Article 253: East meets West

September 19, 2011

The inaugural two day West Coast Exposure Basketball Camp presented by Muscle Milk and C9 by Champion in Walnut Creek provided mutual exposure for Division III/NAIA schools and Northern California basketball talent. Run by Oakland based Ant's Mind and Body, coaches from the east included Colby College (Maine), Oberlin College (Ohio), Salisbury School (prep school that former St. Mary's Berkeley Glenn Baral attends in Connecticut) Skidmore University (New York), Tufts University (Massachusetts), Washington University (St. Louis, Missouri), and Wesleyan University (Connecticut) while California Maritime (Vallejo), Pacific Lutheran (Tacoma, Washington), Pomona Pitzer (Claremont), and UC Santa Cruz represented west coast schools.

Twelve college level men's coaches instructed the 140 high school boys and seven college women coaches attended to the 75 girls in separate gym locations. The prospects were given hands on coaching, personal evaluations, and exposure from actual college coaches, many of whom have had Division I coaching experience. A question and answer session addressed the application process, academic rigor, and college lifestyle.

The overwhelming majority of recruits do not end up playing Division I and they are allowed five official visits to Division I colleges, but must pay their own expenses to visit lower division schools. Hence, the camp served to help bridge the information gap.

Here are the camp participants who caught our eye on Sunday:

Isaiah Boone 6-foot-3 PG Lick Wilmerding 2012: Boone has been a varsity player since his sophomore year. He is a quick player who moves well on his feet on defense. Boone has a good frame for a guard. The city of San Francisco has been headlined by Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Ignatius, and University in recent years. But Boone leads a Lick team that can make some noise and challenge University in their division this year.

Jeffrey Parker 6-foot-6 F Salesian 2012: Parker has been overshadowed his Salesian team. But he is a long and versatile player who has a good outside shot and post move. Parker plays physical and could easily be the featured player on lesser teams.

Jamir Andrews 6-foot-2 SG Dublin 2013: Andrews has been on varsity since his freshman season. He possesses a good pull up jumper and is big for a guard who can post up smaller players. His Dublin team also has JoJo McGlaston and Eric Nielsen to make a formidable team.

Tavita Jimenez 6-foot-3 SG Serra 2012: Jimenez is going into his second year on varsity. Jimenez displayed good passing, solid on ball defender, and a mid range shot. He will help fill the void left by Connor Mcgrath for the Padres.

Adam Wuebbens 6-foot-3 SG Piedmont 2013: Wuebbens has a good perimeter shot and sees the court well. Has a good frame for a guard. He will be going into his second year as a starter.

Deryck Ylanan 6-foot-2 W Moreau Catholic 2012: All round complete player. Ylanan is able to do a little bit of everything and is strong enough to guard bigger players and quick enough to guard smaller ones.

Noah Labonte 6-foot-5 F Deer Valley 2012: Labonte showed good hustle and physical play. He will have to provide some interior play for Deer Valley as Andre Mcphail has gone on to prep school.

Alec Fetzer 6-foot-3 G St. Helena 2012: Good shooter who can create and sees the court well. Fetzer will be going into his third year on varsity.

Dylan James-Kavanaugh 6-foot-4 SG Piedmont 2013: One of the better, accurate perimeter shooters in the area. Good wingspan for a guard. Played for Norcal Supreme under noted shooting instructor Glen Graham.

John and Michael Daily 6-foot-1 G College Park 2012: The Daily twins do a little of everything in terms of passing, shooting, and defense. They are the type of players that play physical and relentless. You love to have them on your team but hate to have to play against them as they are not afraid "to get into your grill."

Grant Vermeer 6-foot-2 SG Bellarmine 2013: Vermeer is a solid perimeter shooter who can pass. Plays tight on the ball defense. Bellarmine returns a more seasoned team that may surprise some in the WCAL.

Jonny Crosthwaite 6-foot-5 SF and Connor Jean 6-foot-0 G Northgate 2012: Northgate looks to be a solid team in the upcoming season. Crosthwaite is a versatile defender who can guard any player on the floor with his size and quickness. He plays smart. Jean is an accurate shooter and can direct floor traffic well.

Clinton Noble Jr. 6-foot-5 PF Castro Valley: Raw basketball skills but physically developed. Even without polished offensive skills, he can contribute with his body in terms of rebounding, screens, and defense.

