Article 267: Jean ready to bust out

November 29, 2011

Northgate High had a successful season last year as the team went 23-7 and lasted into the semifinals of the North Coast Section playoffs. A big reason for the results was combo guard Connor Jean. Despite averaging a consistent 9.2 points, 3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, Jean has not had any significant college interest during the regular season.

At 6-foot and 160 pounds, Jean played his first summer of club basketball with the Lakeshow 17 team in hopes of busting out. Lakeshow Coach Terry Ahern has this basketball assessment of Jean, "Connor is a very fundamentally sound basketball player that does everything well on the basketball court. He is a very good outside shooter and can hit the 3 point shot with consistency. In addition, he is improving in his ability to get to the basket and finish. He is also a very sound ball handler and passer."

Despite being a Bronco, Jean is a finesse player who plays smart. He is highly critical of himself and is always working on improving his shot. Jean wants to be able to out think his opponent in addition to outworking them. As a result, he plays the point guard with the awareness of when to score to take over the game and also when to facilitate to get his teammates involved.

Coach Ahern on Jean's leadership skill: "I think that Connor is also a very good leader on the basketball court. He is vocal on the court with his teammates in a very good and positive way. He works hard on his basketball skills in the gym and also spends his time in the weight room getting stronger and more athletic."

This 2012 prospect models his game after a few players. Jean can be instant offense like former Arizona Wildcat Jason Terry in that he can hit the three point shot consistently or pull up for the open mid-range jumper on the break. Or he plays like former Oklahoma State Cowboy John Starks in that he can take the ball to the basket, he can finish strong, and he can play relentless defense.

When asked what positive basketball skills he brings to a team, Jean says, "I have a few good basketball moves ranging from a strong aggressive jab, to getting to the hole, and beating my man off the dribble to seeing the court well. However, I believe that my best basketball skill and quality is my leadership and ability to run a club. I am a very cool, calm, and collected point guard that runs a ball club very well and just finds a way to get a win. My leadership is contagious and I bring the best out in all of my teammates and I make all the players around me better."

This upcoming season will be Jean's third year on varsity. In addition to playing for Lakeshow, Jean is working on a spin move and floater. Jean is quite apt at getting in the lane, but wants a dependable floater to improve his finishing that seems so common amongst the professional point guards such as Tony Parker or Chris Paul.

Playing for Lakeshow during the summer has afforded Jean an opportunity to play in front of college coaches throughout the west coast including San Francisco, Anaheim, and Las Vegas. He has a 3.53 GPA and has academically qualified with his SAT score as he would like to major in Finance. He would like to be in a big city environment with a lively environment. He wants to play for a basketball program that features its guards and runs a lot of pick and rolls such as the Princeton style offense with the countless motion and backdoors.

Coach Ahern speaks about Jean's college potential. "I think that Connor will be a great addition to any D-II or D-III basketball program. Connor is a coach's dream to have on your basketball team and he is going to be a very good find for a college basketball program."

Jean is also an accomplished musician as he plays the piano, saxophone, and guitar. In addition, Jean also enjoys refining his culinary skills in the family kitchen. As a result, Jean is not the stereotypical one dimensional jock.

Jean fits the Lakeshow Basketball program mission statement. Lakeshow Coach Joe Fuca says, "Connor is a very good basketball player and a tremendous leader on the court. He is a leader at his school and in the classroom. Connor will play college basketball and be an asset to his program. Connor is currently being recruited by many CCAA teams in Div II like Sonoma State, Humboldt State, and Cal Poly Pomona. We believe Connor is a great ball handler, excellent 3 point shooter, and loves to play aggressive defense. Quick story, Connor's Northgate team went pretty far in the playoffs and he was not able to get into our normal tryout period. When he showed up, I warned him of the competition level and the tough odds to make either of our top 17 teams. He looked me in the eye and said, 'Coach I can make one of these teams and I will help you because I know how to win.' He was right and he has been a leader ever since in our program at practice and on the road and in games."

His team goals are to repeat as league champions and go undefeated in league again as Northgate went 12-0 in league play for the first time in the history of the league. He wants to help his Broncos win an NCS championship and put Northgate basketball back on the map. Personally, he wants to be the MVP of the league and go for 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists per game.

If Jean can attain those individual goals, then his Broncos should have a good shot at league and a deep playoff run. And if that were to happen, watch for this Bronco's college recruiting to bust out in 2012 in Walnut Creek, California.

Article 266: Tratter finally healthy

November 28, 2011

St. Francis finished the 2010-2011 season with a mediocre 15-14 record and first round loss to Woodcreek in the NorCal regional playoffs. A key piece for the team was expected to be wing Abu Tratter but a nagging left ankle sprain rendered him ineffective. Finally, this Lancer is physically fit and ready to contribute in the West Coast Athletic League for his senior year.

At 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, Tratter is surprisingly agile and quick for his build. He is powerful and athletic and can post up against smaller perimeter players. In addition, he is not afraid to crash the boards and can dunk with authority.

Trtter models his game after former Syracuse Orangeman Carmelo Anthony because of his versatility. Tratter's favorite move is the euro step because it allows him to fake and separate from the defender to create space to finish at the basket hard. He has been playing basketball for over six years and will be going into his second year as a varsity starter.

Kristopher Weems is Tratter's club coach with the KWA Pride. "Abu Tratter is one of the most competitive players I've coached," said Weems. "He loves to attack on both ends; he aggressively goes to the basket and has proven to be a tough cover for guards and forwards. Defensively, he can be a lock down one on one defender or get deflections and blocks coming from the weak side to help. Abu has improved his range to 18-20 ft and can effectively shoot the 3, especially stepping into his shot in transition. With improved ball handling, he'll be able to create his own shot as well as find others for open looks once the defense collapses."

Chico State and UC Davis have been in contact with Tratter. He has no particular preference for a basketball program or geography though he would like a college that offers good academic programs such as business or engineering.

Weems, who played at Stanford himself, assesses Tratter's college potential. "I think Abu can play at the Division I level especially if a program can use him at the 3 and 4 positions. As his body matures, he could play the forward position but he would be undersized guarding bigger forwards. At the same time, his quickness and athleticism is a problem for bigger guys trying to guard him from 15-17 feet. If he can refine his ball handling and passing skills, I have no doubt he can play the wing yet still rebound at a high level."

In his senior year, Tratter wants to become a better guard while improving his ball-handling and shooting and hopes to help his team make a deep run in the playoffs. Tratter was on the track and field and football teams in his early high school years but only expects to play basketball in college.

Weems also speaks highly of Tratter's non-basketball traits. "Off the court, Abu is a great kid. He loves his teammates and respects the wishes of his coaches. Over this spring and summer season, he's proven to be a leader vocally as well as playing hard on both offense and defense," said Weems. "Abu's best basketball is obviously in front of him. Every discussion I have had with him over the last 3-4 months about leadership, sharing the ball, defending, rebounding, he's found a way to add those things to his game and then improve on those things. On top of that, he's made a stronger commitment to his academics and being a solid student. I think Abu can be one of the best players in the WCAL. That will go a long way in him realizing his goal of being a Division I student-athlete."

St. Francis also returns 2012 post player Drew Dickey. With Dickey and Tratter healthy, the Lancers should be able to challenge for the WCAL title and make a deep playoff run in 2012. Afterwards, watch for Tratter to compete on the next level.

Article 265: Tip-off is Classic

November 27, 2011

The Fifth Annual NorCal Tip-Off Classic at Newark Memorial High School tipped off the high school basketball season in Northern California. Here are the game results plus the players of the game as determined by the media:

Game 1: Freedom, 73, Rodriguez 56
Player of the Game: Jelani Hardaway, Freedom
Freedom cruised in the opening game. The Falcons were up 22-11 at the end of one, 40-19 at the half, 54-40 at the end of the third, and prevailed 73-56 for the final.

Rodriguez
Rae Jackson is athletic and plays at a different gear. If he can harness his energy, then the junior could bring his game to a whole new level. Jackson had 11 points for the Mustangs.

