NorCal Issue 214, November 2022

BIG GREEN Is Still Golden

This is an issue predominantly about the open of the 2022-2023 basketball season — with some state volleyball championships mixed in. But before we get there, I’m going to ask you to allow for one page of football.

For several years, and as long as I’ve ever been around to write about it, the De La Salle High football team has been a polarizing entity. roughout the Bay Area and Northern California, fans either admire the Spartans or despise them for their seemingly unending run of success. is was a season where folks from the latter category were able to take some pleasure in three separate losses to NorCal teams. at’s what dominated a lot of the narrative around De La Salle this season.

And now that they’re back to playing North Coast Section teams and picking up wins, the cover age of their success is back to ho-hum, same-as-it-ever-was takes.

But however you might feel about De La Salle, what it accomplished with its 30-23 win over Pittsburg in the NCS Open Division championship on Nov. 18 deserves a little more than a glossover.

As you may have read, the win over Pittsburg marked the Spartans 30th consecutive North Coast Section title. A er a while, so many of us have become numb to the inevitability of De La Salle holding up another section championship plaque.

But, guys, they’ve done it 30 times in a row.

Some other numbers recently compiled by De La Salle TV broadcaster Damin Esper:

›› It was the 30th section title, but did you know it was De La Salle’s 38th straight NCS title ap pearance?

››  e 30-23 win was the FIRST time in the stretch of 30 straight NCS titles that De La Salle won by single digits. e previous closest margin of victory was a 14-0 win over San Leandro in 2005.

››  e Spartans are now 37-1 all time against Pittbsurg, with 33 straight wins dating back to the Pirates’ famous 1991 NCS title victory.

›› De La Salle’s lifetime NCS playo record is now 106-3.

Sure, I too can enjoy the thought of a North Coast Section team rising up and ending the decades-long dominance. But it’s also OK to appreciate the incredible feats that the program con tinues to accomplish — even during a two-year span in which its NorCal indestructibility has faded ever so slightly.

So, hats o to an uncanny reign of excellence. Now, let’s head indoors and talk hardwood. ✪

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Mariya Moore is surrounded by her Salesian-Richmond teammates during a SportStars cover shoot. Moore starred for three years at Louisville before finishing her collegiate career and graduating from USC. Moore has returned to the Bay Area and is now in her second season as an assistant coach at Saint Mary’s College. The Gaels opened the season with wins in two of their first three games.

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1.31.14

BERRY EVANS III photo

SALT LAKE SUMMER

NCVA Will Be

Offering USA Volleyball National Championship Bids

To Boys Teams

Through Power League Regional Championships And Far Western National Qualifier

With the Northern California Volleyball Association’s Boys Power League regular season in the books, it’s time to focus on the regional championships.

Regional championship weekend will take place Dec. 17-18 at the San Jose Convention Center. There will be 205 teams competing at the regional championships, and each regional champion earns a national championship bid to the USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championships in Salt Lake City from June 29-July 6, 2023.

For those teams who aren’t lucky enough to nail down that regional championship win, clubs will be looking for more chances to qualify for the boys national championships.

And wouldn’t you know, the NCVA has just the tournament for that.

Boys club teams from as far as Hawaii, Washington and Canada are planning to join hundreds of Cali fornia and Northern Nevada teams at the San Mateo Event Center for the NCVA’s Far Westerns National Qualifier on Jan. 7-8.

National championship bids will be awarded across 10 different divisions spanning ages 14-18. There will be 27 bids up for grabs overall.

Divisions expected to award bids include 14 USA, 14 Open, 15 USA, 15 Open, 16 USA, 16 Open, 17 USA, 17 Open, 18 USA and 18 Open.

The NCVA is also continuing its tradition of holding a scouting combine as part of its Far Western Regionals tournament.

The 2023 Far Westerns Elite Potential Recruiting Combines will take place from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6, at the San Mateo Events Center.

The recruiting combine is a “video-only combine.” This means all participating players will be filmed during drills and skills work. Then a recording that includes the player’s contact information will be distributed to every men’s collegiate program throughout the country.

Championship Combines will be conducting the event, and is focused on creating the opportunity for players to demonstrate their volleyball skills and for college coaches to evaluate recruits in a quick and economical manner. The combine format leans towards individual/position/group drills, as op posed to team play. This allows the college coaches the ability to see multiple repetitions of specific skills, while also reducing the risk of injuries which can often occur in team competition.

The cost to register is $120 and the combine is open to any high school aged player. If you’re inter ested, you can register now at https://ncva.com/boysbid/

Also, for more information on all of NCVA’s upcoming events, be sure to visit NCVA.com ✪

More than a half hour had passed since freshman Marley Seelye delivered a matchwinning kill that would send the Berean Christian volleyball team to its rst ever state championship appearance.

Several players, parents and fans still milled about the gymnasium soaking in the vibes. Meanwhile, setter Aunyka Uresti — one of just two seniors and the Eagles’ only four-year varsity player — was still holding the CIF Northern Regional Division V championship plaque.

