Stars and Sleepers: A 3P Creme of the County recap

Xair Mendez (left) and JJ Sanchez willed their team to a comeback win in the Creme de la Creme game Photo Credit: Heather Cleaves, The Heather Experience

Labor Day weekend in San Diego meant that hundreds of the top high school basketball players from the Greater San Diego region converged on St. Augustine HS for the latest installment of the 3P Creme of the County.

Full-Time Hoops' signature exposure showcase, the ninth annual event has given players a platform to display -- and in some cases, introduce - their talent to the basketball community, college coaches and many of California's top basketball scouts.

This year's event lived up to the tradition of previous events, as most of the event's 11 games were decided in the final five minutes with the region's top talent leaving their imprint on those proceedings, and several players emerged as potential players to watch in their respective classes.

In the final game of the night, the Creme de la Creme game, which featured the top players in San Diego - or who participate on San Diego-based travel teams - Montgomery's Xair Mendez and JJ Sanchez led a furious comeback to give the white-jersey donning squad a 111-107 win over the team in black jerseys. The white team trailed by 16 at halftime and by as many as 22 points in the second half before storming back behind 20 points from the 6-5 Sanchez, a two-time All-CIF Section selection - and the 6-2 Mendez, a two-time all-league talent.

Mendez impressed with his defensive intensity and his playmaking, while Sanchez hit several big shots en route to 16 second half points, as well as creating openings for his teammates, including the go-ahead assist to Louis Bond, a 6-5 senior wing out of Windward, who hit a three pointer with 25-seconds left to give his team a 109-107 lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Mendez and Sanchez were named the Nick Herrmann Players of the Game for the final game.

6-4 G Jake Hall, the reigning CIF Player of the Year and UCSD commit, had an aggressive spurt in the final five minutes, scoring 9 points to push his black squad ahead by one point in the final minute. The white team then fouled 6-8 2026 F Brayden Kyman (Santa Margarita HS/ Players Play) on a three pointer with less than a minute remaining, but Kyman missed the free throw, which would have put his team up four points, which set up the final sequence.

CJ Aldrich (left) and Richie Ramirez were named the Work Ethic Hustle Award winners in the Creme de la Creme Game

Among the standouts in the Creme De La Creme game were 6-3 2026 G Caleb Newton (Mission Bay), 6-1 2026 G CJ Aldrich (Rancho Buena Vista), 6-5 2025 W Dylan Griffin (University City), 6-3 2027 G Tavid Lee Johnson (Francis Parker), 6-5 2026 W Tariq Isacandari (Corona Centennial/ Players Play), 6-2 2027 G Richie Ramirez (San Marcos), 6-8 2025 F Mason Hodges (San Juan Hills/ Gamepoint) and St. Augustine teammates 6-3 2026 Jaden Bailes and 6-3 2026 G Lincoln Grogan.

Other standouts throughout the event included:

2030s

Kyle O'Connor (Greenfield MS)

2029s

6-0 G Kiefer Johnson (Marshall MS), 5-6 PG Anthony Ali Nayab (St. Gregory MS), 6-1 G Lorenzo Beltran (Rancho Christian MS), Josh Schwiebert (Praxis Academy), Will Spurgiesz (Oak Valley MS), Tyson Tominna (Victory Christian MS), T'Marrion Williams (San Diego Soldiers), Jojo Elson (School of the Madeleine), Joziah David Rodriguez (Linfield Christian MS)

2028s

6-2 Josiah Profit (Temecula Valley/ Gamepoint), 5-7 Columbus Palmer (Francis Parker), 5-10 Lucky Davis (Mission Bay), 6-4 Aydin Lundstrom (Mission Bay), 6-2 Ah'Mahn Oliver (Coronado), 5-10 Donovan Cronkhite (Tri-City Christian), 5-10 Anthony Lee (Christian), 6-7 Tyler Treder (Cal Lutheran/ Gamepoint), 6-1 Troy Tominna (Victory Christian), 6-2 Deven Hewett (Corona Del Mar) and 5-10 Jaylon Davis (Sage Creek)

2027s

6-3 Tavid Lee Johnson (Francis Parker), 5-8 Austin Brown (Coronado), 5-10 Connor Kiti (Christian), 6-0 Kenfom Ekiko (Poway), 6-4 Lamar Smith (San Diego), 6-0 Kai Jones (Francis Parker), 6-5 Drew Parker (St. Augustine), 6-4 Anthony Etheridge (St. Augustine), 5-9 Jerry Stokes (Bonita Vista), 6-5 Jackson McCall (San Marcos), 5-8 Tristan Anderson (Olympian), 6-4.5 Langston Ford (Rancho Christian/ Gamepoint), 6-2 Richie Ramirez (San Marcos) and 5-10 Nico Mott (San Marcos).

