Article 342: CSWC early game recap

December 23, 2012

The Catholic School's Winter Classic at Cal State East Bay in Hayward featured Catholic programs from Northern California. Here is a run down on the early games and some of the highlight players.

Central Catholic 57, St. Elizabeth 19

Central Catholic cruised to a 57-19 victory as they run their record to 10-1. The Modesto based program has six players listed at 6-foot-5 and taller which was the clear reason for the victory. This game did not give an accurate read of the guard play for the Raiders but their post play and size present matchup problems against opponents for the rest of the season.

St. Elizabeth falls to 1-8 on the season as the Mustangs had trouble matching up at all positions due to their lack of size. They trailed 16-3 after one quarter and 31-9 at the half as they could never muster a rally. The Mustangs had no double digit scorer in the game.

Archbishop Riordan 79, Moreau Catholic 63

Riordan goes to 7-0 with the win but may be a dark horse in the West Catholic Athletic League race when the New Year starts. The Crusaders await five transfers to become eligible that bolsters a team that is already quite balanced in the exterior and interior. In this game, the guard play was the difference in its perimeter shooting and pressure defense.

Moreau Catholic has the uncanny situation of five freshmen starting as they drop to 8-4. Newark Memorial are the clear favorites in the Mission Valley League. If the Mariners can develop their youth, then they should be the second best in the their league at season's end.

St. Mary's Stockton 65, St. Francis 52

St. Mary's Stockton goes to 6-4 in an up and down season so far. The team has no one taller than 6-foot-4 and are guard oriented. Lucky for the Rams, they do feature some good individual and cohesive guard play.

St. Francis drops to 5-2 as the Lancers have some solid pieces on the team. But in the talent rich WCAL, the Lancers may have a hard time cracking the upper half in the league. The team is a senior laden team but seemed to be flustered by the press and made too many turnovers in this game.

Players of Note

John Fenton 6-foot-9 Post Central Catholic (2013): The Colgate commit had 16 points as he dominated in the paint with offensive rebounding and easy post moves. Fenton has a strong frame and center of gravity. His lateral movement is adequate as he positions himself well.

Jonathan Boddie 6-foot-5 SF Central Catholic (2014): The junior is athletic and long as he benefits in the paint with teammate Fenton. If he can develop his perimeter game in the next two years, then his stock would be even more impressive. But the size, length, and athleticism are all tangible for a college level prospect as he scored 13 points.

Graham Gilleran 6-foot-7 PF Archbishop Riordan (2013): The senior had 11 points in the win. He plays fundamentally well as he moves his feet, positions himself, and gets good rebounding position. His lateral movement and athletic quickness are question marks but his size and skill are serviceable at the next level.

Geru Mabrey 5-foot-9 PG Archbishop Riordan (2013): Mabrey plays as a quick jitterbug guard on both ends as he pushed the ball and applies good pressure defense. He had 19 points and several steals in the victory. The senior said that Cal Poly, Pepperdine, and Western Oregon have put out feelers.

AJ Padrones 5-foot-10 G Archbishop Riordan (2013): The senior hit three 3-point shots in the third quarter as he led the team with 20 points. Padrones moved well without the ball to find his perimeter spots. With five transfers to come on board in the New Year, Padrones playing time may be limited in league play.

Khalil Johnson 6-foot-2 SG St. Francis (2013): Khalid's twin is bigger and is more of an offensive scoring threat. He also can use his body more effectively inside and rebounding. Menlo College is apparently interested in the senior.

Oscar Frayer 6-foot-5 F Moreau Catholic (2016): Frayer fought foul trouble throughout the game but is long and skilled for a freshman. He has a nice turnaround move and steps into his midrange shot well as he had 10 points. He blocked a few shots and already showed his defensive and rebounding prowess.

Brandon Lawrence 6-foot-1 SG Moreau Catholic (2016): Lawrence has a very smooth perimeter shot as he was able to release with little separation. He moves well without ball and finds his spots as he scored 20 points. The freshman can still grow in terms of height, weight, and skill but plays beyond his grade level already.

