SportStars Issue 197 July/August 2021 by Sport Stars Magazine

JULY/AUGUST 2021 NORCAL EDITION VOL. 12 ISSUE 197

Monte Vista-Danville’s Maggie Steffens winds up take a shot during the North Coast Section Championship match against San Ramon Valley-Danville on Nov. 13, 2010. Steffens has led USA Water Polo to gold medals in each of the last two Summer Olympics and will be looking for a third in Tokyo later this month. She and other homegrown Olympians will be the subject of two SportStories Podcast episodes releasing later this month as well. Visit SportStarsMag.com/category/ podcasts to check them out. Photo by Jonathan Hawthorne

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FAREWELL CHAOS,

HELLO NORMAL T

his is it. We hope. This is the last issue we’ll produce that deals in large part with the COVID Season. Don’t get us wrong, there were a lot of really good things that came out of the 2020-21 school year — this issue alone celebrates a great deal of it. But it will also be nice to turn the page and prepare for a “normal” year of high school sports again. It seems a little surreal, but our next issue will actually be a NorCal Football Preview. The idea that we can actually plan for one has us wanting to pinch ourselves. So as we prepare to jump back into a mostly regular sporting year, here’s the top three things we’re most looking forward to. 1. STUDENTS!: When the COVID restrictions dam finally broke it was great to see the smiles of the athletes who were back on the field. But the games were not the same — especially football and basketball. Watching a game at Pirates Stadium without hearing the Marching Show Band playing and whooping it up in the stands felt like a Twilight Zone setting. Conversely, attending the Bay Valley Athletic League baseball championship at Pittsburg two months later gave us hope of things to come. That was one of the best crowds we’d seen at a baseball game in some time. High school sports need students in the stands to be at their best. Having them back in 2021-22 will be among the most noticeable differences. 2. Showcases & Tournaments: Open scheduling that creates marquee matchups? The return of highprofile events with multiple games lined up on the same day? Yes and yes. Feed us all of your Honor Bowls, MLK Classics, Doc Buchanan Invitationals and Livermore Stampedes. 3. Playoffs: While we got a little taste of them with the Central Coast Section postseason and a few league title titles, we can’t wait to have the drama of section and state playoffs again across all sports. And how about one more: Seasons. It will be nice to have the sports spaced out in their traditional seasons so we can give them their proper coverage. We’ll enjoy not having to choose between attending a volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball or soccer game on any given night. But before all that, we invite you to dig into this issue and look back on the strangest high school sports year we’ll ever see. There was a lot of uncertainty. A lot of organized chaos. And a lot of joy. Who’s ready for more joy — minus the chaos? Let’s go! ✪

YOUR TICKET TO CALIFORNIA SPORTS ADMIT ONE; RAIN OR SHINE This Vol. #12, June 2021, Whole No. 196 is published by GoSportzStars Media LLC, PO Box 741, Clayton, CA 94517. SportStars™© 2010-2014 by Caliente! Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. Receive FREE Digital Subscription in your inbox. Subscribe at SportStarsMag.com. To receive sample issues, please send $3 per copy, or $8 total for bulk. Back issues are $4 each. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of Publisher is strictly prohibited. The staff and management, including Board of Directors, of SportStars™© does not advocate or encourage the use of any product or service advertised herein for illegal purposes. Editorial contributions, photos and letters to the editor are welcome and should be addressed to the Editor. All material should be typed, doublespaced on disk or email and will be handled with reasonable care. For materials return, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. SportStars™© and STARS!™© Clinics are registered trademarks of Caliente! Communications, LLC.

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ICTURES CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Members of the Pittsburg High baseball team celebrate in the middle of the diamond after winning the program’s first Bay Valley Athletic League title since 1986; Clayton Valley-Concord defensive end Ethan Byrne-Escobar works to bring down San Ramon Valley-Danville running back Charlie Tagliaferri during a midApril battle for first place in the East Bay Athletic League; Rocklin threeyear volleyball standout Kennedy Crane takes some swings during a late fall SportStars photo shoot. (Chace Bryson/David Gershon photos) Follow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!

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FROM FAR LEFT TO RIGHT: Elk Grove softball slugger Kate Wolf finds our photographer for a quick pose during an early May win; Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland senior Marsalis Roberson finishes a dunk against Campolindo; St. Mary’s-Stockton junior Jadyn Marshall sprints to the end zone during the Rams’ season-opener at De La Salle-Concord; De La Salle No. 1 singles player Ben Beernink returns a shot in a match at San Ramon Valley in late February. (Ike Dodson/Berry Evans III/Jean-Paul Toshiro/Chace Bryson photos)

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Carondelet senior golfer Maddie Gamble is

photobombed by her younger sister Morgan during an early December cover shoot; Unable to attend due to COVID protocols, Campolindo-Moraga students gather on the hillside behind the football stadium to watch the Cougars’ home opener in late March; Granite Bay shortstop J.T. Freethy fires an off-balance throw to first; Members of the Campolindo girls soccer team celebrate a goal by Mia Colombini (6); Capital Christian-Sacramento’s James Freeman stretches for a rebound; Pittsburg receiver Keionte Guess tracks a pass thrown his way. (Chace Bryson/Ike Dodson/David Gershon photos) (edited) Follow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!

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Our All-NorCal Football Team was chosen a little differently from years past. With so much disparity between the schedules that programs were able to play, we decided to replace our usual NorCal Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, with Regional Players of the Year. In addition to the overall NorCal Player of the Year (Lu-Magia Hearns), we’re also naming a Bay Area Player of the Year and Sac-Joaquin Player of the Year. BAY AREA PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Hassan Mahasin, Serra-San Mateo, Jr. His nickname is “The Missile” and he skyrocketed himself to regional and national attention this spring. Cal-Hi Sports named him its State Running Back of the Year as he racked up 745 total yards and 10 touchdowns for the 5-0 Padres. He made plays all over the field and finished the spring as a four-star recruit with a number of Power 5 offers. In addition to being our Bay Area Player of the Year, he was also a Cal-Hi Sports 1st Team All-State selection as well as NorCalPreps.com’s NorCal Player of the Year. SAC-JOAQUIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Chris Lands, Monterey Trail-Elk Grove, Sr. When USC-bound star Prophet Brown opted out of the spring season, it was Lands who inherited the Do-Everything Role for the Mustangs. Maybe the only thing Lands didn’t do is complete a pass this spring (he was 0-for-1). However, he did manage to rush for 612 yards on just 50 (!) carries, an average 12.2 yards per tote. He also caught a 17-yard TD pass and had 176 return yards and two scores (one via kickoff and one via interception). He also added 16 tackles and a sack.

hough De La Salle-Concord’s football season was less than half as lengthy as usual, Lu-Magia Hearns still pulled off an amazing share of highlight reel plays. The national power Spartans, who have played in the CIF State Bowl Championships every season since their inception in 2006, typically play 14-15 games a year. But out of the six De La Salle played — and won — this spring, Hearns was stunning. His flashy play exemplified why a pandemic-delayed, shortened season was so worthwhile. And that’s why he’s the SportStars NorCal Football Player of the Year Offensively, he had 189 receiving yards and three touchdowns. On defense, he posted more than 15 tackles and grabbed two interceptions. If the opponent mistakenly kicked his way, it was costly. He averaged 42.6 yards per return. Offensively, he scored on two of his three pass receptions. On defense he had five solo tackles, six assists and an interception. He had 188 total return yardage on just three returns, whenever the opposition made the mistake of kicking in his direction. “He didn’t get the ball much on offense, but every time he got the ball he made something special happen,” Spartans coach Justin Alumbaugh said. “The opposing teams didn’t kick the ball much to him on returns but he did something special every time they kicked to him. He had two incredible returns in one game. Previous He was all over the place.” NorCal Players The returns Alumbaugh Of The Year noted came in a 63-27 win over Monte Vista-Danville, ›› 2019, Shamar Garrett, returning kickoffs for 72- and De La Salle-Concord 95-yard touchdowns. Those ›› 2018, Sione Vaki, were just two examples of Liberty-Brentwood amazing displays by Hearns ›› 2017, TaRiq Bracy, Milpitas during his three seasons with ›› 2016, Mason Hurst, the Spartans. Del Oro-Loomis The next time Hearns pro›› 2015, Najee Harris, duces a highlight stunner, it Antioch will be in a California Golden ›› 2014, Antoine Custer, Bears uniform. Hearns signed De La Salle with Cal in December 2020. He’s expected to play at both safety and cornerback and get some return action. Staying close to home will allow his biggest fans to continue to see him work his magic live, Alumbaugh included. “It’s right down the street, so that’s going to be fun to watch,” Alumbaugh said. “They have a great coaching staff there. It’ll be an added bonus, since I normally get to a couple Cal games a year.” In the shortened season, Hearns focused on improving his defensive skills for the collegiate game. “This year, playing safety, I wanted to broaden my horizons,” Hearns told the Mercury News, which named him as their defensive player of the year. The son of 1990s Pittsburg High star Lu Hearns, the younger Hearns came to De La Salle with an array of athletic skills and a great deal of maturity and focus. “When he came to us he was very driven and very bright; he’s always been a thoughtful kid:” his coach said. “Where he’s grown is in leadership, and you see that in how much he worked with the younger guys. He’s a community builder.” Those leadership skills lent themselves in many ways, as he demonstrated a wisdom for the game beyond his years. “He was an extension of the coaching staff. … He made all of our defensive checks for us,” Alumbaugh said. “He’s such a great young man, and that’s why he was a unanimous choice as team captain.” ✪ — Mike Wood

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2020-21 All NorCal Football Offense

Tyler Tremain

QB Tyler Tremain (Folsom), Jr. Had no problem joining the Bulldog QB lineage; threw for 2,024 yards and 27 TD with just 4 INT. QB Brady Huchingson (Acalanes-Lafayette), Sr. Shined during his second year in Floyd Burnsed’s offense; passed for 1,381 yards and 15 TD. QB Dorian Hale (De La Salle-Concord), Sr. Sac State commit finished 30-3 as a starter for NorCal’s premier program RB Hassan Mahasin (Serra-San Mateo), Jr. A 1st Team All-State selection that lived up to his “Missile” nickname with 745 yards of total offense and 10 TDs. RB Daytuawn Pearson (Pittsburg), Sr. Thrived during his one year in Pitt’s no-huddle attack; averaged 12.5 yards per carry and caught 14 passes. RB Jonah Coleman (Lincoln-Stockton), Jr. Arizona commit landed 2nd Team All-State honors and should be one of the most watched RBs in Sac-Joaquin Section this fall. RB Adam Garwood (Los Gatos), Sr. Rushed for more than 600 yards with 11 TDs for Wildcats team that finished 5-0. RB Ethan Menezes (Vista del Lago-Folsom), Sr. Sac Bee’s Offensive Player of the Year averaged 210 rushing yards per game and scored 16 total TDs. WR Jadyn Marshall (St. Mary’s-Stockton), Jr. The 1st Team All-State selection was electric as both a receiver and kick returner in Rams’ four games. WR Tsion Nunnally (Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa), Sr. The Washington State commit caught 25 passes for 520 yards and 7 TDs over just five games. WR Jurrion Dickey (Valley Christian-San Jose), So. Arguably the top recruit in a deep 2023 NorCal WR class; had 5 TDs among 14 grabs WR Rico Flores Jr. (Folsom), So. Nearly one of every three of his catches went for scores; 31 for 606 yards and 10 TDs WR Jalen Moss (Menlo-Atherton-Atherton), Jr. Soon to be four-year varsity talent had 319 receiving yards and 150 return yards over five games. TE JP Murphy (San Ramon Valley-Danville), Sr. San Diego State-bound talent topped every postseason list of the region’s tight ends; averaged 23.7 yards per catch. OL Jackson Brown (San Ramon Valley-Danville), Jr. Will be among Bay’s top returning linemen this fall; offers already from Cal, Colorado and Pitt. OL Hudson Mesa (St. Francis-Mountain View), Sr. San Jose State-bound center was both a physical and emotional leader for Lancers. OL Matai Bell (Camplindo-Moraga), Sr. Army commit opened up plenty of lanes for 600-yard rusher Dillon Thoms. OL Jon Puckett (De La Salle-Concord), Sr. Puckett was a model of consistency for a Spartans offense that barely missed a step despite all the missed time. OL Tyler Charbonneau (Clayton Valley-Concord), Sr. Cal Poly commit was the anchor to EBAL champions’ grind-it-out attack. OL Bobby Piland (Rocklin), Sr. Two-way standout tackle earned Sac Bee’s inaugural Lineman Of The Year honor. K Cole Becker (Rocklin), Sr. Becker will head to the Univ. of Colorado as the nation’s No. 1 kicking recruit in his class. 16

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2020-21 All NorCal Football Defense DL Dominic Oliver (Valley Christian-San Jose), Sr. Earned 2nd Team All-State honors after racking up 10.5 tackles for loss in just four games; San Diego State commit. DL Sioeli Helu (Serra-San Mateo), Sr. New Mexico State commit had big time impact on defense that held opponents to 10 or less in four of five games. DL Joey Carrillo (Acalanes-Lafayette), Sr. Non-stop motor led him to 47 tackles (14.5 for loss) and 3.5 sacks over six games. DL Miles Bailey (Benicia), Jr. Posted 31 tackles and four sacks and was also an impact tight end; San Diego State commit. DL John Carter (Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton), Sr. Also a standout lacrosse player, Carter used his quickness to land seven sacks for 5-1 Gators. LB Austin Hauptman (Whitney-Rocklin), Sr. Sac Bee’s Defensive Player of the Year averaged 12 tackles/game in tough Sierra Foothill League. LB Fynn Williams (Serra-San Mateo), Sr. The 3rd Team All-State selection led Padres with 41 tackles while also adding two sacks and an interception. LB Josh Tremain (Folsom), Jr. Twin brother to All-NorCal QB led the other side of the ball with 57 tackles (10.5 for loss). LB Nekhi Broadway (Monterey Trail-Elk Grove), Sr. Racked up 49 tackles (31 solo) and four sacks for 5-0 Mustangs. LB Maurice Jamison (Pittsburg), Sr. BVAL Defensive Player of the Year made plays against opponents run and passing games. LB Dylan Seely (Clayton Valley-Concord), Sr. Leader of a stingy defense averaged more than eight tackles a game and led team with three interceptions. DB Zeke Berry (De La Salle-Concord), Jr. A playmaker in all three phases of the game, Berry holds offers to play corner for several Power 5 programs. DB Lu-Magia Hearns (De La Salle-Concord), Sr. Cal-bound triple threat was named NorCal Player of the Year by multiple outlets, including SportStars. DB Nick Murray (St. Mary’s-Stockton), Sr. Fearless CB had 38 tackles and an interception across four games for the Rams. DB Josh Gerlach (California-San Ramon), Sr. One of just four players in the state to post six interceptions on the season, also added 45 tackles and a fumble recovery. DB Isaac Greene (Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland), Jr. Grabbed four interceptions on a defense that allowed just 40 points across five games. AP Chris Lands (Monterey Trail-Elk Grove), Sr. Sac Bee’s Player of the Year had 805 all-purpose yards and scored four different ways to amass 10 TDs. AP Matteo Perez (Marin Catholic-Kentfield), Sr. UC Davis commit was just shy of posting 600 yards from scrimmage; scored 10 TDs while adding 33 tackles and three interceptions on defense. AP DJ Crowther (Christian Brothers-Sacramento), Jr. Every-down star averaged more than 200 all-purpose yards/game and totaled 17 TDs. AP Noah Short (King’s Academy-Sunnyvale), Sr. Three-sport athlete (basketball, track) starried on offense, defense and special teams for the Knights. AP Dylan Smith (Vintage-Napa), Jr. Two-way workhorse for dominant 6-0 Crushers team; rushed for 847 yards, 15 TDs. ✪ Follow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!

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NorCal Left Its Mark On The Boys Junior Nationals, Led By Bay To Bay Volleyball Club’s 16s Championship 18

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After a summer without the USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championships, Bay To Bay Volleyball Club’s teams couldn’t wait to perform in 2021. The Campbell club was far and away the most consistent NorCal performer from June 30-July 7 in Kansas City. From the 14 through 17 age groups, Bay To Bay had four teams place third, two runner-ups and one champ. The champion came in the 16 USA Division where the Bay To Bay 16-2s went 9-2 and outlasted the Ocean Bay 16 Waves of Florida in a three-set final. Bay To Bay won the first set 25-22 before Ocean Bay evened things with its own 25-22 result in the second set. The deciding set went 15-9 to Bay To Bay, setting off a wild celebration. “I think this is the best feeling in the world,” Bay To Bay 16-2s coach Josh Nolan told USAVolleyball.com. “These boys for a year haven’t had any competition, anything to fight for and to drive them to do better. Since we started playing, this group in 2021 ... everything just fell into place. It worked out and it made us so thankful for the opportunities we used to have and might have taken for granted beforehand.” Follow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!

The 16-2 team’s roster includes Georgios Argiris, Ethan Castillo, Nolan Foster, Rishi Kodavati, Landen Meonske, Nicholas Metz, Cade Morgan, Bryce Nohava, Zachary Seraj, Michael Shi and Julian Villanueva. Bay To Bay’s next best performance at nationals came from its 15-1s team in the 15 Open Division. That team led by coach Matthew Frankenstein didn’t drop a set until it reached the championship match. There, the team fell to another unbeaten juggernaut as Balboa Bay 15 Blue bested it in two highly competitive sets, 25-22, 25-23. Bay To Bay also had a team earn silver medals in the 17 Club Division, and had third-place finishes in the 17 Open, 16 Open, 15 Club and 14 Open divisions. The best NorCal finish from outside of Bay To Bay came from the always-consistent Pacific Rim Academy 18 Orange of Pleasant Hill. That group, led by star hitter and top recruit Josh Ewert (Campolindo High-Moraga), went 7-4 overall and reached the 18 Open Division final. And just like the Bay To Bay 15-1s, the Pac Rim squad ran into a dominant Balboa Bay team. Balboa won in straight sets 25-14, 25-23 to complete an undefeated tournament. Mountain View Volleyball Club rounded out NorCal’s showing as its 17-Black team took third in the 17 USA Division. ✪ Support Your Advertisers — Say You Found Them in SportStars!

