Article 282: Doing it the 'Hardaway'

January 18, 2012

In team sports, dramatic improvements can often be attributed to coaching or players. The Freedom Falcons were 9-18 in 2008, 15-9 in 2009, 14-12 in 2010, and 12-4 in the current season. 2012 prospect Jelani Hardaway has been a big reason for the fast start.

The 6-foot-2, 165 pound guard is averaging 13 points and 7 assists per game. Hardaway's length enables him to see over presses and he has good court vision in delivering the ball to teammates. He is a leader for the relatively young Falcons in only his second year as a varsity starter.

"Jelani is a leader by example who is beginning to understand how to be a vocal leader," said Freedom Coach Drew Torres. "He always shows up to practices and games with a lot of energy. If anything, we have to slow him down. His strengths are his quickness, length, athleticism, and ball handling. He has a great ability to get dribble penetration and get into the paint."

With his surname comes high expectations and the inevitable comparisons. This Falcon is taller and displays similar ball handling and leadership skills as former UTEP and NBA star Tim Hardaway. He is not as tall but has similar length and wingspan as former Orlando Magic great Penny Hardaway, that proves useful in breaking presses and playing perimeter defense.

"On the court, Jelani plays fast and with a lot of energy. He has a knack for beating his man off the dribble and forcing the defense to help," continued Torres. "Defensively, he is able to put a lot of pressure on the ball which disrupts the other teams timing and rhythm. Off the court, Jelani is very polite and studious. He struggled academically his 9th grade year but has become a very good student the past two years. His GPA is well above a 3.0. He also is a great kid with a great personality. I always enjoy spending time with him."

Despite its youth, Freedom is talented. Junior James O'Neal and sophomore Elliott Smith are high profile prospects who project well at the next level. While the Falcons cracked the NCP Top 20 after an 8-1 start, they have hit a rough patch recently. Still, the team figures to be the main challenger to Deer Valley in the Bay Valley Athletic League.

With underclassman talent and Freedom's solid start, colleges are warming up to Hardaway. He has offers at the junior college level from Diablo Valley, Los Medanos, and Fresno City. He has also had feelers from some Ivy League programs and west coast schools but nothing serious yet from the four year programs.

Torres has these thoughts on Hardaway's college ability. "I think Jelani can play at the NCAA level. As a PG, he needs to improve his basketball IQ. I think when the mental meets the physical, he will be more than capable of playing at the four year level. He also needs to improve his physical strength and outside shooting. I feel Jelani is being under-recruited. He would be an asset as a player and student for any college."

Freedom has been under the radar the past few years and has not gotten as much exposure as some of the other North Coast Section teams. But a deep run in the postseason led by Hardaway could change all that. Regardless, expect this Falcon to do things the "Hard A Way" in Oakley, California.

Article 281: DLS over Mitty in OT

January 17, 2012

De La Salle goes to 13-2 after defeating Archbishop Mitty 69-62 in overtime at the Martin Luther King Classic. Nothing new from the Spartans as they just outplay opponents who are bigger, faster, and/or more talented on paper. In this game at UC Berkeley's Haas Pavilion, it was not the usual defensive struggle in the 30s or 40s De La Salle displayed good three point shooting and continuous back door baskets. Elliott Pitts and Amadi Udenyi scored 16 points each, while Nick Sullivan contributed 15. Despite an earlier loss to Monte Vista, De La Salle should should win the East Bay Athletic League and be in the mix for NorCals again this season.

Mitty goes to 12-3 with its second straight loss. Aaron Gordon scored half of the team's points in the loss. The guard play is not at the level as last year's state title team as Gordon was often bringing up the ball and creating offense for himself or his teammates. The junior is dominant on the glass and defensive shot blocking, but how long can he continue this before fatigue affects his play at the end of games. Gordon creates open shots for his teammates as he is often double-teamed. Without the 6-foot-7 forward on the floor, can the Mitty offense avoid stagnating? The upcoming battle with Sacred Heart Cathedral on Friday will be a good indicator of the team to beat in the West Catholic Athletic League.

