NorCal Issue 202 November 23, 2021 by Sport Stars Magazine

NOVEMBER 23, 2021 NORCAL EDITION VOL. 12 ISSUE 202

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Pick & Roll Into A New Era

t was just a few short months ago that I was writing the opening column to our NorCal Football Preview with an equal amount of excitement and trepidation. No one really had any idea what our first traditional fall season of high school sports since the COVID shutdowns might look like. What would we be able to consider ‘normal?’ With the exception of a few COVID-related cancellations and some seating limitations early, there was very little about this fall sports season that didn’t feel normal. But we’re about to enter a new phase of the experiment. Winter is no longer coming; it’s here. That means a shift to more indoor sports — and it also means flu season and Holiday gatherings. As we start hoops season, we’ll need to set a new baseline on “Normal.” However, if the girls volleyball season was any indication, we ought to be in good shape. The CIF State Volleyball championships just wrapped Nov. 20, ending a season that went remarkably well, all things considered. (Shoutout to Redwood-Larkspur and University Prep-Redding for bringing hardware back to NorCal). We should all have our chance to see some ball this winter. However, most schools will still be requiring masks to get in the game. But if that’s all we have to worry about, things are good. Putting together our first NorCal Hoops Preview in more than two years felt awfully enjoyable. For me, and likely many others, basketball will always feel like the sport most tied to the pandemic. When the CIF cancelled its state basketball championships on that fateful Thursday morning in March 2020, that’s when many of us knew the virus wasn’t just going to be a blip on the radar. Speaking with coaches and players for this preview, the relief was palpable. Many of them know that we’re not close to being back to pre-pandemic normal, but it’s basketball at the right time of year with the same preseason preparation benchmarks they’re used to. And for so many of those players who didn’t get to play for section or league titles last spring, it’s refreshing to have championship goals again. “The kids are really getting that excitement going, knowing that they are actually going to be able to compete for something,” St. Mary’s-Stockton girls basketball coach Alle Moreno said for a story on the Rams in this very issue. There are stakes again, and that’s going to feel normal. We invite you to get ready for it all with a dive into our 2021-22 NorCal Basketball Preview. We’ve got four features, our Preseason NorCal Top 20 Rankings for both boys and girls, and our Top 10 NorCal boys and girls players. If it’s not all normal yet, it’s going to feel that way the first time you see that 3-on-1 fast break develop. And we’ll be right with you, watching along and ready to write about it. ✪

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3.16.13 Mike Eggleton hugs an assistant coach as his College Park-Pleasant Hill teammates celebrate with the student body in the wake of the Falcons’ 93-90 overtime win over Dublin in the CIF Div. II NorCal Regional Championship at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento. Eggleton is now an assistant coach for CSU East Bay. Two other members of that team are currently enjoying professional baseball careers. Trevor Larnach made his Major League debut with the Minnesota Twins in 2021, and Joe DeMers is currently in the Oakland A’s minor league system after a stellar career at the University of Washington. Photo By Phillip Walton

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NCVA Shares Tips To Make Volleyball Players More Recruitable

he fall season can be an emotional rollercoaster for an unsigned/uncommitted senior volleyball athlete (and for juniors in the same situation). As the author of CollegeVolleyballCoach. com, I receive numerous emails from volleyball families who are a bit panicked because college coaches are telling them they are done recruiting, or not responding at all. Families must remember that this is the most important time of the year for college volleyball coaches; the collegiate playing season. College coaches are trying to not get fired, to secure a raise, get a contract, or pushing for a great record so they have the opportunity to move up the job ranks, etc. While recruiting never ends, the coach’s focus is almost exclusively on the players in the gym and achieving the best possible season right now. As the collegiate playing season comes to a close, the collegiate recruiting season starts. College volleyball programs will have immediate roster spots and scholarship positions to fill for seniors and juniors. From NCAA Division I to junior colleges, injuries, academics, homesickness, playing-time issues or job changes can all create immediate roster spots and scholarship opportunities which may not have been available one month ago. The active collegiate recruiting season begins in late November, when the collegiate seasons come to a close. Make sure you are ready to be recruited. Be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center and have your NCAA ID number listed on all your recruiting literature/profile. If you are a junior or a senior, have a current copy of your high school transcript and ACT or SAT test score ready to send to colleges. Use the small window of time between the end of high school volleyball and the start of club volleyball to address any injuries or physical issues. Rest does not fix problems, it only masks them. As a senior, you need to be at the top of your game early in the club season. College coaches are looking to make immediate recruiting decisions on seniors, so you don’t have time to play your way into shape. Use practice to improve your weaknesses, but always play to your strengths in early tournaments: Show your best skills to watching college coaches. Re-examine your list of outreach schools. If you have been contacting a certain level of program and no school is getting back to you, then it is time to adjust. Responses or lack of responses from a grouping of schools, provides valuable feedback. Create a five-minute highlight or skills video of your most recent court time to have available for coaches. Don’t show clips/repetitions from September of your high school season, as it will be too old. Film the last matches of high school, or better yet, film the first few club volleyball practices. Stay active in your outreach to colleges and communication. Roster openings will be occurring all through the holidays. Even though you may have already written a school, college coaches don’t go back through all of their emails when they have an opening; they respond to the next incoming email. There is still time on the recruiting clock for seniors (and definitely juniors), but no more time to let slip by. Use these next couple of weeks to prepare for the opening of the collegiate recruiting season. ✪ — Matt Sonnichsen for NCVA 6