Alek Carlson 6-foot-5 SF Turlock 2012: Carlson is a complete player at the small forward spot. Has a good size and frame to play inside and rebound but also has a good perimeter game to create matchup problems.

Tyronne Gaines 6-foot-0 SG Fremont Oakland 2014: Mcclymonds is probably the OAL favorite going into this season. But Gaines is a scorer who should average double digits as he has a high, accurate release on his perimeter shot and is fearless in going to the basket. His Fremont Oakland team is young and probably will not make much noise this year. But the 2013 and 2014 teams could be pile driver loud.

Owen Putz 6-foot-10 C Half Moon Bay 2013: Putz has good fundamentals for a big man. He rebounds well, keeps the ball high, and makes good outlet passes. He runs the floor reasonably well but could add some more bulk before heading to college.

Ryan Diew 6-foot-1 G Head Royce 2013: In the one on one competition, Diew was nearly unstoppable in his perimeter shooting and dribble drive to the basket. Diew is a sleeper in the upcoming season as he will be going into his first year on varsity and also since he is playing in a lower division for Head Royce. But he has the tools to average 20 plus.

Richard Harris 6-foot-6 PF Menlo: Probably the most active player at the camp and translates into a productive player in terms of points, rebounds, and defense. His motor was nonstop.

Jamaree Strickland 6-foot-8 Post McClymonds 2012: Was in attendance on Saturday to look into prep school options.

McKenzie Moore 6-foot-5 SG College Park 2011: Moore is headed to City College of San Francisco.

Article 252: Cardinals outrun VC

September 17, 2011

In a matchup of Top 20 teams in San Jose, host and No. 9 Valley Christian was looking to duplicate last year's 34-0 defeat of No. 16 Cardinal Newman. However, the Warriors lost running back Byron Marshall midway in the second quarter and the Newman offense found its rhythm to avenge last year's loss with a 35-28 victory. Steven Tomasin accounted for three touchdown runs in the win.

Offense: The Cardinal's run game helped to set up the pass. The offense really reminded one of the current Nebraska Cornhusker offense as quarterback Matt Sullivan often took off up the middle for sizable runs, handed off to Tomasin, or threw in the open middle space vacated by the linebackers who cheated on the run support defense. Sullivan accounted for the other two scores as he threw for a 62 yard score and had a one yard dive for a touchdown. After the game, Tomasin stated that the team gave good effort and executed well. Sullivan noted that the offense was balanced as the offensive line opened big running lanes but also was solid in pass protection.

When Marshall came up hobbled in the middle of the second quarter, the prospect of winning looked bleek for the Warriors. But they have a deep running game. Jarrod Lawson accounted for the first score of the game by going 43 yards to give VC its only lead of the game at 7-0. The deceptively fast Lawson tied the game at 14-14 with a 63 yard run. Ryan Severson also ran for a 42 yard score to tie the game at 21 midway in the third quarter. Sophomore quarterback Jay MacIntyre is still raw but has the tools to be an effective passer. But opposing defenses will probably put eight men in the box to force the young signal-caller to beat them with his arm. Despite being down by 14 points with about six minutes left, Valley Christian was run heavy in a scoring drive that cut the deficit to 35-28 but also left less than two minutes left in the game.

Defense: Newman allowed a few break away runs but for the most part tackled well and limited the damage to those long touchdown runs. The Cardinals looked to be the more physical team and was flying to the ball in this game. After the game, some of the Cardinal players were bloodied up and muddied up despite the fact that the Valley Christian field is artificial turf.

Valley Christian made some big plays to keep them in it that included two interceptions by Dillion Saldivar. But Newman's balance on offense kept the Warrior defense guessing.

What's Next: Cardinal Newman ends their regular season non-league play at Palma next week. Ironically, Palma's postseason ended last year against Valley Christian. A win against Palma would allow the Cardinals to avenge both of their non-league losses from a year ago. Palma is run oriented but also has a big wide receiver threat in Noah Allen. In addition, the defensive line is anchored by Jack Powers.

Cardinal Newman is the dominant team in Division III and there is no reason to think that they will not continue so for the rest of the season. Last year's team missed out on a state title invitation despite a formidable strength of schedule. This balanced offense looks to be a difficult matchup for opposing defenses.

Valley Christian ends its non-league schedule with a home matchup against a talented Vacaville team that upset Granite Bay and played well against Marin Catholic. Marshall's injury is reported to be a shoulder and he may not be available in the next game.