Armond Simmons 5-foot-11 PG Moreau Catholic (2016): Simmons is an athletic point guard who can score inside or outside as he had 11 points. He has good size and has time to grow into the prototypical point guard height. The Moreau program looks to have a solid trio of freshman to build on.

Gabriel Vincent 6-foot-3 SG St. Mary's Stockton (2014): Vincent plays bigger than his size as he takes the ball strong in the paint and has good body control. He is also long and rangy on the defensive end. The junior had 12 points in the victory.

Jacob Aruta 6-foot-0 SG St. Mary's Stockton (2015): Aruta hit a couple of perimeter shots and took the ball to the basket aggressively as he had 13 points. His offense looks solid but can use some more bulk for his defense. The sophomore will benefit from the guard oriented system where they spread the floor on offense for perimeter shots and press the opposing teams.

Khalid Johnson 5-foot-9 PG St. Francis (2013): Johnson is rangy and runs the team well. He is aggressive with his dribble to the basket. Sonoma State apparently has strong interest in the senior.

Eric Morgan 6-foot-7 PF St. Francis (2014): The junior has height and length but needs some bulk. He made some nice post moves but could be more aggressive in his moves. He scored 8 points in the defeat.

Article 341: Hoops POY Watch

November 26, 2012

With the new playoff format of the state's Open Division, crowing a Player of the Year (POY) will be more interesting. Below are the POY candidates who can put up big statistical numbers in any given game and over the course of the season. These players also have the intangibles to take their teams deep into the postseason.

Aaron Gordon - Leading Mitty to a third straight state title could warrant POY honors for the third consecutive year, a feat never accomplished before. The versatile forward has the ability to put a team on his shoulders and carry them. Despite having missed most of the summer season due to a toe injury, Gordon bounced back in time for the Nike Peach Jam/EYBL Finals. The national recruit has narrowed his choices to Arizona, Kentucky, and Washington but is expected to decide in the spring period. More importantly and immediately, Gordon is focused on finishing strong in his senior campaign.

Marcus Lee - The long wingspan of the Kentucky commit has been synonymous with his defense, shot blocking, and rebounding ability. But during the summer season, Lee showcased some fluid back to the basket moves and a crisp mid-range jumper. The added offensive arsenal will be needed as he will be the focal point for his Wolverine team. Lee made big strides during the summer. His past Deer Valley teams never made deep postseason runs but a deep run during his senior year would validate his POY candidacy.

Jabari Bird - Bird decided to stay local by committing to Cal, where his father also played during his collegiate years. The versatile wing will be looking for another state title run in his senior year as he was clutch in the postseason. Another similar performance this season would warrant him POY. Salesian adds some post players to give legit rebounding and size but the offense will still flow through Bird to facilitate and to score.

Elliott Pitts - De La Salle exited the postseason earlier than usual last year. A deep run in the upcoming season will require a big performance by the Arizona commit. Pitts has good size for a shooting guard and will be a matchup problem for any opposing team. This year's Spartan team has some added interior size which should alleviate Pitts from some of the rebounding and post responsibilities. Pitts should be the offensive focus and in turn should see his numbers rise as well.

D'Erryl Williams - Williams II displays all the intangibles in helping his Sheldon team win. He does what is needed to help the team in any facet of the game and also plays as a true point guard in looking to facilitate more than score. During the summer and fall, Williams II showed a more aggressive nature in looking for his own shot and was also quite accurate from beyond the arc that ultimately helped him decide on signing with San Diego State. If these tendencies carry over into his senior year, expect some big numbers. However, he may be sidelined early in the season due to a minor ankle issue.

Dakarai Allen - Allen has the length and wingspan to be a defensive stopper at the next level. In addition, his toughness despite not having a large frame also is seen in his rebounding and ability to getting to the basket. These attributes led him to sign with San Diego State with childhood friend, Williams II. Earlier in his high school career, Allen had a tendency to defer to to teammates but looked to be the go to guy last season and will be expected to do the same in his senior campaign.