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FROM LEFT: Elk Grove seniors and longtime friends Dajon Lott, Ameere Britton, Karlos Zepeda and Jordan Hess recreate a beach photo from their youth. 8

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Story by Steven Wilson Photos by David Gershon

Fueled By A Talented Quartet Of Seniors Who’ve Grown Up As Best Friends, Elk Grove Will Be Among The Sac-Joaquin Section’s Best — And Might Just Raise A Banner

Karlos Zepeda 10

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From sleepovers to step-backs, crossovers to companions, no one has a deeper bond on and off the court than Elk Grove High’s four standout senior boys basketball student-athletes. The quartet has played together on the court for the last eight years, and have grown even closer off the hardwood. In fact, you could call it a brotherhood over a normal friendship. Since fourth grade, Ameere Britton, Dajon “Money” Lott Jr., Karlos Zepeda and Jordan Hess have been inseparable. “It’s really kind of cool that this core group of guys have been playing together so long, and ended up at the same high school,” Elk Grove coach Dustin Monday said. “That’s really unique and a special part of our team — we have guys that are so committed to each other.” That bond has also helped the group become more unstoppable. After postponing the winter season to the spring, the Herd won 10 games and went 5-1 in Delta League play, finishing second. Unfortunately, the shortened season did not include playoffs — which meant another Thundering Herd season ending too soon. “We haven’t had a deep run [in the playoffs] since 2008,” Monday said. “We made the playoffs with this group as freshmen and sophomores. And it was really unfortunate last year, because I think we had a really, really good team. I thought we were the best team in D2 without question, but without the playoffs we didn’t get to show that. We’re hoping this year we can fix that.” Monday returns nearly half of last year’s roster for the upcoming slate, including the four seniors, each of whom have been on varsity for at least two seasons. That’s helped the coach move beyond basic offensive system-install, and into lessons for more nuanced technique and situational basketball. “It’s been different with this group,” he said. “I’ve really tried to find the best offensive system and scheme for them. We’ve actually had three different offensive systems within their four years. But this is the first time that we’ve had the same system installed in back-to-back years, so we’re able to get to a higher-level skill compared to standard install.” That means Monday has been harping on the details — sharing first, second, and third reads for the pickand-roll, working with his team on situational awareness and digging deeper into the playbook. Many of those decisions will fall on the shoulders of the 6-foot-2 Britton, who will serve as a combo guard and the team’s main ball-handler this season. Named last year’s Delta League MVP, Britton nearly led the Herd in every statistical category, averaging a team-high in scoring (18.5) and steals (2). He also finished second in rebounding (6.2) and assists (3.4). Britton was second in the Delta League in scoring, and equally impressive, it was the third year in a row that he’s averaged double-digits for the Herd. In fact, he needs just 59 more points this year to cross the century mark for his prep career. “He’s been our leading scorer the last two years, but he’s still a very unselfish, team-first guy,” Monday pointed out. “He’ll pass up shots to get other guys looks, and he makes everyone around him better.” Britton says that is partially due to the team’s chemistry. Because they’ve been playing together since the fourth grade, he knows where his teammates will be at any given time, and how to get them the ball. “Just watching each other grow up, knowing each other’s tendencies, knowing how we like to play — it’s really unselfish basketball,” Britton explained. “When they’re open, I try to get the ball to them as fast as possible.” In last year’s impressive 67-57 win over Sheldon-Sacramento, Britton led the way with a team-high 20 points. That win held significance because it halted a 16-game losing streak to the Huskies — one that dated back to 2006. Always More To Read at SportStarsMag.com

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Although Sheldon later earned redemption in a fall-league contest, the team believes those high-caliber wins are not a fluke and will be more frequent this season. “I think we’re right there with Sheldon and Jesuit, and I think we have a good enough team to beat anybody we play this season,” exclaimed Britton, who has collegiate interest from many local programs and offers from Sacramento State, Chico State, Cal State Monterey Bay, Cal State East Bay and San Francisco State. Fellow senior Dajon Lott, who’s appropriately nicknamed “Money”, is also receiving collegiate interest. The 6-8 forward led the team in rebounding last year, averaging 7.4 a game to go along with his 7.5 points and nearly two blocks. But it’s his versatility that shines brightest. “Money’s not like your traditional big,” Monday said. “He’ll play wing, where he’s a really good perimeter shooter, and he’ll play in the post, where we have a lot of action to utilize his skills. He’s also a great passer, particularly out of the post. We try to find ways to get him the ball and allow him to be a playmaker.” Guards Jordan Hess and Karlos Zepeda, a three-year captain, will help the Herd space the floor this year with their 3-point shooting. Both shoot over 30 percent from the arc, and are key contributors on defense. “Everyone brings something different to the table, so it’s tough for defenses to guard,” Zepeda explained. “Money has skills inside-outside, Ameere is one of the best defenders I’ve ever played against, and Jordan is one of our best shooters.” That combination is special, says Hess, on the court and off. In fact, it’s been that way for a while. The group of four started playing together on a travel-ball AAU team when they were 8-years old. Hess’s father, Scott, was the coach for those teams. “Watching them go from little kids to young men has been amazing,” Scott Hess said. “They’re good kids. They’re talented at basketball, but it’s more important that they’re good kids.” Whether they run it back for another double-digit win season or not, one thing is clear: This team is going to enjoy the ride. “These are my best friends on the court with me, and I know the chemistry is there between us,” Lott said. “Being able to play with them all these years, and have that connection with these guys is something you really can’t take for granted because not a lot of people get that chance. “It’s something I’m grateful for.” ✪

