There were 39 teams involved in the 2011 Southern California Community College Showcase, July 30th & 31st at Azusa Pacific University.
I managed to see 32 of the 37 college-related teams, and I've covered the other 5 (Cerritos, Long Beach, Rio Hondo, Reedley & SD Mesa) at other shootout events this summer. I also didn't cover the two club teams (OC Pride & Say No) since that really won't have any bearing on the upcoming JC season.
And of course, all these opinions are my own. I've roughly followed the stats and results, but there is some subjective judgment involved as well. I've also finessed some of the positions so the most deserving players are recognized. I realize there's plenty of room for disagreement, but this is what I think...
Most Outstanding Player:
Josue Mulamba, Imperial Valley. Imperial Valley was one of the biggest surprises of this event, going 3-1 with a win over Saddleback and losing its one game by just 6 points to Citrus (more on them in a minute). And Mulamba was the biggest reason for this, both literally and figuratively. The 6-10 freshman from the Congo is an older guy but JC ball is all about second chances and unconventional paths. He had 19 points on 7-for-7 from the floor and added 7 rebounds and 6 blocked shots as IVC gave Citrus its closest call of the summer in a 54-48 loss.
Most Outstanding Team:
Citrus: Since the Owls were also my pick for top team at the Charger Summer Shootout, I tried to find another team I could recognize from this event. Chaffey and Cosumnes River both went 4-0, and Antelope Valley was 3-0 against JC competition (they lost in OT to the OC Pride). And Compton would have been the sentimental pick had they gone unbeaten because of the way they play (they went 3-1). But in the end, Citrus was truly the best team in the event, at least amongst the JC teams. Their 4-headed backcourt of Vaughn Autry, Nolan Abernathy, Kerry Carter and Brandon Woods looks like the best unit in the state, and with Dominique Carr, Garrett Jefferson, Brandon Parga and Kendrick Thomas the group of forwards is also outstanding. They're not real big but they're good, and with wins over three teams that went 3-1 (Irvine Valley, Merritt - the team that beat Compton - and Imperial Valley) they are the pick as Top Team...again.
JCHoops.com All-Shootout Team:
First Team:
PG - Kalob Hatcher, Irvine Valley
SG - Jason Johnson, Antelope Valley
SF - Kenny Morgan, Chaffey
PF - Shannen Garner, LA Southwest
Ctr - Josue Mulamba, Imperial Valley
Second Team:
PG - Joshua Amey, Merritt
SG - Lee Lark, Santa Monica
SF - Brandon Parga, Citrus
PF - Anthony Dees, Mt. San Jacinto
Ctr - Tony Gill, Cosumnes River
Third Team:
PG - Josh Wilson, El Camino
SG - Steve Pickens, Compton
SF - James Tillman, Cosumnes River
PF - Larry Slaughter, Antelope Valley
Ctr - Devin Golston, Saddleback
Honorable Mention:
PG - Eli Alcantar, Alameda
PG - A.J. Bridges, Cosumnes River
PG - Justin Cole, Saddleback
PG - Da'Shawn Gomez, Antelope Valley
PG - Chris Gorman, Palomar
PG - Kevin Harkless, Chaffey
PG - Zalmico Harmon, The Bucs (Ventura)
PG - Donald Lee, Porterville
PG - Kurtis Ong, Chabot
PG - Khiry Williams, LA Pierce
PG - Daniel Womack, Bakersfield
SG - Vaughn Autry, Citrus
SG - Baptiste Boucharel, Mira Costa
SG - Chris Brown, LA Trade Tech
SG - Michael Carabes, East LA
SG - Jordan Fusslier, Merritt
SG - Paul Hester, San Jose
SG - Rafael Love, Canyons
SG - Eric Mitchell, The Bucs (Ventura)
SG - Chaz Pio, Desert
SG - Thurman Thomas, LA Southwest
SG - Isaiah Todd, Compton
SF - DeSean Anderson, LA Trade Tech
SF - Leroy Anderson, Chabot
SF - Tyler Barber, Canyons
SF - Greg Bewernick, Fullerton
SF - Chris Bridges, Antelope Valley
SF - Jason Carmichael, Porterville
SF - Stephon Dafney, LA Southwest
SF - Travis Damuth, Santa Monica
SF - Chris Dixon, Sequoias
SF - Markese Fields, Chabot
SF - Justin Gaines, Victor Valley
SF - Brandon Hrboka, LA Harbor
SF - Jamal McClerkin, Kings Academy (Moorpark)
SF - Chris Nelson, Fullerton
SF - Ravon Nunley, LA Trade Tech
SF - Darius Singletary, Imperial Valley
PF - Wesley Bartole, Canyons
PF - Josh Chatman, LA Trade Tech
PF - Chuck Gray, El Camino
PF - Tyler Idowu, Merritt
PF - Zach Mills, Irvine Valley
PF - J.J. Mina, Cosumnes River
PF - Coltrane Powdrill, Kings Academy (Moorpark)
PF - Najee Salaam, The Bucs (Ventura)
PF - Josh Smith, Saddleback
PF - Ashton Twine, Santa Ana
Ctr - Aaron Dutcher, Victor Valley
Ctr - Corey Hall, The Bucs (Ventura)
Ctr - Joel Johnson, Desert
Ctr - Rafael Morelos, East LA
Ctr - Taevanwe Morrison, Bakersfield
Ctr - Dashawn Revels, Compton
Ctr - Abel Watts, Sequoias