Raymond Bowles - Bowles has always had a scorer's mentality who can score from the inside or the outside. But the Pacific bound shooting guard may not need to be so this upcoming season as two key transfers and several underclassmen are ready to help. As a result, his POY consideration should be based less on actual point totals and more on the team's performance and his other ways of adding value to his team. Regardless, Bowles has the ability to take over offensively if Modesto Christian needs him to.

Henry Caruso - The Ivy League bound small forward has good size, lateral movement, and overall scoring ability. He plays in a cerebral manner that fits the Princeton style of play. Serra is expected to be runner up to Mitty in league play but Caruso has a strong supporting cast that can surprise. Producing in these big league games could warrant him in the POY discussion.

Rae Jackson - At Rodriguez, Jackson was expected to do many things, especially the scoring. Jackson believes that he will be more effective as a point guard on the next level. Switching to El Cerrito, Jackson will have more playmakers that will alleviate his need to score and can help showcase his other basketball skills. El Cerrito has a deep team and can make a deep run in the postseason. Jackson could naturally step in and be the leader of the Gauchos to put him in POY consideration.

Gabe Bealer - Bealer had a breakout season as a junior after transferring to Antelope from Jesuit. He averaged 16.6 points and 7.4 rebounds in helping the Titans to a 30-2 record and the school's first section title. They are back in the mix among the top teams in Northern California as Bealer and fellow NCP Top 40 senior Isaiah Ellis look for another section crown and better success in the state playoffs. The 6-fot-5 Bealer is a rangy wing who slashes well, can finish at the rim and is a better outside threat than most think.

Article 340: Tip Off Classic recap

November 25, 2012

The Sixth Annual NorCal Tip Off Classic at Newark Memorial High School tipped off the high school basketball season for Northern California. Here are the results for the midday games and overall team/player analysis.

Game 1: Dublin, 75, Freedom 63
Both teams played loose defense as the game had several fast break baskets, back door layups, and open perimeter shots. Dublin was able to hold a multiple possession lead after the first quarter and maintain a comfortable cushion throughout the game. Freedom had more turnovers and could not get over the size advantage of Dublin in the post.

Dublin - Jojo McGlaston scored 31 points that was highlighted by a few dunks and he showed a soft perimeter touch that included three 3-point shots. The senior has good quickness to get to the rim. McGlaston's ball handling and scoring versatility makes him a legit shooting guard for the next level.

Eric Nielsen had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 blocks as his height advantage disrupted any offensive flow in the paint for Freedom. The senior does not have the quickest lateral movement for a post player but he did have a few nice post moves to score. He may be a better pitching prospect as he is 6-foot-8 and has been clocked at 90 mph on the mound.

The Gaels are a senior laden team that sometimes settles for too many perimeter shots when they have a size advantage in the paint with Nielsen and have big guards in Jamir Andrews and McGlaston to post up smaller guards or take defenders into the paint. Campolindo and Miramonte have talent in the Diablo Foothill Athletic League but Dublin should be the favorites going into league play.

Freedom - Elliott Smith led the Falcons with 21 points and 10 rebounds in a losing cause as he was often matched up in the post. The junior is likely to be a wing player on the next level as he runs the floor well and looks comfortable in handling the ball even though he had 7 turnovers in this game.

James O'Neal contributed 16 points as he accounted for the team's three 3-point field goal makes. O'Neal has a smooth perimeter shot when left open. The senior is undersized to be a college shooting guard but can handle the ball sufficiently to possibly be a combination guard.

The Falcons will need to improve their point guard play as they had a total of 9 assists against 17 turnovers. Opposing teams who can press may fluster the Falcons into many bad decisions that turn into easy points. Teams should key on Smith and O'Neal on the offensive end and force other teammates to score. In the Bay Valley Athletic League (BVAL), expect Deer Valley and Heritage to be ahead of Freedom at this point.

Game 2: Heritage 66, McNair 48
Heritage had a huge size advantage, as the tallest players on McNair are 6-foot-1. As a result, Heritage had a 17-4 first quarter lead that expanded to 35-15 at the half. McNair also lost two key transfers during the offseason as it looks to be a rebuilding year for them.

