshaw. I was able to attend the event and here's a look at some additional standouts I saw.

1. Alyssa McKenzie Alyssa McKenzie 6'1" | PF Fairfax | 2027 State CA - Fairfax 2027

McKenzie is only a freshman but has advanced skills. She is a forward, maybe a center in smaller lineups. She can handle the ball a bit in transition and can make moves off the dribble in the halfcourt. She runs the floor well on the break and is able to finish in transition off a pass. She positions herself well around the basket and is a good rebounder on both ends of the court. Has solid upside.

2. Aaliyah Serpas Aaliyah Serpas 5'4" | PG Arleta | 2024 State CA - Arleta 2024

Serpas is a bit of a combo guard. She's a natural playmaker who can find open teammates on he break; does a good job pushing the pace in transition. She's also comfortable looking for her own shot. She's quick off the dribble and can play against defensive pressure. Consistent midrange jumper off the pull-up and can shoot from three-point range.

3. Nylah Moore Nylah Moore 5'9" | CG Eagle Rock | 2027 State CA - Eagle Rock 2027

Moore is only a freshman and stood out by her movement off the ball. She makes good cuts/dives to the basket and is able to catch a pass. Puts herself in position to get easy buckets. She's slight but long and tall and tries to establish position in the post. More of a lengthy forward. She boxes out well in traffic.

4. Desiree Gage Desiree Gage 5'6" | PG Fairfax | 2026 CA - Fairfax 2026

Gage is quick with the ball in her hands. Crafty ball-handler who can break the defense down. She's a smaller guard who is able to get to her spots on the court; reads the defense and reacts. Good crossover. Sometimes has to slow the game down a little bit but can be effective. Able to get into the paint off the dribble.