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Depth, Talent Abound For Preseason No. 1 Campolindo

hen the Campolindo High boys basketball team opens its season against Dublin in the eighth and final game of the NorCal Tip-Off Classic on Nov. 27 at Newark Memorial High School, it will have been more than 21 months since the two extremely successful East Bay programs squared off. The last meeting between the two came on Feb. 26, 2020, in the North Coast Section Open Division semifinals — it’s the last time Campolindo lost a game. Following that night, Campolindo won four straight to reach the CIF Div. I state championship game that never got played due to COVID. Then in an abbreviated season last spring, Campolindo went 15-0 and finished atop of SportStars’ Final NorCal Top 20 rankings. And that’s where the Cougars will begin the 2021-22 season. In addition to a current 19-game winning streak, Campolindo coach Steven Dyer returns nine players from last season’s squad. Many of those returners are three- or four-year varsity players as well. Dyer, however, is quick to point out that nothing is turn-key. “Every group is different,” the coach said over the phone nine days before the team’s opening game with Dublin. “This group is still trying to find its identity. We didn’t lose a lot, but we did lose some great leaders. Everyone knows Emmanuel (Callas) which is obvious. But Chase Bennett and Max Weaver were both three-year varsity guys who never had gaudy stat lines but knew their roles to a T and did everything that was asked of them. “We’ve got a lot of talent on this team. But I’m trying to find those guys who can do the little things that others have done the last two or three years in order to win.” The frontline talent resides in recent St. Mary’s College-signee, 6-3 guard Aidan Mahaney, and Cade Bennett — the son of Mahaney’s soon-to-be collegiate coach, Randy Bennett. With the graduation of Callas, Cade Bennett is the top returning scorer from the spring. He averaged 12.6 points to go with 4.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Meanwhile, Mahaney was able to play in just six games last spring while battling various injuries. And according to Dyer, he’s still working though some. “He’s still battling some ankle stuff that he had last spring,” Dyer said. “We do anticipate having him soon, but we don’t want to try and put a specific date on it.” When Mahaney is healthy, though, he can influence the game in every phase. In the meantime, Bennett, 6-foot-6 senior post Matt Radell and 6-3 junior guard Shane O’Reilly will likely be the initial spark plugs for the Cougars. There’s also Logan Robeson, a junior who was starting toward the end of his freshman year before missing last spring. Also, now might be a good time to mention that the Campolindo junior varsity also went 15-0 last spring. Sophomores Tyler Bergren and Dylan Mansour led that team and are now part of a very deep bench for Campolindo. As the team’s opener nears, Dyer says his top focus with this group is on the defensive side of the ball. “Defense, defense, defense,” he said. “We knew we can be pretty good on offense. We’ve got guys who can score the ball. We were elite on defense last year, maybe one of the best I’ve had. We need this group knowing that side of the court is the most important when you want to win and it matters most.” With their name next to the No. 1 in most rankings, there won’t be many games that don’t matter for the Cougars this season. ✪ — Chace Bryson

LEFT: Shane O’Reilly drives the lane during a spring game against Bishop O’DowdOakland. ABOVE: Cougars coach Steven Dyer surveys the action during a Spring 2021 game at Campolindo. Berry Evans III photos

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BOYS PRESEASONTOP20 1. Campolindo-Moraga (15-0 in Spring 2021)

11. Clayton Valley-Concord (12-3)

Yes, three impactful leaders left to graduation — most notably last spring’s SportStars NorCal Player of the Year, Emmanuel Callas. However, the Cougars still have an extremely talented and deep roster led by four-year starter and Saint Mary’s College signee, Aidan Mahaney. Campolindo closed the spring season as NorCal’s top-ranked team, and appear to be the consensus choice for the top spot to begin 2021-22. The Cougars are No. 4 in the CalHiSports.com state rankings, and have a 19-game winning streak that dates to February 2020. In addition to Mahaney, the program also returns standout point guard Cade Bennett and off-guard Shane O’Reilly. Bennett (12.6 ppg) and O’Reilly (11.1 ppg) will combine with Mahaney to make one of the East Bay’s most formidable backcourts. Four-year varsity post Matt Radell will help pick up the rebounding slack. The team features nine returners overall, and will add in a few standouts from last spring’s 15-0 JV team as well.