“Can I take it home?,” she asked Berean Christian volleyball coach Lucas Abbott e NorCal trophy earned from beating Hanford remained on campus — and four days later it had company. at’s because the Eagles promptly traveled to Southern California and became the school’s rst ever state champion in any team sport.

And naturally they couldn’t do it without following the most dramatic script possible. It took ve sets to win each of their last three regional matches, including the NorCal championship win over Hanford. e state championship was, of course, going to ve sets.

Berean Christian fell behind two sets to one to Victory Christian-Chula Vista before storm

ing back with a 25-21 win in Set 4. en the Eagles were back in their element. A h set where other teams show their nerves — and Abbott’s squad just doesn’t.

“ e ght in the kids is amazing,” Abbott said when reached by phone during his Saturday drive back from Orange County. “ ey never give up. Going through the re they did with all those ve-set matches gave them that edge to not get nervous.”

Berean Christian actually faced a match point, trailing 14-13 late before the freshman Seelye delivered a pair of service points including an ace to ip the lead. A er trading sideouts, Berean won the nal set 17-15 when Victory Christian’s kill attempt sailed too long.

“I can’t even believe it,” said Rebeca Freitas, the Eagles’ other senior and star libero said a er the team won the NorCal nal. “I’ve never done anything like this before. I’m just so excited. Never in club. Never in high school. is is big.”

Big is a word not o en used to describe anything related to the Walnut Creek school of approximately 400 students. And while the school has had its share of athletic successes, the volleyball team was its rst CIF state championship nalist in any team sport.

Senior Aunyka Uresti sets hard charging freshman Marly Seelye.

— Rebeca Freitas

Big isn’t even an adjective likely to be associated with the school’s current volleyball roster. Berean Christian’s tallest players, Seelye and sophomore Winter Jones, both stand 5-foot-10. But there’s plenty of other adjectives that do t this team. Resilient, athletic, pesky, con dent and cohesive.

All have been prominently featured during the team’s state championship run. “I believed in these girls since Day 1,” Abbott said following the regional championship win over Hanford. “ ey just ght through adversity and they ght through being tired. ey ght through injuries and all that stu ey’re just ghters. eir heart is amazing. ey never give up. ey’re just very consistent.

“ at’s what I preached the whole season: Be con dent and consistent. Let’s just do that and be who we are. Whoever is on the other side of the net, don’t worry about that. Just handle our side.”

e NorCal nal featured a rocky start, though. A number of unforced errors allowed Hanford to open up an 18-10 lead in the opening set and roll to a 25-14 win. Much like Berean Christian, the No. 11-seeded Bullpups entered the match riding the emotion of multiple ve-set victories.

Berean Christian came out for the second set much more assured of itself. e Eagles and Bullpups matched each other blow for blow and were knotted at 16-16. en a pair of Seelye kills and Freitas aces sparked a 9-1 run that closed out the set and ignited a raucous home crowd.

e crowd. at was another big development in the team’s historic run.

“ e crowd. We’ve never had that (atmosphere) in Berean history,” Uresti said a er the win over Hanford.

“ ey were such a big part of our attitude and energy out there,” junior outside hitter Sophie Hall added. “We said to each other early in the match, ‘Let’s give them something to be loud about,’”

Abbott credited Berean’s fervent fan base throughout the postseason to his assistant coach Jennifer Uresti, also Aunyka’s mom. Jennifer Uresti started ooding the program’s Instragram account with updates, highlights and match times. And support grew tenfold.

While watching the live stream of the state championship match, support for Berean sound ed more or equal to its Southern California counterpart. ere’s also video on Facebook of faculty and fans watching the state nal on a projector screen in the Eagles’ home gym.

In their home gym during the NorCal nal, Berean rode the wave of its crowd to a 10-1 lead in the third set — due in large part to ve aces from sophomore Annasophia Vranjes — but Hanford quickly evened it back up at 14-14. e Eagles took the lead for good when a violation on the Bullpups made it 20-19. Berean fought o a handful of long rallies and closed out the set 25-23.

But with the state nal just one set from its grasp, the predominantly young Eagles roster got tight. Hanford never trailed in the fourth set and fought o a late Berean push to win 25-23.

But the h set was di erent. e Eagles couldn’t have looked calmer taking the oor.

“I don’t even know where that (calm) came from, actually,” Aunyka Uresti said. “Coming out calm is just something we do better. Knowing that in the h set we’ve always pulled through, honestly it gave us like a peace of mind.”

Hall broke a 4-4 tie with one of her four kills in the set — she nished the night with a teamhigh 16 — and Berean never trailed again. e Eagles scored ve of the match’s last six points, punctuated with a Seelye kill and a human ood onto the oor.

“I

“A er that fourth set, we just said to each other, ‘Give it your all,’” said Freitas, who had 53 kills in the NorCal nal and went into the state championship with a school singleseason record of 783. “We knew this might be the last time playing together. ere was a lot to lose, but if we put every thing on the line, we believed we could make it.”

