GC3’s Fab 5 from the Tremendous 24

I had the privilege of attending one of the most competitive preseason girls' high school basketball events of the fall — the Tremendous 24, held Saturday, October 25, at O'Connor High School. The event once again lived up to its name, showcasing a deep pool of young, hungry talent ready to make their mark this winter. From skilled guards to versatile forwards, the gym was buzzing with future stars poised for breakout seasons.   After evaluating a full day of high-level competition, I narrowed it down to GC3's Fab 5 — a group of standout prospects who separated themselves with their skill, poise, and overall impact on the court. Each of these players displayed the tools and intangibles that will undoubtedly make them key contributors and names to watch as the 2025 season unfolds.    Mitchell is only an 8th grader, however she will be playing on the varsity team for Coach Lee Lamar at Sequoia Pathfinder in Buckeye. Coach Lamar is one of the best developmental coaches in the state so I expect Mitchell to make an impact. Her game is smooth as she is able to play with pace and adjust as she reads and breaks down defenses. Mitchell has a tight handle and can score from all three levels. She can defend all 94 feet and I expect her to be one of the top prospects in her class as she has been dominant against older competition all spring, summer, and fall. Another sure fire division 1 prospect!     Freeman impressed as her team played against some of the top teams in the event. She is a flat-out playmaker who makes an impact on both ends of the floor. My favorite attribute is how she plays fearlessly by wanting to guard the best opponent, and her ability to get to the rim and finish or facilitate. Higley is my favorite sleeping giant this winter as I expect them to sneak up on teams. Freeman will be an x-factor night in and night out.     Murdough's stock continues to rise, as I can tell she has been putting work in the off-season. Her perimeter game has been developing on both sides of the floor. She is showing the quickness to be able to guard the perimeter and confidence and ability to knock down shots from long range. Murdough is still a thread inside as she does a fantastic job of protecting the rim and cleaning the glass. I urge college coaches to follow her before it's too late as she will be a highly sought after impact player at the next level.     Gary is going to be a problem for teams. She uses her size well to bully opponents out of the way. She can finish around the rim and convert shots from mid range. Although only a freshmen, this high major prospect is only scratching the surface of her game. She moves very well for her size, cleans the glass on both ends, scores inside and from mid-range plus converts free throws. One of her most underrated attributes is her passing ability. She sees the floor well and makes really good decisions. I am super excited to see Gary's career unfold!     Garcia is one of my favorite wing prospects in the state. She is a physical specimen who competes hard on both ends of the floor. Garcia has tremendous playmaking ability and does it consistently on both ends. She plays physically and looks to attack downhill offensively. Garcia can finish around the rim, and she would be a fantastic hidden gem prospect. I expect her to have a huge season, and her recruiting stock should heat up because of her ability to play physical and make plays.

I had the privilege of attending one of the most competitive preseason girls' high school basketball events of the fall — the Tremendous 24, held Saturday, October 25, at O'Connor High School. The event once again lived up to its name, showcasing a deep pool of young, hungry talent ready to make their mark this winter. From skilled guards to versatile forwards, the gym was buzzing with future stars poised for breakout seasons.