12. Inderkum-Sacramento (7-2) 13. Lincoln-Stockton (7-1) 14. Folsom (11-2) 15. Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland (9-4) 16. Piedmont (11-5) 17. De La Salle-Concord (10-6) 18. Sacramento (4-7) 19. Dougherty Valley-San Ramon (9-5)

2. Modesto Christian (15-0) A crazy amount of depth has led to the Crusaders being widely considered the top team in the Sac-Joaquin Section to open the season. Returning All-NorCal sophomore guard, Jamari Phillips, is a top national recruit for the 2024 class who averaged more than 18 points per game as a freshman last spring, and shot at a 40 percent clip from behind the arc. He will be joined by one of the state’s top rising juniors in 6-2 point guard BJ Davis. Junior Darius Smith fills out a lightning quick backcourt while even more talented underclassmen fill the paint. There’s 6-6 sophomore Manasse Itete and 6-10 junior Price Oseya. Senior guards Devin Day and Alex Argander will play big roles as well.

20. St. Ignatius-S.F. (12-7)

Modesto Christian’s Jamari Phillps

3. Salesian-Richmond (13-2) The Pride enter the season on a 13-game win streak after an 0-2 start to their spring season. Austin Johnson, a 6-4 senior guard who only got to play in about half the spring games due to injury, returns at full strength to lead a strong roster top to bottom. Touted sophomore Amani Johnson (6-2 guard) and Newark Memorial junior transfer Tyler Harris (6-5 wing) should also be big contributors.

4. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (17-1) The defending Central Coast Section champions from the spring were hit harder by graduation than some, but there’s still some key playmakers dressing in black and gold. The most notable is Derek Sangster, a returning All-State Sophomore selection with multiple offers. The Monarchs open the year ranked No. 21 in the CalHiSports.com state rankings.

7. Vanden-Fairfield (10-3) Last spring was an especially trying one for Vikings coach Michael Holloway and his players after junior Daniel Hughes was a victim of gun violence. That’s not a scar that’s going to go away easily, but this year’s team ought to be especially tight in the wake of that tragedy. Takai Emerson-Hardy will lead a talented, hungry and motivated group.

8. Archbishop Riordan-S.F. (14-4) Mitty needed overtime to eventually vanquish Riordan in the CCS Open Division final last spring. All-NorCal guard Robert Vaihola graduated and 7-foot-1 Mor Seck left via transfer, but look for junior point guard King Jhasanni-Wilhite to ignite the next era of Riordan success.

5. Dublin (11-3)

9. Jesuit-Carmichael (16-0)

Despite a whirlwind spring season in which they played 14 games in 18 days, the Gaels still managed to win 11 times. The three losses were all by single digits (one went to OT). Courtney Anderson Jr., a prolific combo-guard with multiple offers, will lead another strong collective.

The 2021 senior tandem of Isa Silva and Chris Holley went out in style with a perfect 16-0 spring. Now the torch is passed to 6-foot-7 junior Andrej Stojakovic — an All-NorCal selection last June after he led the Maruaders in scoring at a 17.4 ppg clip.

6. Sheldon (4-6)

10. Elk Grove (10-1)

It was a bumpy spring, but many believe the Huskies are prepped to be back among the SJS elite. Expect the senior trio of Rashaud Bradley (6-4 guard), Marcelius Franklin (6-6 post) and Donovan Morgan (6-4 wing) to be the engine for this group.

We wouldn’t have spotlighted the Thundering Herd with the cover feature of this issue if we weren’t expecting big things. There aren’t many NorCal programs with a quartet of seniors as experienced and talented as Ameere Britton, Dajon Lott, Karlos Zepeda and Jordan Hess.

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BOYS PRESEASON

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MILES BYRD (Lincoln-Stockton) Senior | 6-6 | Wing Byrd committed to San Diego State in early October, choosing the Aztecs over offers from Minnesota, Washington and several mid-majors. Lincoln went 7-1 in the spring as Byrd averaged more than 19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.

JEREMIAH DARGAN (Clayton Valley-Concord) Senior | 6-3 | Wing In his first season after transferring from De La Salle, Dargan helped lead the Ugly Eagles to a 12-3 spring record by averaging 18.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.3 blocks. The SportStars’ All-NorCal selection had a buzzer-beating layup that beat Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland.

TAKAI EMERSON-HARDY (Vanden-Fairfield) Senior | 6-7 | Post Vanden coach Michael Holloway told the Vacaville Reporter that Hardy would “go down as one of the best players to ever put on one of our uniforms — one of the best players to ever touch our area in the last 20-some odd years.” So yeah, he’s pretty good.

AIDAN MAHANEY (Campolindo-Moraga) Senior | 6-2 | Guard Sidelined for much of the spring season with various injuries, the Saint Mary’s College signee will undoubtedly be eager to get back on the floor and contribute to NorCal’s Preseason No. 1 team. In his last full season, Mahaney was among the Bay Area’s best players, averaging 19.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

JAMARI PHILLIPS (Modesto Christian) Sophomore | 6-2 | Guard Kansas, USC, Washington and Mississippi have each made offers to the Crusaders’ talented combo-guard. As a freshman, he helped lead Modesto Christian to a 15-0 mark, and is a big reason it begins No. 2 in NorCal this season.

