Compiled by Kevin Askeland, Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jrue Holiday (Campbell Hall, North Hollywood)
Unlike his school’s residence, what sets the 6-foot-4 senior apart wasn’t glitz or Showtime but rather the small, minute details. The extra pass, the follow shot, the box out and defensive prowess is what made the UCLA-bound standout “the ultimate winner,” according to Campbell Hall coach Terry Kelly. Holiday’s overall numbers were off the charts – 25.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 4.6 steals and 2.4 blocks per game – but it was the little stuff that helped Campbell Hall to its second straight CIF State Division IV title and third in four years, all with Holiday in the starting lineup. Playing a rigorous national schedule, the Vikings finished 31-6 and 12th in MaxPreps’ final national rankings. Holiday, a four-year starter, was an easy pick for the McDonalds All-American squad. He had 14 points, five rebounds and a game-high five steals for the West in a 107-102 defeat to the East in Milwaukee.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Dwight Nathaniel (McClymonds, Oakland)
The grand send-off for “Coach Moe” was grander than anyone could have ever imagined. Nathaniel, in the midst of heart-ache and personal tragedy, announced before the season this would be his last after 13 seasons. Even though the Warriors made it all the way to their first state-title game in 2007, few believed they could repeat the feat considering three key starters had graduated. Instead, Nathaniel, with a calm, strong and even comic approach, led the Warriors to an even greater season, one for the ages, as they finished 32-0, won their first-ever CIF state Division I crown with an upset 73-54 over Dominguez (Compton) and a No. 3 national ranking by MaxPreps. Nathaniel, who endured the deaths of his wife, a daughter and a grand daughter in the last four years, got the Warriors to play any tempo offensively and relentlessly on defense. Most thought his squad would slow it down in the title game against an even quicker Dominguez, but instead he ordered his guards into overdrive and the result was a decisive victory. The championship not only lifted a famed program, one that produced such NBA greats as Bill Russell, Paul Silas and Antonio Davis, but also a city mired in one of its worst murder sprees on record.
FIRST TEAM
G - Larry Drew, Jr. Taft, 6-0, Sr. – The North Carolina signee led Taft to the Los Angeles City Section championship with a win over Fairfax in the finals. Drew averaged 15.6 points per game and also had 9.4 assists and 3.3 steals in earning Los Angeles City Section Player of the Year and Los Angeles Times All-Southland honors.
G - Jordan Hamilton, Dominguez, 6-7, Jr. – Regarded as one of the top junior players in the country, Hamilton led the Dons to the Division 1 state championship game. A transfer from Dorsey where he earned All-LA City Section honors as a sophomore, Hamilton averaged 24 points per game and was named to the LA Times All-Southland team.
C - Renardo Sidney, Fairfax, 6-10, Jr. – Sidney ranks as the top high school junior center in the country and he didn’t do anything to damage those credentials in 2008. He averaged 24 points and pulled down 13 rebounds a game in leading Fairfax to the LA City Section championship game. As a sophomore, Sidney led Artesia to a state championship.
F - Demar Derozan, Compton, 6-6, Sr. – One of the top dunkers in the state, the high-flying Derozan was one of the top scorers in the state with 29.2 points per game including highs of 47 points against Gahr and 45 against JSerra Catholic. The USC-bound forward also averaged 7.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. He was named the Southern Section Division 1 player of the year along with Hamilton and Mater Dei’s David Wear.
F - Jrue Holiday, Campbell Hall, 6-4, Sr. – MaxPreps State Player of the Year
SECOND TEAM
G - Jerime Anderson, Canyon, 6-3, Sr. – Anderson earned Player of the Year honors from the Orange County Register after averaging 22.7 points and 6.0 assists per game for Canyon. Headed for UCLA next year, Anderson earned All-Southern Section 1A first team and LA Times All-Southland honors as well.
G - Klay Thompson, Santa Margarita, 6-6, Sr. – Thompson had a record-breaking performance in the Division 3 state championship game, setting a record for 3-pointers with seven and tying the record for points with 37. He was named the Trinity League MVP and was first team All-Southern Section 1A, LA Times All-Southland and All-Orange County while averaging 22.1 points per game. The son of former NBA No. 1 draft choice Mychal Thompson, Klay will play at Washington State next year.
C – Eric Wise, ML King, 6-6, Sr. – Wise led King to the Southern Section 1A championship and was named to the 1A player of the year. He also earned All-Southland honors while averaging 20.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
F - Malcolm Lee, JW North, 6-5, Sr. – Lee earned Parade All-American honors and was also named to the McDonald’s All-American game after averaging 23.7 points and 7.4 rebounds for North. An All-Southern Section 1A first team selection, Lee was also named to the LA Times All-Southland team. He will play at UCLA next season.
F - Collin Chiverton, Mitty 6-6, Sr. – Chiverton took over the leadership role for Mitty when star forward Drew Gordon went down with a broken leg. Averaging 21.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, Chiverton led the Monarchs to the Division 2 championship game and earned San Jose Mercury News Player of the Year honors.