As a team, the Mustangs need to slow down their pace as they played out of control. They can probably outrun less talented teams but will have trouble playing against teams who play defense and play with discipline. Jackson will be the focal point on offense but will be most effective as a distributor than a scorer.

Freedom
Elliott Smith came out strong in his first varsity game. Smith plays taller than his size as he led his team with 6 rebounds and was not afraid of contact as he scored 14 points. The sophomore projects to be a post player who has good face to the basket ability.

Jelani Hardaway is a quick guard with shiftiness. He led all scores with 21 points. He will provide the senior leadership for a young Falcon team.

As a team, the Falcons have good perimeter players. With Smith as an effective post presence, Freedom has a potent team. The Falcons look to be clicking after the first game of the season

Game 2: Jesuit 83, Dublin 74
Player of the Game: Bryce Pressley, Jesuit
As with game 1, game 2 followed the same script as Jesuit was ahead at the end of each quarter. The Maruaders were up 22-17 at the end of one, 43-27 at the half, 63-47 after three, and 83-74 at the end.

Dublin
Joe Mcglaston can play above the rim with ease. He projects as an explosive wing as he had 17 points in the loss. The junior has another gear as he can run faster and jump higher than his primary defender.

Devin Koeplin is a craft left handed point guard. The junior hit some contested three point shots and was able to break down his defender as he totaled 12 points. At 5-foot-8, his height will be his primary factor in terms of his recruiting.

The Gaels have talented pieces but did not seem to have a team effort in their first game. They have multiple offensive pieces and have 6-foot-8 Eric Nielson to man the post. Dublin will present matchup problems for their opponents.

Jesuit
Parker Uu showed his versatility by guarding the opposing team's defender who had a significant height advanatage. The senior could score inside or outside as he had 20 points that included 2 three-point shots. He is listed as a forward but will likely be a guard in college.

Kurt Parker is a 5-foot-11 guard who scored 22 points in an efficient manner by only taking 9 total field goal attempts. He was relentless in going to the basket as he had 10 free throw attempts.

The Marauders are a senior laden team that is already showing strong cohesion and teamwork. Aside from the interior size and a true post presence, Jesuit has few obvious deficiencies. They will be a favorite in the Delta River League.

Game 3: Pleasant Grove 62, St. Patrick-St. Vincent 49
Player of the Game: Matt Hayes, Pleasant Grove
The theme continued in game 3 as Pleasant Grove coasted to a victory a they were up 19-2 after one, 38-11 at the half, 51-34 after three, and pulled off the pedal with a 62-49 final.

St. Patrick St. Vincent
Jalen Canty will be a physical force as he had 8 points and 15 rebounds. The sophomore is still raw as he needs to improve on finishing in the paint but has the size to be mistaken as a linebacker. At 6-foot-6, Canty will have no trouble over-powering opposing defenders in the paint.

The Bruins looked sluggish as they were settling for individual perimeter shots and did not score until the 1:00 minute mark in the first quarter for their lone basket. The team looked much better when they went inside to Canty or took the ball to the basket.

Pleasant Grove
Malik Thames has a really smooth and polished game as junior. He was fluid in the way that he took the ball to the basket or how he elevated for his jump shot. The younger brother of San Diego State Aztec, Xavier, Thames projects to be a shooting guard in college. He has a respectable perimeter game but his ability to contort his way into the paint for shots was impressive as he had 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Matt Hayes is a good spot up perimeter shooter as he had 20 points that included 3 three-point shots. He will be able to spread the court for his teammates. The junior also played solid perimeter defense.

Colfax Nordquist played a solid game as a forward at 6-foot-3. With an undersized team, the junior will have to continue with his physical play and rebounding. He had 8 points and 7 rebounds in the victory.

With football season still in session, this team was not expected to be so crisp and coordinated. When they do get their football players, such as Cody Demps, this team may be the dark horse in the Delta River League.

Game 4: Vallejo 65, El Cerrito 63
Player of the Game: Tajai Johnson, Vallejo
Game 4 was on pace to continue the trends of the first three games as El Cerrito lead 21-14 after one, 36-28 at the half, and 52-44 at the end of three. With over five minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Gauchos had a 13-point lead but ended up losing 65-63 to Vallejo.

El Cerrito
Jaise Griffey is an intriguing sophomore as a 6-foot-4 forward. He plays comfortably in the post and can be a high producer of rebounds and post points if he gets taller by the time he is a senior. In this game, he had 12 points and 9 rebounds.

The Gauchos are a high-energy team with a plethora of quick guards. With no seasoned post experience, they will have to out run and out hustle opponents. In this game, the lack of size seemed to prevent them from grabbing key rebounds in the end.

Vallejo
Larry Wickett will help with the backcourt. The senior provides versatile scoring and solid perimeter defense. He had 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists to provide some balance.

Jabbar Brown is a freshman guard at 6-foot-2. He had 5 points and 5 rebounds but projects to be a really solid perimeter player.

The Apaches are scrappy and did not despair when they were down by 13 points in the fourth quarter. The team is not going to win with size but with hustle as everyone crashed the boards and hustle to the floor for loose possessions.

Game 5: Berkeley 64, Weston Ranch 62
Player of the Game: Langston Morris-Walker, Berkeley
The fifth game broke the trend, as it was a back and forth battle between Berkeley and Weston Ranch. Berkeley was up 15-13 after one, Weston Ranch was ahead 28-27 at the half, Berkeley took the lead 43-42 at the end of three, and Berkeley prevailed 64-62 in the end.
Berkeley
Henry Cornelious will provide much needed size for Berkeley. The 6-foot-5 junior had 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks. He showed good energy in rebounding and defense while still hustling up and down the court.

Justyce Key is another junior who will have to contribute at the guard position. He had 5 points and 8 rebounds despite not being a big guard. The shifty junior can create his own shot or break down opposing defenders on the dribble.

Berkeley is again without a true center or even a true power forward by historical standards. But the team is similar to last year's in that it showed hustle and relentlessness. Coach Damion McNeil concurs that this team probably has more depth than last year's version.

Weston Ranch
Zerrion Payton is a good floor general for his Cougars. The lefty point guard is agile and breaks down presses well as he resembles former Georgia Tech star Kenny Anderson.

The Cougars will be an entertaining bunch to watch as everyone can run up and down and are athletic. The team let this game get away as they had multiple chances at the end to extend the lead or to tie the game.


Game 6: Newark Memorial 74, Deer Valley 58
Player of the Game: Paramvir Singh, Newark Memorial
Newark cruised in their victory in the sixth game. The Cougars lead 21-13 after one, 41-25 at the half, 56-37 at the end of three, and ended the game with a 74-58 victory.

Deer Valley
Olajuwon Garner, Kendall Smith, and Marcus Lee will be the core for this Wolverine pack. Garner and Smith had 16 points each but were quite inefficient in attaining those numbers. Lee had foul trouble and could never get into any rhythm.

The Wolverines will be much better and create matchup problems for opposing teams. In this loss, they could never dictate the tempo or pace of the game and yielded to Newark's pressing defense.

Newark Memorial
Casey Norris and Joey Frenchwood will make up one of the better performing backcourts in the region. The two had 19 and 7 points respectively but pressed timely in creating 6 and 1 steals respectively as well.

Newark has a true and tried system that flusters opponents. The team has a rotation that probably goes nine deep as they come at opposing teams in waves on the full court press.


Game 7: Sheldon 45, McClymonds 43
Player of the Game: Armani Hampton, Sheldon
In the literal nightcap game, the seventh game was either a defensive struggle or two teams that could never find any rhythm in their play. Sheldon was up 8-3 after one, 19-18 at the half, 32-22 at the end of three, and squeezing out a 45-43 final.

Sheldon
Hampton led the Huskies with 13 points as he was not hesitant with his perimeter shot. The junior will be called upon for more scoring in the season.

Ryan Manning will be the main post presence for Sheldon as he had 9 points and 6 rebounds. The son of former Washington Huskie, Rich, Manning is a junior who will be critical in the Huskies run to repeat in league.

Jalen Hicks had 8 points but will be running the point position. The junior was instrumental in breaking the press and taking the ball to the paint.