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mmanuel Callas and his Campolindo-Moraga teammates approached this basketball season as if a championship were at stake. Though there were no playoffs in the abbreviated season, Callas and the Cougars made the most of it, going 15-0 in defeating many of the region’s other top teams. Campolindo, which won the Division II state championship in Callas’ sophomore season and was to play in the Division I state final in March 2020 when those games were cancelled at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, firmly emphasized its status as one of the state’s best programs. For Callas’ leadership and stellar performances in his senior season, he has been named SportStars NorCal Player of the Year. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound star led the team statistically with 15.9 points a game, 7.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals and was second with 2.5 assists a game, making an impression throughout those 15 wins. “When you only have 15 games and no playoffs, to make most of the season, you don’t want to leave any doubts,” Callas said. “You want to play the best and beat the best.” Previous Campolindo finished the season NorCal Players atop the SportStars NorCal rankings, Of The Year having beaten eight other teams in ›› 2019-20, Anthony Roy, the final 25. That included wins over Dublin No, 4 Archbishop Riordan-S.F. 46-38, ›› 2018-19, Marcus No. 8 Bishop O’Dowd 56-47, No. 5 Bagley, SheldonSalesian-Richmond 66-50 and No. 6 Sacramento Clayton Valley Charter-Concord 62›› 2017-18, James 33. Yet to Callas and his teammates, Akinjo, Salesianit was a 75-41 win over Las LomasRichmond Walnut Creek in the Diablo Athletic ›› 2016-17, Jordan League that was the most emotional, Brown, Woodcreekbecause that May 26 victory finished Roseville off the perfect season. In its own way, ›› 2015-16, Solomon it was their championship. Young, Sacramento “On senior night we were finally 15-0; that was a big last game and that had a lot of emotion,” Callas said. When California’s COVID-19 restrictions were eased earlier this year and allowed for basketball games to be played, Callas was thrilled. “When I first heard we were having games, the best part was being able to share the court with my teammates and coaches one last time after dealing with so much uncertainty,” he said. Callas and co-captain Chase Bennett asked coach Steven Dyer to find the toughest opponents possible, though travel was limited within the Bay Area. “He was one of the guys who, once we got the clearance to play, wanted to play as hard a schedule as possible,” Dyer said. Callas has not only persevered but thrived during his high school career in spite of adversity. He missed a good portion of his sophomore season with a knee injury, but was a force in the postseason, scoring 19 points and grabbing nine rebounds in the Division II state title win over Colony-Ontario. As a junior, the Cougars had moved up to Division I and were seeded seventh in NorCal but knocked off No. 2 Capital Christian-Sacramento, No. 3 Salesian and No. 4 De La Salle-Concord to get the chance to play for a second straight state title, though those state title games were cancelled. As a senior, he rose to the occasion when standout Aidan Mahaney twice was sidelined by injuries. Callas, who is deciding on his college choice, leaves a tremendous legacy for his four seasons with the Cougars. “In four years of varsity basketball there are always high and lows, and persevering was a strong point for him because it was not always easy for him,” Dyer said. “But he continued to work hard to make it happen.” “I am feeling a strong sense of accomplishment for all four years,” Callas said. “It’s been super special, because each year, in and of itself, we maximized our potential.” ✪ — Mike Wood

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Chris Bunch

Robert Vaihola

With this spring providing such a unique season that differed from league to league and section to section, we decided to shed our tradition of first-, second- and third-team designation. Instead, we’re listing all 15 players together as one alphabetical roster. AMEERE BRITTON Elk Grove | 6-2 | Jr. Britton’s coming-out-party spring ended with him being named Delta League MVP after averaging 18.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2 steals per game as the Thundering Herd went 10-1. CHRIS BUNCH De La Salle-Concord | 6-7 | Jr. It was an up-and-down spring for the Spartans, but not so much for Bunch. The lengthy sharpshooter with offers that include Syracuse and Florida State, averaged 16 points and six rebounds a contest. NIGEL BURRIS Archbishop Mitty-San Jose | 6-7 | Sr. A consistent presence for the Central Coast Section Open Div. champions, Burris averaged 13.8 points and 6.6 rebounds over 18 games. EMMANUEL CALLAS Campolindo-Moraga | 6-5 | Sr. With star junior Aiden Mahaney battling injuries, Callas became the rock of a Camplindo team that would go 15-0 and finish the shortened season ranked No. 1 in NorCal. He averaged 15.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2 steals en route to being named our NorCal Player of the Year. JEREMIAH DARGAN Clayton Valley-Concord | 6-6 | Jr. Dargan knows how to make a good first impression. In his first season after transferring from De La Salle, Dargan helped lead the Ugly Eagles to a 12-3 record by averaging 18.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.3 blocks. JEREMIAH JONES Salesian-Richmond | 6-1 | Sr. The Pride reeled off a 13-2 spring thanks in large part to the scoring efforts of Jones. He averaged 11.9 per game to go with 2.9 assists and 1.6 rebounds. SIONE LOSE Capital Christian-Sacramento | 6-5 | Sr. The UC Davis-bound Lose can score off the dribble or beyond the arc. He helped propel Capital Christian to a 12-2 mark this spring by averaging 13.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.6 steals. 22

