Senior Hands completes move to Foothills Christian

By Ramon Scott
Updated: August 20, 2016

EastCountySports.com staff report

EL CAJON – UCLA 5-star point guard recruit Jaylen Hands has enrolled at Foothills Christian High School, it was learned recently.

Hands, originally tried to complete a transfer to the private school before last season, but was ultimately denied by the San Diego Section CIF.

Before last season, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Hands chose the Bruins over Louisville, Arizona and San Diego State.

Hands was an All-County player at Mater Dei Catholic in 2015 as a sophomore, then originally had transfered to Foothills Christian after that school year.

His eligibility at Foothills was denied by the San Diego Section and Hands’ family chose not to appeal that decision to the State CIF.

He enrolled at Balboa City, a prep school in downtown San Diego that isn’t goverened by the CIF, but plays a full schedule of games against other prep schools.

Hands has played AAU ball for the Compton Magic, a team that also included TJ Leaf, previously of Foothills Christian and another UCLA signee.

Earlier this month, Hands won MVP honors at the Adidas Nations Championship game on ESPNU. Hands scored 18 points in the season finale against Team Canada.

He is currently ranked 38th on ESPN’s Top 100 and is considered the top prep point guard in California for this upcoming season.

“UCLA was my dream school, my family’s from there, I love LA, the basketball team and the history behind it, plus they have a great guard lineage,” said Hands.

“I have a polished game with a good blend of passing, scoring, and athleticism.”

Hands could give Foothills Christian a second-consecutive McDonald’s All-American this season.