Sheldon did not look anywhere near their preseason expectations. Dakarai Allen and D'Erryl Williams had off games as they totaled 6 points and were battling foul trouble for the entire game. However, the Huskies will take the win and try to build on this.

Mcclymonds
Seniors Dulani Robinson and Lawrence Otis had 13 and 9 points respectively. The team made 13 out of 43 field goal attempts but free throw shooting helped keep them in it.

Willie Williams and Dalvin Guy make up an imposing interior as they combined for 15 rebounds. With the impending return of senior Jamaree Strickland for the New Year, the Warriors should have the depth to win the Oakland Athletic League. But to make a deeper run in the postseason, the team will have to play more as a unit.


All Tournament Team

Jamir Andrews, Dublin - Has good size for a guard. The junior can create his own shot and can post up against smaller guards. Andrews also has a solid perimeter game as he made 3 three-point shots to lead his team with 21 points in addition to 9 rebounds and 3 assists. Andrews rally resembles former Detroit Piston Vinnie Johnson in body stature and basketball ability.

Bryce Pressley, Jesuit - Is fundamentally sound as he had 24 points and 11 rebounds to lead his team. The senior played with good composure and displayed a consistent fade away jumper. Pressley, his father played in the NBA, is listed as a forward but will have to be a guard at the college level. He played with control and always seems to let the game come to him.

Justin Johnson, El Cerrito - Had 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists. But the senior will be the glue guy for his team. He does a little of everything. With the team up by 13 points in the fourth quarter, Johnson was taken out of the game. When he returned, the Gauchos were only up by 2 points and had lost the momentum and ended up losing the game. Expect Johnson to be on the court till the end to help finish games.

Tajai Johnson, Vallejo - Will be a good barometer for his team's success. If he plays an efficient game, then expect his team to win and vice versa. He had 26 points and 6 rebounds in the win. But he came up big in closing the double digit deficit and was central in taking key shots, picking up crucial rebounds, or making the right pass.

Langston Morris-Walker, Berkeley - Will be the focus of opposing teams and for good reason. In the victory, he had 18 points and 19 rebounds. Once again, Morris-Walker will be expected to play a big role in the paint for his team.

Daiveon Leverett, Weston Ranch - Plays above the rim with ease at 6-foot-7. The left hander is a back to the basket forward but is absolutely agile and nimble. The junior needs to improve on finishing as he missed a few dunk attempts. Despite those misses, he still scored 17 points on 10 field goal attempts and also had 10 rebounds.

Dylan Alexander, Weston Ranch - Is one of the more thorough offensive players in the region. The junior could pull up with ease at the perimeter or break down defenders on the dribble. He also has a nifty turnaround, fade away jumper. He has that Florida Gator Mike Miller feel in the way that he plays but is deceptively quick.

Paramvir Singh, Newark Memorial - A senior forward at 6-foot-3 who is projected to be a DII or JUCO prospect. He had a monster game with 17 points and 18 rebounds but flustered the opposing Deer Valley interior. Singh plays in a Newark system where he knows what his strengths are and plays to them. In the right college system, his hustle and determination could be of some value.


Observations and Musings

Free throw shooting was overall really bad. Dublin though had an impressive 21 out of 23 in their attempts but still lost their game. Contrary to expectations of what usually happens with bad free throw shooting, Sheldon on the flip side was 8 out of 23 in their attempts but they somehow pulled out their game.

Jesuit and Newark Memorial are really complete teams. If they play consistently like their first game, they will be difficult to beat. For Jesuit's opponents, it will be pick your poison in terms of whom you want to defend. For Newark Memorial, opposing teams would be wise to break the full court press by staying in the middle of the court and to have someone flash to the top of the key to help break the press.

Sheldon, Mcclymonds, and Deer Valley probably did not have their best day. Each was a preseason favorite for their respective league. Mcclymonds and Deer Valley will probably still be the league favorites.

Pleasant Grove is ahead of schedule. This team was missing their football teammate size, but that did not seem to matter. Jesuit looks to be the top of their league while Sheldon will need a more convincing performance. But league play is months away and much can change till then.

Freedom has some good pieces. They probably do not have the size nor experience to challenge Deer Valley in their league yet.

Weston Ranch is in Stockton and is somewhat remote from San Francisco. But it would be a shocker if this team did not make a deeper run in the postseason this year. The Cougars create multiple matchup problems for opposing teams.

Article 264: Boys BB Top 20: 1-5

November 24, 2011

As basketball season officially tips off Thanksgiving weekend, the release of the final five completes the boys basketball preseason rankings. The Top 5 includes four state finalists and all return at least one Division I prospect. Does Mitty enter the year at No. 1? Will key transfers hurt two perennial Bay Area powers?

No. 5 Bishop O'Dowd

COACH: Doug Vierra LAST SEASON:25-7, Lost in finals of the CIF Division III State Playoffs FINAL 2010 RANKING: No. 6 in NCP Top 20 STRENGTHS: Richard Longrus, Terrence Daniel, and Kendall Jackson are all in the NCP Top 40 Basketball player rankings. Longrus and Daniel are both heading to the Pac-12. Jackson is a quality point guard leading the team. QUESTION MARKS: With Brandon Ashley going to Findlay Prep, the loss would be assumed to be big. However, the Dragons have up and coming freshman Ivan Rabb, who probably will be close to 7-foot by the time he graduates. Depth and bench play will probably be the bigger concern than post play. KEY GAMES OUTSIDE OF LEAGUE PLAY: McClymonds, Berkeley, and Sheldon headline the non-league matchups. The latter two will show if the Dragons can run up tempo or not. OUTLOOK: Last year saw the Dragons fall to Castro Valley in league play. This year's team will be the preseason favorites and be one of the top teams in Division III.