2026s

6-3 Caleb Newton (Mission Bay), 6-3 Lincoln Grogan (St. Augustine), 6-5 Kai Carlson (Cathedral Catholic), 6-3 RJ Miller (Madison), 6-5 Juju Lebel (Christian), 6-4 Maximus Chacon (St. Joseph Academy), 6-3 Michael Brown (San Marcos), 6-2 Max Meza (Cathedral Catholic), 6-7 Clay Grebing (Mission Bay), 6-3 Wyatt Tilson (La Jolla Country Day), 6-3 Yanler Ramos (Army Nsvy) 6-2 Jalen Williams (San Marcos), 6-1 CJ Aldrich (Rancho Buena Vista) and 6-1 Jocori Bartlett (Mission Bay).

2025s

6-6 Pablo Balderas (Mission Bay), 6-3 PJ Jourdain (Cathedral Catholic), 5-9 Jacob Tsai (Bishop's), 6-4 Dylan Griffin (University City), 6-5 Steven Evans-Glynn (Cathedral Catholic); 6-4 Alek Sanchez (Montogmery), 5-11 Chris Carrillo (La Jolla Country Day), 6-4 Jamell Wiley (Lincoln), 6-1 Tyshaun Harris (University City), 6-3 Cody Shen (Torrey Pines), 6-1 Atreju Delacruz (Mission Bay), 6-2 Jasper Buck (La Costa Canyon), 6-1 Darius Hueitt (Mater Dei Catholic) and 6-8 Mason Hodges (San Juan Hills/ Gamepoint)

Sleepers emerge

New Mira Mesa transfer Tim Dorn made a big impact in the 2026 sessions

Throughout the day, players emerged that previously weren't on my scouting radar, or whose performances marked a significant improvement over previous viewings.

No player fits this category more so than 6-7 2026 wing Timothy Dorn (pictured), whose family recently relocated from Hawaii to San Diego via military transfer. Dorn, enrolled in Mira Mesa, stole the show during the second 2026 session with his elite physical tools, athleticism, activity on the boards, rim protection and downhill scoring ability.

A face that was familiar to San Diego hoops fans that re-emerged after a three-year hiatus from the city was 6-8 2025 F Davaughn Hueitt, who played his freshman year at San Diego High School before relocating to Texas via Florida for his sophomore and junior seasons. Now, enrolled at Mater Dei Catholic High School, Hueitt looks like a game-changing forward with ball skills, versatility and vastly improved athleticism. His twin brother, 6-1 Darius, has dramatically improved from early in his career and will figure prominently in the Crusaders retooled roster.

In the 2027 Creme game, it was 5-10 San Marcos guard Nico Mott that dazzled with his three-level scoring ability and confidence, earning himself a surprise berth in the Creme de la Creme game. Mott gives the Knights a microwave scorer behind starting guards Richie Ramirez and 2026 standout Jalen Williams.

In 2028, several players caught the attention of scouts with their combination of size and long-term upside: 6-4 University City F Isaac Hudson, 6-7 Cal Lutheran F Tyler Treder and 6-5 La Costa Canyon F Nolan Barrett. Hudson has a varsity-ready frame, plays with great energy on the boards and has emerging ball skills. Barrett, the player of the game in the 2028 Select contest, dominated for stretches with his scoring ability around the basket, pinpoint passing out of double teams and ability to play at the short corner and elbows. Treder, who played for a very good Gamepoint 14u team this past year, also possesses excellent footwork and hands on the block and rivals Barrett as a passer.

Other players who raised their stock included:

2028s Tyler Johnson (Rancho Bernardo), Saven Sayarath (Madison), Braxton Rolf (Carlsbad), 2027s Dwight McDonald (Christian), Boldyn Rimmer (Escondido Charter), Dawere Tut (Del Lago Academy), Alijah Cheeks (Mission Bay); 2026s Trenton Mehl (Carlsbad); Isaac Weatherred (Patrick Henry), Gavin Hallock (Scripps Ranch), Mustafa Abdi (Hoover); and 2025s Maleek Robinson (Morse); Andy Novelo (El Capitan), Omar Krenbeh (Mar Vista), Ayden Horn (Rancho Buena Vista), Matthew Horn (Rancho Buena Vista); Shawn Sidiqi (El Camino); Devin McGee (pictured, left) (El Camino); Ruben Del Busto (Eastlake) and 6-8 Gael Villaviencio (Vincent Memorial).

Session MVPS

2025s Cody Shen (left) and Ayden Horn share MVP honors in one of the 2025 sessions

The event also featured 10 games that pitted the top players in grade-based showcase games, starting at 8:30 a.m. with the 2028 Select game and concluding with the third of three senior games at 5:30 p.m.

Each game had one player of the game as well as two players recognized for their impact on the game with their hustle.

Here were the players of the game: