California: Leonard, Johnson Head Boys' Basketball All-State Team

Martin Luther King forward, Eisenhower coach receive top honors on MaxPreps all-state teams.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Kevin Askeland
By
Apr 11, 2009, 12:00am
Renardo Sidney, Fairfax
Renardo Sidney, Fairfax
Photo by Nicholas Koza

First Team

F - Renardo Sidney (Fairfax, Los Angeles) 6-10, Sr.
The versatile McDonald’s All-American averaged 23.4 points and 10.6  rebounds per game for the 27-5 Lions, who finished 24th nationally. Not only blessed with a strong post up game, Sidney showed off his shooting touch throughout the season and even made six 3-pointers. College: USC.  
Kawhi Leonard, King
Kawhi Leonard, King
Photo by Louis Lopez

MAXPREPS CALIFORNIA STATE MVP
F - Kawhi Leonard (King, Riverside) 6-7, Sr.
Was named the Los Angeles Times’ Player of the Year over all the first teamers on the list after averaging 22.6 points, 13.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the 30-3 Wolves, who finished seventh nationally in the MaxPreps/National Guard computer rankings. College: San Diego State.
Brendan Lane, Rocklin
Brendan Lane, Rocklin
Photo by David Steutel

C - Brendan Lane (Rocklin) 6-10, Sr.
Finished off a remarkable senior season with what is believed to be the nation’s only triple double recorded in a state finals this year when he had 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks in a 73-61 loss to Eisenhower (Rialto) in the D-2 championship. Lane averaged 22.1 points, 12.1 rebounds and 4.8 rebounds per game for the 33-3 Thunder, which won its first-ever North Region title. College: UCLA.
Dominique O'Conner, Westchester
Dominique O'Conner, Westchester
Photo by Louis Lopez

G - Dominique O’Connor (Westchester, Los Angeles) 5-10, Sr.
Was the heart and soul of the state Division I champions and averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game. O’Connor, also a defensive stopper, was named the City Section Player of the Year over McDonald’s All-American Sidney. He helped the Comets to a 35-2 record and a No. 1 ranking nationally in the MaxPreps/National Guard computer-based rankings. College: undecided.
Michael Snaer, Rancho Verde
Michael Snaer, Rancho Verde
Photo by Louis Lopez

G - Michael Snaer (Rancho Verde, Moreno Valley) 6-4, Sr.
The McDonald’s All-American earned the state Player of the Year award by Gatorade after averaging 28.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game for the 24-6 Mustangs. He nearly helped pull off an upset of then top-ranked Mater Dei 72-65, scoring 32 points in a season-ending playoff loss. College: Florida State.






















Second Team

F – David Wear (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-10, Sr
Wear earned county MVP honors from the Orange County Register after leading Mater Dei to a 31-2 record and a No. 1 national ranking during the season. Wear averaged 16.4 points per game and 7.5 rebounds and will take his wares to North Carolina next year. College: North Carolina

F – Desmond Simmons (Salesian, Richmond), 6-6, Jr
In leading the Pride to a Division 4 state championship, Simmons scored 31 points and grabbed 19 rebounds in the finals against Bishop Montgomery. For the season, Simmons averaged 19 points per game and double digits in rebounds. Named the Bayshore Athletic League MVP.

C – Jeremy Tyler (San Diego) 6-9, Jr
One of the top juniors in the country, Tyler was named the San Diego County player of the year by the San Diego Union-Tribune. He averaged 28.7 points and had a high game of 40 points. He has committed to play for Louisville. College: Louisville.

G – Chase Tapley (Sacramento) 6-3, Sr
The San Diego State-bound shooting guard led Sacramento to the state finals last year and a berth in the NorCal finals as a senior. He averaged 23.2 points per game and was a two-time Sacramento Bee All-Metro first teamer, including MVP as a junior. College: San Diego State

G – Andrew Bock (Eisenhower, Rialto) 6-1, Sr
In leading Eisenhower to its first state championship with a win over Rocklin, Bock earned player of the year honors by the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. The Creighton-signee averaged 21.3 points per game and 6.9 assists and was the Div. 2 CIF Player of the Year. College: Creighton.

Third Team

F – Jerry Brown (Sacred Heart Cathedral, San Francisco) 6-5, Sr
Headed to Fresno State next year, Brown capped his senior season by helping lead the Fightin’ Irish to a Division 3 state title. He averaged 16 points and eight rebounds during the season and was a first-team All-Bay Area pick by the San Francisco Chronicle. College: Fresno State

F – Chris Manresa (Tesoro, Rancho Santa Margarita) 6-8, Sr
Manresa was named the Southern Section Div. 1A player of the year after leading Tesoro to the section championship. He averaged 16.5 points per game and was selected to the All-County Team by the Orange County Register. College: San Diego.

C – Travis Wear (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-10, Sr
Headed to North Carolina along with his brother David, Travis averaged 14.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for the Monarchs while earning All-County and All-CIF honors. College: North Carolina.

G – Justin Cobbs (Bishop Montgomery, Torrance), 6-3, Sr
The Torrance Daily Breeze player of the year led Bishop Montgomery to the state finals in Division 4 and came within a last-second shot by Salesian of a state title. Also the MVP of the Mission Prep Tournament, Cobbs averaged 20.4 points and 4.5 assists per game while draining 62 3-pointers on the season. College: Minnesota.