Regardless of Marshall's status, the Warriors' running game will be keyed on by opposing defenses. The passing game will need to be the difference in the more contested games. The defense looked to be physically dominated in this loss and will face similar physical opponents in the WCAL.

WCAL outlook: Sacred Heart Cathedral and Serra are both undefeated at 3-0. Serra had to squeeze a win over DIII Encinal in overtime and St. Francis bounced back as they got their first win against Willow Glen. Before league play even starts, the early favorites would have to be Bellarmine and Serra.

Division III outlook: Marin Catholic had a very good win against Vacaville who will play Valley Christian next week. And of course, Cardinal Newman probably has the season's signature win for the DIII teams up to now.

Article 251: Palma 'Powers' up

September 16, 2011

In video games, the protagonist is often chasing mushrooms or getting magical stars to power up his skill level. In high school, football teams often look for their junior varsity squads to reload the varsity team. In the case of the Palma Chieftains, they are literally powering up with 2013 defensive end Jack Powers.

At 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, Powers is a force at the line as he also can run the 40 yard dash in 5.0 seconds, bench press 250 pounds, and squat 400 pounds. The junior has been a starter since his sophomore year when he helped Palma to a 13-1-1 record. As a sophomore, Powers recorded 71 tackles, 5 fumble recoveries, 7 deflected passes, 6 sacks, 1 blocked punt, and 1 interception that earned him 2nd team all TCAL, TCAL sophomore of the year, and first team all-state defensive team.

Palma Coach Jeff Carnazzo says, "Jack has great size and athleticism. He is a hard worker and is a team leader. He also shows great toughness. Jack plays hard on every play and is the key to our defense. He is our Rush end and plays equally well against the pass and the run."

Powers models his game after 49er Justin Smith because he is huge and physical, but has enough finesse to be a rushing threat. Powers is used as an outside rush that stops the run but also puts pressure on quarterbacks.

Powers sports a 3.50 GPA as English is his best subject and he is undecided on his major. He wants to play for a great coach at a great program where he can showcase his skills. He is open in his geography and is looking for a solid academic program.

Coach Carnazzo adds, "Jack is a great leader on and off the field. He is a very good student and a great person. Jack is a definite Division 1 prospect. The sky is the limit for Jack and he is only a junior. As long as he continues to dedicate himself he will be able to excel at any level."

Powers was raised in an Irish Catholic home and considers family to be important as he has seven siblings. His immediate goals for his football team are to win TCAL, CCS, and then state.

Powers also has started on the varsity basketball team since his freshman year and has been to a CCS championship and a CCs semifinal game in his first two years. Last year, he was named TCAL first team All League and Monterey Herald first team all county. Despite his success in basketball, his main focus is on football.

This defensive end should be pin balling off of opposing offensive lines into the quarterback. Palma to "Powers" up in its journey to a deep postseason run in Salinas, California for the next two years. Then watch for Powers to level up to the college gridiron in the fall of 2013.

Article 250: Padres stampede Monte Vista

September 11, 2011

In a matchup of Top 20 teams in San Mateo, host and No. 10 Serra literally ran away from visiting No. 13 Monte Vista 54-13. The Padres ran off 41straight points in the first half to cruise to their second consecutive 50 plus point performance to start the season 2-0. Monte Vista was never able to develop any offensive rhythm to go 1-1.

Serra ran for 404 yards on 46 carries (8.8 yards per run). Junior running back Eric Redwood had 139 rushing yards with three touchdowns, quarterback Joey Erdie had 100 rushing yards with two touchdowns, and Erich Wilson added 79 yards on the ground with two touchdowns. The final Padres touchdown was a 97 yard kickoff return by Jordan Jauregui who also had the game's lone interception.

Monte Vista's two touchdowns came through the air as senior quarterback Jeff Lockie passed for 206 yards. He completed 18 passes in 34 attempts but his receivers had a few drops and Lockie was constantly harassed by the Serra pass rush.

Offense: The Padres were run oriented as Erdie only threw for 48 yards. But with the tandem of Redwood and Wilson, opponents will plan to load up in the box to stop the run. Wilson was deceptively strong as he broke several arm tackles on his carries. Redwood displayed a lower center of gravity and a quick burst. Coach Patrick Walsh commented on how Erdie, who was a free safety last year, has been directing the team's offense well so far.

The Mustangs depended on Oregon commit Lockie's arm. In a game where they trailed early, the Padres were able to be more aggressive in their defensive schemes. Despite being rushed, Lockie showed good accuracy on his passes of all distances.