Campolindo’s Aidan Mahaney

NEXT FIVE COURTNEY ANDERSON JR. (Dublin) Junior | 6-4 | Wing Anderson will be a primary catalyst for a Gaels team that begins inside the Top 5 of SportStars’ Preseason NorCal Top 20 Rankings. Anderson picked up a number of offers this summer, including Arizona State, San Diego State and Nevada.

AMEERE BRITTON (Elk Grove) Senior | 6-2 | Wing Britton was an All-NorCal selection last spring after being named Delta League MVP for the 10-1 Thundering Herd. His coming-out-party half-season included averaging 18.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2 steals per game.

JOJO MURPHY (Piedmont) Junior | 6-2 | Guard Murphy earned SportStars All-NorCal honors last season and has a fantastic opportuFollow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!

nity to be a three-time selection by the time he finishes his Highlanders career. Murphy was the highest-scoring sophomore in the state last spring, among reported stats. He averaged 25.6 points and added 6.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

DEREK SANGSTER (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose) Junior | 6-7 | Post A CalHiSports.com 1st Team All-State Sophomore last spring, Sangster was a major reason the Monarchs went 17-1 and claimed a Central Coast Section title. The talented scorer and rebounder has picked up offers from Washington State, UC Santa Barbara, Loyola Marymount and others.

ANDREJ STOJAKOVIC (Jesuit-Carmichael) Junior | 6-7 | Wing 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.

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With Two Stars And A Coach From Last Summer’s 17U National Champion Leading The Way, Carondelet Is Ready To Fully Jump Into A New Era Of Excellence

Talana Lepolo, left and Nya Epps 18

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ettings are in place for basketball success at Carondelet High in Concord. The Cougars are primed for the word “go!” The Cougars have set their table nicely, with two standout senior guards newly signed to Division I colleges and one of the region’s most dynamic coaches. Point guard Talana Lepolo will be going to Stanford. Yes, as in defending NCAA National Champion Stanford. Shooting guard Nya Epps is headed to UC Davis, winner of the last five Big West Conference championships. Each came to Carondelet as junior transfers. Running the show is Kelly Sopak, who came over to the Cougars in September 2020 after an exceptional run at Miramonte-Orinda. The excitement level is at a fever pitch, hitting a high note on Nov. 9 when Lepolo and Epps signed their national letters of intent. “I am extremely excited,” Lepolo said. “I feel like a bull that’s been held back in a cage and I am ready to go.” With so many stellar components and a full season now in sight, the anticipation is percolating loudly. “When your point guard is going to Stanford, and to me she is by far the best point guard in (Elite Youth Basketball), I think we can do a lot here,” Epps said. “I am looking forward to that and I think we can do really well this season.” In what they hope is a precursor to high school glories, Lepolo, Epps and Sopak enjoyed the pinnacle of club basketball success this summer as the two guards led Sopak’s Cal Stars team to the Nike Girls EYBL 17-under national championship. Sopak, who founded the Cal Stars program in 2006, has coached countless elite players. The most famous undoubtedly is Sabrina Ionescu. The Miramonte and Cal Stars phenom who starred at Oregon and now stars for the WNBA New York Liberty is one of the most popular female pro athletes in the nation. So who better than Sopak to define what that national championship entails. “I just always remind people, you have to be there to really appreciate it,” Sopak said. “You are playing against pros. You are coaching against players that are going to be in the WNBA. To be able to maintain excellence for that sustained period is great. Having done it before, I felt pressure this year for these kids because it felt like a really special group from the start. I felt pressure because I wanted them to feel that same feeling that Sabrina had felt. And that bonds them for life.” The task wasn’t easy, Lepolo noted. “You see this long schedule, it’s daunting,” said Lepolo, a four-star recruit at point guard. “You are traveling to 10-plus states in a span of two months. How are we really going to fit all these games in and play at the highest level? … Our team was special. We weren’t the most athletic, the fastest, but we had team chemistry off the floor and it was exuding when we were playing. That is what made it the most fun.” The guards are primed as they reflect on the signing-day ceremony at Carondelet. “Yesterday made me really realize that the most difficult part of it is over, as far as where you are going to go, where you are going to commit,” Epps said. “So it is kind of like, let’s go all out this season and try to win and go as far as we can.” Added Lepolo: “It was overwhelming, but in the best way possible.” Sopak cautions that any sense of relief might lead to an easing up on the gas pedal. “I’m probably the first to remind them that a lot of times, when people think that all the pressure is off, now all of the sudden when Tara VanDerveer shows up at Talana’s game, she is going to have a whole new sense of pressure,” he said. “Not that, ‘I hope that they will give me a scholarship,’ now it’s ‘I hope they didn’t make a mistake.’ You have to keep them really focused on that. It’s a job. Their job for the next nine months is to be ready so when they hit the floor at their respective schools, they are ready to go.” Epps, Lepolo and their Carondelet teammates have a great resource for recruiting advice in Sopak. “First and foremost, enjoy the process,” Sopak said. “Nowadays with social media there is too much focus on too young of an age. So for them it was a real organic process. Enjoy and embrace it. At the end of the day you are going to have to make a tough decision and tell somebody no. But they are fortunate that they have choices, right? ... And both of those kids went where their heart was all along. Nya has family history at Davis and Talana always wanted to play at Stanford.” The two came to the East Bay from different parts of the Bay Area. Lepolo started in Alameda at St. Joseph Story By Mike Wood | Photos By Chace Bryson