Seelye bringing it home with some de reaction at the net led to a proud coaching moment for Abbott.

“She didn’t want to be a middle when I rst met her this summer,” the coach said. “But that’s what we needed. Being con dent in a new position takes a while, and I think she’s more comfortable. Now with our bigger crowds, she already has a fan base. She’s famous. Whenever the rosters are an nounced, she always gets one of the biggest roars.”

Now in his eighth season as the Berean Christian volley ball coach, Abbott has 122 wins and is 14-8 in postseason matches. Winning a state title wasn’t a realistic goal when he took over the program. Seeing it unfold was something not entirely easy to describe.

“It’s a lot to take in,” Abbott said during that Saturday con versation on his way home. “ ey were 10-23 the year before I took over. I was 10-20 my rst year. It’s a really good com munity that works hard. We don’t have the 6-foot-4 girl who

can hit it anywhere. I’ve never seen that kid walk through the gym. But maybe this establishes us. Maybe that could happen now.”

Until that happens, he’s happy to take a group of hardworking, good kids and watch them ght.

“I know the community and e Berean Way. It’s just dif ferent,” he said. “I think it’s special. It’s why I’m still here. We have pretty good athletes, but we have amazing people.

ey’re just there for each other.”

Not bad for a program that still doesn’t have a North Coast Section championship banner. e Eagles earned an at-large berth a er reaching the NCS Div. V semi nals this season.

As the home crowd slowly dispersed following the Nor Cal championship win, Abbott admitted that one of his rst thoughts a er the win was now having just two days to plan a trip to Southern California. And close to an hour later, he wasn’t concerned with who they’d play or how his Eagles would fare.

“We somehow hang. We belong. We belong in any gym.” He was right. ✪

— Story and Photos by Chace Bryson

Team and crowd both erupt in joy following match point in the NorCal final. BELOW: Marly Seelye is all smiles with her championship medal.

UCLA-Bound Center

Amanda Muse Continues A Family Legacy Of Basketball Success — And It May Lead

Brentwood’s Heritage High To New Heights In 2022

If ever a girl was born to play basketball, it’s Heritage High’s Amanda Muse. Her father Doug is 6-foot-10, and was a basketball star at UC Santa Barbara before playing professionally overseas.

Her mother Amy is 6-3, and was also a star at UCSB, and also played profes sionally overseas.

Her older sister Abigail is 6-3, and is a junior starter for Boise State, averaging 10.8 points and 7.8 rebounds a game for the Mountain West school.

And Amanda is the best of the bunch.

“Her athleticism at her height (6-4) is what makes her stand out,” said Mark Hurtado, her new coach at Heritage in Brentwood. “She’s one of the fastest girls on the team, but she’s also super-competitive. She doesn’t like to lose.”

Kelly Sopak, her coach with Cal Stars, a summer Nike powerhouse, adds: “She has a terri c basketball IQ, but more important, a natural feel for the game. Amanda can have a huge impact on a game without ever touching the ball.

“Her ability to defend and rim protect is at a pro level right now,” continued Sopak, who coached New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu at Miramonte-Orin da. “She is a willing passer and does not need a ton of touches — she is a team player.”

And though Muse has been the focal point of her high school team, she’s just as happy playing a role that helps her team win.

“It’s more fun not to be the star,” she says. “At Cal Stars, I love playing in a system where even if the ball doesn’t come to me all the time, I can still make a di erence.”

But this coming season at Heritage, avoiding the spotlight will be much tough er.

“She pretty much has to touch the ball every time down the oor,” Hurtado said – and he should know, since he started coaching her when she was in second grade.

Hurtado had both Amanda and Abigail on his CYO teams, and it didn’t take long for him to realize Amanda was something special. Oddly, though, it was playing with boys at recess that really lit her competitive re.

“When I was four or ve, my parents forced me to try basketball. But a er that, they let me decide,” she said. “In elementary school, I’d play with the boys at re cess, and that’s when I began to love basketball.”

And that, if nothing else, should tell you that she doesn’t mind contact.

“I love being a post,” she said, which is unusual these days when everyone wants to be a wing and rain 3-pointers like Steph Curry. “I love how physical it is.”

But Muse may not be banging on the block for long, because her long-term future is as a stretch four.

“She is saddled with being the ve in both club and high school,” says Sopak, “but she has the ability to play the four and the ve in college and beyond. She also is a great passer, and more important, a willing passer.”

Hurtado agrees.

“I’m guessing she’ll lead us in assists,” the Patriots coach said, which is some thing Muse would enjoy.

“One of my favorite parts of o ense is passing,” she says. “It’s so rewarding — sometimes I like to pass more than I like to score.”

Story by Clay Kallam

Photos by Chace Bryson

But at 6-4, Muse also is death to ying things around the rim. “I love a good block,” she quipped, and with her agility and anticipation, she’ll get plenty.

