Oct. 3, 2025

Nick Ingram and South Bay Sports Radio will be on hand for this week’s Torrance vs. Redondo matchup. The Sea Hawks get a boost with several players making their season debut after the sit-out period. Torrance enters undefeated, led by Hidden Gems standouts Vaughn Reinert, Kaeson Pressley, and Gibson Turner—looking to keep their streak alive.

Compton native brings decades of football experience and youth mentorship to AI-powered recruiting platform

LOS ANGELES, CA – September 15, 2025 — Hidden Gems Football, the AI-enhanced sports media and scouting platform, proudly announces the appointment of Nakawa Shepherd as its new Director of Scouting & Player Development – West Region. A respected leader with deep roots in Southern California football and a lifelong commitment to youth development, Shepherd will lead athlete evaluations, in-person scouting, mentorship, and regional outreach across California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii.

A graduate of Carson High School, Shepherd was a standout Free Safety under Hall of Fame coach Gene Vollnogle, helping lead his teams to two 4A City Championships (1988 and 1990). He earned a scholarship to Fresno State, where he played under the late Coach Jim Sweeney, contributing significantly to the Bulldogs’ nationally ranked 1992 season, which included a landmark victory over USC in the Freedom Bowl.

After his playing days, Shepherd transitioned into a leadership role off the field, spending more than two decades in youth mentorship with Job Corps and coaching football at the grassroots level. His passion for guiding young athletes through life’s challenges has earned him widespread respect throughout the Southern California sports community.

“I want to be an advocate for the kids and their families,” said Shepherd. “There’s so much noise in recruiting today. I’m here to help them focus on what matters—academics, discipline, and doing things the right way.”

At Hidden Gems Football, Shepherd will oversee live evaluations at combines, regional games, and training sessions. He’ll also work closely with coaches, families, and schools to ensure every athlete receives not just a ranking—but real mentorship, academic support, and a path forward.

ABOUT HIDDEN GEMS FOOTBALL

Hidden Gems Football is a sports media and analytics company committed to discovering and showcasing high-potential high school athletes who are often overlooked by traditional recruiting platforms. Combining verified combine data, AI-powered analysis from Marblism, Inc., and expert human scouting, Hidden Gems provides accurate exposure, player rankings, and performance tracking across its proprietary website, mobile app, and social media channels.

Driven by the belief that talent is everywhere—but opportunity is not, Hidden Gems blends modern technology with old-school integrity. The platform aims to preserve the values of hard work, character, and community—while revolutionizing how future stars are found.

When you hear the names LaVar Ball, John Brown, or Deion Sanders, one thing comes to mind: strong Black fathers who refused to leave their children’s future to chance. Ball used marketing and hype, Brown used discipline and development, and Sanders used charisma and branding. Different playbooks, same core philosophy: my son will succeed, and I’ll fight every inch of the way to make sure of it.

There’s another name that belongs in that conversation, though it’s far less known: Art Warren.

The Father Behind the Athlete
Art Warren is well connected, no-nonsense, and — when it comes to advocating for his family some even say harsh. A retired police officer, former collegiate athlete, and high school coach, he understands discipline, structure, and the grind it takes to succeed in sports. More importantly, he has always believed that his son, Azari Warren, had the tools to play college football — if only he could find the right environment to unlock his development.

Azari’s Rocky Road
Azari’s path has been anything but smooth. A three-star ATH at Chino Hills, now committed to the University of New Mexico, he has had to bounce through multiple high schools. Each move wasn’t about running from adversity, but about searching for the right fit — the program that would truly invest in his growth. From Eastvale to Chino Hills, with multiple stops in between, one thing never changed: Art’s indomitable belief in his son Azari.

That constant search came with a price. Parents, coaches, administrators, and even family members questioned Art’s persistence. Some labeled him difficult. Others called him unrealistic. Even his wife grew frustrated at times with his insistence to keep looking for the right high school.

“I’m not saying I had to sleep on the couch,” Art jokes, “but it was close a couple times.”

Fighting the System
Art’s defense is simple: too many coaches sell parents a dream they never intend to deliver. “They say all the right things when you’re in their office considering enrolling. But when the rubber meets the road, it’s a different story. I don’t allow these coaches to lie to me and my family.”