THIRD TEAM
G - Chase Tapley, Sacramento, 6-3, Jr. – Tapley earned the Sacramento Bee’s All-Metro Player of the Year honor after leading the Dragons to the Division 3 championship game and averaging 22.2 points per game along with 4.8 assists and 4.6 steals. He engaged in a high-scoring battle with Santa Margarita’s Klay Thompson in the state final, scoring 35 points to Thompson’s 37.
G – Lorne Jackson, Simi Valley, 6-2, Sr. – Jackson earned Ventura County player of the year honors after averaging 22.9 points and 6.8 assists and 4.3 steals per game. He led Simi Valley to a 27-2 record and the Marmonte League championship.
C - Jeff Withey, Horizon, 7-0, Sr. – The Arizona-bound big man was named the San Diego Section’s player of the year by the Union Tribune with 20.8 points and 13.0 rebounds per game. He also set a section record with 241 blocked shots and finished with 713 career blocks.
F – David Wear, Mater Dei, 6-10, Jr. – Wear had Mater Dei near the top of the national rankings all season long, eventually finishing the season with just one loss and a Division 2 championship. Wear was the Southern Section 1A co-MVP and also earned All-Orange County and All-Southland honors. He averaged 16.8 points per game and 8.9 rebounds.
F – Reeves Nelson, Modesto Christian, 6-7, Jr. – The Crusader junior had an amazing season, averaging 26 points and 17 rebounds while posting some of the state’s highest-scoring games of the season. He had 52 points in a win over Clovis East and topped that with 53 points against Encina in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs. Nelson has already committed to play at UCLA in 2009-10.
HONORABLE MENTION
Hollis Thompson, Loyola, 6-8, F, Jr. – Already committed to Georgetown thought just a junior; Named All-Southern Section 1A first team.
Frank Otis, McClymonds, 6-6, C, Sr. – Led Mack to first ever state title and was named All-Metro first team by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Paul George, Knight, 6-8, F, Sr. – Averaged 23.2 points per game and was All-Southern Section 2A first team.
Travis Wear, Mater Dei, 6-10, F, Jr. – Injured part of the season, but still named All-Orange County first team.
Damon Powell, McClymonds, 6-5, F, Jr. – One of the more spectacular dunkers in the state. All-Metro second team by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Oscar Bellfield, Westchester, 6-2, G, Sr. – Headed to UNLV next year. Earned All-LA City Section honors.
Jeremy Tyler, San Diego, 6-11, C, Soph. – Already one of the top players in San Diego Section. Averaged 14.5 rebounds, 18 points and 7.7 blocks per game.
Oliver McNally, Branson, 6-1, G, Sr. – Named the San Francisco Chronicle’s Player of the Year after winning three straight state titles for the Bulls.
Jack Trotter, Campolindo, 6-9, C, Sr. – The Contra Costa Regional Player of the Year by the San Francisco Chronicle. Averaged 24.1 points and 13.6 rebounds.
Brendan Lane, Rocklin, 6-10, C, Jr. – An All-Metro player, Lane averaged 20.4 points, 11.7 rebounds and 5.2 blocks per game.
Demetrius Walker, JSerra Catholic, 6-4, G, Jr. – Averaged 25 points per game including a high of 48 while earning Southern Section 1A first team honors.
Tyreese Breshers, Price, 6-7, C, Sr. – Headed for Washington next year, Breshers was a Southern Section 3AA first team pick.
Will Brew, St. Mary’s, 6-3, G, Sr. – Named to the All-Metro first team after leading St. Mary’s to the state Division 4 championship game.
Mike Snaer, Rancho Verde, 6-3, G, Jr. – One of the top junior guards in the country, Snaer was named the Southern Section 2A player of the year.
Drew Gordon, Mitty, 6-9, C, Sr. – Missed 14 games due to a broken leg, but was a dominant defensive presence when he was on the court for the Monarchs, leading Mitty to a high national ranking and a berth in the Division 2 state finals.
Division 1
G – Larry Drew, Taft
G – Jordan Hamilton, Dominguez
C – Renardo Sidney, Fairfax
F – Malcolm Lee, North
F – Eric Wise, ML King
Division 2
G – Colin Chiverton, Mitty
G – Demar Derozan, Compton
C – David Wear, Mater Dei
F - Travis Wear, Mater Dei
F – Brendan Lane, Rocklin
Division 3
G – Chase Tapley, Sacramento
G – Klay Thompson, Santa Margarita
C - Jack Trotter, Campolindo
F - Aaron Ware, Bishop Montgomery, 6-5, Sr.
F - Jorge Camacho, Riordan, 6-6, Sr.
Division 4
G - Will Brew, St. Mary’s
G – Demetrius Walker, JSerra Catholic
C – Jeff Withey, Horizon
F – Jrue Holiday, Campbell Hall
F – Reeves Nelson, Modesto Christian
Division 5
G - Justin Cook, Renaissance Academy, 6-3, Sr.
G – Oliver McNally, Branson
C – Greg Somogyi, Woodside Priory, 7-2, Sr.
F – Tyreese Breshers, Price
F - Troy Leaf, Foothills Christian, 6-2, Soph.