No. 4 Sheldon

COACH: Joey Rollings LAST SEASON: 24-8, Lost in semi-finals of the NorCal Division I playoffs FINAL 2010 RANKING: No. 5 in NCP Top 20 STRENGTHS: The team returns Dakarai Allen, Kyiron Thomas, and D'Erryl Williams II as starters. Thomas is a 2012 wing prospect ranked No. 7 in the 2012 class. Allen and Williams are juniors who are becoming national recruiting targets. Armani Hampton, Chris Haney, Jalen Hicks, and Ryan Manning are all 2013 prospects that will surprise some as they enter the starting lineup and main rotation. The Huskies will have more depth in their up tempo pace in the upcoming season. QUESTION MARKS: Leadership will be a big question for this team. Last season's team had Darius Nelson or Ramon Eaton breaking down defenses on the dribble or taking clutch shot. How will this year's team respond to dry spells and tough situations? KEY GAMES OUTSIDE OF LEAUGE PLAY: McClymonds, St. Ignatius, Archbishop Mitty, Franklin-Elk Grove, Bishop O'Dowd, Salesian, and Berkeley make up the non-league schedule. Add on the league play and Sheldon will have one of the tougher overall schedules. OUTLOOK: Expect this team to gel towards the end of the season and really be a playoff favorite. The Huskies have depth and more athleticism than most teams. The youth on this team should not be a surprise. No. 3 De La Salle COACH: Frank Allocco LAST SEASON: 27-6, Lost in the finals of the CIF Division I State Playoffs FINAL 2010 RANKING: No. 3 in NCP Top 20 STRENGTHS: Amadi Udenyi and Elliott Pitts will be the core for this team. Udenyi is a senior guard with a long wingspan for a point guard. Pitts is a versatile junior wing who plays bigger than his position. Both have been drawing interest from Division I programs after their summer season. The team will have seven seniors who will play significant minutes. Coach Frank Allocco will be able to rotate a core group guys in pressure defense and matchup schemes. QUESTION MARKS: When asked of De La Salle's weaknesses, Udenyi says, "We have a great coaching staff and great head coach that is something that gives us an edge. I can't see any weakness at the moment. I feel we are in a good position right now. We just have to continue to go out and work hard." KEY GAMES OUTSIDE OF LEAGUE PLAY: The Spartans will be hosting their annual Chris Vontoure tournament in early December and then they make a trip to Hawaii before Christmas for the Iolani Classic. The Archbishop Mitty matchup will square off the state representatives from Division I and II last year. OUTLOOK: The Spartans had an under the radar team from last year that exceeded expectations. With a core group returning, the expectations will be high. The defense should keep the team competitive in all games. If the Spartans force the opponent to play at their tempo, then they will be difficult to defeat.    No. 2 Mitty COACH: Tim Kennedy LAST SEASON: 32-2, CIF Division II State Champions FINAL 2010 RANKING: No. 1 in NCP Top 20 STRENGTHS: Junior Aaron Gordon and Senior Neil Vranicar will be the leaders for this defending state champion. Both will probably play small forward in college but due to their size, they will be manning the paint. QUESTION MARKS: The Monarchs need to replace both guards (Kyle Toth and Colin Wan) and wing (Brandon White) from last season. Opposing teams will probably key on Gordon and Vranicar on offense while forcing the new starters to convert. In addition, the backcourt needs to be able to handle pressure defenses and full court presses. KEY GAMES OUTSIDE OF LEAGUE PLAY: A December 10 matchup with Sheldon in Moraga will be an early measurement of the team's backcourt. Sheldon plays an up tempo pace with a multi guard set that can fluster opposing teams. The MLK Classic will have the Monarchs face against De La Salle. OUTLOOK: Mitty has a 20 game winning streak going into the new season. The Monarchs are well coached and have one of the top players in the country in Gordon. He is capable of taking over the game on either end of the floor but the Monarchs will need some solid guard play and bench play to make another run.  No. 1 Salesian COACH: Bill Mellis LAST SEASON: 26-12, Lost in the finals of the CIF Division IV State Playoffs FINAL 2010 RANKING: No. 2 in NCP Top 20 STRENGTHS: Despite the departure of Dominic Artis to Findlay Prep, Salesian has a plethora of guards available to replace him. Juniors Mario Dunn and Markel Leonard will be the in the starting backcourt. Another junior, Jabari Bird, will be the key wing player and is a top tier national prospect. Leonard says about the departure of Artis, "I think we will handle it fine. We have guards that can pick up DA's minutes and scoring. Obviously, we miss him because he is a great player but we have other guys who can pick up the slack." QUESTION MARKS: Size and rebounding will be question marks for the Pride. Until football season is done for Freddie Tagaloa, a 6-foot-8 prospect, Salesian does not have a true post player. KEY GAMES OUTSIDE OF LEAGUE PLAY: Berkeley (January 13), Sacramento (January 16), and Sheldon (February 4) are three of the more interesting matchups for the Pride, who are also participating in the Gridley Invitational Basketball Tournament. OUTLOOK: Salesian will still be the favorites to defend the BSAL and to be a postseason threat in Division IV. Not many teams will be able to match up with the Pride's athleticism.

Article 263: Boys BB Top 20: 6-10

November 23, 2011

You don't need a wide breath of knowledge of NorCal basketball to be familiar with teams No. 6-10 in the preseason NCP Top 20. With ranked prospects and previous success, these mainstays figure to remain among the best of the region throughout the winter.

No. 10 Berkeley

COACH: Damon McNeil LAST SEASON:21-5, Lost in second round of the NCS Division I Playoffs FINAL 2010 RANKING: No. 20 in NCP Top 20 STRENGTHS: Everything will start with Oregon State signee Langston Morris-Walker. The versatile wing played on an undersized Berkeley team last season and showed he has the strength to battle inside. He will have help as junior varsity call ups include small forward Henry Cornelious and guards Noah Wellington and Justice Key. QUESTION MARKS: Consistency and maturity of the supporting cast. Defenses will key on Morris-Walker. Will the younger players be consistent all season long and when pressure moments in the fourth quarter come? KEY GAMES OUTSIDE OF LEAGUE PLAY: Berkeley has probably the toughest non-league schedule. The schedule before league play starts has Weston Ranch, Burbank (Sacramento), Freedom, McClymonds, and Bishop O'Dowd. During league play the Yellowjackets still have non-league encounters with Pleasant Grove, Salesian, St. Mary's-Berkeley, Rodriguez, and Sheldon. The Yellowjackets will battle El Cerrito for league title. OUTLOOK: The Yellowjackets will be the favorites in their league. Last year's team hustled and never gave up as this year's team has a bit more size but also has bit more youth. The question will be if they can go further in NCS to make a trip to NorCals.   No. 9 Jesuit COACH: Greg Harcos LAST SEASON: 22-10, Lost in first round of the NorCal Division I playoffs FINAL 2010 RANKING: No. 15 in NCP Top 20 STRENGTHS: Parker Uu and Akachi Okugo will be the leaders for a Jesuit team that lost to Oakland in the first round of the NorCal playoffs last year. In addition, Bryce Pressley and Brian Glodowski will be returning starters. Former player Matt Clifford will also be part of the coaching staff to provide more experience. QUESTION MARKS: A higher playoff seeding would help make the Marauders run to state smoother. However, Jesuit plays in the loaded DRL. Last season, Jesuit lost to Sheldon in all three matchups and then bowed in the first round of the state playoffs. KEY GAMES OUTSIDE OF LEAUGE PLAY: Jesuit starts the season against a strong Dublin team and then will play in the Father Barry Classic in which they gave Archbishop Mitty their only non-league loss last year. Jesuit travels to San Francisco to play Sacred Heart Cathedral right before Christmas and will begin the first week of the New Year with games against McClymonds and Newark Memorial. OUTLOOK: The Marauders will battle nemesis Sheldon for the top spot in league. This is a senior laden team that could possibly get over the hump and take SJS and then make a run in state.  No. 8 Newark Memorial COACH: Craig Ashmore LAST SEASON: 22-7, Lost in the semi-finals of the NCS Division I playoffs FINAL 2010 RANKING: No. 18 in NCP Top 20 STRENGTHS: Mixture of young and old for this Cougar team. Guard Casey Norris leads the team along with fellow seniors Yussuf Faruqui, Kenneth Jones, and Parminder Singh. Rising point guard Joey Frenchwood will be in the backcourt plus fellow sophomores Damien Banford and 6-foot-7 Mathew Thomas. The time is now and the future for Newark Memorial. QUESTION MARKS: Post play experience. Banford and Thomas will be key in providing post depth. Expect with more playing time, the post should be less of a question mark as the season goes on. KEY GAMES OUTSIDE OF LEAGUE PLAY: The non-league schedule includes Deer Valley, Sacramento, McClymonds, and Jesuit. The Cougars went 11-1 in league last year and should roll again in league this year. So, these non-league tests early in the season will give a better gauge of this team's potential. OUTLOOK: Newark Memorial is two years removed from a trip to the state title game. This year's team looks to be as deep and complete in its roster. Last year was a tough Division I road in NCS as is this year. But Newark has moved to Division II and looks to have the pieces to be one of the more dangerous Division II teams in Northern California.  No. 7 Sacramento COACH: Derek Swafford LAST SEASON: 27-6, Lost in the semi-finals of the NorCal Division III Playoffs FINAL 2010 RANKING: No. 10 in NCP Top 20 STRENGTHS: Seniors Erik Kinney and Darius Graham are already bound for Cal State Bakersfield and UC Davis respectively. Juniors James Hadnot, Joe Barnes, and Aaron Cameron have Division I potential. Aside from a true center position, the Dragons look to be a very complete team. QUESTION MARKS: Last year's team had 6-foot-10 Robert Garrett handling the post. Hadnot will be expected to provide some of the post rebounding and scoring this year. KEY GAMES OUTSIDE OF LEAGUE PLAY: Newark Memorial, Centennial (Corona), and Salesian highlight the non-league games. Last year's team got a good spark in defeating Bishop O'Dowd on MLK in Berkeley after some internal roster turmoil. OUTLOOK: The Dragons will be the league favorite in the Metro and should be one of the favorites to go far in NorCal. This team looks to be very athletic and can run with anyone.  No. 6 McClymonds COACH: Brandon Brooks LAST SEASON: 16-15, Lost in the first round of the NorCal Division I Playoffs FINAL 2010 RANKING: NR in NCP Top 20 STRENGTHS: Seniors Dulani Robinson and Lawrence Otis both had solid summers with their Team 94 club. Junior Dalvin Guy will be expected to be the primary post player. QUESTION MARKS: : Senior Jamaree Strickland expects to be back in the February time frame. He is coming back from a knee injury. The post play should still be solid with Guy and sophomore Deion Ellis. KEY GAMES OUTSIDE OF LEAGUE PLAY: The non-league games include Sheldon, Deer Valley, Bishop O'Dowd, El Cerrito, Newark Memorial, Berkeley, Jesuit, Rodriguez, and Sacred Heart Cathedral. OUTLOOK: The Warriors are the consensus choice to win the OAL. As a result, the postseason expectations are high for them. This team is as complete and balanced as any other team in Northern California.

