With the 2009-10 season about to begin, I’ve put together a Preview/list of Teams To Watch this season.
This is for Northern California only. Follow the link at the bottom of the page for Southern California.
And this list is far from inclusive. It’s based almost entirely on the summer events, mainly the Las Positas Shootout...
Central Valley Conference:
Fresno: The FCC machine is loaded once again, as their Jack Molinas-inspired 61-51 win over Delta at the Las Positas Shootout showed (they shaved a few points at Coach Ed Madec’s behest, making it a closer game…they led by 19 when the generosity began). SF Ed Willis Jr. is a baseline beast, scoring 17 pts, mostly on unstoppable forays to the basket. SG Brandon Hawkins is a potential D-1 player and SG Brandon Johnson returns from last year (he once had 35 pts in a state HS playoff game). SF Earl Jefferson hit 3 threes vs. Delta. They play their usual style of maniacal defense and will be formidable again, as they always are.
Sequoias: The 1972 Miami Dolphins rode a “no-name” defense to an undefeated season and a Super Bowl championship; COS used one in going 4-0 at the California JUCO Shootout in July. What was most amazing is that there were no real standouts, just ten players who played solid defense and found ways to contribute. SF Diontea Wright had 10 pts and showed his ability last year as well. Ctr Cliff Ederaine had 6 pts, 7 rebs and 3 blocked shots.
Reedley: A solid squad, though maybe not as loaded as last year’s state tourney team. SG Jonathan Alvarez led a balanced scoring attack with 8 pts and 7 rebs in a 51-39 loss to Riverside, but that was a stern test. SF Kevin Young and SF Leroy Cooper Jr. also did well. They’re well-coached and disciplined, and while they may not have the horses to run with Fresno or COC this year they’ll still contend for a playoff spot.
Porterville: Uncertainty surrounded the program – they still hadn’t named a coach in July – but with Ctr Keith Viliamu around they’ll still be a threat no matter who is in charge. Viliamu had 10 pts and 12 rebs vs. El Camino at the California JUCO Shootout, and he’s a monster in the middle. PG Ray Hightower and PF Karmell Stone also did well, as did SF Harold Reed and G Jabbarri Green. This might be the most talented Porterville team in a half-dozen years.
The Bay Area:
Ohlone: The Renegades will again be tough, as they showed in a 49-36 win over Diablo Valley at LPCC. They’re deep and athletic, with Ctr Reginald Jones, PF Scott Clark and PF Isaiah Moore doing most of the damage vs. DVC. The backcourt is in capable hands with PG Quaran Johnson and SG Charles Barnes but the ‘Gades go 12 deep and everyone will get minutes.
San Francisco: I didn’t get to see CCSF this summer, but I’ve heard they’ve added SF De’end Parker from Lincoln HS in San Francisco. De’end made a name for himself on the travel circuit with the SF Rebels, averaging nearly 20 points a game on their trips to LA the last couple of springs. He should be an impact addition at CCSF, which is undoubtedly loaded with top talent already.
San Jose: Coach Percy Carr has won over 700 games, and he’ll add a couple dozen more to that total with what appears to be his best team in several years. PG Shaaed Young, SG Jonathan Beene and SF Steveone Jones were the most productive players at LPCC, but SF Isaiah James was the top player on the team last year and he’s back. Best of all, with PF Maxwell Brown, Ctr Lorenzo Dobson and Ctr Spencer Ford on hand, James wont be stuck under the basket this time around, which should help his production.
Diablo Valley: PG Dan Daviess and SG Benji Arvizu return from last year, and that’s an excellent start. SG Brian Castillo adds an outside threat. PF Tyrelle Phillips and PFBrandon May were the most productive frontcourt players vs. Ohlone. Coach Steve Coccimiglio is among the very best in California and he’ll have his guys on the right track by the time conference season rolls around, if not before.
West Valley: Last year the Vikings rode Danny Nugent to the playoffs, but this time around it’s more of an ensemble cast. PF Isaiah Pfitzer may benefit the most, getting more touches closer to the basket, though he’s also a capable spot-up shooter, PG Devon Mynhier, SG Marques Crawford, SF Daniel Ginn, SF Sean Visser and SF Justin Gladfelter and Ctr Edikan Ekanem are all productive players. They should at least give SJCC some resistance.
Las Positas: Coach Tony Costello has a team that should again contend for a playoff spot. PF Nick Marshall is a force inside – he averaged 6 pts, 10 rebs and 2.5 blks in 2 summer games. Ctr Terrance Smith had 10 pts vs. Modesto. But the backcourt looks good as well with PG Dwight Abad, SG Ronnie Staden, SF Brandon Tatum and SF Omar Stewart all showing promise at the LPCC Shootout.
Contra Costa: Coach Miguel Johnson continues his rebuilding project. They had a rough match-up at LPCC, taking on one of the North’s best teams in Cosumnes River, but the Comets have some talent. SG DeShaun Legree, Ctr Sean Jordan and PG Justin Hamilton were the top players vs. CRC.
