Jabari Bird, Aaron Gordon and dozen more stars to watch at state tournament

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Of all the promising prep basketball stars at Power Balance Pavilion this weekend – and there are many - Jabari Bird and Aaron Gordon probably promise the most.

Gordon, a skilled and relentless 6-foot-7 combo forward from Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), is ranked the fifth best prospect nationally from the Class of 2013 according to MaxPreps.com.

Bird, a wiry 6-6 shooting guard with tremendous leaping ability and shooting range from Salesian (Richmond), is No. 19 from the same class.

Both juniors score more than double per game of any teammate on their Northern California championship teams and the duo are clear front-runners for the Player of the Year award in Northern California and perhaps the state.

Much will depend on how each performs today in their respective CIF State Championship games – Salesian (33-2) plays Price (Los Angeles) (26-8) in the Division IV game at 1:30 p.m. and Mitty (30-3) takes on La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) (35-2) at 8.

But don't expect these two alpha dogs and projected college stars to be rooting against each other. They might be each other's biggest fan.

"Aaron is definitely one of my favorite brothers," Jabari said. "He may be a beast on the court, but he's one of the nicest people I know – a real chill kind of guy."

Said Gordon: "Jabari is definitely one of my best basketball friends. Funny, funny guy. He always has me laughing."

The two struck up a friendship playing for the Oakland Soldiers AAU squad the last two summers.

Testosterone and star power – even at the prep level – can get in the way of the elite young hoopsters.

But what makes both standouts so easy to root for, say their respective coaches and teammates, is though they play well above they rim, their personalities are quite grounded.

It makes sense then that the two have bonded.

"Great kid, great family, down to earth," Mitty coach Tim Kennedy said of Gordon, who led Mitty to a state title last year and was The Metro Player of the Year. "All his teammates trust and care about him because all he wants to do is win and make everyone better."

Same for Bird, whose team lost in last year's state final. This season the Pride has won 26 straight and shooting for its second crown in four years.

"He's a quiet, humble kid," Salesian coach Bill Mellis said of Bird. "He actually gets embarrassed with all the attention."

But his teammates – like most teens – have a way to help keep Bird humble. With his 18.5 scoring average and 59 percent shooting, Bird dominates the headlines most Salesian wins.

So, when the Pride made the USA Today Top 25 for the first time in school history two weeks ago, Mellis made the announcement in the locker room. The team immediately chided Bird.

"Thank you Jabari, thank you," they mocked.

Said Mellis: "They know (Bird) has no way to control the press, but they like to make fun of it."

Bird laughed when retold the story: "They give me a hard time but that's OK. They were thanking me but I should always thank them for getting me the ball in the right spot."

All spots on the floor are good for Gordon and Bird, said former college coach and recruiting expert Gerry Freitas, who runs a website hoopreview.net.

"Gordon can literally do it all," Freitas said. "His shot is coming along nicely, but the rest of it – rebounding, passing, defending, ball-handing, athleticism – he has in a big way. He impacts the game in more ways than most teams do collectively."

Bird is a flat-out scorer.

"He's a big-time athlete who excels in transition and has a real nice first step," Freitas said.

Said Gordon of Bird: "He just has that uncanny knack to be able to put the ball in the hole. It's going to take him far."

Both have a short list of schools, primarily on the West Coast. Arizona and Washington are two schools in common. Might they end up playing together? Both had almost identical answers.

"That's a long way off," Bird said.

Said Gordon: "All I'm focused on is (today)."

And both have tall, athletic tasks.

Both have been pointing to this day all season, for a chance to get back in the state finals.

For Bird and Salesian, the memory of Power Balance Pavilion is a bitter one after losing to Windward 63-57. Bird scored a game-high 24 points.

"That's the hardest loss at any level I've ever experienced," Bird said. "We put so much work to get there, we were the favorites going in and then to lose. None of us could talk afterward. It hurt that much. Now were back and we want to take care of business."

So does Gordon. Like Salesian, Mitty's only goal was to get back to Power Balance Pavilion, only for the Monarchs it is to defend their Division II title. It's been pretty much a perfect season other than a one week dip in losses to De La Salle and Serra, which were a combined 52-10 and each NorCal playoff teams.