Berkeley 65, St. Mary's-Berkeley 39
Langston Morris-Walker looked to be the most college ready in terms of physical size and basketball skills. Henry Cornelious is a promising lefty forward as the 6-foot-5 junior displayed some good back to the basket moves and has good size. Berkeley goes to 7-8 with the win as the Yellowjackets have played one of the tougher non-league schedules. The main question is if the difficult schedule helps Berkeley in league play and into the postseason or does it wear them down? Expect Berkeley to challenge for the ACCAL title.

St. Mary's dropped to 3-15 with the loss as the team is trying to find an identity after the transfers of David Andoh, Glenn Baral, and Isaiah Taylor from last year's 23 win team. For a program that regularly challenges for the BSAL, the Panthers are quite frankly in rebuilding mode. The young team has only four seniors with three freshmen on the roster to provide some hope for next year. But this year's team will need to set attainable goals like a double digit win season to build confidence for the future.

Newark Memorial 50, Lake Oswego Oregon 38
Casey Norris looked solid with his shot and drives to the basket. He is the senior leader of a sound Newark team that is now 12-4. The losses have been to all ranked teams including nationally ranked Dematha from Maryland. The sophomore class for Newark is intriguing as Joey Frenchwood will be one of the better point guard prospects in that class. But the interior size is made up of 6-foot-5 Damien Banford who is built more like a football lineman and 6-foot-8 Matthew Thomas who is a beanstalk. Newark is a legitimate challenger in Division II this year but could be heavier favorites in the next two years.

Franklin-Elk Grove 54, Deer Valley 51
For Franklin, the obvious playmakers are Darin and Theo Johnson (no relation). Both Johnsons displayed a surprisingly good outside touch that can complement their quickness and slashing. Victor Rustin is listed as a forward at 6-foot-2 as he chipped in with 15 points and was able to put a body on Deer Valley's interior. These three accounted for close to 90 percent of the scoring in this game. It will be interesting to see if these three can provide enough offensive firepower to make a run in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs as the team goes to 14-4.

Deer Valley has played a Jekyll and Hyde role so far in the season as the team goes to 11-6. The Wolverines have balance in size and scoring for both the interior and exterior with Marcus Lee, Olajuwon Garner, and Kendall Smith. In this game, the team had multiple six point leads but could not close it out . The BVAL would still seem to favor Deer Valley even with the inconsistent play, but the postseason will not be as forgiving.

Salesian 62, Sacramento 41
Salesian goes to 15-2 with its only losses to teams in the state of Florida and look primed for another state run. The bench on this team would make a formidable starting five. Without the distractions regarding eligibility from last season, the Pride should run through the BSAL before postseason starts. Dominic Artis' departure to Findlay Prep does not seem to be a big deal as Salesian has filled the void in the backcourt. The Pride have an early February game with Sheldon that could help in the Bay Area versus Capitol bragging rights.

Sacramento goes to 12-5 with the loss and was simply outplayed. Last year's team had big post man Robert Garrett to erase any defensive lapses from the perimeter. This year's edition is a much smaller guard oriented and zone defensive team. Sacramento moves up to Division II this year as Newark and Mitty from earlier in the day both displayed a much better team effort from the DII contenders at the event. Sacramento is talented but needs to put in a team effort against better opponents.

Article 280: Leverett can levitate

January 16, 2012

Weston Ranch started the preseason at No. 12 in the NCP Top 20 rankings but had a 0-3 start with all three losses by less than three points. But since then, the Cougars have rattled off nine wins in eleven games and are looking to levitate back into the NCP rankings. One piece critical in that move is forward Daiveon Leverett.

The Cougars finished 26-4 last season as Leverett had 11 points and 6 rebounds per game. In the early parts of this season, the 2013 prospect is leading his team in blocks and rebounds. At 6-foot-7 and 200 pounds, Leverett's length and height allows him to play any post position for his team.

If Leverett develops a good dribble game and consistent outside jumper, he could be compared to either former Texas Longhorn Kevin Durant or Baylor Bear Quincy Miller. Leverett is a slasher to the basket and has tremendous length to be a defensive presence. Currently, his defensive energy in blocking shots and rebounding will always warrant him playing time on the next level as he develops his offensive game.