Sacramento, the Central Valley and beyond…
Cosumnes River: The Eagles boast CSI (that’s the College of Southern Idaho, not the tv show) transfer PG Jamelle Barrett, who might be the best point guard in the state, plus quality bigs Ctr Anthony Johnson and Ctr/PF Josh McCarver, both returning sophomores. Add sharpshooter SG Vaughn Canta and gap-filling SF Carson Bruce, and Coach James Giacomazzi has arguably his best team yet and should make a run at the state tourney.
San Joaquin Delta: Even with the coaching change last season, as longtime leader Brian Katz moved on to Sacramento State, little changed on the court at Delta. And that’s how it figures to be again this year. PG Dante Miller, PG Calvin Otiono, SF Phil Thomas, SF Patrick Livingstone and Ctr James Lake were the top performers as Delta beat San Jose, lost a close one to West Valley and lost by a bit more to Fresno at Las Positas. Expect 20-25 wins and a playoff berth, though they’ll have to hustle to keep up with what looks to be a loaded CRC team in the Big 8 conference.
Los Medanos: The most fun team to watch at the LPCC shootout. They ended up losing, 82-79, in a running-time game, but that was only because things slowed down a bit in the second half; it was 50-48 at halftime! SG Richard Boston, SF Marcelo Campbell, SF Jayson Knowles and Ctr Wesley Hanspard were the top performers, and PG Aaron Dalton had an amazing game at point guard with 6 points, 6 assists and no turnovers despite the hot pace. They and Yuba should again be the top teams in the Bay Valley.
Solano: The hit of the LPCC shootout, Solano played just two games and won them both, beating Sierra and Los Medanos. SG Terry Arnold had 31 pts, 8 rebs and 7 asts in the two games, including the game-winning 3-pointer vs. Sierra, to capture MOP honors in the shootout. But he had plenty of help from PG Aaron Magee, SG Deronne Price, PF Juston Godwin, SF Lamar Mitchell and SG Lawrence Spriggs. They’re small but talented, and fun to watch.
Modesto: Last year ended in meltdown, with the in-season dismissal of super-scorer Sam Yeager, but the Pirates should be ready for big things this season. PG Adam Watts and Ctr Julius Brazzel were both outstanding at LPCC, and SF Brett Sayad, SF Michael Augerlavoie and SG Jordan Sargent all performed well. PF Harry Powell is a strong rebounder. MJC might not be as strong as CRC, but even in the tough Big 8 they’ll be a factor.
American River: ARC has some talent in SF German Madueno, Ctr Matt Keele and SF Emilio Maltos. They were still in the sifting stage at LPCC, bringing a largely different team on the second day, and will have to figure out the hierarchy in the backcourt. Still, they’re talented enough to be a factor in the Big 8 race.
Sierra: Ctr Casey Arnt might have been the best prospect from NorCal at the LPCC Shootout. He’s tall (6-10), talented and productive (13 pts, 8 rebs, 4 asts, 2 blocks and a steal). PF Ryan Pearson, and returning starter Ctr Rhett Richardson are solid. SF Antwoine Davis played with energy off the bench. They’ll need more from the backcourt if they’re going to contend in the Big 8 though.
Napa Valley: Thanks to the exceptional backcourt of PG Luigi Valencia (13 pts) and SG DeAndre Clark (11 pts, 9 rebs, 4 asts, 4 stls), Napa managed a 49-40 win over ARC at Las Positas. Ctr Tyler Dixon started last year and PF Ken Matich showed promise. The Storm could at least pester the two powerhouses, Yuba and LMC, in the Bay Valley.
Shasta: Ctr Matt Fogarty posted the only double-double of the LPCC Shootout with 21 pts and 10 rebs vs. ARC. That was helped by Shasta’s only having 6 players, as he played virtually the whole game, but he’s pretty good. The backcourt of PG Ty Houghton and SG Tyler Kingdon was productive as well.
Sacramento: The highest scorer in any game of the LPCC Shootout was Ctr Kiel Myers, who poured in 23 pts (5 threes) and had 7 rebs and 2 blocks vs. West Valley. Just an outstanding all-around performance. PG Deon Clay and PF Anthony Lennear also played well. The problem? West Valley shot 51%, had just 4 turnovers and won, 71-57, suggesting that defense may be an issue for Sac City…
Butte: The Roadrunners got a tough draw, falling to defending state champion (and this year’s strong OEC favorite) Riverside, 50-22. They have five sophomores returning, but of those only PG Anthony Carter and PF Adam Alston saw extensive action last year and no starters return. Kind of looks like a rebuilding year.
As for everyone else, well that will have to wait until the regular season gets going. I make an effort to see as many teams as I can in the North, and usually see most of the playoff teams, either in the summer or during the season. And I’ll be at the Delta, Santa Rosa and West Valley tournaments in December.
Also See...