These are 10 players who, in my humble opinion, are true standouts and worth going out of your way to see. This is without regard to class year or position, but to get on this list a player should be both effective and entertaining. I've noted a similar NBA player to give you an idea of these guys' styles, which is not to say they're as talented as their NBA counterpart. It also doesn't mean that a player I compare to an NBA star is necessarily better than a player I compare to an NBA role player - again, I'm just giving you an idea of their style of play. And of course it's totally subjective so you're getting MY opinion. But if you haven't seen some of these guys play, well now you've heard of them so what are you waiting for?
DR’s Top Ten (in alphabetical order):
Calvin Afualo, Chaffey. A 5-10 soph guard, Afualo is a solid all-around player, but his calling card is his outside shooting. If you're going to have one standout skill, that's a good one to have, and he may be the best pure shooter in the state. He nailed 8 threes in Chaffey’s memorable quadruple-OT win vs. LA City.
Similar NBA Player: Hubert Davis, Washington.
Jerel Blassingame, LA City. Jerel is a lightning-quick point guard from New York City. He can score, he can create and he takes most of the big shots on this, one of the state’s best teams. He could probably average 25 a night on a weaker team. He’s following in the footsteps of Rafer Alston and Jamaal Tinsley, but his game reminds me more of another NYC guy.
Similar NBA Player: Stephon Marbury, Phoenix.
Anthony Bolton, Palomar. Bolton is a smooth 6-6 guard who plays both guard positions. He has 3-point range on his shot and grabs lots of rebounds, and can create for his teammates. He’s an excellent defender as well. In short, all the skills are there.
Similar NBA Player: Penny Hardaway, Phoenix.
David Doubley, Skyline. Doubley is a super-smooth point who can also play the off-guard. He can shoot, create, defend and handle the ball. He's always in control and makes great decisions. In a game against Cosumnes River, he had 18 points, 16 assists and no turnovers, which is remarkable for anyone at any level.
Similar NBA Player: Rod Strickland, Miami.
Jamal Hill, San Jose. It’s often said that today’s players lack a mid-range game, and that they’re all about dunks and 3-pointers. If that’s the case, then Hill is a throwback. He has good (3-point) range on his shot, and is smooth enough to get to the basket but his real strength is the 15-foot jumper, which he takes and makes on a regular basis. And since he plays for Percy Carr’s Running Jaguars, you know he plays defense.
Similar NBA Player: Richard Hamilton, Washington.
Jeremiah Massey, Oxnard. A 6-7 post player from Detroit, this guy is one of the most entertaining players around. He’s also one of the most dominant. He has Kobe-like athleticism and a surprisingly good shooting touch considering he has an ugly, shoulder-high release on his jumper. The game seems to come easily to him - for example, in a game vs. West LA he blocked and then caught an opponent’s shot by tipping it lightly to himself out of mid-air...on TWO different occasions - and his upside may be the highest of any California JC player. At this point he's mostly an inside player, but he even nailed some threes in a November game vs. LA City (a game that has served as his coming-out party). Even with the weak spots in his game – one-on-one defense and that awful shot release – he often racks up around 30 pts and 15 rebs and has made Oxnard one of the surprise teams of the South.
Similar NBA player: Antonio McDyess, Denver.
Jonathan Oliver, Ventura. There aren’t many 7-footers at the JC level, and even rarer is someone that size with the skill and athleticism of Oliver. He averages around 5 blocked shots per game, and usually gets double figures in scoring and rebounding. He has a nice touch around the basket and is a good rebounder, but where he really stands out is as a defensive presence who makes his entire team better. He’s a very smart defender who usually stays out of foul trouble as well.
Similar NBA Player: Marcus Camby, New York.
Derrick Tarver, San Francisco. A high-scoring off-guard, Tarver is strong enough to get to the basket, and he gets to the line frequently when someone tries to stop him. And when his shot is on it’s a thing of beauty, though it seems the consistency isn’t always there. Still, any guard who scores 50 in a JC game (as Tarver did earlier this season vs. Skyline) is special.
Similar (recent) NBA Player: Isaiah Rider, formerly of Denver (and I'm just referring to the on-court performance!).
Mark Treadwell, LA Trade Tech. Treadwell is a good shooter, a decent passer and a very good rebounder. But what really sets him apart is his energy level. In NFL terms, he has a great motor. He jumps quicker and higher than anyone else, getting open looks for his shot and grabbing the ball on rebounds. He has 3-point range on his jumper as well. Remarkably, he didn’t start for the Beavers at the beginning of the season, but now he’s their main man.
Similar NBA Player: Antawn Jamison, Golden State.
Matt White, LA Southwest. He’s a power forward who grabs rebounds by the bunch, but he has the floor game of a guard. That’s roughly the package Charles Barkley brought to the NBA, but while White is powerful, he isn’t round and he’s just 6-3 so he projects to a guard at higher levels. A really powerful guard who can rebound.
Similar NBA Player: Bonzi Wells, Portland.