"Daiveon is an athletic big. He can handle the ball and break defenders down off the dribble. He has a good work ethic and wants to get better. Defensively, he has improved his rebounding and is quick off his feet to block shots," says Weston Ranch Coach Ryan Bono.

Arizona State, Boise State, Pacific, Washington, and UC Santa Barbara have had some interest in this Cougar. Leverett wants to play for a program that features the wing or post position. He would like to pursue his major in the Legal Studies fields.

"Daiveon is becoming more aggressive on the court. He has made it a goal to rebound better for the team and has improved his post moves," adds Bono. "Daiveon has had some interest from some mid-level colleges. Daiveon will need to improve his mid-range jumper."

Weston Ranch has had some early season struggles and will not repeat last year's undefeated Valley Oak League season. However, the Cougars still expect to make some noise with Leverett in the fold for the next few seasons. Watch for Leverett to levitate in Stockton, California.

Article 279: The Saintly King

January 15, 2012

The Peninsula and South Bay have often been dominated by the private schools in the West Catholic Athletic League. But last season, Santa Teresa of the Mount Hamilton League went 23-8 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Northern California regional playoffs. For the Saints to repeat last year's regular season and postseason run, they will need a solid year from 2012 guard Derek King.

Santa Teresa has had a slow start to the 2011-2012 season but King has been solid, as he has averaged 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. At 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, King is a versatile guard who has the size to physically overmatch point guards but has enough quickness to maneuver around larger shooting guards.

King's journey to basketball is unusual in that he started to play as a freshman in Shanghai as his parent's job dictated his stay across the Pacific. Despite playing in such circumstances, King was a starter on his freshman team before moving to San Jose. At Santa Teresa, he was the sixth man as a sophomore and junior before becoming a key starter in his senior year.

Despite the late start in basketball, King has an effective game as he has an accurate pull up jumper and mid-range game. In addition, he has a good spot up three point shot and has good ball handling skills to finish at the basket or to distribute to teammates. As a result, his offensive skills are similar to former Syracuse Orangeman Carmelo Anthony because he can score from the perimeter but will also take the ball to the basket to initiate contact.

Basketball coach and trainer Mike Allen has worked with King. He says, "I have had the pleasure of coaching and training Derek King for the past 3 years and I cannot tell you enough at how far he has come as a player, person, and leader in the community. He has grown so much and I know he is going to go on from High School and do amazing things on and off the court. He continues to display a great work ethic, positive attitude, and leadership with his team this season with all the work he has put in in the off season."

During the off-season, King has worked on his ball handling and shooting. This has helped in his senior year as he has had to play the point guard position, which has forced him to deal with full court presses and not to turn the ball over against good defenders. In addition, he worked hard to make his jump shot more consistent.

"Derek's strengths are his ability to get to the basket and spot up and knock down shots," says Allen. "His leadership and passing ability is displayed as he always looks to keep his team mates involved in the offense. He is a good rebounder who wants the ball in his teams hands with every possession."

King plays alongside Chico State-commit Trevor Priest and has benefited from the exposure. Occidental has shown interest while Puget Sound has offered. King wants to play for a team that likes to run up and down for transition fast break points but also has a fluid offensive scheme. He would like the college to have an outstanding strength and conditioning program as well. King has a 3.2 GPA with a 1600 SAT score as he will major in Business or Communications. He is open to playing anywhere geographically.

"Right now, I believe with Derek's skill and ability that he can play at the Division II and low Division I level and know that what he will bring to a team is an all around guard and wing player," says Allen. "He is defensive minded and hustles on and off the court. Any team, coach, or program that brings Derek in will have a gifted player with amazing abilities."

The college that enrolls King will have a player who has had a worldly perspective, as he is bilingual (English and Mandarin Chinese) growing up in China. When King moved back to America, he had to adjust to the American game as the physicality was not the same as in China and was also coming off the bench. King worked hard by putting on 25 pounds during his first summer and working hard to be a contributor.

For his senior year, King wants to help his Saints win league and be an all around contributor. He hopes that his efforts will land him a roster spot on the next level for the fall of 2012. Watch for this Saintly King to excel in San Jose.