G – Will Cherry (McClymonds, Oakland), 6-1, Sr
Cherry was a big reason why the Warriors reached the state championship game three years in a row, winning it all in 2008. He was the San Francisco Chronicle’s Bay Area Player of the Year and averaged 13.9 points per game. College: Montana.

Honorable Mention
Stephon Carter (Garces, Bakersfield) 6-3, Sr
Averaged 22.7 points per game and was named the Bakersfield Californian’s MVP.

Gary Franklin (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-3 Jr
Named first team All-Orange County and averaged 14.2 points per game.

Solomon Hill (Fairfax, Los Angeles) 6-6, Sr
Member of the Los Angeles All-City Section Team and averaged 12.3 points per game.

Allen Huddleston (Merced) 6-1, Sr
One of the leading scorers in the state at 31.5 points per game; named county MVP by Merced Sun-Star.

Avery Johnson (Ocean View, Huntington Beach) 6-4, Jr
Earned CIF Div. IV-AA player of the year honors and led Ocean View to state finals; averaged 11.9 points per game.

Tony Johnson (Folsom) 5-11, Sr
Sacramento Bee All-Metro first teamer; Averaged 17.3 points per game.

Keala King (Dominguez, Compton) 6-5, Jr
Named to the CIF Div. 1-AA first team and helped lead Dominguez to the second round of the SoCal playoffs.

Tyler Lamb (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-5 Jr
Averaged 14.0 points per outing and was an all-county first team selection.

Jordin Mayes (Westchester, Los Angeles) 6-2, Jr
Earned All-City honors and is considered one of the top junior point guard prospects in the country.

Darius Morris (Windward, Los Angeles) 6-4, Sr
Led the Wildcats to a state championship and will play at Michigan next year.

Reeves Nelson (Modesto Christian) 6-8, Sr
The two-time Modesto area player of the year, the UCLA-bound forward averaged 24.7 points per game.

Damon Powell (McClymonds, Oakland) 6-6, Sr
A force inside, Powell averaged 13 points and 9 rebounds per game for the Warriors.

Anthony Stover (Windward) 6-10, Sr
A shot-blocking force, Stover led two different teams to the state finals, making it with Windward this year and Renaissance last season. Headed to UCLA.

Derrick Williams (La Mirada)
USC has nabbed Williams, who averaged 25 points per game and was the Whittier Daily News MVP.

Michael Williams (Taft, Woodland Hills)
Named the area MVP by the Los Angeles Daily News, Williams averaged 20 points per game.
Steve Johnson, Eisenhower
Steve Johnson, Eisenhower
Photo by David Steutel

COACH OF THE YEAR
Steve Johnson, Eisenhower – Selected as the Southland Coach of the Year by the L.A. Times, Johnson’s Eisenhower club became the first from San Bernardino County to ever win a state title. Despite suffering a tremendous height disadvantage against NorCal champion Rocklin in the state finals, Johnson’s squad secured a 73-61 victory and finished the season 32-3.

Division 1
G – Dominique O’Conner (Westchester, Los Angeles)
G – Michael Snaer (Rancho Verde, Moreno Valley)
C – Jeremy Tyler (San Diego)
F – Renardo Sidney (Fairfax, Los Angeles)
F – Kawhi Leonard (King, Riverside)

Division 2
G – Andrew Bock (Eisenhower, Rialto)
G – Shawn Grant (St. Francis, Mt. View) 6-4, Sr
San Jose Mercury News All-Area Player of the Year, averaged 15.5 ppg.
C – Brendan Lane (Rocklin)
F – Stephon Carter (Garces, Bakersfield)
F – Derrick Williams (La Mirada)

Division 3
G – Chase Tapley (Sacramento)
G – Avery Johnson (Ocean View, Huntington Beach)
C – Lucas Devenny (Piner, Santa Rosa) 6-9, Sr
All-Bay Area second team by San Francisco Chronicle, averaged 20.7 ppg.
F – Jerry Brown (Sacred Heart Cathedral, San Francisco)
F – Eric Obeysekere (Miramonte, Orinda) 6-9, Sr
Averaged 17.2 points and 12.6 rebounds per game.

Division 4
G – Jabari Brown (Salesian, Richmond) 6-3, Soph
Averaged 19.6 ppg for state champions.
G – Justin Cobbs (Bishop Montgomery, Torrance)
G – Allen Crabbe (Price, Los Angeles) 6-5, Jr
Southern Section Div. IV-A MVP
F – Desmond Simmons (Salesian, Richmond)
F – Reeves Nelson (Modesto Christian)

Division 5
G – Jacari Whitfield (St. Joseph’s, Alameda) 5-7, Soph
Led the Pilots to the Division 5 state finals.
G – Darius Morris (Windward, Los Angeles)
C – Anthony Stover (Windward, Los Angeles)
F – Troy Leaf (Foothills Christian, El Cajon) 6-3, Jr
Averaged 26.0 ppg; named All-San Diego County first team.
F – Chen Cai (Maranatha Christian, San Diego) 6-7, Soph
All-San Diego County first teamer averaged 22.7 ppg.

Mitch Stephens also contributed to this story.

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