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November 23, 2021

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Junior wing Jamie Kent

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November 23, 2021

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Notre Dame where as a sophomore she helped the Pilots win the NCS Open Division championship and was named to SportStars’ All-NorCal second-team. Lepolo, who said she is anticipating starting to play for the Cougars in December after completing an NCS transfer sit-out period, feels at home at Carondelet. “I lived literally three houses down (from St. Joseph) and it was a school of maybe 400 kids, and then going from that tiny high school to this one of what? 1,800. It was a huge difference,” she said. “I’m not super extroverted, so putting myself out there and being able to meet new people was definitely a challenge. But I think that this year I have shown the most growth socially, emotionally, I guess really in all aspects. I am really enjoying myself here.” Epps played her first two years at Sacred Heart Cathedral in San Francisco. At Carondelet as a junior, she averaged 16 points, 5.7 assists and 5.5 rebounds to earn SportStars All-NorCal first-team honors during a 10-1 spring. “She raises the pace of the game,” Lepolo said of Epps. “It was Top 8 in nationals and we were down by 8 in the fourth quarter and she hit three 3s. She is MY shooter. I claim her as my shooter. I know exactly how to hit her in a rhythm. I love playing with Nya. … She exudes confidence. I am going to miss her a lot.” Sopak began his high school head coaching career at Northgate-Walnut Creek in 2005 and led the Broncos to back-to-back NCS finals. He had a tremendous run at Miramonte, where from 2009-2020 he coached the Matadors to six NCS championships, six NorCal finals and a NorCal Open Division championship in 2016, putting the school on the national map. He said he had reached a stage in his life where he would probably coach one more season, which would have been the season practically wiped out by the COVID-19 shutdown. “That was my thought, that I would do one more year and maybe just focus on the club,” he said. “But then the Carondelet opportunity came and it took me a while to just say yes, because I was a little hesitant about it. Am I ready for that commitment? It’s a huge commitment, especially at Carondelet.” Knowing he’d be able to impact more female student-athletes swayed him to a “yes.” That was proven when nearly 90 girls signed up for basketball. “Where at a public school, even though we did really well at Miramonte at all three levels, we were kind of begging kids to come out,” Sopak said. “And it is just nice to be able to touch that many basketball players.” It’s a tremendous opportunity given the history of recent success at

Carondelet, winners of 14 section championships since 2003, including a trio of Division I crowns from 2017-19. The Cougars won four NorCal titles during that span and the Division II state title in 2004. Sopak’s assistants have made the transition work well. Among them is Claire Ely, one of his former players at Miramonte. “She is awesome, handles all of our wing-skill development and helps me with the defense, too,” Sopak said. “So I have actually had the easiest time this year coaching, because I can do a little bit more supervising. Or being a walk-around boss.” Sopak noted that the short spring season offered a unique chance to implement his system and focus on development, not wins, losses and playoffs. “Last year was just a partial season so we just had to focus on us, practicing, and summer hit and we didn’t play any summer leagues; we didn’t do anything, we just practiced,” Sopak said. “In the fall we just went into open gyms. That’s all we have been trying to do is develop them, and we are starting to see that from where we were, just over a year ago. That was kind of a blessing, that we didn’t have to go out and play a 26-game season. Because sometimes playing games gets in the way of development. But now we have to see what we’re made of.” They’ll be tested by an array of top-flight opponents. The schedule includes Pinewood-Los Altos Hills (Jan. 5), Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (Jan. 17), Oakland Tech (Feb. 12), the Nike TOC Dec. 18-22 in Phoenix and the East Bay’s West Coast Jamboree Dec. 28-30. “Those are the games that it takes to get to that level. And then you start that culture,” he said. “At the end of the day, you want the kids to enjoy it and just have a memorable experience. But we’d love to do it on a national stage.” You can see that team bonding as they gush over their teammates. Epps points to Lepolo’s leadership. “She is bringing up the confidence of a lot of the players on the team, which is making us better,” Epps said. “Megan Dickert is such a great player. She is so underrated.” And they see the promise of the future. “I love my little point guard Keshia (Vitalicio),” Lepolo said. “She is a sophomore and she is really good.” The competitive fires are burning, even before they step onto the court Dec. 9-11 for the season-opening Carondelet Tip-Off Classic. “There really is a sense of urgency,” Epps said. “Practices now are much more intense. People now are actually mad at one another, ‘Hey you really came after me in practice today,’ but in the best way possible.” ✪

