Elite national teams, powerhouse showdowns and blue-chip recruits highlight 2008 California Championships at Arco Arena in Sacramento.
By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Seven of the top 32 boys basketball teams in the country converge under one tall and brightly-lit roof this weekend.
Six of the teams (No. 2 Dominguez and No. 6 McClymonds; No. 7 Mater Dei and No. 19 Archbishop Mitty; No. 12 St. Mary’s and No. 32 Campbell Hall) square off head-to-head.
The seventh, No. 25 Santa Margarita takes on a hungry and capable hometown team Sacramento, led by one of the state’s top juniors.
Add in two-time defending champion in Branson and a newcomer by the name of Renaissance and the 2008 California Interscholastic Federation State Boys Basketball Championships Friday and Saturday at Arco Arena promises to be a pretty entertaining show.
Did we mention blue-chip recruits will be flying all around, including National Player of the Year candidate Jrue Holiday (Campbell Hall), USA U19 National team member Drew Gordon (Mitty) and arguably one of the top five juniors in the country Jordan Hamilton (Dominguez)?
Southern California won four more games out of five last year to take a commanding 79-41 lead in the modern day series. The South has dominated Division I (21-6), Division II (19-7) and Division IV (15-5), and holds a slight edge in Division III (13-12). Northern California leads the small schools (Division V), thanks in part to Branson, with a slight 11-9 edge.
Here are the hard facts, raw data, fluffy incidentals and one man’s predictions how it will all shake out.
Stay tuned all week for national player profiles, features, predictions, match-up and then coverage of one of the most star-studded high school basketball tournaments in the country.
DIVISION I – Saturday, 8 p.m.
South: Dominguez (Compton) 32-3 vs. North: McClymonds (Oakland) 31-0
NATIONAL RANKINGS: MaxPreps/Student Sports/USA Today – Dominguez (No. 2/12/9), McClymonds (No. 6/19/10).
STATE RANKINGS: MaxPreps/CalHiSports – Dominguez (No. 1/2), McClymonds (No. 3/4)
WIN STREAKS: Dominguez 21, McClymonds 31.
STATE APPEARANCES: Dominguez 7, McClymonds 1.
TERRIFIC TRIOS: D – 6-8 Jordan Hamilton, 6-1 Bryce Cartwright, 6-4 Myron Green; M – 6-6 Frank Otis, 6-6 Damon Powell, 6-0 William Cherry.
POINTS PER GAME (ALLOWED): D – 75.4 (56.4), M – 69.0 (48.3).
TV: FSN Bay Area PLUS, FSN Prime Ticket (live).
INTERNET COVERAGE: KBCSports.com will provide live audio coverage. Audio CDs of all games also is available on their site. Visit www.kbcsports.com for more information.
GAME ON: A terrific match-up of storied programs between two extremely well-coached teams from tough neighborhoods.
Dominguez is extremely deep and battle-tested, having played one of the toughest national schedules in the country with tournament championships at the Amare Stoudamire Classic in Florida and MaxPreps Holiday Shootout in Torrey Pines.
They are led by one of the nation’s top juniors in Hamilton, a do-everything forward with guard skills, three-point range but who gets many of his points on putbacks. He had 29 points and 12 rebounds in the regional final against King-Riverside.
Cartwright, an extremely quick point guard, has come on strong the second half of the season and had 16 points against King, when the Dons shot a blistering 56 percent from the field. Green has been steady all season and with the development of Thurman Woods, a 6-5 junior, Dominguez has numerous other threats if Hamilton is off.
Coach Russell Otis has led the Dons to five of their six state titles.
Classy McClymonds coach Dwight Nathaniel, who has endured amazing tragedy over the past six years, has announced this will be his final year and all he can wish for is a better showing from his squad than in last year’s state finals, a 54-29 loss to Fairfax-Los Angeles. The Warriors set a record for fewest points in a state title game.
With an unblemished record, they obviously set out to right that wrong and have been at times spectacular with the addition of Powell, a high-flying junior who has had more than 60 ally-oop dunks this year. He and Otis, a powerful 6-6 senior headed for SMU, make up a potent forward duo.
Cherry, one of Northern California’s top junior guards, is a steadying force in the back court, which also includes sharpshooter DaMario Sims and athletic point guard Quincy Hill.