The Monarchs also won the very rugged West Catholic Athletic League, Central Coast Section and NorCal titles along the way.

"It's been a very long road," Gordon said. "But we got there. There were some rough spots, but there was never a doubt we would get there. Until maybe the last five minutes against Newark Memorial."

Indeed, in the NorCal finals, Newark Memorial was in control much of the way and actually held a six-point fourth-quarter lead. But Gordon (21 points, 15 rebounds, three blocks), Thomas Peters (15 points) and Neil Vranicar (14) led a 24-13 run in the fourth quarter to win going away 63-57. 

Now Mitty must deal with a very talented and well-coached La Costa Canyon squad. "The focus is on defense, hands up and dribble containment," Gordon said the key was to contain La Costa Canyon. "They're very good, but we really just focus on what we need to do."

Gordon didn't have a good shooting practice Wednesday, so he went back to the gym later for two hours to work it out. "I'll be good by Friday," he said.

Bird said in Price, the Pride take on a team that is longer and just as quick as Salesian, which doesn't happen very often. Salesian, which went 2-2 at the prestigious City of Palms Tournament in Dec., had its last big test at Sheldon (Sacramento) on Feb. 4. Bird scored a team-high 19 points, helping the Pride fight back from a 10-point deficit to beat the eventual NorCal Division I champions 63-61.

"To beat one of the state's best teams in their gym really helped our confidence," Bird said. "But we know (Price) has beat some very tough teams too. We'll be ready."

With the input of Freitas, here are 12 more players at the two-day state tournament to keep an eye on.

Bryan Alberts (Village Christian, Sun Valley) – The 6-5 sophomore shooting guard is mature beyond years and can score every way imaginable. Considered a major college prospect and one of the nation's top 100 sophomores according to MaxPreps basketball editor Jason Hickman.

Marqueze Coleman (Alemany) – The 6-4 senior wing is great in transition, has 3-point range and goes well to the basket. Signed to Nevada.

Joshua Fox (Sacred Heart Cathedral-San Francisco) – The 6-5 senior has an uncanny ability to make just the right play at crucial times.

Khalil Johnson (Price) - One of four Johnsons (none related that we know), this 6-6 combo forward is long and athletic. When teammate Spencer was in foul trouble least week, Johnson scored 25, leading Price to a big win over Serra.

Marsalis Johnson (Village Christian) - Another sophomore, the 6-7 power post is a force in the middle, a hard work, solid rebounder, defender and finisher.

Stanley Johnson (Mater Dei-Santa Ana) - The 6-7 sophomore wing is strong and athletic. Even with his strong build, Johnson plays some guard and shows good, solid skills as a pass and ball-hander. He drives hard to the rim, finishes well, especially in transition. He was also on the Top 100 sophomore list.

Xavier Johnson (Mater Dei) – Colorado-signee is 6-7 combo forward slashes superbly to the basket and great in transition.

Katin Reinhardt (Mater Dei) – The 6-5 shooting guard is leading scorer on nation's No. 6 team with picture-perfect jump shot. Is much more than shooter. Going to UNLV.

Skylar Spencer (Price) – Long and athletic, the 6-8 power forward is great shot blocker and solid rebounder. Signed to San Diego State.

Matt Shrigley (La Costa Canyon) – Tough, competitive and skilled 6-6 forward is considered a steal for San Diego State.

David Travers (La Costa Canyon) – The 6-4 senior shooting guard can both attack the rim and hit the 3. He's headed to Georgia State.

D'erryl Williams (Sheldon) – The 6-3 junior point guard absolutely willed the Huskies to their first Northern California title.

JABARI BIRD

School: Salesian
Size: 6-6, 190
Position: Shooting guard
Per-game averages: 18.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals
Shooting percentages: 59.1 FG, 69.2 FT
MaxPreps 2013 recruiting rank: No. 19
Recruiting list: Cal, Arizona, Washington, Colorado.

AARON GORDON

School: Mitty
Size: 6-7, 210
Position: Combo forward
Per-game averages: 22.4 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.6 blocks
Shooting percentages: 63.1 FG, 48.1 FT
MaxPreps 2013 recruiting rank: No. 5
Recruiting list: Washington, Arizona, Oregon, UNLV, New Mexico.

E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com or follow him on Twitter @mitchmitchmax