Video: Salesian vs. Modesto Christian
See Georgetown-bound James Akinjo in action during the 2018 MaxPreps MLK Classic.It was a banner year for basketball in Northern California, including players on our MaxPreps All-Northern California First, Second and Third Teams. We also unveil coaches of the year for each division.
Player of the YearG — Dale Currie, Sheldon (Sacramento), Sr.With relentless energy and versatility, Currie led the Huskies in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, deflections, charges and 3-pointers, and he powered them to the CIF State Open Division finals. Currie scored 15.1 points and averaged 6.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists and a win over Bishop O'Dowd in the NorCal finals.

Dale Currie, Sheldon
Photo by Ralph Thompson
First TeamG — James Akinjo, Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond), Sr.The Bay Area News Group and San Francisco Chronicle Metro Players of the Year, Akinjo led a team that was state-ranked much of the winter. The Georgetown-bound leader averaged 20.7 points and 5.2 assists.
G — Junior Ballard, Modesto Christian, Sr.The Cal Poly-bound star powered his team to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship and into the NorCal Open playoffs.
G — Elijah Hardy, Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland), Sr.Signed to Washington, Hardy averaged 14.5 points and 6.9 assists for the North Coast Section champions.
G — Nathan Robinson, Las Lomas (Walnut Creek), Sr. He averaged 21 points, five rebounds and four assists in powering the Knights to NorCal Division I title, the program's first.
G — Jake Wojcik, Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose), Sr. Headed to Siena, the versatile leader was a two-time West Catholic Athletic League MVP and led the Bells to the NorCal Open playoffs.

Nathan Robinson, Las Lomas
Photo by Greg Jungferman
Second TeamG — Naseem Gaskin, Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland), Sr.Signed to Utah, Gaskin averaged 14 points and six rebounds for a team that reached the NorCal Open Division finals.
C — Mason Forbes, Folsom, Sr.The Harvard-bound post averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds and had a triple-double with blocked shots to upset Salesian in the NorCal Open playoffs.
G — Dom Johnson, Sheldon (Sacramento), Sr.A football star in the fall, Johnson's versatility and energy was paramount in the Huskies winning the NorCal Open Division title, and his winning shot beat Memorial (Fresno) in a NorCal opener.
G — Logan Johnson, Saint Francis (Mountain View), Sr.Headed to Cincinnati, Johnson averaged 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists in leading the Lancers into the Division I playoffs.
G — Kevin Kremer, Pleasant Valley (Chico), Sr. The Northern Section Player of the Year led the Vikings to the CIF State Division III championship, averaging 18 points and eight rebounds.

Kevin Kremer, Pleasant Valley
Photo by David Steutel
Third TeamG — Zach Chappell, Capital Christian (Sacramento), Sr.Headed to San Jose State, Chappell averaged 20 points, four rebounds and four assists for a program that returned to the NorCal Open playoffs.
G — Max Dorward, Palo Alto, Sr.In averaging 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists, Dorward powered the Vikings back to the NorCal Division I finals.
F — Jonathan Ned, Heritage (Brentwood), Sr.The two-time Bay Athletic League MVP powered the Patriots to their first North Coast Section Division I title, scoring 21.3 points a game in setting career scoring marks.
G — Justin Pratt, De La Salle (Concord), Sr.He averaged 18.9 points and five rebounds for the longtime powerhouse program that made a return trip to the NorCal playoffs.
F — Kendall Stubblefield, Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose), Sr.He averaged 15.4 points and eight rebounds for the Central Coast Section Open Division champions.

Kendall Stubblefield, Bellarmine
Photo by Ted Walker
Coaches of the YearOpen DivisionJoey Rollings, Sheldon (Sacramento)Rollings led Sheldon to its first CIF Northern California Open Division championship a year after falling to Woodcreek in a thriller. Sheldon went 29-6.
Division IBrian Dietschy, Las Lomas (Walnut Creek)An alumni of the school, Dietschy led the Knights to a 31-4 record and to the CIF State Division I finals, where they lost to Chino Hills, 73-68.
Division IICameron Quick, AlamedaA program in decline quickly rose to power under Quick, who led the Hornets to a 28-6 showing and to their first Northern California championship. They lost to Crossroads in the state finals, 59-53.
Division IIITim Keating, Pleasant Valley (Chico)A Northern Section product as a student-athlete from his days at Corning, Keating rejoiced in his program's first CIF State championship, capping a 32-2 season. The Vikings beat Notre Dame (Riverside) 70-65 in the finals.
Division IVCharles Johnson, Stuart Hall (San Francisco)The longtime coach has had teams with more wins but never had won this good at the end of the season. At 23-12, the Knights won the NorCal title in overtime over Saint Mary's (Albany), 68-62.
Division VJon Gilliam, Argnonaut (Jackson)A product of a small school from his days in the Northern Section, Jon Gillam led Argonaut to record heights with seemingly the entire town of Jackson in tow. The Mustangs went 29-6 and won the NorCal championship.
Division VIScott Tedmon, Sacramento Adventist Academy (Carmichael)A judge by day, Tedmon proved to be a sensational coach by night and on Saturdays, powering the Capitals to the NorCal championship with a 57-47 win over a Ripon Christian team that had defeated Sacramento Adventist in the Sac-Joaquin Section finals. The Capitals went 28-5 and established themselves as bona fide small-school powerhouse.
The Bay Area News Group All-Area Team ...
click here The San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Team ...
click hereThe Sacramento Bee All-Metro Team ...
click hereThe Sacramento Bee profile on MaxPreps NorCal Player of the Year ...
click hereJoe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee
since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and at sacbee.com