By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
The transfer of Renardo Sidney from Artesia to Fairfax for his junior season had far-reaching effects on the California state high school basketball landscape. Not only did the move put Fairfax back in position to win another state title, but it also shifted the balance of power in Division 3, where Artesia was primed to make a run at a third straight championship. Here's a look at how the top teams in California matchup in the race for the state championship.
Division 1
The Fairfax Lions easily captured the Division 1 state championship last season, defeating McClymonds of Oakland 54-29 in the championship game. The Lions then won another big prize in the spring when Artesia sophomore Renardo Sidney, a 6-foot-9 power forward ranked among the top players in the country in his class, announced his decision to transfer to Fairfax. The Lions also return a capable 6-2 guard in Chris Solomon, but the addition of Sidney (18.6 ppg as a sophomore), who led Artesia to a California Division 3 championship and a No. 1 national ranking by MaxPreps, makes Harvey Kitani's crew the favorite to repeat as state champions. However, Fairfax (28-5) will get plenty of competition for the state berth.
Taft of Woodland Hills returns the bulk of last year's team that went 20-4, including North Carolina recruit Larry Drew, a 6-0 point guard regarded as one of the top point guards in the state. He's joined in the backcourt by 6-2 G Justin Hawkins along with 6-6 F Eugene Phelps, giving Taft the depth and athletic ability to tangle with the Lions.
Westchester of Los Angeles (26-7), winners of four state titles in the past 10 years, are set in the backcourt with Oscar Bellfield, a 6-2 PG, and Jarred DuBois, a 6-2 G who has committed to SMU. One of the most heralded sophomores in the state mans the middle for the Comets in 6-foot-6 forward Dwayne Polee.
A couple of San Diego Section teams are expected to contend this year as well. San Diego (22-6) returns one of the top young big men in the state in 6-10 sophomore Jeremy Tyler. Meanwhile Torrey Pines (24-7) is led by 6-4 shooting guard James Rahon (26.6 ppg).
Long Beach Poly (18-11) should also be improved this year with the addition of 6-7 F Travis Wilson, a transfer from Cabrillo, along with the return of Terance Reaves, a 6-2 G. Meanwhile Los Alamitos (29-5) has one of the Southern Section's top big men in 6-9 F Corbin Moore.
In Northern California, De La Salle (28-3) has made three trips to the state finals in the past eight years, winning it all for coach Frank Allocco in 2006. The Spartans, who return All-Bay Area guard Brandon Smith, figure to battle Oak Grove, Newark Memorial and McClymonds, the defending NorCal champion, for a spot in the state finals this year.
Oak Grove (29-2) has three of the top athletes in the Central Coast Section in 6-3 PG Kelly Kaigler, 6-8 F Tyree McCrary and junior Jabari Carr. McClymonds (28-4) returns 6-5 F Frank Otis, who has committed to SMU, and Newark Memorial (20-8) has Div. 1 prospect Chris Jones, a 6-3 SG.
Division 2
In Northern California, the argument for best team in Division 2 begins and ends with Archbishop Mitty of San Jose. No other team is even close to matching the depth and athleticism of the Monarchs, who had four players sign letters of intent during the early signing period earlier this month.
Leading the cast is Drew Gordon, a 6-8 PF who signed with UCLA. He's joined in the front court by Collin Chiverton, a 6-5 F headed to Saint Mary's. Adding good size to the lineup are 6-6 F John Adams and 6-8 F Enoch Andoh.
While Mitty (30-6) is the clearcut favorite in the North, a multitude of teams lay claim to the best Division 2 team in the south, including Dominguez of Compton, Mater Dei of Santa Ana, Gahr of Cerritos, Mayfair of Lakewood and Compton.
Compton (27-6) has the top Division 2 player in the south in DeMar DeRozan, a 6-5 F headed to USC who averaged 22.3 points per game last year. He's joined by Artesia transfer Lorenzo McCloud, a 6-1 G, and 6-10 C Edgar Garibay.
Across town at Dominguez (21-8), Jordan Hamilton, a 6-7 junior F, mans the frontline while Bryce Cartwright, a 6-1 G, tends to the backcourt. They're joined by 6-7 F Aaron Moore and 6-5 junior G Myron Green.
Mater Dei (33-4) has two of the top big men in the state in 6-9 junior twins Travis and David Wear. The latter was an All-Southern Section choice as a sophomore on Mater Dei's state championship team last year, which defeated Mitty 69-64 in the finals.
Gahr of Cerritos (24-5) has a pair of All-Southern Section returnees, including 6-5 Cameron Nettles and 5-10 G Casper Ware. Mayfair (21-7) has two of the top guards in the south in 6-5 Wendell Wright and St. John Bosco transfer Charles Odum (6-1).
