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.
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.
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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