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MICHAEL MITCHELL Archbishop Mitty-San Jose | 6-3 | Sr. Mitchell finds himself on our All-NorCal team for the third straight year after a stellar senior season. The Pepperdine commit averaged 14.7 points, 6.4 assists and 5.1 rebounds as he led the Monarchs to a 17-1 record with league and section titles. JOJO MURPHY Piedmont | 6-2 | So. If his sophomore season is any indication, Murphy has a great shot at joining Mitchell in the three-time selection club two years from now. Murphy was the highest-scoring sophomore in the state, among reported stats. He averaged 25.6 points and added 6.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists. CALEB ODEN Dublin | 6-5 | Sr. Oden will suit up for Nevada next fall after a dominant senior season that saw him lead a very good Dublin team in several categories, including points per game (17) and rebounds (7). JAMARI PHILLIPS Modesto Christian | 6-2 | Fr. The gifted freshman scorer already has offers from Cal and Washington State after helping lead the Crusaders to a 15-0 mark this spring. ISA SILVA Jesuit-Carmichael | 6-0 | Sr. With some new scorers entering the fold, the Stanford-bound Silva was happy to take on a more balanced role in leading the Marauders to a 16-0 season. He averaged 12.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.9 steals. ANDREJ STOJAKOVIC Jesuit-Carmichael | 6-4 | So. The son of former Sacramento Kings star, Peja Stojakovic, it should come as no surprise that Andrej can fill it up. He averaged 17.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He shot 48 percent from the field and 41 percent from the 3-point line. ROBERT VAIHOLA Archbishop Riordan-S.F. | 6-8 | Sr. The Fresno State-bound Vaihola was the driving force for a talented Riordan squad that finished 14-4 and runner-up to Mitty in both the WCAL and CCS Open finals. He averaged a double-double of 12.3 points and 12.3 rebounds. JAYLEN WELLS Folsom | 6-6 | Sr. Wells was recently named the Sacramento Bee Player of the Year after averaging 26.3 points and 4.4 rebounds for the 11-2 Bulldogs. He scored 30 or more in six of the team’s 13 contests. ✪

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fter a cover feature, multiple All-NorCal Team honors and a 2021 Preseason Player of the Year story, we’ve found we may be running out of ways to say how impressive Jzaniya Harriel is on the basketball floor. That’s our problem though. Because the Antelope High senior guard hasn’t had any trouble letting her game keep speaking for her. Harriel graduated last month and is set to begin her career for the Stanford Cardinal in the fall. But prior to joining the defending national champions, Harriel made the most of her 10-game senior season with a spring that saw her average 29 points for a Titans team that went 9-1. It was that dominance and consistency that led to her being named SportStars NorCal Player of the Year. She’s the first Sac-Joaquin Section player to win the award, as well as the first non-Bay Area player. “Jzaniya was a threat everywhere on the court, and got it done on both ends,” said Davis High coach Heather Highshoe, who’s teams faced Harriel three of her four years. “Her ability to pull-up from anywhere on the court was always impressive.” Antelope coach Sean Chambers has seen that relentless scoring menPrevious tality from Harriel since first meeting NorCal Players her at his camps as a fourth grader. Of The Year According to Chambers, Harriel ›› 2019-20, Anya Choice, truly announced her presence as a Cardinal Newman-Santa sixth grader playing for JBS BasketRosa ball Club at an OC Elite Tournament. ›› 2018-19, Haley Jones, Due to injuries on the older teams, Archbishop Mitty-San Harriel played for the sixth, eighth Jose and ninth grade teams over the ›› 2017-18, Haley Jones, weekend. It was approximately 9 to Archbishop Mitty-San 10 games over two days. She would Jose end up being named the best player ›› 2016-17, Ilmar’i in all three brackets. Thomas, Sacred Heart “She’s been completely driven at Cathedral-S.F. an elite level,” Chambers said of his ›› 2015-16, Sabrina star player prior to the spring season. Ionescu, Miramonte“She has a mindset most kids don’t Orinda have.” Naturally that mindset translates to the classroom as well — hence her acceptance into Stanford. Harriel took 15 advanced placement classes during her time at Antelope and entered the spring with a 4.5 GPA. She’ll use both her academic and basketball IQ to adjust to life on The Farm — where coincidentally, one of her teammates will be two-time NorCal Player of the Year, Haley Jones of Archbishop Mitty-San Jose. “She was always built for the big stage,” Chambers said in the same preseason interview. “She’s never rattled.” Part of not being rattled is being prepared. Part of being prepared is understanding the situation. “Coming in as a freshman, I know you have to work to earn a spot,” Harriel told SportStars in April. “But I’m not coming in thinking negative thoughts. I’ve talked with Coach Tara (Vanderveer) and she expects me to come in and play a big role.” However she complements the national champs’ returning roster, rest assured there will be plenty of interested parties throughout the NorCal basketball community. “Watching Jzaniya continue to elevate her game over the years, whether it be at Antelope or with JBS, has been fun,” Highshoe said. “I am excited to see all that she accomplishes at Stanford.” Highshoe is probably just as excited that she no longer has to gameplan against Harriel. She’s undoubtedly not alone. ✪ — Chace Bryson & Clay Kallam

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Avery Lee

Silivia Fonongaloa

With this spring providing such a unique season that differed from league to league and section to section, we decided to shed our tradition of first-, second- and third-team designation. Instead, we’re listing all 15 players together as one alphabetical roster. JORDAN ALLRED Miramonte-Orinda | 5-8 | Sr. Allred got her 19.7 points a game from all over the floor. She’s a 3-point shooter who uses her strength and savvy to get to the rim. Allred’s all-around game also included 7.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 3.7 steals a game. She will play for Idaho next year. ANIYAH AUGMON Priory-Portola Valley | 5-8 | Sr. Defense seldom gets the attention it deserves, but Augmon’s ability at that end played a big part in Priory’s solid season and her scholarship to New Mexico. In addition to her shut-down defense, she averaged 11.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. TEAGEN BROWN Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills | 5-10 | Jr. Washington commit averaged 18.5 points and 10.3 rebounds a game. On top of that, all the key players return, so count Brown and the Trojans down as a Sac-Joaquin power in 2021-22. NYA EPPS Carondelet-Concord | 5-10 | Jr. Epps was a standout at both ends for 10-1 Carondelet, which wound up No. 7 in NorCal. The UC Davis commit averaged 16.0 points, 5.7 assists and 5.5 rebounds. SILIVIA FONONGALOA Salesian-Richmond | 6-1 | Jr. In an age of 3-point specialists, Fonongaloa is an old-fashioned set-up-on-the-block post player — her strength and skill make her a force. She led No. 4 Salesian in every important statistical category and will return to do more damage next season. CHARITY GALLEGOS Folsom | 5-3 | Sr. Gallegos was the Bulldogs’ spark plug, combining 3-point sharpshooting with the ability to get to the rim despite her size. She will play for Chico State next year. JZANIYA HARRIEL Antelope | 5-10 | Sr. The SportStars’ NorCal Player of the Year averaged 29.0 points a game for 9-1 Antelope, and did so by scoring at all three levels. She’ll suit up for Stanford next year, much to the relief of the region’s opposing coaches. AVERY LEE Menlo School-Atherton | 5-8 | Sr. The Yale-bound guard has been one of the top players on the Peninsula throughout her career, which she capped with 21.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 4.4 steals per game this spring. 26

