All rankings are based on the players and teams I saw play at the 2005 Showcase. There were 43 teams involved. I managed to see 27 of them in a total of 15 games (there were only 16 time slots and the one I missed was due to a scoreboard malfunction in the earlier game), including 3 teams twice.
Since there were usually 6 games going on at the same time, I had to make some tough choices and I hope you'll understand if I didn't get to see your team.
And of course, all these opinions are my own and have some degree of subjectivity. I've roughly followed the stats and results, but not completely. I recognize there's plenty of room for disagreement, but this is what I think...
Most Outstanding Player:
T.J. Smith, Cucamonga (Chaffey). Smith scored 28 points on 10/16 shooting to lead his team to a 76-62 win over The Beach (LBCC). His Performance Index of 34 was an amazing 12 points higher than anyone else this year, and tied for the highest rating in the 3 years I've calculated ratings for this showcase. His combined rating of 64 is second only to last year's M.O.P. (Gary Nunez, Ventura/CS Fullerton).
Defender of the Week(end):
Jamal Vandy, We Play Hard (SBVC). Vandy was an absolute terror on defense as he registered an event-best 5 steals, and his team held a very good Saratoga (West Valley) team to 25% shooting in the second half of a 57-41 win.
Top Teams:
1. The Buzz (Fullerton) - Deep & talented - beat state tourney teams We Play Hard (SBVC) and Saratoga (West Valley) by 10 pts each and Glendora (Citrus)...by 36!
2. Cucamonga (Chaffey) - Another 4-0 team; T.J. Smith won M.O.P. honors in 14-pt win vs. The Beach.
3. We Play Hard (SBVC) - Scary team - big, athletic and intense. Excellent backcourt of Marshall, Humphrie and Pettus.
4. Speed City (San Jose) - Hammered tough Inland (RCC) team. PF Rodrick Craig leads a very talented roster.
5. Team Valley (LA Pierce) - Blew out Kingsley (AVC). Compton transfer Leon Jacobs brings winning attitude - and a lot of ability.
6. The Beach (Long Beach) - Talented squad led by SF Chris Fields and Ctr Eric Williams.
7. Saratoga (West Valley) - Couldn't handle We Play Hard but returns five key players from state tourney team.
8. Pier Pressure (LA Harbor) - Edged The Pier (SMC) despite absence of top player Thurmond Sutton (in Okla.).
9. The Pier (Santa Monica) - PG Harris, Ctr Johnson lead good team that edged Sehorn's (Yuba).
10. Sehorn's (Yuba)- PG Tyler is a good one but their success depends on Ctr/PF B.J. Visman.
11. Glendora (Citrus) - ASU transfer SF Tron Smith and Valencia HS grad PF Chad Allen lead the way.
12. Valley Blue (Irvine Valley) - PF Marcus Blackshire had special game vs. C. Springs (COD).
13. South County (Saddleback) - Front line of Ctr Miller and PF Stokes is tough.
14. The 99 (Sequoias) - Dominated small Hayward (Chabot) team - looks like solid team.
15. Gowing & Assoc. (Rio Hondo) - Hot-shooting team went 4-0, including 12-pt win vs. Team 605 (Cerritos).
Special Mention: Say No (West LA) - went 4-0 vs. solid competition. Didn't see them here, but they also won vs. the Ocean (Mira Costa) at the Beach Camp in June.
Another Mention: San Marcos (Palomar) - went 3-1, beating Athletics Unlimited (Cosumnes River), Pier Pressure (LA Harbor) and Santa Monica (The Pier) after dropping their opener to The Buzz (Fullerton). I didn't see them here, but they turned in a credible performance vs. Compton Magic at the Beach Camp in June.
JCHoops.com All-Showcase Team:
First Team:
PG - T.J. Smith, Cucamonga (Chaffey)
SG - Brent Humphrie, We Play Hard (San Bernardino Valley)
SF - Leon Jacobs, Team Valley (LA Pierce)
PF - Marcus Blackshire, Valley Blue (Irvine Valley)
Ctr - Michael Earl, The Buzz (Fullerton)
Second Team:
PG - Rishawn Norwood, We Play Hard (San Bernardino Valley)
SG - Allen Harris, Pier Pressure (LA Harbor)
SF - Tron Smith, Glendora (Citrus)
PF - Rodrick Craig, Speed City (San Jose)
Ctr - Ken Alexander, Saratoga (West Valley)
Third Team:
PG - Steve Monreal, The Dawgs (East LA)
SG - Marquis DuBose, The Cats (Canyons)
SF - Kelly Hubbard, Spot Up (El Camino)
PF - Chad Allan, Glendora (Citrus)
Ctr - B.J. Visman, Sehorn's (Yuba)
Honorable Mention:
PG - Keith Cherry, 17th Street Basketball (Santa Ana)
PG - Aaron Harris, The Pier (Santa Monica)
PG - Chris Hart, The Beach (Long Beach)
PG - Chad Johnson, Speed City (San Jose)
PG - Anthony Kidd, Glendora (Citrus)
PG - Ceylon Elgin Taylor, Valley Blue (Irvine Valley)
PG - Courtney Tyler, Sehorn's (Yuba)
SG - Tim Denson, The Buzz (Fullerton)
SG - Bryan Emmanuel, Champion Springs (Desert)
SG - Jabbir Jinna, Gowing & Associates (Rio Hondo)
SG - Jonathan Johnson, Team Valley (LA Pierce)
SG - Brandon Nevens, The Beach (Long Beach)
SG - Terrell Scott, Hayward (Chabot)
SG - Daniel Vasquez, The Dawgs (East LA)
SG - Jeremiah Williams, San Bruno (Skyline)
SF - Chris Fields, The Beach (Long Beach)
SF - Deonte Huff, Kingsley Glass (Antelope Valley)
SF - Andre Murray, The Cats (Canyons)
SF - Shaun Shimizu, Pier Pressure (LA Harbor)
SF - Aaron Thompson, Team 605 (Cerritos)
SF - Jamal Vandy, We Play Hard (San Bernardino Valley)
SF - Demetrius Young, Sehorn's (Yuba)
PF - Chris Campbell, Pier Pressure (LA Harbor)
PF - Camel Drummond, Team Valley (LA Pierce)
PF - Rodrick Johnson, The Buzz (Fullerton)
PF - Donald Lee, Team Valley (LA Pierce)
PF - Sean Lucke, 17th Street Basketball (Santa Ana)
PF - Kenneth Michaels, The Pier (Santa Monica)
PF - Sean Phaler, The Buzz (Fullerton)
PF - Trevor Pitts, Sehorn's (Yuba)
PF - Damien Stokes, South County (Saddleback)
Ctr - Jabari Davis, San Bruno (Skyline)
Ctr - Andrew Green, The 99 (Sequoias)
Ctr - Tony Harris, Valley Fever (Bakersfield)
Ctr - Jason McClure, Cucamonga (Chaffey)
Ctr - Tim Miller, South County (Saddleback)
Ctr - Eric Williams, The Beach (Long Beach)
Stuff To Look At
Showcase Overview
Game-By-Game Summary
Activity Rating Formula (ARF)
Performance Index
