By: Kevin Moses
Zander Jimenez
Twitter: @ZanderJimenez4
Height: 6’3, 175
Class of 2024
School: Salesian College Prep, CA
Jimenez is a fierce competitor with a very high motor that is scrappy and tenacious on both sides of the ball. Zander has an incredible IQ with nice court vision. Like a master surgeon dissecting the defense for game-winning plays. Zander is a strong triple-threat scoring option but Zander’s biggest strength is that he thrives getting to the rim off turnovers he causes. Going from defense to offense in a flash and finishing strong for easy transition buckets. Zander is gifted at reading the passing lanes, and anticipating moves, and passes before he can fully develop which fuels his team and elevates his own game. Zander moves great without the ball using his high IQ to get to his open spots. From the guard position, Zander uses that court vision to find his teammates for easy buckets. With solid footspeed, lateral movement, and strength, Zander is a great on-ball defender who can pick up 94 feet while defending the other team’s best player to slow down their offense. Zander can get after the boards as well.
During the Spring/ Summer, Zander averaged 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals per game scoring 15+ per game in 15 games with a high game of 24 twice. Zander’s favorite accomplishment was winning the inaugural Cali LIVE tournament with his high school team beating the defending California Open State Champs Harvard Westlake, a nationally ranked team. Zander personally made 4 clutch free-throws down the stretch and held 4 star PG Trent Perry to just 2 points in the second half after being down 28-20 at the half. After his lockdown performance, Zander was named the Defensive MVP of the Championship Game and Top Performer by Pangos and Simply for the entire Cali Live Event. In this event, Zander averaged 8.5 points, 6 three-point shots made, and 9 steals in four games. Zander’s biggest improvement was becoming a more efficient knockdown shooter which he became known for. Zaner put in 1000 shots a day to accomplish that. Zander wants to be that guy when big shots have to be made. He won three games for his team with the game on the line with clutch shooting, one of which was a three-point winner over ESPN Top 10 player, Carter Bryant. Also went 4-4 from the free-throw line down the stretch. Zander also went 3-4 at the line with under a minute to play to help his team finish with a 3-1 and third place at the Damien Classic in LA. Zander also won a game for his high school in Idaho a few weeks ago where he hit a three and 2 free throws with less than a minute remaining. Zander’s goal is to finish #1 and win the California Open State Championship. Already with big wins over the top teams in Cali, they are 13-1 and ranked #2 in the entire state of Cali and #40 in the entire country. Summering only a 2-point loss to the Top team in SoCal at the Damien tournament. Zander’s second goal is to make the All-State Team in Cali among so many great players in Cali for the 24 class. Zander knows he has to continue to elevate his nice skills to accomplish this goal. Zander’s final goal is to showcase his true value as a 2-way player in high school so college coaches can see his worth and that he can impact any program.
Being such a clutch performer with ice water in his veins who thrives on making game-winning plays. Zander doesn’t need the ball in his hands to impact the game but wants it when it matters most. His savvy defensive swag always creates a ton of turnovers that lead to points. Zander is solid on the boards for his size with explosive leaping ability. He is an elite defender. Zander sees himself as a 5-star defender ready for the challenge of guarding the best guards in the state or country.
With a ton of experience from his high school and AAU teams competing at the national level consistently and displaying that he is a proven winner with the skill set and leadership ability to compete at the highest level against the best out there. Zander has a lot of dog in him as I call it and passion to not only compete but get that win at all cost, anywhere and anytime. The bigger the stage the better he brings energy, letting that dog out to eat. What’s most important though for Zander is finding the right system that fits his particular style of play. Zander wants to play for a coaching staff that sees the value he brings to the team on and off the court but will challenge him to continue the elevate his skills even more. Academics are equally important to Zander as much as playing competitive basketball itself at a high level.
Even with all sorts of awards and accomplishments already to his credit Zander is still hungry and won’t stop working hard to continue to perfect his craft more and more. Zander understands well to be the best, you have to beat the best consistently and that does not happen without focus with attention to details, maximizing every opportunity, a relentless work ethic with pure grit and determination that no one will ever out-compete him.