Article 262: NCP Roundtable

November 22, 2011

The teams are getting ready for the start of the season and a rush of preseason tournaments to begin over the next month. It is also time for NorCalPreps.com to take a look at the top basketball questions in the region heading into the season. See what NCP's Douglas Benton and Steve Hu think about breakout candidates, NorCal championship repeats and much more.

1. Who are the breakout teams/players to watch for?

Steve Hu: Freedom High features James O'Neal and Elliott Smith. After watching both during the summer, the Falcons will have at least two versatile players. O'Neal can score from anywhere on the court in different ways. O'Neal projects out to be a good shooting guard or wing player. Smith is long and plays at a good pace in terms of how he lets the game come to him and will likely be a small forward. Freedom will give Deer Valley a run in the Bay Valley League.

In the WCAL, Mitty will be the prohibitive favorite as last year's lone league loss was to St. Ignatius. But this year's Wildcat team returns national prospect, Stephen Domingo. St. Ignatius has Trevor Dunbar running the point as the Wildcats should be able to run up tempo and have easy transition points. Dunbar was elevated from his Oakland Soldiers 15 team to the Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue team in the middle of the summer. If his development and progress continues into the high school season, this sophomore should help St. Ignatius make a run at Mitty.

Douglas Benton: First for teams, I think Antelope will build off of last season's playoff run and subsequent summer success to be a team to watch out of the Sacramento area. The Titans boast a good core of players, led by Jarvis Watkins, and also get a transfer with Gabe Bealer to help round out the squad. Also the young talent at Freedom and Heritage will fans and coaches flocking out to Brentwood and Oakley. Freedom has O'Neal and Smith as good building blocks while Heritage has sophomore Shon Briggs and a transfer in with point guard George Johnson.

For players, Salesian's Markel Leonard will be asked to take over the point guard duties for the Pride and should be able to step in and be a key contributor from the outset this season. He has a good handle of his game and showed increased confidence with each contest he played this summer. Also, look for Center's Christopher Smith to really shine as the unquestioned leader for the Cougars. After playing with good inside players the past two years, Smith should be counted on to carry more of the offensive load and has the ability to put up points in a hurry.

2. Which of the five NorCal champions have the best chance to make a return trip to the state title game?

Steve Hu: Salesian will have the best chance as they have too many interchangeable pieces. The Pride lose Dominic Artis to Findlay Prep, but guards Mario Dunn and Leonard will more than fill the backcourt duties. Jabari Bird is coming on as another national prospect for the 2013 class. The Pride have the most talent of any Division IV program in Northern California.

Mitty has probably the top prospect in the region in Aaron Gordon. If a new back court emerges, the Monarchs can have the core to make a return trip to state.

Douglas Benton: The short answer is all five reigning NorCal champions have chances at repeating their title efforts, but the best option appear to be Salesian. Salesian should be able to stay close to the level it was at last year due to a very young roster and continual development under head coach Bill Mellis and his staff. Mitty boasts a game changer in Gordon, but it will have to deal with Sacramento now in Division II. De La Salle looks to be more explosive compared to last year, but Division I is always a daunting task to work through and Bishop O'Dowd is still dangerous despite losing 5-star forward prospect Brandon Ashley.

3. What are the best leagues in Northern California?

Steve Hu: Delta River League has Sheldon, Jesuit, Pleasant Grove, and Oak Ridge as teams who have playoff aspirations and also probably will have over 10 Division I prospects from the league in the next two years. Sheldon and Jesuit will probably be in the NCP top 10 team rankings throughout the year and will probably see each other in the post season.

The West Catholic League has Archbishop Mitty, St. Ignatius, and Sacred Heart Cathedral as their top tier teams with players including Gordon, Domingo, and Taylor Johns. But teams like Serra, St. Francis, and even Archbishop Riordan look to have their moments. Serra has Stephen Grosey and Jacqui Biggins stepping up while St. Francis returns a strong frontcourt in Abu Tratter and Drew Dickey. Riordan has been in rebuilding mode but have promising Bay Area Hoosier teammates Graham Gilleran and Ross Jones.

Douglas Benton: The top two leagues are the DRL and the WCAL due to elite teams at the top with depth to follow. The DRL is led by Sheldon, but Jesuit, Pleasant Grove and Oak Ridge are all quality teams and Folsom could be in for a bounce back season. The WCAL is always in this discussion led by Mitty at the front with St. Ignatius, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Serra and St. Francis to follow. While last year's senior class didn't produce a high number of college prospects, expect that to increase over the next two years.

Other leagues which should be fun to watch are the BVAL (Heritage, Freedom, and Deer Valley) and the Sierra Foothill League, which is down some in talent but produces some of the better atmospheres of any league in the area.

4. What developments in the NCAA in the past summer do you think will affect recruiting the most?

Steve Hu: Conference realignment has been dictated by financial reasons and primarily for the football programs. But its impact is also going to affect the basketball programs. For a basketball power conference like the Big East Conference to lose Syracuse and Pittsburgh to the Atlantic Coast Conference, how does that affect a player's decision to go to another Big East Conference school like Georgetown? If Air Force, Boise State, and San Diego State leave the Mountain West Conference for the Big East Conference, then would a California recruit who would have originally considered in state San Diego State be more apt to play more of his conference games away from the west coast where his family presumably resides? Another example is Brigham Young who just joined the West Coast Conference but is also being courted by the Big East Conference. The West Coast Conference has done well even before Brigham Young joined but can basketball only conferences attract the top tier recruits still in this era of realignment that are predicated on BCS football finances.

The removal of the unlimited phone calls and text messages ban was inevitable. In addition, social media access has been extended. Fighting innovation and technology by the antiquated and fossilized NCAA was pointless as there is no real way of policing these modes of communication. In addition, there will be an April and July evaluation period for college coaches. The trend in the last decade has been more college transfers. If the relationship and communication is more open and free during the recruiting process and more evaluation is allowed, then the hope would be that there are fewer transfers after the prospect commits.

Douglas Benton: Thus far, the impact on West Coast programs and conferences has been mild in terms of conference realignment. Colorado and Utah didn't grab a Northern California recruit in the 2012 class for the Early Signing Period, though Colorado did well in Southern California. I wouldn't expect conference shifting to have major impacts on the majority of local prospects in the near future.

The recent NCAA rule updates all signal a more open system to go about recruiting, which is to the advantage of the player and the college. It will allow for more comprehensive scouting of potential scholarship offered prospect to hopefully limit mistakes. Better communication will also allow schools to get to know players better to avoid personality conflicts once a player gets on campus. This is something I've felt baseball has been ahead on with its system and it's good to see basketball moving in this direction.

5. Which preseason games/tournaments are you most looking forward to in 2010?

Steve Hu: Nor Cal Tipoff in Newark features over 30 Division I projected prospects in the fourteen team field. The field also features half of the top 20 NCP preseason ranked teams (coming out soon). The last weekend of November will validate (or invalidate) the NCP prognosticators.

East West Invitational in Dougherty Valley will have six games with five of the top 10 NCP preseason ranked teams in mid December. Another tune-up before league play for the teams.

