O'Dowd, Ivan Rabb showcase the NorCal Tipoff Classic

NEWARK, Calif. — The top 2013 nonleague one-day basketball event in Northern California tips off at Newark Memorial (Newark) on Saturday in the seventh annual NorCal Tip-Off Classic.

Seven games featuring six ranked in the San Francisco Chronicle's preseason Top 20 and upwards of 30 Division I prospects highlight the seven-game, all-day event, including No. 1 Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) and No. 2 Newark Memorial.

The premier and final game, scheduled for 8:30 p.m., features the premier player when Bishop O'Dowd and 6-foot-10 junior standout Ivan Rabb take on Bullard (Fresno). O'Dowd (26-4 last season) was No. 5 in the MaxPreps Fab 5 California preseason rankings and Rabb is ranked the No. 6 junior in the country overall by 247Sports.

Bullard (27-3) is led by Calvin Young and Austin Armstead, a pair of 6-4 guards. Besides Rabb, O'Dowd counters with the dynamic, but not nearly as tall, backcourt of Paris Austin and Juwan Anderson.



"We're humbled by all the preseason rankings, but anxious to get it going against a very, very good Bullard team," O'Dowd coach Lou Richie said. "It will be a very good test for us early."

Richie said O'Dowd is appealing a decision by the North Coast Section to deny the eligibility this season of transfers Isaiah Thomas, a 6-9 post from Kipp Academy-Oakland, and Sebastian Flores, a 6-3 wing from College Park.

"They say other players on our team influenced them to transfer to our school to play basketball," Richie said. "We'll go through the proper channels to fight this. It's just not right. These boys should be allowed to play."

Other games:

Newark Memorial (23-8 last season) vs. Modesto Christian (Modesto) (29-4), 7 p.m. — The host squad, ranked second by both The Chronicle and NorCalpreps, features one of the best coaches in the state in Craig Ashmore, and the trio of three-year standouts in point guard Joey Frenchwood and posts Matthew Thomas and Damien Banford. Modesto Christian, No. 3 by NorCalPreps, is loaded with talent led by point guard Mason Washington and junior forward Anthony Townes. Sophomore Christian Ellis and forward LeAndro Amador are two more standouts.

Monte Vista (Danville) (20-7) vs. Moreau Catholic (Hayward.) (18-10), 5:30 p.m. — Monte Vista is ranked fifth by NorCalpreps (10th by The Chronicle) and is led by Cal Poly-bound Trevor John. He along with post Spencer Rust give coach Nick Jones a formidable one-two punch. Moreau Catholic's top three scorers last year were freshmen, Oscar Frayer (6-6), Armand Simmons (5-11) and Brandon Lawrence (6-2). All eyes will be on a pair of freshmen in Damari Milstead and Dvan Molden (6-4). NorCalpreps has Moreau No. 20 and The Chronicle No. 5.



Freedom (Oakley) (20-10) vs. Granite Bay (19-10), 3:45 p.m. — Elliot Smith, a smooth 6-6 senior, and Kendall McIntosh (also) 6-6 lead Freedom, ranked 16th by The Chronicle and 17th by NorCalPreps. Granite Bay lost leading scorer Kendrick Jackson, who transferred, and eight other seniors.

Oakland (18-12) vs. Heritage (Brentwood) (21-7), 2:15 p.m. — Big power forward Shon Briggs (6-6) will lead Heritage while 6-1 senior shooting guard Jamaliah Brown leads Oakland after averaging 10.7 points per game last year.

St. Mary's (Stockton) (20-8) vs College Park (Pleasant Hill) (27-6), 12:30 p.m. — St. Mary's is ranked 10th in Northern California by NorCalPreps, based largely on the duo of Gabriel Vincent, a UCSB signee, and junior wing Lance Coleman II. College Park is coming off a breakout year under fine coach Craig Battle, but lost several key seniors, Flores to transfer, but returns second-leading scorer Joe DeMers.

Castro Valley (13-13) vs. Fairfield (16-13), 11 a.m. — Chico State-bound 6-4 point guard Jalen Mcferren leads Castro Valley, while DeMoriaye Hart-Spikes (5-11) leads Fairfield.