As usual, McClymonds’ strength is on defense, allowing less than 50 points per game. The Warriors showed that defensive prowess in a 50-37 win over De La Salle in the North Regional final.
This is the most wins in school history, which is saying something. Alumnus include former NBA greats Bill Russell, Paul Silas, Joe Ellis, Nate Williams and Antonio Davis.
One of the few schools who can try to match that list is Dominguez, with a more recent contingent of Tyson Chandler, Tayshawn Prince and the late Dennis Johnson.
KEYS TO THE GAME: Dominguez – Speed the game up, keep Hamilton out of foul trouble, keep Otis and Powell off the glass. McClymonds – Slow things down, keep Hamilton off the glass, make at least 40 percent of shots.
PREDICTED SCORE: Dominguez 61, McClymonds 57.
DIVISION II – Friday, 8 p.m.
South: Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 34-1 vs. North: Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 32-1
NATIONAL RANKINGS: MaxPreps/StudentSports/USA Today – Mater Dei (No. 7/ 13/ 7), Mitty – (No. 19/6/5).
STATE RANKINGS: MaxPreps/CalHiSports – Mater Dei (No. 4/3), Mitty (No. 7/1).
WIN STREAKS: Mater Dei 3 and 34 of 35, Mitty 17 and 32 of 33.
STATE APPEARANCES: Mater Dei 10, Mitty 1.
TERRIFIC TRIOS: MD – 6-10 Travis Wear, 6-10 David Wear, 6-3 Gary Franklin; AM – 6-9 Drew Gordon, 6-6 Collin Chiverton, 6-8 Enoch Andoh.
POINTS PER GAME (ALLOWED): MD – 76.6 (54.2), AM – 70.3 (52.5).
TV: FSN Bay Area, 11 p.m. (delay, re-air March 15, 4 p.m.); FSN Prime Ticket, live (re-air Saturday, March 15, 4 p.m.)
INTERNET COVERAGE: KBCSports.com will provide live audio coverage. Audio CDs of all games also is available on their site. Visit www.kbcsports.com for more information.
GAME ON: This is a match-up folks have been pointing to since last March 23 when Mater Dei pulled out a 69-64 overtime thriller over Mitty in the state title game.
Mater Dei State Player of the Year had Taylor King had 29 points and 15 rebounds in that one but now he’s at Duke. Coach Gary McKnight, who is leading Mater Dei into a state-record 11th state-finals appearance, won’t say if this year’s squad is better than last year but he does say this for sure: “We are tougher to defend this year. We have many more weapons.”
The Wear twins are a good place to start. The junior pair, who have already committed to North Carolina, are both inside and perimeter threats. David leads the team with a 16.9 points per game average, followed by Travis at 16.4. With such size, opponents have trouble matching up with others like 6-8 Andy Brown (14.5 ppg), who last week torched Edison-Fresno for 21 points in a Regional championship win.
Franklin (12.9 ppg) is a lethal 3-point shooter with 66 treys and Jamal Trice, a 6-5 senior, is another strong offensive threat with 10 double-digit scoring games.
McKnight gushes over the team’s unselfishness and versatility.
One of the few teams that can match Mater Dei’s size is Mitty, led by Gordon, who made a gallant return last week from what was thought to be a season-ending broken foot suffered at midseason.
The UCLA-bound senior is considered one of the top defensive players and shot blockers in the country, which he showed in last week’s resounding Regional final victory over Fairfield with eight blocks. He also had 20 points and was extremely active, which is bad news for Mater Dei.
Mitty’s most striking offensive force is St. Mary’s-bound Chiverton, who can shoot the 3-pointer and slash to the rim. He and Angelo Caloiaro, a 6-7 senior considered one of the most improved players in the state, are tough match-up problems because of their versatility. Add in Bucknell-bound Andoh, another big body, 6-6 Lehigh-bound forward John Adams and athletic guards Jay Wey and Brandon Scott and no wonder Mitty, playing more than half the season without Gordon, was able to get through a tough national schedule with only one loss.
This one figures to be a classic.
KEYS TO GAME: Mater Dei – Get Franklin hot from the perimeter, go right at Gordon, control tempo. Mitty – Keep big men out of foul trouble, make free throws, start fast.
PREDICTED SCORE: Mitty 68, Mater Dei 65.
DIVISION III – Saturday, 2:45 p.m.