Muse is also coming into the season fresh and excited. Unlike many players, she spent the fall playing water polo, and she says it did nothing but help her.

“We get so strong in the water,” she said, “but it takes the impact out of it.”

Water polo is also surprisingly similar to basketball strategically, with zones and man-to-man coverages, transitions and fast breaks. And of course, college coaches appreciate multi-sport athletes.

Certainly Cori Close of UCLA wasn’t put o by Muse’s second sport, and got an early commitment. Even though both of her parents and her older sister had been recruited and had prepared her for the process, it was still di cult to go through.

“About this time last year I was feeling overwhelmed,” Amanda said. “I wanted to gure it out sooner rather than later.”

So a er her visit to UCLA, she was sold.

“A lot of the boxes were checked,” she said, “but when I was immersed in the team dynamic, it was so fun.”

Yes, a high school senior tossed o the phrase “immersed in the team dynamic” without a hitch in mid-interview. Clearly, Muse has more than just a high basketball IQ.

“She is very mature and cerebral,” Sopak said. “ at maturity and intelligence really helped her during the recruiting process.”

But before she heads to UCLA and maybe the WNBA, Muse has some un nished business at Heritage.

She and three senior teammates, Caitlyn Smith, Alissyia Petroni and Juliette Fajeau, have been playing together since their days on Hurta do’s CYO teams. ey want to make a statement this year a er not quite matching expectations in the past.

“I’ve watched their teams during the time I coached at Deer Valley (Antioch),” Hurtado said. “And I always was disappointed at how much they le on the table.”

e Patriots will begin the season ranked No. 12 in SportStars Pre season NorCal Top 20. ey will test themselves immediately by host ing No. 1 Archbishop Mitty-San Jose in a 1 p.m. matinee season-opener on Nov. 26.

“ is season we have a lot of opportunity,” Muse said, who is in seri ous pursuit of postseason success and ready to lead Heritage deep into the playo s. “My sense of urgency is high.”

e girl who was born to play basketball is ready to realize her po tential. ✪

Alissyia Petroni

Caitlyn Smith

Coach Mark Hurtado

First Team

MARY CARTER (Antelope) | Wing, 6-2, Sr.

Carter, committed to Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, scored 24.8 points a game last year, and will be the focal point of a potent Antelope attack.

MORGAN CHELI (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose) | Wing, 6-1, Jr.

Cheli is ranked 18th by ESPN Hoopgurlz (2024 Class) and has a gold medal from USA Basketball as well. Coach Sue Phillips is looking for triple-doubles from her junior star.

JORDAN LEE (St. Mary’s-Stockton) | Wing, 5-11, Jr.

Lee is ranked 15th by ESPN Hoopgurlz (2024 Class) and her ability around the rim netted her 18.1 points and 7.0 rebounds a game last year.

AMANDA MUSE (Heritage-Brentwood) | Post, 6-4, Sr.

ESPN Hoopgurlz has Muse 32nd in the nation in the senior class, and UCLA is ecstatic to have the athletic, competitive, shot-blocking Muse, who is projected as a stretch four at the next level.

TRINITY ZAMORA (Piedmont) | Wing, 6-0, Sr.

Zamora is an athletic wing with size, strength and skill, and before she heads off to San Diego State, her versatility will keep Piedmont near the top of the rankings.

second Team

JAMIE KENT (Carondelet-Concord) | Wing, 6-0, Sr.

Kent, who will play for Pacific next year, came up big in crucial moments for Carondelet last year. The inside-outside threat looks to do even more this year after the graduation of key starters.

DYMONIQUE MAXIE (Moreau CatholicHayward) | Guard, 5-8, Sr.

The Nevada-bound Maxie stuffs the stat sheet for the Mariners, using elite athleti cism to score (especially in the mid-range), rebound and defend.

HARPER PETERSON (Whitney-Rocklin) | Wing, 6-3, Jr.

At 6-3, Peterson’s combination of size and agility makes her a matchup nightmare on the wing, which is why she’s a Top 40 junior in the country (ESPN Hoopgurlz).

LELE TANUVASA (St. Mary’s-Stockton) | Guard, 6-0, Sr. Tanuvasa may be under the radar for many NorCal fans, but her Pac-12 commitment (Colorado) should give them a clue that she can really score.

ALYSSA JACKSON (Vanden-Fairfield) | Wing, 5-11, Sr. Jackson, who will play for San Diego State next year, triggers the athletic, if not frenetic, style of Vanden, with scoring at one end of the floor and steals at the other.

third Team

GABRIELLE ABIGOR (Berean Christian-Walnut Creek) | Post, 6-3, Jr. Abigor is another under-the-radar talent, but rest assured Power 5 schools are fully aware of her size, rim protection and all-around athleticism.

GRACYN LOVETTE (Marin Catholic-Kentfield) | Wing, 5-11, Sr. Lehigh-bound Lovette will have to do even more for Marin Catholic this year after graduation depleted the ranks, but her all-around skill set should keep the dropoff to a minimum.