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November 23, 2021

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Brooklyn Perry

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November 23, 2021

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St. Mary’s Aims Return To NorCal Supremacy

lle Moreno had just seven practices to prepare for her first game as a head coach. Seven days to prepare her St. Mary’s High team to face arguably NorCal’s most decorated and storied program, Archbishop Mitty-San Jose. In a pandemic. Naturally, Moreno’s Rams won the game 73-63 to open their abbreviated season last spring. Did she think about retiring right then and there? Undefeated with a win over legendary Mitty and USA Basketball coach, Sue Phillips? Moreno had a good laugh at the question. “Sue is such a fun person. I talked to her a lot while recruiting kids from her program as an assistant at San Jose State,” Moreno said. “Truthfully, I learned a lot in the game. I can only hope for many more games like that.” Rest assured, they’re coming. With plenty of talent back following an 8-1 spring, the Rams of Stockton begin the 2021-22 season ranked No. 2 in SportStars’ Preseason NorCal Top 20 rankings — right behind Sue Phillips and the Mitty Monarchs. Though, no one would blame anyone who might have the two teams’ transposed based on that spring head-tohead win. After winning eight of nine games, with a brand new coach and limited practice, the buildup for a traditional season feels like a luxury to Moreno and the rest of the Rams. “Getting to practice five to six times a week and getting into more details has been really nice,” said Moreno, a 2010 St. Mary’s graduate. “Just being together more has brought a bigger family and team feel. … The kids are getting that excitement going, knowing that we’re actually going to get to compete for something. “It’s really nice to just feel like it’s basketball season.” Leading the way for Moreno’s squad this season is a pair of juniors beginning their third season of varsity ball, Brooklyn Perry and Nia Anderson. Anderson runs point and provides a “calming influence” for the Rams, according to Moreno. However, Moreno will be pushing for her to be a bit more of a scorer this season. Meanwhile, Perry and sophomore phenom Jordan Lee run the wings. Senior Sophia Lee is a fourth returning starter. “Between those four, they just bring so much intensity to practice,” Moreno said. Lee may end up with the highest collegiate ceiling when all is said and done. Nearly 6-feet, she’s an explosive combo guard that Moreno can employ at nearly every position. In her eight games as a freshman, Lee averaged 18.1 points and 6.6 rebounds. “She’s spectacular,” said Moreno, who also serves as Lee’s club coach at Kidd Select. “She hit the weight room for the first time this past summer, so she’s stronger and working on her 3-point game. She can really give us whatever we need, a true all-around player.” Perry averaged 19.1 points over nine games last spring and will be among the most feared shooters in the Sac-Joaquin Section this winter. “She’s just shooting the ball at such a high level right now,” Moreno said. “I haven’t seen a shooter like her in several years. She can run point and her defense is better than it’s ever been.” Filling out the starting lineup is 6-1 transfer Jamyah Perry (no relation to Brooklyn). With all of the team’s backcourt talent, her inside presence is something Moreno is really excited about incorporating into the flow of the Rams’ offense this season. “I’m excited to integrate some stuff inside the paint with her this season,” the coach said. “It will open up our 3-point game more as well.” The Rams’ future is also on the roster with three freshmen — Nyah Bunton, Mia Warren and Natalie Munoz — that Moreno expects to contribute over the course of the season. Speed, depth, shooting. Moreno can’t wait to see how it all comes together. “I’m excited, but I really want to see how they react in tight situations,” she said. “We can’t just be the athletic group. We also need to be the smart and fundamental group.” Plan on the Rams being the winning group quite often. ✪ — Chace Bryson

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November 23, 2021

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GIRLSPRESEASONTOP20 1. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (13-2, Spring 2021)

11. Oakland Tech (1-3)

The poster child for the cliche that some programs don’t rebuild, they just reload. Sue Phillips’ perennial power lost seven seniors, six of whom are now playing in Div. I. However, with Morgan Cheli and a ton of talent returning, Mitty once again is our preseason pick for No. 1. The key word is “program,” because Mitty’s offseason work, youth camps and powerhouse lower-level teams keep the varsity supplied with top-shelf players no matter how many seniors graduate. The names may be new, but Mitty will roll out its usual impressive depth, disciplined offense, and physical, unrelenting defense that will simply overwhelm most opponents. Of course the Monarchs must navigate the difficult West Catholic Athletic League schedule, survive a likely match-up with No. 4 Pinewood-Los Altos Hills in the section playoffs and then battle past No. 2 St. Mary’s-Stockton in CIF regionals — not to mention trips to the Nike TOC and West Coast Jamboree. But if history is any guide, expecting Mitty to be anything less than excellent would be a serious error in judgment.

12. Valley Christian-San Jose (6-4)

2. St. Mary’s-Stockton (8-1)

20. Antelope (9-1)

13. McClatchy-Sacramento (2-0) 14. Heritage-Brentwood (10-2) 15. Folsom (7-1) 16. Marin Catholic-Kentfield (9-5) 17. James Logan-Union City (12-1) 18. Vanden-Fairfield (11-1) 19. Santa Cruz (19-1)

Alle Moreno’s first season as a high school coach at her alma mater — after spending several years as a college assistant — almost doesn’t count. The abbreviated schedule, the limited practice ... Everything was different. Well, except for the fact that St. Mary’s was once again one of the top teams in Northern California. And since Moreno welcomes back five players from last year’s group, including super soph Jordan Lee and juniors Brooklyn Perry and Nia Anderson, don’t expect much dropoff. In addition, there’s a little more size on the roster, with 6-1 Jamaya Perry and 6-4 Imani Morris (arriving after the sit-out period) supplying some interior presence.