Douglas Benton: I'll focus on two tournaments I'll be watching this December is the Fr. Barry Tournament at Jesuit and the Gridley Invitational Basketball Tournament. At Jesuit, the host Marauders will be joined Bishop O'Dowd, Oakland Tech, Sheldon and St. Ignatius as well as some good out of the area competition. In Gridley, we will see Jesuit again with Sacramento, Newark Memorial, College Park, St. Francis-Mountain View, Dublin and Salesian.

6. Which teams do you think will be challenging themselves the most?

Steve Hu: Berkeley and Sheldon will play against each other in the season. Berkeley will also be playing against Weston Ranch, Franklin, McClymonds, Bishop O'Dowd, Pleasant Grove, and Salesian while Sheldon has McClymonds, St. Ignatius, Archbishop Mitty, Bishop O'Dowd, Salesian, and the Holiday Classic in Torrey Pines. Give Sheldon the overall most difficult schedule as they have a tougher league schedule as well.

Both teams will be battle tested and the challenging schedule should prepare them for the postseason. An analogy would be like an early stage Silicon Valley startup with a core of ten or so employees who battle through early and difficult situations to see if their venture is acquisition worthy. Similarly, these basketball teams of twelve on the roster who have challenging schedules will want to find out earlier though challenging games whether or not that they have what it takes to take their game public (IPO pun).

Douglas Benton: Sacramento does a good job of challenging itself both with local competition and out of area standouts in preparing for a long season. The Dragons will take part in the Gridley tournament and the Oaks Christian tournament as well as hosting the St. Hope Classic, which features a number of tough Southern California squads. Salesian also will be heavily tested with trips to Gridley and the City of the Palms Classic before playing Rodriguez, Berkeley and Sacramento heading into and in 2012.

Article 261: Boys BB Top 20: 11-15

November 18, 2011

The teams ranked 11-15 in the preseason NCP Top 20 should find themselves back in the rankings next year too with a host of young talent. The group is led by two national prospects who are only getting better as well as a trio of juniors looking for more playoff success.

No. 15 Pleasant Grove
COACH: John Deponte
LAST SEASON:18-10, Lost in second round of the SJS Division I Playoffs
FINAL 2010 RANKING: NR in NCP Top 20
STRENGTHS: Seniors Cody Demps and Arik Armstead had solid summer performances with Team 94 and Compton Magic. Add on Malik Thames, who is the younger brother of San Diego State Aztec guard Xavier Thames, in the backcourt to make the Eagles a balanced threat. Cole Nordquist is versatile as he can play any position except center.
QUESTION MARKS: The double edge sword of having a good football team with dual sport athletes is that the football postseason will take away time from the basketball team. In addition, Armstead was originally going to enroll early to college before he reopened his recruiting. If Armstead stays through spring, the Eagles will have a big edge in the post.
KEY GAMES OUTSIDE OF LEAGUE PLAY: The Eagles take on St. Patrick-St. Vincent on Thanksgiving Saturday to start their season. January 7 is a battle with Berkeley. The result will be good litmus before league play gets going.
OUTLOOK: If Armstead stays and the team gels after the football season, then this Eagles team could challenge for league. If both of the aforementioned does not happen, then league play could be rocky to say the least. Against league favorites Jesuit, Oak Ridge, and Sheldon last season, the Eagles went 2-4. The performance against Jesuit and Sheldon this year will be a good indicator of their postseason success.

No. 14 Deer Valley
COACH: Lechet Phillips
LAST SEASON: 21-7, Lost in second round of the NCS Division I playoffs
FINAL 2010 RANKING: NR in NCP Top 20
STRENGTHS: The Wolverines are really balanced on the inside and outside with a good core for the next two years at least. Andre McPhail and Quincy Smith are now in prep school in southern California. Seniors Olajuwon Garner and Noah LaBonte will provide scoring and defense. Garner is a guard who can score in waves with his perimeter shot or his dribble drive. LaBonte will provide some of the post defense and rebounding in replacing McPhail. Juniors Jeff Brown, Marcus Lee, and Kendall Smith provide a good core for the next two years. Lee is a national prospect who is probably the next 2013 five star prospect as several colleges are looking at him as a lean, long wing.
QUESTION MARKS: Defense and specifically transition defense would be key. Against lesser opponents, the Wolverines can figuratively maul them. But against disciplined defensive teams, the Wolverines will have to match that. Quite frankly, last year's team was quite entertaining to watch in terms of how they could score at will but they also gave up points just as easily.
KEY GAMES OUTSIDE OF LEAUGE PLAY: The first two weeks of the season includes games against Newark Memorial, McClymonds, and Serra. The Serra game is the opening game in the Chris Vontoure event that could eventually lead to a matchup with host De La Salle. These early measuring stick games against disciplined teams will test the Wolverine defense.
OUTLOOK: Last year's team was without a true, experienced point guard as Quincy Smith could never get his transfer issues resolved. As a result, the underclassmen guards including brother, Kendall, got more minutes. In addition, the NCS Division I field was granted fewer spots for the NorCal playoffs as the Wolverines could not make it to the final two to advance past the sections. This year's team has a plethora of scoring options but the questions will lie with the defensive stops and discipline. The younger Smith says, "People are underestimating us but we are going to come out hard from day one until the last day and surprise everyone."

No. 13 Sacred Heart Cathedral
COACH: Darrell Barbour
LAST SEASON: 23-7, Lost in the second round of the NorCal Division III playoffs
FINAL 2010 RANKING: No. 19 in NCP Top 20
STRENGTHS: The depth and experience of this Irish team is probably the one factor that can give them a chance to weather through a tough WCAL season. Juniors Yanoj Jackson, Khalil James, and Herman Pratt will complement seniors Josh Fox, Taylor Johns, and Zach Tapel. Johns was getting many inquiries during the summer season as he is athletic and depending on his dribbling and size will probably play wing position in college. James had a strong showing with his Roadrunners club and will provide a spark in the backcourt.
QUESTION MARKS: Height more than size would be the main question. Fox and Johns play bigger than their height. The matchup against McClymonds (especially with a healthy Jamaree Strickland) could answer how the Irish deal with teams with true post players.
KEY GAMES OUTSIDE OF LEAGUE PLAY: In the month of December, the Irish have games against El Cerrito and Jesuit. On MLK Day, the Irish face McClymonds. League play will be difficult enough, but these tough non-league games will be good tests as well.
OUTLOOK: This Irish team has a good core of seniors and is cohesive as a team. Last year's team was a No. 3 seed in NorCal that lost eventual state runner up Bishop O'Dowd. Expect this team to have a favorable seeding when the postseason rolls around.

No. 12 Weston Ranch
COACH: Ryan Bono
LAST SEASON: 26-4, Lost in the first round of the NorCal Division III Playoffs
FINAL 2010 RANKING: NR in NCP Top 20
STRENGTHS: The three headed monster that goes from A to Z in Dylan Alexander, Daiveon Leverett, and Zerrion Payton. All three averaged double digits last season and should only build on that success. Alexander is a versatile wing player in the mold of a Mike Miller. Leverett is close to 6-foot-8 and plays comfortably facing the basket. Payton is a lefty point guard who is also the nephew of Gary Payton.
QUESTION MARKS: Strength of schedule. Specifically, the Cougars cruised in league last season going 14-0. As a result, they exited in the first round of NorCals with a crushing 22 point defeat. Go figure.
KEY GAMES OUTSIDE OF LEAGUE PLAY: The Cougars tip off Thanksgiving Saturday against Berkeley. This will be an interesting matchup of two athletic teams. December has the Cougars in the Edison and Modesto Christian tournaments.
OUTLOOK: Weston Ranch should have one of the better overall regular season records. It can be considered the Memphis Tigers of NorCal in that Memphis dominates Conference USA and then March Madness validates how good the team really is. Similarly, the Cougars look to dominate in the regular season before SJS and NorCals will give a better indicator of the team's true level.