NATALIE MARTINEZ (Piedmont) | Guard, 5-7, Jr.

Martinez runs the show for Piedmont, just as a good point guard is expected to do, but she also brings energy, 3-point accuracy and savvy to one of the area’s top teams.

AVA RAWLINS (Folsom) | Wing, 5-11, So.

The only sophomore on any of these three teams, Rawlins is a skilled wing and three-level scorer who will power a talented Folsom team.

ELANA WEISMAN (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose) | Forward, 6-1, Jr. Weisman averged 19.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game for Burlingame last season. She’ll endure the sit-out period, but once eligible, should step right in for Mitty. ✪

Morgan Cheli, Archbishop Mitty

Jamie Kent, Carondelet

1. ARCHBISHOP MITTY-SAN JOSE (30-2 last season)

The Mitty machine rolls on. Even graduating several key seniors won’t slow the roll in San Jose, as junior Morgan Cheli is set to emerge as Northern California’s top player. Even though she led the team in scoring and rebounding last year, coach Sue Phillips expects more this season.

“We need her to assert herself even more so than she did last year,” says Phillips, who also coached Cheli on the gold-medal-winning USA Basketball Under 17 team. “We want her to fill up a stat sheet with game day goals of triple-doubles.”

But Archbishop Mitty has never been about star power, though the Monarchs have had plenty. “Our Mitty DNA will remain the same,” says Phillips, “relent less, gritty and uptempo. We have a standard of play and work rate that does not waver…the wins and losses are a by-product of how we conduct our business.”

And, to be fair, they are also a byproduct of talent. Cheli is one of the top recruits in the country (18th in the ESPN Hoopgurlz rankings) and senior Maya Hernandez (Loyola Marymount signee) leads a class of seniors who will continue to play in college. In addi tion, Mitty will add highly regarded incoming freshman McKenna Woliczko and will be bolstered later in the year when transfers Elana Weisman and Belle Bramer become eligible.

In short, Northern California is Mitty’s world and even the best of the rest of the local girls’ basketball powers are just living in it. In a normal state, the 12thranked (by ESPN) Monarchs would be considered favorites for the California championship, but with nationally ranked powers Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth, La Jolla Country Day and Etiwanda down south, Mitty is the underdog to all of them – not that it matters to Phillips.

“Winning a state championship is always a great feeling,” she says. “We, however, are focused on our next day of work and our next opponent.”

Maya Hernandez, Archbishop Mitty

2. ST. MARY’S-STOCKTON (21-8)

Perennial power St. Mary’s lost some point production when Brooklyn Perry left, but picked up quite a bit when Lele Tanuvasa and her family moved to Stockton from the Eureka area. Tanuvasa, a Colorado signee, is a big-time scorer, and the combination of her, point guard Nia Anderson and elite wing Jordan Lee (rated 15th in the Class of 2024 by ESPN Hoopgurlz) means there’s plenty of firepower. Depth, though, could be an issue.

3. FOLSOM (26-4)

Sophomore Ava Rawlins is poised for a breakout season, and Brooklyn Perry transferred from St. Mary’s of Stockton, so the train should keep on rolling in Folsom. The Bulldogs, though, play a difficult non-SJS schedule and will be battle-tested come postseason.

4. SALESIAN-RICHMOND (21-5)

Coach Steve Pezzola has two reasons he never has to worry about pressure from the administration: 1) He consistently produces one of the top teams in Northern California; and 2) he is the administration, as he’s also president of the school. And with six seniors — led by Nyana Asiasi and Makiyah Asi danya — returning from California’s Division I state champion, don’t expect anything less than excellence from the Pride.

5. PIEDMONT (23-7)

The Highlanders walked a tightrope last year, playing with a roster so thin that sometimes coach Bryan Gardere had only one sub available. But the few and the proud in the Piedmont purple and white were very good, led by San Diego State-bound Trinity Zamora and junior Natalie Martinez. With those two leading the way, expectations for the Highlanders are, well, high.

6. CARONDELET-CONCORD (26-3)

Talana Lepolo is now getting major minutes at point guard for No. 2 in the nation Stanford, so the big question in Concord is how will the Cougars replace one of the best players ever at a school with a rich basketball history. Start with junior Keshia Vitalicio and senior Allie Cummins (bound for North ern Arizona), who are both eligible this year, and will join Jamie Kent (Pacific) for a lineup with plenty of firepower but not much size.

7. OAKLAND TECH (21-11)

Coach Leroy Hurt is quick to admit that Oakland Tech was underseeded when the Bulldogs were placed in statewide Div. III by the CIF, but he’s not giving back the state championship trophy. And don’t be fooled by the 11 losses, because Tech plays a brutal schedule to prepare for the postseason. Expect the Bulldogs to follow a similar path this season..