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JORDAN LEE St. Mary’s-Stockton | 6-0 | Fr. Not many freshmen make the All-NorCal team, but Lee is a special player. She averaged 18.1 points and 6.6 rebounds for NorCal’s No. 2, and already has Power 5 coaches eager to sign her. SABRINA MA St. Ignatius-S.F. | 5-10 | Jr. Ma helped vault St. Ignatius back into prominence this spring, scoring 18.7 points a game for the No. 10 team. She and many of the key contributors to the Wildcats’ success will return next year. AMANDA MUSE Heritage-Brentwood | 6-4 | So. Though she only played seven games, Muse’s shot-blocking and defensive ability — plus her 16.4 points and 10.4 rebounds a game — earned her this spot. Muse is already considered one of the top college prospects in the area, and is only expected to get better. NATALIE PASCO San Ramon Valley-Danville | 5-10 | Jr. Pasco lit up the scoreboard for the Wolves, averaging 28.3 points a game. And even though she’s primarily a perimeter player, she also grabbed 13 rebounds a game. BELLA STEVENS Santa Cruz | 5-10 | Jr. Thanks in great part to Stevens, Santa Cruz had the best record in Northern California in 2021, ringing up 19 wins to just one loss. Stevens averaged 20.9 points and 7.2 rebounds. COURTNI THOMPSON Pinewood-Los Altos Hills | 5-5 | Sr. Stats are an inadequate measure of Thompson’s contribution to NorCal’s No. 1 team. Her leadership and knack for the big play marked a huge role in the CCS Open Division champ’s success. She’ll take those attributes to UC San Diego next season. OLIVIA WILLIAMS Archbishop Mitty-San Jose | 6-1 | Sr. Williams, who will play for UC Irvine next year, was the standout on a deep and balanced Mitty team that finished No. 3 in Northern California. She averaged 11.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in just 18 minutes a game. ✪

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City), Volleyball

View the capsules for these athletes at SportStarsMag.com

43. Dorian Hale (De La Salle), Football

75. Adam Garwood (Los Gatos), Football

42. Emma Vane (Archbishop Mitty), Soccer

74. Kasey Aguinaga (Heritage-Brentwood), Softball

41. Matteo Perez (Marin Catholic-Kentfield), Football

73. Amaya Bonner (Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland), Basketball

40. Jonathan Cymrot (Valley Christian-San Jose), Baseball

72. Teddy Purcell (Sacred Heart PrepAtherton), Football/Basketball/Baseball

39. Dylan Smith (Vintage-Napa), Football/ Wrestling

71. Cate Peters (Monte Vista-Danville), Track

38. Amanda Muse (Heritage), Basketball

70. Olivia Williams (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose), Basketball

37. Jeremiah Dargan (Clayton Valley-Concord), Basketball

69. Lauren Tam (San Ramon Valley-Danville), Volleyball 68. Dreyan Paul (McClymonds-Oakland), Football 67. Nya Epps (Carondelet-Concord), Basketball 66. Nathan Wang (Archbishop Mitty), Golf 65. Jalen Lewis (Bishop O’Dowd), Basketball 64. Dillon Goetz (Sequoia-Redwood City), Baseball 63. Melanie Julie (Gunn-Palo Alto), Swimming 62. Tianna Bell (Heritage), Softball 61. Jalen Moss (Menlo-Atherton-Atherton), Football 60. Paul McCants (De La Salle-Concord), Track 59. Josh Ewert (Campolindo-Moraga), Volleyball 58. Devon Rivers (Heritage), Football 57. Kaley Peterson (St. Francis-Mountain View), Track 56. Fynn Williams (Serra-San Mateo), Football

36. Dominic Oliver (Valley Christian-San Jose), Football Welcome to the ninth edition of our annual Bay Area 75 athlete rankings. This is a countdown of the top Bay Area’s top athletes from the 2020-21 school year. As everyone reading this well knows, 2020-21 was an anything but normal year for high school sports. Every sport was crammed into a four-month window. Some seasons were vastly shortened with no playoffs, and others were pretty darn close to normal and ended in section championships. This has also been a list full of multi-sport athletes, which COVID protocols made much more rare than usual. (We still found some though!) The criteria for this list has always been the same. Athletes must attend or compete for a high school within the nine Bay Area counties and compete in a sport that traditionally ends in a section title. Exceptions are made for athletes who have reached a national-level of success but may not compete for their school. Recruiting rankings are a factor in our research, but they don’t lead to automatic selection. With all the concurrent action and disparities, we fully acknowledge that we might have missed a deserving candidate or two. But we also look at this list and see 75 pretty special athletes. All sports fans know that rankings are opinion and subjective. But they spark debate and conversation, which is why we like them. So sound off! We look forward it. — Chace Bryson, SportStars Editor 53. Myah Polzin (Berkeley), Soccer 52. Josh Gerlach (California-San Ramon), 51. Adaugo Nwachukwu (Silver Creek-San

Swimming

50. Jordan Allred (Miramonte-Orinda),

ball 45. JP Murphy (San Ramon Valley), Foot-

55. Xavier Esquer (Palo Alto), Baseball

Basketball

54. Megan Grant (Aragon-San Mateo), Softball

49. Robert Vaihola (Riordan-S.F.), Basketball

31. Carter Bailey (Granada-Livermore), Wrestling 30. Silivia Fonongaloa (Salesian-Richmond), Basketball 29. Nolan Topper (Bellarmine-San Jose), Track 28. Gabriel Plascencia (Bishop O’Dowd), Soccer/Football 27. Tsion Nunnally (Cardinal NewmanSanta Rosa), Football 26. Maddie Gamble (Carondelet), Golf 25. Zeke Berry (De La Salle), Football/ Track

23. Sean Huckleberry (University-S.F.), Track

44. Alexandria Gloria (James Logan-Union

21. Fiona Young (Miramonte), Water Polo

cure the CCS Open Division title. The Monarchs finished 17-1 as Mitchell averaged 14.7 points, 6.4 assists and 5.1 rebounds. It’s the second year in a row the Pepperdine commit has made this list.