No. 11 St. Ignatius
COACH: Tim Reardon
LAST SEASON: 17-10, Lost in the semi-finals of the CCS Division III Playoffs
FINAL 2010 RANKING: NR in NCP Top 20
STRENGTHS: Coach Reardon returns to Outer Sunset and is a proven coach. But everything for the Wildcats will start and end with 2013 national prospect Stephen Domingo. The versatile wing will be the focal point on offense. Throw in sophomore point guard Trevor Dunbar, who was elevated to the Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue team during summer, and the Wildcats will be able to play up tempo.
QUESTION MARKS: Depth and bench play. Opposing teams will probably attempt to limit Domingo in the damage that he causes. As a result, will the surrounding cast be able to support him?
KEY GAMES OUTSIDE OF LEAGUE PLAY: The Wildcats start December against Sheldon in the Father Barry Tournament. This will show if the Wildcats can run and down and have the depth to keep up with Sheldon's pace. They also will play Sacred Heart Prep in mid-December.
OUTLOOK: St. Ignatius and Sacred Heart Cathedral will battle for the honor of the best team in San Francisco. Regardless, these are probably the two teams with the best shot at defending league champions, Archbishop Mitty. If Dunbar provides solid ball handling, passing, and leadership, then he could complement Domingo nicely and this Wildcat team could go further than most would expect.

Article 260: VC-Serra follows script

November 13, 2011

When the NCP preseason was released prior to the season, Saturday's matchup between Valley Christian and Serra looked to be a highly anticipated season finale for the West Catholic Athletic League opponents. Both teams started the season in the top 10, but only the Padres were ranked at game time. In addition, Serra was looking to avenge two losses to the Warriors from last season including a season ending playoff loss.

Valley Christian started the season slow but looked more dominant in victories the past two weeks. The Padres had a strong start but had a few hiccups the past few weeks. Both teams brought solid two-headed running attacks but Serra won the turnover battle and used a 28-0 first half advantage to win easily 44-21 to take 2nd place in the WCAL.

Offense: The final stats were misleading as the Warriors had 320 total yards while Serra had 389 yards, all of which on the ground. However, the Warriors had three key turnovers that were drive killers and momentum shifters. The Padres only attempted one pass the entire day but Valley Christian's run defense was still unable to stop the Serra running game despite knowing what was coming.

Padres senior Erich Wilson had 190 yards rushing with three touchdowns while junior Eric Redwood had 174 yards rushing with two touchdowns. Wilson set the career rushing mark for Serra that was accomplished on an 89 yard run in the third quarter to seal the game. Warriors seniors Jarrod Lawson and Byron Marshall had 88 and 75 yards on the ground with one touchdown each.

The Defenses: Valley Christian's defense gave up touchdown runs of 59, 41, 89, and 33. In four of their five losses, the Warrior defense gave up more than 35 points and was porous in run defense. The Padres, on the other hand, were opportunistic and made the stops early to coast after leading big. The Serra defense had one real bad showing in the season during its loss to Archbishop Mitty, giving up 35 points.

Special Teams: Valley Christian was unable to recover a kickoff in the first quarter that bounced and was eventually recovered in the scrum by Serra at the 1-yard line. The subsequent touchdown put Serra ahead 21-0. This special teams play was indicative of VC's day.

Valley Christian Outlook: In the Warriors' five losses including this one, they were physically outmatched in the ground game. VC has a potent running game of its own but cannot be expected to keep up with opposing teams who have strong offenses. The Warriors' postseason will go only as far as consistent defensive performances will take them.

Serra Outlook: If the Padres play in the Open bracket as opposed to Division I, a rematch with league champion Bellarmine is inevitable. Most of the top teams speculated to be in the Open includes Bellarmine, Palma, and Oak Grove. The common theme for all these teams is strong running games with consistent defenses. When Serra has had success in the season, this formula proved to be the key.

Article 259: Olson ready for playoffs

November 10, 2011

As the regular season comes to a close, playoffs are looming for teams fortunate enough to make it. Hilmar finished the regular season at 8-2 with losses in the season's opener and finale. Quarterback Andrew Olson keys the Yellowjackets' potent offensive attack.

A 6-foot-3, 200 pound senior, Olson directed the offense to a 37.8 point average. His junior year was cut short by a broken wrist injury but he has bounced back strong passing for 1,307 yards with 18 touchdowns and two interceptions while running for 317 yards and six touchdowns. Olson is second in the Trans Valley League with 1,624 yards in total offense as he sat out many fourth quarters during some easy wins. As a team, the Yellowjackets had to rally after the death of offensive line coach Franky Silveira over the summer.

In the season opener against Beyer, Hilmar faced a competitive Division I team but held a comfortable halftime lead of 20-7. Olson passed for 205 yards with four touchdowns but Hilmar lost on a game ending field goal 30-27 to the eventual MMC league winner from Modesto. Another high profile game for Olson was the Modesto Christian game that was a league rivalry game that had him face against Arizona quarterback commit Nathan Sudfeld. Olson was efficient in throwing for 176 yards and two touchdowns as his Yellowjackets cruised to a 59-20 victory.

With the demands of school and the regular season, Olson still made time to work with his personal quarterback coach, Roger Theder. Theder, who has coached Cal commit Zach Kline and Wisconsin commit Bart Houston, helps Olson with his arm strength, footwork, and mechanics and assists him on route check downs and reading defenses. Theder is a well-known quarterback coach who has trained former Nevada Wolfpack Colin Kaepernik, Josh Johnson, and Trent Edwards. Olson started to train with Theder in the 7th grade as family friend, Kaepernik, recommended the coach.

Theder who has worked with Olson 46 times since he started training with him, says, "Andrew has gotten bigger and stronger since the summer. His footwork and mechanics are good. He's got ability with his size."

Division I recruiting is slow but he has been contacted by a hand full of Division II and NAIA schools. Menlo has indicated strong interest in Olson while several schools have asked for game film including CSU Pueblo, Fresno State, Nevada, Northern Arizona, Sacramento State, San Jose State, and San Diego State. All of the previously mentioned schools have indicated that they will continue to evaluate Olson through the end of his season and playoffs.

Regardless of what happens in playoffs and recruiting, Olson is working as hard as ever to get a shot to play at the next level. He broke Hilmar's power clean record at 260 pounds and can bench 335 pounds and squat 500 pounds. After the playoff season, Olson plans to focus fully on weight training and conditioning to get bigger and faster. Olson's mantra is "Never Quit." This quote was a favorite of the recently deceased Coach Silveira and is posted above the door on the way out of the weight room and is what drives Olson to football and overall life success.

Hilmar has had recent quarterback success. Nate Costa from the 2006 Hilmar class played along side Dennis Dixon for the Oregon Ducks. Costa was a top 20 national quarterback according to Rivals for his senior year.

Frank Marques is Hilmar's head coach. "Andrew has come back strong with no side effects from the injury. He has been an anchor for our team," said Marques. "He's had a great season and we are fortunate to have a player of his caliber leading us into the playoffs. I think Andrew has all the tools to be a next level quarterback. Strong accurate arm, mobility, running the spread, and generalship of the game makes him a great fit for a team who likes to run the spread offense."

Academically, Olson has a 3.2 cumulative GPA and scored a 20 on the ACT test to be eligible for college. Being a college level quarterback is important to Olson, but he will be the first person in his family to attend a four year university as junior college was the previous level achieved by his family. He wants to major in History and become an educator (teacher or professor) and also incorporate coaching football. After football season concludes, he will participate in community service programs till graduation.

Olson's football journey reads of the small town kid trying to make it to the big town stage. His path was going well till his injury last season that derailed his recruiting exposure. If Olson was on center stage in the San Francisco area instead of Merced County, he could have been in more highly profiled and highly covered games.

Hilmar will start as the third seed in the Division IV bracket for the SJS playoffs. Hilmar will play at home against Linden. Regardless of how far the Yellowjackets get in the playoffs this season, Olson is back on the right track for his gridiron goals.

Article 258: Cohan under the radar

November 9, 2011

Monte Vista Christian is 8-1 heading into the postseason. A big part of that success has been quarterback Taylor Cohan. Last season, the 6-foot-3, 200 pound senior led the Mustangs to a 7-3 record while throwing for 1,928 yards and 22 touchdowns that earned him first team honors in the Monterey Bay League. His career stats are nearing 4,300 passing yards and 55 TDs (24 of them this season).