South: Santa Margarita (R. Santa Margarita) 29-5 vs. North: Sacramento (30-3)
NATIONAL RANKINGS: MaxPreps/StudentSports/USA Today – Santa Margarita (No. 25/22/21).
STATE RANKINGS: MaxPreps/CalHiSports – Santa Margarita (No. 9/5), Sacramento (No. 15/12).
WIN STREAKS: Santa Margarita 3, Sacramento 3 and 19/20.
STATE APPEARANCES: SM – 1, Sacramento – 0.
TERRIFIC TRIOS: SM - 6-6 Klay Thompson, 6-8 Jaime Serna, 6-5 Zack Zargoza; S – 6-3 Chase Tapley, 6-5 Kyle Allen, 6-8 Bobby Evans.
POINTS PER GAME (ALLOWED): SM – 70.9 (47.8), S – 70.6 (53.1).
INTERNET COVERAGE: KBCSports.com will provide live audio coverage. Audio CDs of all games also is available on their site. Visit www.kbcsports.com for more information.
GAME ON: The hometown team, making its first state appearance, didn’t get an easy draw with Santa Margarita, which has played one of the toughest schedules in the state.
All five of the Eagles losses were to state finalist: two to Dominguez, two to Mater Dei and one to Campbell Hall. Four of those losses were by seven points or less.
“I’d say we’re battle-tested,” Santa Margarita coach DeBusk said. “I’d say we’re well-prepared too.”
The Eagles are led by one of the state’s top point guards in Thompson, son of former NBA standout Mychael Thompson and one of the toughest match-up problems imaginable. Klay, headed to Washington State, had 21 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in the regional final which is a pretty typical afternoon. He’s also a splendid passer.
Zaragoza had four 3-pointers in the win over Bishop Montgomery-Torrance as well and is an absolute bulls-eye long-range shooter. The UC-Santa Barbara-bound Serna is a rugged load down low and Thompson’s younger brother, Trace, a 6-4 junior, is another strong threat.
Like Santa Margarita, Sacramento is also well-balanced, though they rely heavily on one of the state’s top juniors in 6-3 guard Chase Tapley, who averages 21.8 ppg. Tapley had 16 points, including a dunk to start the game, in a decisive Regional final win over Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) and 28 in a semifinal win at Riordan (San Francisco).
Though Tapley definitely makes the Dragons go, they have numerous other threats in Allen (11.2 ppg) along with Evans, 6-1 junior Mike Henderson, 6-foot senior Jhonte Simpson and 5-9 sophomore Travon Abraham, who average between 7.7 and 8.4 points per game.
Longtime coach Derek Swafford has done a masterful job of putting the squad together, though the Dragons will be a definite underdog to the talented Eagles. The hometown crowd and playing for a third straight week at Arco Arena should benefit the Dragons.
KEYS TO THE GAME: SM – Playing under control, keeping K. Thompson out of foul trouble, Slowing down Tapley. Sacramento – Stop K. Thompson from dribble penetration, holding down Zargoza, keeping Serna off the boards.
PREDICTED SCORE: Santa Margarita 70, Sacramento 62.
DIVISION IV – Friday, 1:30 p.m.
South: Campbell Hall (North Hollywood) 30-5 vs. North: St. Mary’s-Berkeley (33-1)
NATIONAL RANKINGS: MaxPreps – Campbell Hall (No. 32), St. Mary’s (No. 12).
STATE RANKINGS: MaxPreps/CalHiSports – Campbell Hall (No. 10/10), St. Mary’s (No. 5/13).
WIN STREAKS: Campbell Hall 13, St. Mary’s 18.
STATE APPEARANCES: Campbell Hall 3, St. Mary’s 2.
TERRIFIC TRIOS: CH – 6-4 Jrue Holiday, 6-3 Dallas Rutherford, 6-6 James Johnson; SM – 6-3 Will Brew, 6-3 Chris Brew, 6-4 Dominque Lee.
POINTS PER GAME (ALLOWED): CH – 78.3 (53.0), SM – 70.9 (47.8).
INTERNET COVERAGE: KBCSports.com will provide live audio coverage. Audio CDs of all games also is available on their site. Visit www.kbcsports.com for more information.
GAME ON: Put on your seat belts for this one. In a rematch of the 2005 game, a 74-53 victory for Campbell Hall, this one figures to be up and down with an emphasis on up.
