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Bronny James & Kentucky Commit B.J. Boston Given Scoring Props for Sierra Canyon’s Game vs Patrick School

Eric Rosales

by Eric Rosales in College Basketball

Updated Mar 31, 2021 · 1:54 PM PDT

Olivier Sarr (30) of the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team shooting a shot in front of two Morehead State players.
Kentucky's Olivier Sarr (30) shoots between Morehead State's James Baker (3) and Johni Broome (4) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
  • Sierra Canyon plays Patrick School and No. 1 recruit Jonathan Kuminga
  • Bronny James coming off scoreless performance in Sierra Canyon’s first loss of the year
  • Get the odds and prediction for this matchup, as well as scoring props for James and BJ Boston

The hype machine can’t get any greater for a high school hoops encounter, as the star-studded Sierra Canyon Trailblazers (14-1, 8-1 neutral) take on the Patrick School Celtics (8-1, 5-1 neutral) in a  Friday night showcase on ESPN. Tip-off time for this one is 6pm.

While Bronny James is the headliner, he is still just budding underclassmen trying to make an impact for the ‘Blazers. They’ll get a look at the top recruit in the country in Celtics’ 6-foot-8 forward Jonathan Kuminga, and a mountain of a man in Bretner Motumbo, the no. 135-ranked player in the country.

This being no ordinary game, oddsmakers have given us a little incentive to tune in. Let’s go over some game lines and player props for this one.

Patrick School Celtics vs Sierra Canyon Trailblazers

Team Odds
Patrick School +9.5 (-120)
Sierra Canyon -9.5 (-120)

*Odds from January 2

Analysis: This will be a good contest to see how Sierra Canyon bounces back. They had reeled off 14 wins in a row before Rancho Christian beat them 85-81 in overtime. The second-ranked team in the nation and the top team out of California, the Trailblazers welcomed Ziaire Williams to the lineup for his first game action, and he didn’t disappoint. The 6-foot-8 forward (still undecided as to where he’ll be attending college) dropped 28 points, scoring the tying bucket to get the game to OT.

He was aided by another five-star recruit BJ Boston. The Kentucky commit poured in 26, and he’s been the best player for Sierra Canyon this season. He’ll likely be matched up with Kuminga, the Congolese national that is still deciding where he’ll be attending. Patterning his game after Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Paul George, scouts are enamoured with his hops and ability to shoot the basketball.

The advantage Sierra Canyon possesses here is depth. While Kuminga is the best recruit in the nation, Sierra Canyon runs deep well past Boston and Williams. Shy Odom is another skill forward that can spell the stars, while TCU commit Terren Frank and 7-foot-3 center Harold Yu are also impact players. And then you’ve still got Bronny James and Zaire Wade who can contribute and add another dimension when called upon.

They’ve had only four games all year that have been decided by single digits, but two of those results have been in their last two games. The Blazers get the W, but Patrick keeps it in range.

The Pick: Patrick School -9.5 (-120)

BJ Boston Scoring Total vs Patrick School

Total Odds
Over 20.5 points -120
Under 20.5 points -120

Analysis: Boston is the seventh-ranked recruit in the nation, and his athleticism and guard size at 6-foot-5 will fit nicely into John Calipari’s system at Kentucky. While he did score 26 points last time out, he did shoot just 10-for-25 from the field. Despite that, he is their go-to guy, and so you can expect the shot volume to stay in that realm.

Boston might have to contend with Kuminga, but getting the chance to go up against the consensus top player is a motivator at any level. Throw in the fact that the game will be broadcasted across the nation on ESPN, and a ton of scouts should be in the stands with all the undecided talent yet to commit, and the stage is set for a standout performance.

The Pick: over 20.5 points (-120)

Bronny James Scoring Total vs Patrick School

Total Odds
Over 12.5 points -120
Under 12.5 points -120

Analysis: The bottom line is Bronny is the main attraction, but, just like Zaire Wade, the boys are just cutting their teeth among some of the best players in the nation. Last game was a tough one for both sons of the NBA legends. Bronny was scoreless in five minutes, while Zaire posted just a bucket in 13 minutes.

Obviously, Sierra Canyon wants to win, but there’s a delicate balance knowing that the public is there to watch the heir apparent stars. The last time Bronny James was in the spotlight, it was the much-hyped battle against his dad’s alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary’s.

He didn’t look out of place, and with the James clan in attendance, he delivered with a big-time performance, chipping in 15 points in the win. Unfortunately, the Lakers are playing Friday night, meaning LeBron will likely be streaming the game at Staples, as he prepares to take on the Pelicans.

While I do believe that Bronny gets more minutes than against Rancho Christian, the addition of Ziaire Williams puts another stud scorer onto the floor, and finding shots isn’t going to be that easy.

The Pick: under 12.5 points (-120)

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