Monte Vista Christian Coach David Reese says, "Taylor is very smart (over a 4.0 GPA) and a student of the game. He watches a lot of film of our opponent each week. He has a very strong arm and also good size and strength to go with it. He is a very strong leader both on and off the field. As a third year starter, he is like having a coach on the field."

The current schools that are in contact with Cohan include California, Cornell, Georgetown, Harvard, Holy Cross, Penn, Princeton, UC Davis, and San Diego. As of now, Cohan has an offer from Penn. With a 4.25 GPA and 2180 SAT score, he is academically eligible.

Cohan has these thoughts about his recruiting. "The Ivy League and New England schools are a great opportunity for me to get a great education and play football at a high level. Also, I've been watching Aaron Rodgers dominate the NFL this year and I've tried to model my game after his play this year cause of his strong accurate arm and ability to extend plays."

Cohan models his game after former Cal Bear Rodgers. Cohan is a pro style quarterback who plays in a west coast, spread offense. This scheme takes advantage of his arm strength, accuracy, and ability to read defenses. His best football skill is being able to read the defense and put the ball where he wants to with good accuracy and velocity.

During the offseason, he worked the most on his footwork and timing with his receivers and quarterback coach Adam Tafralis. In addition, he also worked a lot with his offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Lonzo Caves. Cohan also had throwing sessions with former Fresno State Bulldog Trent Dilfer.

Coach Reese adds, "As good as Taylor is at football, he is even better at being a student and teammate. Taylor will do whatever it takes to get the job done. His work ethic is second to none and I think he has what is needed to play NCAA football, at what level time will tell."

Cohan is originally from the Bay Area but moved to Aptos during his freshman year. He hopes that he will be able to lead his Mustangs deep into the Division IV playoffs. After that, he hopes to take his game to the college level.

Article 257: Johnson pulls the trigger

October 26, 2011

Tajai Johnson is the No. 6 ranked prospect in the class of 2012 and is the highest rated guard in Northern California according to NorCalPreps.com. The Vallejo High senior combo guard, who averaged 25.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists, will be attending UC Riverside next fall.

"I thought that playing under Coach Jim Wooldridge at UC Riverside would benefit me the best as a player," said Johnson. "He coached the Chicago Bulls before he began coaching at Riverside. So, he brings a pro style offense (ball screens and up tempo), which helps me create for my teammates and myself."

At 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, Johnson is a lefty who plays bigger than his size, is not afraid of taking the ball to the basket, and is good at initiating contact. As a junior last season, Johnson was forced to play in the interior, as his Apaches were undersized. During this past summer, he played for the Oakland Soldiers 17U Blue team.

Ray Thomas is Johnson's coach with the Soldiers. "Tajai will fit in nicely with a rebuilding team at UC Riverside," said Thomas. "At Riverside, he will have a good chance at playing right away. Their staff was elated at Tajai's commitment to them."

Johnson talks about the recruiting process. "When I first came in contact with Riverside, I talked to Coach Chris Brazleton. I thought we had an instant connection with each other. He really showed that he didn't just care about my basketball abilities, but he showed that he cared about how I was off the court also. Coach made sure he answered any questions I had about the school athletically or academically. I felt the most comfortable with him, he never put any pressure on me, he let me take my time in making my decision. Later on I started to talk to Coach Wooldridge more, he also showed that he cared. I knew that he had good intentions for me."

Thomas says about Johnson's summer development, "Tajai has made a great improvement in his playing making ability. He is really working hard at refining his point guard skills. He is moving away from combo guard label to just point guard. Watching him with Vallejo this year, you will see his leadership in play and vocally. He also has built his 6'2 frame into a college ready body. He will be overpowering alot of his opponents this year."

When asked how Riverside fits his school needs, the lefty Apache said, "Academically, I thought that it would be the best fit for me because the UC system provides you with a quality education and that was my number 1 factor when picking a school. They also had a wide variety of majors that caught my interest (Mass Communications, Business and/or Engineering). I loved the weather and on top of that the campus is beautiful, I loved everything about it. The people seemed nice and very helpful. The campus lifestyle is great."

Concerning his impressions of his future teammates and role, Johnson said "The players acted as if they were a family, and I liked that. No one seemed to be doing his own separate thing. They greeted me with open arms. I really liked the vibe I got from them. I hope to come in as a freshman and contribute to the team anyway the coach/players need me to. I am willing to do anything for the team next year that will get us wins."

Coach Thomas muses about Johnson's future. "Tajai will have to become a more consistent perimeter shooter. He has improved alot but it is still not where it needs to be. He is such a gym rat that his weakness will become a strength. Tajai has been in our Soldiers program since his freshmen year. He has done everything that we have asked of him and more. I could not be more proud of his transformation and happy for his parents Stephaine and TJ who raised a great kid."

Despite the commitment, Johnson has a few things that he wants to work on during his senior year. "This year to prepare for college basketball I think I need to work on my jump shooting the most, work on attacking going both ways consistently, and stay on the weights. I plan to enroll and start my college life the summer after my senior year is over. I want to take some classes during that time so I can make the transition easily from HS to college."

If Johnson can play the point guard position in college, he can use his size and length against smaller players. He plays bigger than his size and rebounds well for a guard. His shooting efficiency and defense from the perimeter will go a long way in determining how much playing time he gets as a freshman.

Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara are picked as the preseason favorites for the Big West while UC Riverside is picked as fifth in the nine-team conference. Riverside will get Santa Clara junior transfer Robert Smith as their point guard. In addition, former Oakland High star Dominique Taplin is on the roster.

The Highlanders (named after the campus' high altitude location) have a roster that look to be undersized and guard heavy. As a result, Johnson will have a lot of competition but the Highlanders look to run a multi guard set that will require multi skilled guards. Expect Johnson to head higher in terms of his basketball skills for the Highlanders.

Article 256: Kuh plays it cool

October 24, 2011

Bellarmine has stormed out of the gate this season as one of the top teams in the country. The Bells are at the cusp of the top 30 national rankings according to Rivals.com as they have been undefeated since an opening season double overtime loss to De La Salle. Since then, the Bellarmine defense has been the anchor for the team's success.

The Bells run a 3-5-3 defense that heavily depends on linebackers who can fly on run support while being able to back pedal with running backs or tight ends leaking into the secondary. A key member of the linebacker core is senior Brad Kuh.

At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, Kuh can run the 40 yard dash in 4.80 seconds, has a 4.20 second shuttle time, and has a 31 inch vertical. As a junior last season, he had 52 tackles and three forced fumbles in helping the Bells to a 9-3 record that ended in the playoffs to eventual state champions, Palo Alto.

Kuh plays a similar style to that of former USC Trojan Clay Matthews because he plays with passion, intensity, and relentlessness throughout the entire game. In this 3-5-3 scheme, Kuh is one of the middle linebackers as he is primarily responsible for run support. So far this year, Kuh has 49 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble.

Schools that have signaled interest in the linebacker prospect include Cal Poly, Chapman, Colorado, Denison, San Jose St., Marietta, Sacramento State, San Diego, San Diego State, Southern Utah, and Utah State. San Jose State, which is less than five miles from the Bellarmine campus, has offered.

Kuh has a 3.40 GPA as he is looking for a program that has a solid coaching staff and is supportive of its athletic program. He prefers the west coast, particularly the state of California, and wants to be challenged academically during his college studies.

The Bellarmine defense surrendered 26 points in their opening game loss to De La Salle but has allowed only 47 points in the following six wins. Kuh, who has been a varsity starter since his sophomore year, worked hard during the offseason improving his agility, explosiveness, and strength to become a huge part of the Bells' recent defensive dominance.

He does not take things for granted as a close cousin died at the age of 19. Hence, Kuh leaves it all on the field and is hoping to help the Bells make a run at league, CCS, and possibly a trip to Carson. Thereafter, he is hoping to be able to ink his letter of intent on National Signing Day.

Bellarmine has been impressive in league play and will face a big challenge this week against Serra who showcases a stellar running attack. Kuh and the Bells' linebacker core will have their hands full stopping the run attack. Watch for Kuh to play it cool against the Padres and for the rest of the season in San Jose, California.