Heritage - Shon Briggs was the biggest player on the floor but had a quiet eight points and two rebounds. Briggs only played 18 minutes but showed good activity and movement. At 6-foot-6, the junior needs a few more inches to be a power forward at the next level or he needs to further expand his ball handling and perimeter shooting. But his athletic ability and overall basketball skills will make him an attractive recruiting target.

Pierre Carter was versatile in accumulating 10 points and 9 rebounds in addition to using his quickness and size on the defensive end. He played on a loaded Nevada Wolverines summer club that may have overshadowed his recruiting. The senior confirmed that he is likely going the junior college route at Casper JUCO in Wyoming for one year to address some academic needs before going to a four year program. But his 6-foot-5 frame and overall athletic ability will put him on the college recruiting radar even if he takes the JUCO route.

Senior point guard George Johnson had 11 points but more importantly provided ball control and direction on the court. He is undersized as a point guard but can score and lead a team.

The Patriots have a complete team both inside and outside. This game was not indicative of what they are capable of or what their true level is as they played against an undermanned opponent. They have a balanced team that could challenge Deer Valley in the BVAL.

McNair - The Eagles are coming off of two straight 20-win seasons. But losing their top two juniors from last season to transfers, the Eagles may be hard pressed to reach double-digit victories. The team is undersized and will be guard oriented. As a result, the Eagles will depend heavily on their perimeter shooting but converted on only one 3-point shot in this gane. The team had 4 assists against 19 turnovers in this loss and will need to be more efficient in the season to be competitive.

Game 3: Pleasant Grove 74, St. Patrick-St. Vincent 63
In last year's event, Pleasant Grove defeated St. Patrick-St.Vincent 62-49 as they led from the start. In this year's battle, the Eagles overcame a sluggish first quarter to win despite not having senior guard Colfax Nordquist. Both teams have a deep rotation with potential young talent.

Pleasant Grove - Malik Thames looked really polished and smooth in the way he controlled his dribble, his shot, and his body on offense. He got to the free throw line 11 times and scored 23 points in total. The younger brother of San Diego State guard, Xavier Thames, has an offer from San Francisco and interest from UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara.

Matt Hayes had an off night in terms of his shooting but still had 12 points but was part of the frenetic pressing defense that caused 17 turnovers. At 6-foot-0, the senior will likely have to play point guard or combination guard at the next level. He has been hearing from Chico State, Hawaii, and UC Davis.

Two sophomores saw significant minutes for the Eagles. Guard Johann Tate had good ball handling and was key in applying pressure against the opposing guards. 6-foot-5 Marquese Chriss had good energy on defense and rebounding, showed good ball handling for his size, and had good lateral movement.

Pleasant Grove is guard oriented with good shooters, ball handlers, and a pressing defense. They have sufficient size with Chriss and 6-foot-6 Thomas Fitzgerald. The Eagles have a legitimate eight-man rotation and will be the main challengers to Sheldon in the Delta River Athletic League.

St. Patrick St. Vincent - Jalen Canty had 25 points and 10 rebounds as he was the dominant player in the paint. In addition, he went to the free throw line 11 times. The junior should have these types of numbers throughout the season as he builds on his recruiting profile.

Jason Webster had several hard drives and slashing moves to the basket as he also had six free throw attempts. He has good size for a guard but is listed at 6-foot-0. The senior looks to be a point guard or combination guard at the next level as his perimeter shooting and ball handling will affect his recruiting.

Jose Flores transferred to St. Pat's and looked very smooth in his debut. He had 11 points as he displayed a nice shooting form. The junior played in a very controlled manner and has good size for a guard at 6-foot-3.

The Bruins dominated the first quarter but were only able to end it with a three point lead when they could have had a bigger margin. They have size on the bench but it is inexperienced. The point guard play will be important as they had 8 assists against 17 turnovers. The team has great potential but needs to be more disciplined and more efficient with the basketball. The Tri-County Athletic League - Rock Division is loaded with El Cerrito, St. Joseph Notre Dame, and Salesian. The Bruins can make a run in the Division IV postseason with the progression of their roster.