Edison of Fresno (23-5) could make some noise in the Southern California playoffs behind 6-8 junior center Greg Smith. Meanwhile Santa Barbara (25-4) could challenge with 6-4 junior G Roberto Nelson, who figures to be one of the top scorers in the state this year after averaging 22.7 ppg as a sophomore.
Division 3
Artesia, which defeated Bishop O'Dowd 91-64 for the state championship last year and had won two straight state titles, would have been the easy choice to repeat this year if not for three costly transfers. Sidney went to Fairfax, McCloud went to Compton and Malik Story headed across the country to Oak Hill Academy. Those three losses, along with the loss of top player James Harden, makes it difficult to foresee Artesia returning to the state finals this year.
Artesia's absence opens the door for the likes of Harvard Westlake, Santa Margarita, Bishop Montgomery and Corona Del Mar to stake their claim as the south state's best Division 3 team.
Harvard Westlake (22-6) has one of the top small forwards in the country in Renaldo Wooldridge. The 6-8 senior is headed to Tennessee next year.
Meanwhile Santa Margarita (21-7) has a trio of players that are among the best in the south. Klay Thompson (6-5) returns at shooting guard while Jesse Hazely (6-6) and Jaime Serna (6-7) man the forward positions.
At Bishop Montgomery (22-4), junior point guard Justin Cobbs (6-0) runs the show while Corona Del Mar (22-8) is led by one of the south's top big men in 6-9 Stefan Kaluz.
The San Francisco Bay Area will likely house the top Division 3 team in Northern California. Riordan (27-5) is solid with 6-7 Jorge Camacho and all-around athlete Daniel Cannon. Sacred Heart Cathedral (13-13) also has a nice guard-forward combo in 6-6 Jerry Brown and 6-1 Teandre Hubbard. Acalanes (28-5), the North Coast Section champion, returns guard Joey Anderson.
Bishop O'Dowd (26-7) also can't be counted out. Although graduation losses were heavy, the Dragons have appeared in six state finals over the years and are a perennial power.
Division 4
Campbell Hall of North Hollywood and Horizon of San Diego, winners of the last three Division 4 state titles combined are likely headed on a collision course for the Southern California championship. Campbell Hall (33-1), last year's champion with a 70-34 win over Cardinal Newman, returns one of the top players in the country in 6-4 G Jrue Holliday. The Southern Section division MVP, Holliday averaged 23.1 ppg for the Vikings who also won the state title in 2005. Holliday is joined by Keegan Hornbuckle, and Dallas Rutherford, each of whom averaged about 8 points per game last year.
Horizon (24-6) has one of the top young big men in the state in James Withey, a 7-0 center headed to Arizona. Horizon won the Division 5 title in 2006.
JSerra of San Juan Capistrano (16-12) poses the biggest threat to upsetting the Campbell Hall-Horizon showdown thanks to the return of 6-9 F Chris Gabriel and 6-4 junior F Demetrius Walker.
In the North, Modesto Christian (27-6) and St. Mary's of Berkeley (29-5) are the top two teams in the Division. The Crusaders have one of the top power forwards in the Sac-Joaquin Section in 6-7 Reeves Nelson. Meanwhile D.J. Seeley (6-4) gives MC good size at the guard spot. Nelson averaged 16 points per game last year for Modesto while Seeley averaged 26 points at Tokay of Lodi.
St. Mary's counters with the Brew brothers, Will and Chris Brew. Both are 6-3 guards with Will a senior and Chris a junior. Both are headed to University of Santa Barbara.
Division 5
Branson of Ross looks to make it three in a row this year after winning the last two state titles including a 57-48 win over View Park Prep last year. Oliver McNally, a 6-3 G, returns to lead the Bulls (33-2). He is headed to Harvard next year.
Woodside Priory (26-5) in the Central Coast Section and Capital Christian (22-8) in the Sac-Joaquin Section could pose the biggest stumbling block in Branson's return to the state finals. Woodside has one of the biggest players in the state in 7-2 center Greg Simogyi, while the Cougars return three key players, including Gabe Strong (6-5, F), Justin Jones (5-11 G) and Artem Tatenko (6-9 C).
View Park Prep (23-12) could return to the state finals. It has one of the state's top returning scorers in 6-1 G Jason Pruitt, who averaged 27 points per game last year.
Price of Los Angeles is the traditional favorite thanks to six state title game appearances and five titles. Tyreese Breshers, a 6-7 F, gives Price (27-6) one of the top forwards in the state. He is headed to Washington next year.
Pacific Hills of Los Angeles (23-9) is also in the mix thanks to the return of 6-8 F Terrell Chandler. Meanwhile Renaissance Academy (28-3) returns Josh Thomas and Justin Cook, both of whom were All-Southern Section division first team picks.