3. Salesian-Richmond (14-1) In an era of Steph Curry-wannabes, Silivia Fonongaloa is a pure throwback: She’s a low-block power whose size and strength is simply too much for high school defenders. Oh, and the rest of the team is filled with talent as well.

4. Pinewood-Los Altos Hills (17-0) Pinewood’s 3-point shooting is legendary, but Doc Scheppler’s tenacious man-to-man defense plays just as big a role in the program’s perennial success. And though graduation took a toll, Elle Ladine will step in to take the lead role on another top-shelf team.

5. Carondelet-Concord (10-1) Led by the guard combo of Talana Lepolo (Stanford) and Nya Epps (UC Davis), Carondelet will feature the usual Kelly Sopak press-and-shoot3s system — and in his second year, that system should be even more effective.

6. Piedmont (14-2) Trinity Zamora leads an athletic group that has the potential to be outstanding, assuming that all the eligibility issues are sorted out in Piedmont’s favor. Even if things don’t go perfectly, Piedmont is a team that no one will want to see on the other side of the scorer’s table.

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7. San Ramon Valley-Danville (11-0) Natalie Pasco, above, averaged 28.0 points a game last year for highscoring San Ramon Valley, which rolled through the East Bay Athletic League — including a road win over Carondelet.

8. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills (8-4) Washington commit Teagen Brown tops a well-coached group that also features 6-2 post Ella Ray, who will play for Penn. A tough league that includes No. 17 Folsom will make for a challenging path to postseason.

9. St. Ignatius-S.F. (13-5) Sabrina Ma leads a veteran team coming off a strong year. Even though St. Ignatius must wind its way through the minefield of the WCAL, expect the Irish to be one of Mitty’s primary challengers.

10. Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland (1-3) Bishop O’Dowd played a limited schedule in the spring, but lack of games shouldn’t hurt. Amaya Bonner, off to Cal next season, is the key to a senior-heavy lineup that has size and traditional O’Dowd athleticism.

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GIRLSPRESEASON

STARTING

AMAYA BONNER (Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland)

Senior | 6-0 | Wing Bonner, a Cal signee, is an athletic wing who gets to the rim but can also step out and hit jumpers. Unlike past seasons, she’s the clear go-to player for Bishop O’Dowd, so expect her numbers to go up.

MORGAN CHELI (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose) Sophomore | 6-0 | Point Guard Reminiscent of Miramonte-Orinda legend (and now WNBA New York Liberty star) Sabrina Ionescu, Cheli has elite court vision, 3-point accuracy and an all-around game. With all those seniors gone for Mitty, look for Cheli to take charge and not miss a beat.

TALANA LEPOLO (Carondelet-Concord) Senior | 5-8 | Point Guard The Stanford commit had to sit out last season and will miss part of this year as well after transferring from St. Joseph Notre Dame, but she had a tremendous summer on the Nike circuit, showing off her pure point guard skills, strength and quickness.

ELLE LADINE (Pinewood-Los Altos Hills) Senior | 5-11 | Guard Ladine, who will play for Washington next year, has all the requisite skills for a Pac-12 player, but what sets her apart is that undefinable feel for the game and in-the-moment response to a fluid sport.

AMANDA MUSE (Heritage-Brentwood) Junior | 6-4 | Post Unlike most highly rated high school players, Muse stands out for her defense — especially her shotblocking. Long, agile and athletic, Muse is easily the best rim protector in Northern California, if not the state.

Amaya Bonner

NEXT FIVE TEAGEN BROWN (Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills) Senior | 5-10 | Guard Brown, off to the University of Washington next year, gets her 18.5 points and 10.3 rebounds a game with an all-around skill set that includes the ability to finish and connect from long range.

NYA EPPS (Carondelet-Concord) Senior | 5-10 | Guard Epps, who will play for UC Davis next year, is a long, skilled guard with deep range and a high basketball IQ. Her ability to play either point or shooting guard is an added bonus.

JORDAN LEE (St. Mary’s-Stockton) Sophomore | 5-11 | Guard The uber-athletic Lee is the centerpiece of the St. Mary’s up-tempo attack, and is devastating in transition and the press. She’s already on the Power 5 radar, and will anchor one of the top teams in the state.

NATALIE PASCO (San Ramon Valley-Danville) Senior | 5-10 | Guard The Boise State-bound Pasco averaged 28 points a game in last year’s abbreviated season, combining deadly accuracy from the perimeter with an underrated ability to score in the paint.

LELE TANUVASA (St. Bernard’s-Eureka) Junior | 6-0 | Wing Tanuvasa is not well-known outside of California’s far north, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have the goods. Tanuvasa’s court vision and all-around game mark her as a player to watch. Follow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!

Amanda Muse

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November 23, 2021

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