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Hosts Steve Montoya and Chris Stonebraker cover the best in high school sports last week.
NEWARK, Calif. — Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) coach Lou Richie was assessing the talent level of his guard trio of
Naseem Gaskin,
Elijah Hardy and
B.J. Shaw, the son of former NBA player and now Lakers' assistant Brian Shaw.
"Those three guards are as good as any in the state," Richie said.
He thought for a moment.
"Bishop Montgomery might be the only one better," he said.
Guess whom the Dragons open with in 2016? Yes,
Bishop Montgomery (Torrance).
O'Dowd and the Knights are the final of seven games and the premier contest of one of California's premier events — the NorCal Tipoff Classic at Newark Memorial Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.
This is the 10th annual 'Classic put on by West Coast scouting director and former college coach Gerry Freitas, along with the staff at
Newark Memorial (Newark).
Every year, Freitas aligns star-studded teams and personnel and the 10th showcase is no different, highlighted by the O'Dowd-Bishop Montgomery finale.
Ethan Thompson (left), Bishop Montgomery
File photo by Louis Lopez
The Knights (28-3 last year) are ranked No. 2 in the state, according to MaxPreps.com behind the nation's No. 1 team Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth. They are led by the trio of Oregon State-bound
Ethan Thompson (6-4), San Diego State-signee
Jordan Schakel (6-6) and
David Singleton, a 6-4 junior.
Fletcher Tynen, a 6-5 junior, adds more size and toughness at the guard spot.
After winning the state Open Division title in 2014-15, O'Dowd went through some growing pain last season while going 17-15. The Dragons also feature 6-9
Raymond Hawkins, one of the top sophomores in the state.
Add in O'Dowd's guards and the finale should be entertaining if nothing else. O'Dowd is No. 2 in MaxPreps North Coast Section rankings as well as the San Francisco Chronicle's preseason rankings.
Richie said the key for his still young squad is to "play together and unselfish and dominate on the defensive end with their athleticism."
Raymond Hawkins (right), Bishop O'Dowd
File photo by Samuel Stringer
There is plenty more athleticism to watch in the other six games, which features four other Chronicle ranked teams, including two in the first game: 11th-ranked
St. Patrick-St. Vincent (Vallejo) against No. 5
Monte Vista (Danville) at 11 a.m.
Then comes No. 12
Dublin vs.
Las Lomas (Walnut Creek) (12:30),
Berkeley vs.
Christian Brothers (Sacramento) (2:15), No. 3
Moreau Catholic (Hayward) vs.
Immanuel (Reedley) (3:45),
Capital Christian (Sacramento) vs.
Alemany (Mission Hills) (5:30) and Newark Memorial vs.
Woodcreek (Roseville) (7 p.m.).
Other top prospects include:
*
Jordan Brown (Woodcreek): The 6-9 junior post is ranked the No. 5 player in his class.
* Damari Milstead (Moreau Catholic): The 6-2 point guard is a fourth-year starter who is headed to Grand Canyon.
* Other college-bound players include Timmy Falls (Dublin, Montana),
Brandon Davis (Alemany, UCSB) and
Darrin Person Jr. (Immanuel, Cal State Bakersfield).
* Four elite freshman will be in the mix: Robbie Beasley (Dublin), Kyree Walker (Moreau Catholic),
Fred Burton (Capital Christian) and
Kendall Munson (Capital Christian).
Jordan Brown, Woodcreek
File photo by David Steutel