Article 278: DV wins St. Francis tourney title

December 31, 2011

After starting 2-4, the Wolverines have won seven straight including a 74-60 win over El Camino for the St. Francis Tournament title. El Camino drops to 10-2. Deer Valley will look to defend its Bay Valley League title while the Colts will look to challenge Burlingame as league play starts the New Year. Deer Valley's recent streak has justified its lofty preseason ranking.

Olajuwon Garner can score in a multitude of ways as the senior shooting guard had five 3-point shots in addition to driving to the basket for layups or free throw attempts. His athleticism and comfort level in handling the ball was evident as he scored 25 points. Garner has been overshadowed by some of his Wolverine teammates last year and this year but is one of the more complete scorers in Northern California.

Marcus Lee had 19 points and 8 blocks as his defensive presence was felt at 6-foot-9. Deer Valley's offense should go through him while he provides a defensive backstop. However, he has had some foul trouble in some early season games including this one, as the Wolverines will need him on the floor in order to be successful.

Kendall Smith chipped in 17 points as the junior point guard finishes in transition well. Garner and Smith form a productive offensive backcourt. But their performance in breaking the press, decision making, and perimeter defense will go a long way in determining Deer Valley's postseason longevity.

El Camino was led by lefty junior Michael Smith as he scored 25 points in showing a good perimeter touch while also being comfortable going to the basket. Junior point guard Elijah White at 5-foot-6 was crafty with his ball handling as he added 19 points. The Colts are undersized but play well as a team and could challenge for their league.

Third Place - St. Francis 52, Palma 44
St. Francis goes to 7-3 with the win while Palma goes to 4-7. St. Francis has the size to battle West Catholic Athletic League favorites Archbishop Mitty and Sacred Heart Cathedral. Give Palma's football players time to transition into basketball to be more effective as Tri County League begins play.

Drew Dickey has drawn interest from some of the mid major programs in the state. The 6-foot-9 post player accounted for 26 of the team's 48 points in their Thursday game loss. He runs the floor well and shows a penchant for offensive rebounding as he had 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Abu Tratter confirmed interest from Cal Poly, UC Davis, and several Division II programs. Tratter is active on the floor but is a bit of a tweener in his size as wing. His ball handling skills and perimeter game could determine his college recruiting results.

Khalid Johnson was solid as a point guard with his quickness and passing as he had 8 points and 8 assists. Twin brother, Khalil, displayed another gear on fast break opportunities as he had 7 points and 4 steals. The juniors will be a solid basis for the Lancers next season.

Palma was led by junior Noah Allen with 20 points. Allen is athletic enough to play either basketball or football at the next level. His size is ideal as a wide receiver while his ball handling skills are sufficient to be a wing.

Fifth Place - Analy 49, Leigh 48
In a game that Leigh led comfortably 33-22 at the half, the Longhorns let one get away. Leigh was winning 48-47 with less than a minute with Analy having to foul several times to put the Longhorns into the bonus. After the sixth foul, Leigh turned the ball over that led to a layup for the Analy win at the buzzer.

Junior Mohhaned Jalaweh had 19 points in the victory for the Tigers. Analy goes to 6-8 for the season. The Tigers may struggle in the Sonoma County League.

Sophomore point guard Kyle Morrison had 16 points and sophomore forward Jared Williams had 14 points for the Longhorns. The Mount Hamilton League should be a battle but Leigh should be a contender as they are 7-3. Leigh has a young foundation for the next few years as well.

Seventh Place - Mountain View 59, San Ramon Valley 53
James Watanabe accounted for 19 points on five 3-point shots in the victory. The Spartans go to 8-3 with the win to break a three game losing streak. Palo Alto looks to be the favorites in the De Anza League but Mountain View has solid backcourt play to provide leadership and stability.

Point guard Jerry Karczewski had 24 points on five 3-point shots as he was the only double digit scorer for San Ramon Valley. The Wolves drop to 5-7 as they lost nine players from last year's squad. De La Salle is the prohibitive favorite in the East Bay League this season.