Though no skyscraper big men, there are some high fliers, most notably Holiday, a national Player of the Year candidate. The UCLA-bound star, who had 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists in a 70-34 state-title win over Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa last year, is averaging 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.5 blocks per game.
The amazing part about Holiday is that his strength may just be defense. He’s a lockdown defender who can guard the perimeter or post.
He has lots of help from Rutherford (16.7 ppg, 4.2 apg) and Johnson (14.7 ppg, 9.8 rpg) and coach Terry Kelly is one of the best around. He put together one of the toughest schedules in the state, if not the country, and Hall responded by shooting 55 percent from the field, one of the top percentages in the state.
St. Mary’s certainly won’t be intimidated. It played in one of Northern California’s top leagues and features two of the best brother tandems in the state with the Brews and Lees.
Will Brew and Chris Brew are a pair of 6-3 lightning rod combo guards who have both committed to UC Santa Barbara. Chris, more athletic and a better slasher, leads the team at 19.1 ppg and Will, a better shooter and defender, comes in at 17.9.
The team’s best athlete may be Dominique Lee, only a sophomore, who scores at better than 13 ppg. With great leaping ability and long arms, he leads the team in blocks and dunks. His brother Dominique is coming on strong and with another Division I player, junior point guard Aalim Moor (committed to San Jose State), St. Mary’s is very dangerous in the open court.
One of the state’s best and most unheralded coaches Manny Nodar has St. Mary’s peaking just at the right time with 18 straight wins including a robust win over state-ranked Modesto Christian last week. Likewise, Campbell Hall has hit full stride with 13 straight wins all by 18 points or more.
Strap in tight for this one.
KEYS TO THE GAME: CH – Slow the game down, keep Holiday out of foul trouble, take care of the ball; SM – Good start, create turnovers, hit perimeter shots.
PREDICTED SCORE: Campbell Hall 64, St. Mary’s 63.
DIVISION V – Saturday, 11:15 a.m.
South: Renaissance Academy-La Canada (27-3) vs. North: Branson-Ross (31-3)
STATE RANKINGS: MaxPreps – Renaissance (No. 45), Branson (No. 60).
WIN STREAKS: Renaissance 3 and 18 of 19, Branson 22.
STATE APPEARANCES: Renaissance 0, Branson 3.
TERRIFIC TRIOS: Renaissance – 6-10 Anthony Stover, 6-3 Justin Cook, 6-1 Josh Thomas; Branson – 6-3 Oliver McNally, 5-11 Ryan McGuigan, 6-2 Kalome Akhile.
POINTS PER GAME (ALLOWED): RA 66.7 (45.6), Branson 54.3 (36.8).
INTERNET COVERAGE: KBCSports.com will provide live audio coverage. Audio CDs of all games also is available on their site. Visit www.kbcsports.com for more information.
GAME ON: A fascinating match-up between the size, quickness and shot blocking of first-timer Renaissance Academy and the defensive prowess of two-time defending champion Branson.
In Stover, the Wildcats have someone who claims the most unusual statistic of averaging more blocks (7.4) than rebounds (6.8). He’s a huge presence down low along with forwards 6-8 Deandre Daniels (10.6 ppg) and 6-7 Hector Harold (10.0).
Add in the team’s big offensive threats in Cook (18.7 ppg) and point guard Thomas (10.9) and Branson will have its hands full defensively.
But give Branson coach Jonas Honick a challenge and he almost always delivers.
In his final year of coaching – he announced this would be his final year before the start of the season – Honick, who has 656 wins, led his team to a 37-29 win in the state finals two years ago over Santa Fe Christian-Solano Beach and last week the Bulls gave up just 28 points in a 45-28 Regional final win over Lick Wilmerding-San Francisco.
This year’s team is led by one of Branson’s all-time best players in Oliver McNally, who led all scorers with 24 points in an overtime state title win over Price-Los Angeles last year. McNally, a 6-3 combo guard, has committed to Harvard.
McGuigan is a superb shooter and Akhile is an excellent all-around player with a big emphasis on defense.
This one should come down to the wire.
KEYS TO THE GAME: Renaissance – Adjusting to large, new arena, adjusting to Branson’s defensive pressure, holding down McNally; Branson – Getting open shots, rebounding, rebounding, rebounding.
PREDICTED SCORE: Branson 41, Renaissance 39.
What do you think of the analysis and predictions? E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.
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