18. Jacob Hudson (Valley ChristianSan Jose), So.| Baseball Arguably the best two-way player on NorCal’s No. 1-ranked team to finish the season. The Texas Christian (TCU) commit went 8-1 and led the team in wins, strike-

Mitchell wrapped up his stellar Monarchs career in style with 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists as Mitty defeated Archbishop Riordan-S.F. 69-63 in overtime to se-

RBI (17). In three playoff games, Hudson went 5-for-9 at

July/August 2021

32. Blake Burke (De La Salle), Baseball

22. Jurrion Dickey (Valley Christian), Football/Basketball/Track

outs (83) and innings pitched (61). He also hit .365 and

SportStars™

33. Maxwell Weaver (Campolindo), Football/Basketball

ball/Basketball

19. Michael Mitchell (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose), Sr. | Basketball

34. Olivia Dinardo (Aragon), Softball

24. Abigail Herscu (Granada), Swimming

46. Daytuawn Pearson (Pittsburg), Foot-

Jose), Wrestling

Sichak is bound for USC after claiming gold four times at the Central Coast Section championships. He won individual titles in both the 50 freestyle (20.43 seconds) and 100 freestyle (44.48) while also swimming legs on the champion 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams. Bellarmine won the team title by a wide margin. Swimcloud. com listed Sichak as the No. 8-ranked recruit among the state’s 2021 class.

Track 47. Sydney Lu (Quarry Lane-Dublin),

Football

20. Kevin Sichak (BellarmineSan Jose), Sr. | Swimming

48. Luci Lambert (Sacred Heart Prep),

35. Matthew Chung (Harker-San Jose), Swimming

was third on the CCS Div. I champs in both hits (27) and the plate and earned wins in the quarterfinal (as a starter) and final (in relief). Always More To Read at SportStarsMag.com

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15. Emmanuel Callas (Campolindo-Moraga), Sr. | Basketball SportStars’ named Callas its NorCal Player of the Year after he stepped into a leadership role for a 15-0 Cougars team that finished No. 1 in NorCal. The 6-foot-5 Callas raised his game in the absence of standout Aiden Mahaney, who missed all but six games due to injuries. Callas averaged 15.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2 steals per game.

14. Brady Huchingson (Acalanes-Lafayette), Sr. | Football/Baseball In his second year under center for coach and QB whisperer, Floyd Burnsed, Huchingson blossomed into one of the East Bay’s best. He will be a preferred walk-on at Oregon State after throwing for 1,381 yards and 15 TDs to lead the Dons to a 5-1 mark. He also rushed for 155 yards and two scores. Huchingson transitioned to the diamond where he hit .352 with 19 hits, 13 runs, 11 RBI, two doubles and a triple over 18 games.

Matthew Quesada

Brady Huchingson

17. Natalie Pasco (San Ramon Valley-Danville), Jr. | Basketball Pasco established herself as one of the East Bay’s elite scorers. In the Wolves’ second and third games of the spring, Pasco torched California-San Ramon for 41 and 46 points on back-to-back nights. She grabbed 14 rebounds in each of those games. Pasco earned a slew of postseason honors including multiple All-NorCal selections and the San Francisco Chronicle’s Metro Player of the Year. She averaged 28.3 points and 13 boards as SRV went 11-0.

16. Matthew Quesada (Pittsburg), Sr. | Football/ Baseball In his first and only season with the Pirates, Quesada became the team’s top target in the passing game. Multiple Pirates coaches raved about his natural receiver abilities. He caught 19 passes for 308 yards and four TDs as Pittsburg finished 5-0. He then joined the baseball team midseason and took over a starting outfield spot. He hit .408 with 13 hits, 11 runs, 3 RBI and stole four bases to help the Pirates win their first league title in 35 years. 29 SportStars™ July/August 2021 Always More To Read at SportStarsMag.com

13. Aspin Oliver (Vacaville), Sr. | Track Oliver cemented herself firmly in Vacaville’s legacy of female champion hurdlers. The Cal Poly-bound talent won both the 100 and 300 hurdle events at the NorCal Championships Invitational, and then proceeded to take gold in the 300 event at the State Championships Invitational. She also ran a leg on the NorCal champion 4x100 meter relay team. Her PR in the 300 hurdles from this season (42.16 seconds) would’ve earned her silver at the last official CIF State Championships. She recently earned top finishes at the AAU West Coast Nationals and the Pacific Association Top-5 Meet

12. Jessica Oakland (St. Francis-Mountain View), Jr. | Softball Oakland became the Bay Area media’s consensus selection for Player of the Year after an outright dominant offensive season for the undefeated CCS Division I champions. The University of Minnesota commit batted .612 with an eye-popping 19 home runs. In 26 games, Oakland managed to post 52 hits, 55 RBI and 50 runs scored. She had 10 doubles, four triples and was 7-for-8 in stolen base attempts.

11. Nico Torrez (De La Salle-Concord), Sr. | Football/Baseball Torrez joined the long history of football/baseball standouts for De La Salle this spring. Torrez scored the Spartans’ first touchdown of the spring on the first of two long scoring runs against St. Mary’s-Stockton. He finished the season with 10 TDs and 679 rushing yards. He then jumped to baseball where he hit .326 with 15 hits, 15 RBI, nine runs, a home run and six stolen bases for the EBAL champions.

10. Hassan Mahasin (Serra-San Mateo), Jr. | Football Cal-Hi Sports named him its State Running Back of the Year after he racked up 745 total yards and 10 touchdowns for the 5-0 Padres. He made plays all over the field and finished the spring as a four-star recruit with a number of Power 5 offers. His long list of postseason accolades included being named SportStars’ Bay Area Player of the Year, a Cal-Hi Sports 1st Team All-State selection as well as NorCalPreps.com’s NorCal Player of the Year.