Defense: Colorado commit Wilson also played at cornerback. Wilson stated that he had no preference in his position at the college level. At 6-foot-1 and possessing quick feet, Wilson would be an effective cornerback. Serra's defense has now given up 19 points in the first two games and those points were surrendered when the games were already decided.

The Mustangs may be in many offensive shootouts for this season. Their offense may have to keep them in the game as the defense has not done its part in the first two games.

What's Next: Serra travels on Friday to play Encinal who they defeated 42-13 last season. It would not be a surprise if they scored 50 plus for the third straight game. If St. Francis loses to Willow Glen next week to start 0-3, Serra will probably be undefeated going into their last three games of the regular season that includes Bellarmine and Valley Christian.

The key to stopping Serra is to limit the run game and force first year quarterback Erdie to throw. The Padres run various motion offensive schemes that can still trip up opposing defenses. The Bellarmine defense would seem to be their toughest matchup for the remainder of the season. The Serra defense passed the test against a division I level quarterback in Lockie. The WCAL is a run oriented league and that will be the ultimate test for the defense.

The Mustangs face a Pittsburg team that they defeated last year on Friday. However, Pittsburg has a balanced offense that has been efficient in their first two games that features quarterback Malik Watson and running backs Mister Cotton and Feao Vunipola. If the Mustangs are to win, they will have to score frequently.

The Mustangs were able to generate 71 rushing yards to not be entirely passing focused. But the season's success will depend largely on how the defense plays. If the defense cannot slow down opposing offenses, then the Mustang offense will have to shoulder the load.

WCAL versus EBAL: De La Salle defeated Bellarmine 26-23 in two overtimes that could have gone either way. Archbishop Mitty was winning 14-13 against San Ramon Valley before the game was postponed. Serra won 54-13 against Monte Vista.

Bellarmine, Serra, and Valley Christian look to be fixtures in the NCP top 10 throughout the season. However, De La Salle will still stay at the top until someone in Northern California can defeat them. These four teams all have common traits - run control offenses with solid defenses.

Article 249: Lightning ignites Palma

September 10, 2011

On a balmy evening in Mountain View, the game between Palma and St. Francis was delayed over one hour after halftime due to lightning. The Chieftains did not allow the lightning to slow down their running attack as they held on for a season-opening 20-15 victory in a game that didn't end until after 11PM. Palma's last win was also against the Lancers in last year's playoffs.

In the first half, Palma blocked the Lancers' first possession punt and junior lineman Matthias Lopez returned it for a touchdown. On the Lancers' third possession, they converted a field goal to trim the deficit to 7-3. The Chieftains sustained a long drive on their second possession that culminated in a two yard touchdown dive by senior running back John Myers to extend the lead to 14-3. St. Francis capped the scoring on its final possession of the half with a six yard run to cut the halftime deficit to 14-9.

After a lengthy lightning delay, the second half started with a Palma three and out. The Lancers drove the ball but had a 4th and 16 at the Palma 29. Braden Bishop caught a 29 yard touchdown reception from quarterback Colin Johnson as the Lancers took a 15-14 advantage. Palma then drove 69 yards that was capped off by Myers' second touchdown from 15 yards to give the Chieftains the 20-15 margin. St. Francis had two possessions that went deep into Palma territory but both ended on fourth down misses to end the game.

Offense: Myers had 115 yards rushing as Palma broke in first time starter Brandon Villar at quarterback. Coach Jeff Carnazzo stated that he was pleased with Villar's management of the game and that he plans to open up the passing game as the season continues. The Chieftains have 6-foot-6 wide receiver Noah Allen who has a significant height and leaping advantage over the opposing secondary.

The Lancers had a good balance with their running game behind Landon Baty and David Mapa while Bishop ran precise routes and was able to create space on these routes. The team had some dropped passes and bad penalties at crucial moments.

Defense: Defensive back Marcel Brinson and lineman Jack Powers anchor a stout defense. Brinson broke up a few passes and was apt on the corner blitz. Carnazzo stated that the Powers, who is a junior, will have some serious division I interest. Carnazzo also indicated he would like to see more physical play from his linemen.

The St. Francis defense was resilient but seems prone to the running game. It gave up over 100 yards and two touchdowns to Myers. However, the Lancers were able to limit the passing attack.