8. MOREAU CATHOLIC-HAYWARD (25-6)

There was a time when Moreau Catholic was a perennial power in the Bay Area, but that time was before the Mariners’ current players were born. Coach Jose Alvarez has revived the dormant program behind senior Dymo nique Maxie.

9. PINEWOOD-LOS ALTOS HILLS (22-3)

After losing four key seniors to graduation, many expect coach Doc Schep pler and the Panthers to take a step back this year. Yet don’t be surprised if Pinewood returns to the group at the top of the rankings by season’s end. Newcomers will get more and more comfortable as the year rolls on – and we guarantee no one will want to play Pinewood come late February.

10. VANDEN-FAIRFIELD (26-4)

Thanks to their placement in Div. III by the Sac-Joaquin Section, the Vikings often sail just out of sight, lurking just over the basketball horizon – but then come postseason, they do some serious raiding. This year should be no different, as San Diego State-bound Alyssa Jackson sparks a typically deep and athletic roster.

THE NEXT 10

11. Antelope (26-7) 12. Heritage-Brentwood (17-8) 13. Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland (17-9) 14. Acalanes-Lafayette (25-4) 15. San Ramon Valley-Danville (26-5)

16. McClatchy-Sacramento (20-7)

17. Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa (23-6)

18. Marin Catholic-Kentfield (27-5)

19. Branson-Ross (24-8)

20. Pleasant Valley-Chico (21-9) ✪

Makiyah Asidanya, Salesian

Jamari Philiips and Prince Oseya, right

It’s a quarter past 5 o’clock on a midweek evening and Modesto Christian boys basketball coach Brice Fantazia has just wrapped up another practice.

His voice on the phone is a mixture of fatigue and excitement.

e Crusaders are in the midst of their third o cial week of practice as they prepare to take on a schedule full of state- and national-title contenders. One which begins Nov. 25 against Coronado-Henderson (Nev.) at the Bishop O’Dowd anksgiving Classic in Oakland.

Eight days a er that, the team will be at a showcase in Sacramento and will meet state pre season No. 1 Centennial-Corona. at matchup is notable because Centennial is the defending CIF Open Division champion — a title they earned with a 59-50 win over Modesto Christian. It’s a loss that continues to sting for the several returning stars on this year’s roster.

“It’s no secret that we want to win an Open Division state championship,” said Fantazia, now in his seventh season leading his alma mater. “It’s the only thing we haven’t done as a program.

“Reaching that moment last year, we got there and got a taste of it. Now the guys just want to get back and get that loss out of their memory. I like to remind them that my last year of high school, we won the state championship and it was like my high school career never ended. I want them to know that feeling and everything that comes with it.” ere’s no question that the talent is there to do it.

Modesto Christian returns four of its ve starters from it’s NorCal Open Division champion ship team, including the reigning CalHiSports.com State Sophomore of the Year, Jamari Phil lips, and CalHiSports All-State guard B.J. Davis.

Phillips is among NorCal’s most sought a er junior recruits with o ers from nearly all of the Pac-12 as well as select SEC, Big 10 and Big 12 programs. Davis is a senior who will suit up for San Diego State next season.

e two guards are just the tip of the iceberg for the talent that’s returning to the Crusaders for the ’22-’23 season. e squad also welcomes back 6-foot-10 senior center Prince Oseya, as well as 6-6 junior forward Manesse Itete.

ere’s also a pair of impact players who return this season a er missing all of last year rehabbing ACL injuries. at would include 6-3 senior guards Darius Smith and Henoc Kabeya. e Crusaders also had a few transfers arrive, most notably were Jalen Brown (a 6-2 guard from Alvarez-Salinas) and Kody Weary (a 6-6 senior who returns to the area a er a year playing for Coronado).

Fantazia is no dummy either. He knows the challenges that come with rosters like that. With great power comes great responsibility.

“I think maybe the hardest job we’re going to have — and I shouldn’t complain about it, I know — but it’s keeping guys happy,” Fantazia said. “Every kid at Modesto Christian for basketball is there because they believe in how good they are. It’s not like a nor mal high school where some kids are just happy to be on the team. It will be a challenge keeping those egos in check and everyone humble. Keep that main goal in mind.’

Phillips and Davis are de nitely doing their part as captains.

“Jamari Phillips — he’s a top 20 talent in the nation and every body knows how exceptional he is. He was a young 15-year old and he didn’t know how to lead his peers. I think playing with Team USA helped him out a lot in that area.”

Phillips was invited to train with the U17 National Team in July. Davis, one of the state’s best two-way guards, is also taking on a bigger leadership role. He and Phillips have formed an important leadership duo that’s proven very e ective so far.

“Both of them have stepped up in that role,” Fantazia admitted. “ ey’re both learning to lead with their voices in addition to their actions.” at comes with maturity, and Fantazia believes this group has stockpiled plenty of it. Before he met any of his transfers or new players, Fantazia admits to worrying about depth last season.