9. Nyla Valencia (Sobrato-Morgan Hill), Jr. | Wrestling The defending CCS and CIF champion at 106 pounds became the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the nation at the weight class early in 2021. Then she backed it up by winning the division at the inaugural USA Wrestling High School National Showcase in Iowa. She won the title match 13-6 and pinned two-time Cadet world medalist Sterling Dias in the semis. She left that tournament and went straight to the Olympic Trials where she was invited to be a warmup partner for one of the qualified competitors.

8. Paul Barton (Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton), Sr. | Lacrosse/Football The son of former 49ers’ All-Pro Offensive Lineman, Harris Barton, is a five-star lacrosse recruit headed to the University of North Carolina this fall. Barton led a defense that allowed only two second half goals to undefeated, nationallyranked St. Ignatius-S.F. in the CCS final that the Gators won 17-8. Playing in his first high school football season this spring, he finished second on the team in total yards from scrimmage (449), and he lead the team in catches (25) and receiving yards (336). He scored five total TDs and contributed on defense with 14 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery.

7. Aden Valencia (Sobrato-Morgan Hill), Fr. | Wrestling Nyla’s younger brother is following very much in his sister’s footsteps. Aden has also climbed to a No. 1 national ranking at 106 pounds. He’s a U15 world champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman and was practically untested in his run to the 106 pound title at USA Wrestling High School National Showcase in March. He outscored his opponents 53-7 on his way to the top of the podium. Like his sister, he was also invited to be a warmup partner for Team USA wrestlers at the Olympic Trials. He partnered with Jacarra Winchester who went on to win the women’s 53 kg (116 pound) division. He also recently reached the finals of the 17U world championships.

6. Lu-Magia Hearns (De La Salle-Concord), Sr. | Football/Track Hearns was named both SportStars’ and Cal-Hi Sports’ NorCal Player of the Year after the unanimously-voted team captain delivered an electric season that made the 6-0 Spartans better in every phase of the game. At Cal, he’ll focus on being a defensive back, but with De La Salle he did a little bit of everything. He had 189 receiving yards and three touchdowns, he averaged 42.6 yards per kick return (which included taking two to the house against Monte VistaDanville), and also logged two interceptions. Late in the spring he ran track and posted Top 12 times in both the 100 and 200 meters at the NorCal Championships Invitational.

5. Luke Casper (Bellarmine-San Jose), Sr. | Tennis Casper graduates as one of the Bay Area’s top male tennis prospects in decades. TennisRecruiting.net ranked him the No. 8 recruit in the country as of late April. He didn’t get to defend his previous two CCS singles titles, but did help Bellarmine reach the team final. He won the No. 1 singles match, but the Bells fell 4-3 to Sacred Heart Prep. Casper’s career will continue at Texas A&M this fall.

4. Henry Porter (Gilroy), Sr. | Wrestling Porter has been one NorCal’s best wrestlers for each of the past three years. He entered his senior year as a threetime CIF state placer and one-time finalist with a high school record of 135-15. As of April he was ranked 11th nationally at 145 pounds, which was before he cruised to the 145-pound championship at the Cal State Championships Invitational event in June. He’ll be a Big 10 wrestler for Indiana University. 30

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July/August 2021

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Lu-Magia Hearns

CHART TOPPERS History of Bay Area 75 Athletes To Earn The #1 Ranking. Year Athlete

School

Sport

2020-21

Amit Elor

College Park-Pleasant Hill

Wrestling

2019-20

Chase Saldate

Gilroy

Wrestling

2018-19

Haley Jones

Archbishop Mitty-San Jose

Basketball

2017-18

Haley Jones

Archbishop Mitty-San Jose

Basketball

2016-17

Marquel Johnson

St. Patrick-St. Vincent-Vallejo

Football, Basketball, Baseball

2015-16

Najee Harris

Antioch

Football

2014-15

Ivan Rabb

Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland

Basketball

2013-14

Drew Anderson

Miramonte-Orinda

Football, Basketball, Baseball

2012-13

Aaron Gordon

Archbishop Mitty-San Jose

Basketball

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3. John Lester (Amador ValleyPleasanton), Sr. | Track The Stanford-bound star finds himself in exactly the same place on this list as he did last year. Which is an impressive feat in itself, especially since COVID and an injury forced him to go nearly nine months without running his signature event – the 800 meters. But since returning to the track he’s been among the nation’s best. He ran the state and nation’s fastest high school 800m time of 2021, and the state’s third-fastest ever when he clocked a 1:47.65 against professional and unattached athletes in the Stumptown Twilight Meet in Portland on June 3. Only five high school runners in the nation have ever run faster.

2. Noah Short (King’s AcademySunnyvale), Sr. | Football/Basketball/Track There’s almost always a spot reserved near the top of this list for an athlete like Short. As we mentioned in our intro, it wasn’t an easy year to be a multi-sport athlete. Short sure made it look easy, though. In three recorded football games (the Knights played four total), Short rushed 48 times for 357 yards and five TDs. He also caught 14 passes for 95 yards and two scores and was a standout defender as well. On the hardwood, he played in 14 games and averaged a team-best 27.9 points for the CCS Division IV runners-up. Finally, he qualified for the CCS Track and Field Championships and took second in the 100 meter final in a time of 11.01, one-tenth behind champion Evan Johnson of Stevenson-Pebble Beach.

1. Amit Elor (College ParkPleasant Hill), Jr. | Wrestling She traded in her College Park purple singlet for the red-white-and-blue version after a dominant state championship run as a freshman two winters ago. But a list ranking the Bay Area’s top athletes is a sham without Elor on it. And this year, she’s deserving of topping it — the second female to do so, and the second consecutive wrestler. Quite simply she would be an Olympian later this month if she was born ONE DAY earlier. That’s how close she was to the age cutoff for the Tokyo Olympic Trials. She ranks No. 2 in the nation at 152 pounds, and No. 3 in the nation across all weights. At the World Team Trials in May, she won all six of her 69-kilogram Cadet division matches in pins of less than a minute. Her 68-kilogram Junior division matches were all pins as well, the longest match went 2 minutes, 14 seconds. After that performance she traveled to Ukraine where she won the Cadet Beach Worlds. She’ll compete in the Cadet World Championships in Budapest, Hungary this July. ✪ Follow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!

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