Special Teams: The Chieftains converted on a blocked punt for the first score. But conversely, the special teams also roughed the punter when they were leading 14-3 and prime to get the ball back before this penalty.

The Lancers muffed a punt return that allowed the Chieftains to run clock and get field advantage in the fourth quarter. Palma did not score but the Lancers were not able to drive the length of the field for the winning score.

What's Next: Palma's team this year may be better than last year's. They travel to Santa Maria next week before they face against a solid Cardinal Newman in two weeks that will help shape the top 20 in Northern California. Wins in both of those games would put the Chieftains in prime position to repeat in their league.

Palma faced St. Francis and Valley Christian in the playoffs last season. The Chieftains will probably face another WCAL opponent in the playoffs this year. If the passing game develops over the season, then Chieftains could go deeper this year.

The Lancers start out 0-2 but fought well in both losses. These moral victories may wear thin as the Lancers play Willow Glen who has a potent passing game. A 0-3 start could snowball into a losing record for the season as the WCAL will be tough again.

So often, sports are about momentum and streaks. Right now, the Lancers need a win to get rid of this taste. Last year's team was really strong defensively. This year's team has given up more points to the same first two opponents than last year's contests. The next two games are against Willow Glen and Serra. Willow Glen features quarterback Mitchell Ravizza who threw for 37 touchdowns last season while Serra has a solid running game. The results of these two matchups will give a more accurate gauge for the rest of the Lancer season.

Article 248: Bells win...no its De La Salle!

September 3, 2011

Top-ranked De La Salle started slow in the first half but rallied in the second to win in double overtime 26-23 against No. 3 Bellarmine Prep. The win keeps De La Salle's national title hopes alive. Despite several game-winning opportunities that came up short, the Bells look to be a force in the WCAL and it would not be surprising if they ran the table for the rest of the season.

In the first half, Bellarmine had all the scoring chances, missing field goal attempts on its first two possessions and taking a sack on its third possession that prevented a third field goal attempt. The Bells Joe Gigantino recovered a fumble for a 40 yard touchdown return for the only first half score.

On its first possession of the second half, De La Salle senior wide receiver Anthony Williams returned a punt 90 yards to tie the score at 7-7. Williams then caught a 69 yard touchdown reception on the very next possession to give De La Salle a 14-7 lead. After the Spartans missed a field goal attempt, Bellarmine ran 15 running plays to score on a one yard keeper by Travis McHugh to tie the game at 14 with less than three minutes left.

In the first overtime period, both teams scored touchdowns but missed the extra point to bring the score to 20-20 in a back and forth tug of war. In the second overtime, the Bells convert a field goal to lead 23-20. Quarterback Bart Houston ran the ball in on the De La Salle possession to win the game 26-23.

Offensive analysis: Houston had a few turnovers in the first half as the Spartan offense was non-existent. But give Houston credit as he was not flustered in the second half and overtime sessions to lead his team back with Williams. For the Bells, McHugh ran well and made good decisions. Lineman Connor Lambert helped open holes for the Bell runners. Bellarmine did not extend the field but was able to use a ball control running game effectively.

The Defenses: De La Salle's offense put the defense in bad situations but the unit was able to bend but not break. For the most part, the Spartan defense tackled well and did not allow the Bells to break a big run or passing play. Aside from the big Williams pass play, Bellarmine's defense was stingy in allowing points and was opportunistic while creating turnovers.

Special teams the difference: Williams had the big touchdown punt return. Up 14-7 and at the Bellarmine 13 yard line in the early fourth quarter, the Spartans miss a short field goal that could have sealed the game. In addition, they miss an extra point try in overtime. On the other side of the ball, the Bells could not convert turnovers that gave them great field position as they missed two early field goal attempts. The ultimate momentum shifter was a missed game winning extra point attempt in the first overtime.

Outlook for the rest of the season: De La Salle gets a bye week before facing St. Mary's of Stockton which lost to Granite Bay and also has to play next week. The Spartans will not look past the Rams to their national Top 5 battle in America's swampland, also known as Florida to face St. Thomas Aquinas. A win there and De La Salle could go into league play knowing that a mythical high school national title is within their grasp.

The Spartans are balanced in all phases of the game. The passing game was suspect in the first half, but Houston can make all the throws if called upon as shown in the second half. The defense only allowed seven points in regulation despite all the red zone chances, while the special teams sparked the team in the second half.