“Last year we struggled a little bit with injuries and we weren’t real deep,” Fantazia said. “It showed up in the state nal where we had guys wiped out. We had guys going 32 minutes and we broke down a bit at the end.”

Actually, in last season’s state nal, the Crusaders played Centennial dead even over the last three quarters. It was just a sluggish start that cost them.

As the rst games arrive at the end of November, Fantazia would like to see the team avoid its own sluggish start to the season. And that will be an early test for putting aside the afore mentioned egos and tuning out the noise that comes with rankings, hype and expectations.

“Everyone thinks they have the best team in the state before the rst game,” the coach said. “It’s great right now. But we’ll see on Nov. 25 when we start playing some of the best teams in the nation. We’ll see.” ✪

1. MODESTO CHRISTIAN (30-6 last season)

The defending CIF Open Division NorCal champs return with an even deeper and more talented roster than the one that finished just nine points shy of winning the state title. The Crusaders return four of their five starters from last postseason, led by the guard combo of senior BJ Davis and junior Jamari Phillips Davis is bound for San Diego State after this season while Phillips will have his choice among several of the country’s top programs. They will be joined by a frontcourt of 6-10 senior Prince Oseya and 6-6 junior Manesse Itete.

And you’re right, we did say more talented and deeper. The team will also be adding a pair of seniors who missed all of last year due to knee injuries: Henoc Kabeya and Darius Smith. Both are 6-3 guards, and Smith was an All-State se lection as a sophomore. He’s also a captain this season along with Davis and Phillips.

Finally, the transfer portal was kind to the Crusaders. Playmaking 6-2 senior Jalen Brown arrives from Alvarez-Salinas and 6-6 senior forward Kodey Weary returns after a year with Coronado-Henderson (Nev.).

Seven-year coach Brice Fantazia is also encouraged about some young, new faces. Sophomore guard Zeke Davis had some impact ful offensive rebounds as a freshman last year in the NorCal final against Campolindo-Moraga. This year’s freshman is 6-0 guard Rashod Cot ton, who is further along in his development than Fantazia expected at this point.

Add it all up and Modesto Christian is Nor Cal’s consensus top team wherever you look and whomever you ask.

BJ Davis, Modesto Christian

2. ARCHBISHOP MITTY-SAN JOSE (23-6)

Versatile Princeton-bound Derek Sangster will lead the way for a Monarchs team that has reached the Central Coast Section Open Div. finals five of the past six seasons. In addition to Sangster, Mitty will feature skilled post play ers in junior Gavin Ripp and senior Eric Brown. The backcourt will be led by guards Jaidan Paran and Tyler Jones among others.

3. RIORDAN-S.F. (21-9)

Senior King-Njhsanni Wilhite is the defending West Catholic Athletic League MVP after helping lead the Crusaders to the CCS Open Div. crown a sea son ago. The guard who holds offers from Washington State and San Jose State should have plenty of talent surrounding him this season as well. That includes 6-3 junior Kaia Berridge and 6-7 freshman Alex Kuminga (Yes, the brother of Golden State Warriors forward, Jonathan)

4. INDERKUM-SACRAMENTO (28-3)

The Tigers return a number of key contributors from a team that reached the CIF Division I NorCal semifinals last season. Last year’s standout Derrick Claxton graduated, but the four other starters return. Senior guards Jalen Glenn and Jermaine Haliburton will be a problem for just about any perim eter defense this season. Add in 6-6 sharpshooter Rohan Sheemar and 6-7 senior post Logan Steuben and there are matchup problems everywhere.

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5. DUBLIN (16-8)

Coach Tom Costello’s Gaels sputtered to the finish line a year ago, dropping their last four games. They still get a Top 5 start to the season as we expect a senior-led core to return with a vengeance. Colorado-bound Courtney Anderson Jr. leads that group of seniors, which also includes guards Dono van Cooks and Mekhi Thomas. Also, don’t be surprised if sophomore Jalen Stokes makes a leap after averaging 8 points and 5 rebounds as a freshman.

6. GRANADA-LIVERMORE (17-9)

A Matadors team that was already on the rise and includes 7-foot Saint Mary’s College-committed senior Andrew McKeever will add the Bay Area’s top unsigned senior in Tyler Harris. The 6-7 wing transfers in from Salesian and will make an instant impact once completing the sit-out period.

7. DE LA SALLE-CONCORD (22-6)

Is anybody getting the sense that the East Bay Athletic League might be even tougher than usual this season? The Spartans follow league-mates Dublin and Granada after falling one point shy of winning the North Coast Section Open Division title in coach Marcus Schroeder’s first season at his alma mater. Sophomore Alec Blair should be a standout for a typical bal anced roster that can score from anywhere.

8. JESUIT-CARMICHAEL (14-14)

The top tier of Sac-Joaquin Section teams should be fun to watch this season. We’re giving the Marauders second billing in the section behind Inderkum (by a narrow margin over Monterey Trail-Elk Grove) mainly due to senior playmaker Stanford-bound Andrej Stojakovic and a slightly deeper roster to start the season.

9. SALESIAN-RICHMOND (13-9)

Losing Tyler Harris via transfer hurts, but Coach Bill Mellis and his staff have replaced outgoing transfers many times before without missing a beat. We’ve learned not to bet against the Pride, and we won’t this season. Look for senior Emerson Jones and junior Amani Johnson to lead the way.

10. MONTEREY TRAIL-ELK GROVE (11-16)

Despite an under .500 record last season, the Mustangs won’t be sneaking up on anyone this season. The expectations for this team skyrocketed when former Sacramento High star Ben Roseborough arrived via transfer after a brief enrollment with Prolific Prep. He likely won’t be available until late De cember, but Long Beach State-bound Varick Lewis and a strong supporting cast can man the ship comfortably until then.

THE NEXT 10

Oakland (27-4)

Vanden-Fairfield (21-13)

Dougherty Valley-San Ramon (21-7)

Folsom (24-7)

Sheldon-Sacramento (22-11)

Oakland Tech (23-5)

Campolindo-Moraga (28-2)

Grant-Sacramento (25-4)

Moreau Catholic-Hayward (24-5)

Pinole Valley (20-4) ✪

Andrew McKeever, Granada

First Team

COURTNEY ANDERSON JR. (Dublin) | Wing, 6-5, Sr.

An impact player on both ends of the floor, Anderson signed with Colorado earlier this month. But before he takes on the Pac-12, he will attempt to lead Dublin through the grueling East Bay Athletic League

TYLER HARRIS (Granada-Livermore) | Forward, 6-7, Sr.

Harris joins the uber-talented EBAL himself after transferring in from Salesian-Richmond. The 3-star wing who can play inside or out, should pair nicely with 7-foot center Andrew McKeever.

KING-NJHSANNI WILHITE (Riordan-S.F.) | Guard, 6-1, Sr.

The lone returning starter from last year’s Cental Coast Section Open Cham pions, Wilhite still brings all the gifts that led him to regional player of the year honors from multiple news outlets last spring.

JAMARI PHILLIPS (Modesto Christian) | Guard, 6-3, Jr.

The reigning CalHiSports.com State Sophomore of the Year is the early favor ite for NorCal Player of the Year. Phillips spent the summer working with the U17 National Team and has long list of major universities seeking his services.

ANDREJ STOJAKOVIC (Jesuit-Carmichael) | Wing, 6-6, Sr.

Son of former Sacramento Kings All-Star, Peja Stojakovic, can score from any part of the floor; He recently made headlines by committing to Stanford where he’ll join former Jesuit teammate Isa Silva.

second Team

RYAN BEASLEY (Dougherty Valley-San Ramon) | Guard, 5-9, Sr.

An absolute scoring machine, Beasley averaged 30.3 points per game last season, including back-to-back 43-point postseason efforts.

BJ DAVIS (Modesto Christian) | Guard, 6-2, Sr.

Named Third Team All-State Elite by Cal HiSports.com as a junior, the San Diego State-bound Davis is one of the best on-ball perimeter defenders in the state.

ALEC BLAIR (De La Salle-Concord) | Wing, 6-6, So.

A two-sport star who holds SEC offers for baseball, Blair is also listed among the top sophomore hoopers in the country; was named a First-Team All-State freshman (CalHiSports.com)

ANDREW MCKEEVER (Granada-Livermore) | Center, 7-0, Sr.

A true big who’s active on the glass, works in the post, runs the floor and finishes at the rim; will be perfect fit at his future collegiate home of Saint Mary’s College.

DEREK SANGSTER (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose) | Forward, 6-7, Sr. Princeton-bound talent can play the wing or move down and bang in the paint. CalHiSports.com ranks him among state’s Top 25 seniors.

third Team

JASE BUTLER (Branson-Ross) | Wing, 6-4, Jr.

Talented junior on the rise after a strong AAU season, Butler now has of fers from Montana, Sac State, UC Santa Barbara and Seattle Univ.

BEN ROSEBOROUGH (Monterey Trail-Elk Grove) | Wing, 6-4, Jr.

Arrival of Roseborough — from Sacramento High by way of Prolific PrepNapa — has sent Monterey Trail expectations skyrocketing.

TYLER THOMPSON (Vanden-Fairfield) | Guard, 6-5, Jr.

Two-way talent is the next big thing for a Vikings program that’s show cased plenty of talent in recent years; Offers from Sac State and Portland State.

MONEY WILLIAMS (Oakland) | Wing, 6-3, Sr.

Aggressive yet smooth style of play reminds many of past Oakland Ath letic League stars; Long Beach State and Montana among current suitors.

ZION WILBURN (Pinole Valley) | Forward, 6-6, Jr.

Spartans could be in for a big season behind Wilburn, who holds eight of fers, including Louisiana Tech, San Francisco and UC Santa Barbara. ✪

Tyler Harris, Granada

Alec Blair, De La Salle

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