Bellarmine's season is not over by any stretch. The Bells are capable of winning out and making a deep postseason run. A De La Salle win against St. Thomas Aquinas would strengthen the Bells' strength of schedule and legitimize the loss. Conversely, a St. Thomas Aquinas victory would weaken the NorCal football landscape nationally.

The Bells strength is their defense with an emphasis on the linebackers. Do not expect any team to be able to put up big passing numbers against this group. The matchups against the running games of Valley Christian and Serra will prove to be interesting. If the defense can limit success on the ground, then expect the Bells to win the WCAL. McHugh has a good passing touch when he does throw but is a good runner as a dual threat. If Bellarmine wins out for the season, the Bells will remember the special teams play of this game as the reason why they did not secure an Open Bowl bid and finish in the Top 10 of the final national rankings.

Article 247: NorCal Clash begins school

August 29, 2011

The Third Annual NorCal Clash at Contra Costa College in San Pablo tipped off the academic school year with a game that featured the best of the 2012 class versus the younger elite class of 2013. The seniors only suited up nine players as Robert Upshaw, Kyiron Thomas, and Theo Johnson were unable to participate, while Amadi Udenyi was a late replacement.

Gerry Freitas and Glen Graham hosted the event. "This event is designed to promote NorCal basketball and its elite prospects to media/scouts, coaches, and the general public," said Freitas. "It is an opportunity to put the best NorCal has to offer in the spotlight." The Central Coast Section does not allow its players to participate in these types of events after August 1.

Despite being undersized and undermanned, the seniors started slow but came on strong midway in the first quarter to take a 42-25 advantage. Vallejo's Tajai Johnson had a highlight facial dunk, Oakridge's Bryce Scott connected on a few perimeter shots, and Berkeley's Langston Morris-Walker was versatile in his scoring. Mario Dunn played well both offensively and defensively for the juniors.

The lack of defense was still apparent in the second quarter as the 2012s held a 76-60 lead going into the half. The porous defense on both sides allowed several easy layups, second chance shots, and breakaway scores. The 2013s were spearheaded by Jabari Bird and Marcus Lee in the quarter as both players have good length and versatility to their games.

The juniors tried to mount a comeback as they were able to trim the deficit to 104-90 going into the final quarter. Thomas Wallace had some good offensive moments with points in the paint while Michael Bryson hit two of his four 3-point shots in the quarter for the seniors.

In the final quarter, the seniors pulled away to an easy 143-124 victory. Morris-Walker, who plans to make his college decision before the season starts, topped his team with 26 points and earned MVP honors. Bird was the game high scorer with 31 points that included going scoreless in the final quarter.

Here is a brief take on some of the participants:

Bryce Scott, Oakridge, 2012: Scott is accurate when he is spot up and in position. Sheldon and Jesuit will probably be the league favorites. Opposing teams will key on Scott to see if Oakridge has other offensive options.


Tajai Johnson, Vallejo, 2012: Had the highlight dunk of this game. Johnson drives the ball with ease to the basket and is bigger than most point guards. His Vallejo team was undersized this past season as he was forced to play out of position.

Parker Uu, Jesuit, 2012: Good spot up shooter. Bigger than most opposing guards and would benefit from a post up game against smaller guards that he can shoot over. His Jesuit team will be prime to challenge Sheldon for league this upcoming season.

Elliot Pitts, De La Salle, 2013: Pitts played a key role on the De La Salle run to state as a sophomore. He should make a big jump in his junior year as he will probably be the leader in scoring and rebounding for the Spartans.

Thomas Wallace, McNair, 2013: Stocky but quick shooting guard. Playing for the Soldiers definitely increased his visibility. Being in Stockton, Wallace probably does not get nearly as much publicity as the Bay Area prospects.

Darin Johnson, Franklin, 2013: Johnson and Theo Johnson will spearhead the Franklin team. Darin should be the offensive focus on the team. He should be able to get by defenders with his quickness and leaping abilities.

Dalvin Guy, McClymonds, 2013: With Jamaree Strickland's knee a question mark going into the season, Guy will probably be the guy in the middle for Mcclymonds. Mcclymonds is probably the overwhelming favorite in the OAL but how far they go in the postseason may depend on the interior play of Guy and Strickland. Guy should be a rebounding machine but his offensive development will determine a lot for Mcclymonds and his own recruiting situation.

Marcus Lee, Deer Valley, 2013: Versatile player who is long. Lee will probably be a small forward on the college level. More than one college coach in the summer told me that they were interested in Lee as a roaming perimeter forward.