NorCal Issue 216, January 2023

SportStars Premier Partners

Northern Exposure

After 12 years and 215 issues, we still occasionally experience “firsts” here at SportStars. And the first represented by this issue was really way overdue to be honest.

For a media outlet and publication that aims to cover all of NorCal, there are certain CIF sections that we don’t spend a lot of time in. The Northern Section is definitely one of them. Which is somewhat odd, since that’s the section I grew up playing sports in. I’m a proud graduate of Red Bluff High and my parents were both high school coaches who led various sports at Red Bluff, Yreka, Mercy-Red Bluff and Los Molinos.

Now, it’s not like we’ve ignored the Northern Section completely over these last dozen years. We’ve definitely recognized and honored some of its best athletes as part of our All-NorCal teams, and we’ve written about state championship teams from the section too.

But this issue, No. 216, is the first one featuring a Northern Section team on the cover.

Pleasant Valley-Chico sophomore Maddux Wilson is the answer to that SportStars trivia question. And while we never had the chance to ask Maddux about the origin of her first name, we absolutely hope it’s a nod to Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux.

Wilson is part of a stellar group of seven sophomores — yes, sophomores — that have the Pleasant Valley girls varsity basketball team ranked inside our NorCal Top 20.

The group of Class of 2025 standouts all played varsity as freshmen and have been AAU teammates from as far back as third grade. We talked to four of them for our feature that begins on Page 8.

It’s different in the North.

In the Bay Area or even Greater Sacramento region, the likelihood of seven athletes from one sport staying together throughout their youth career and into the same high school would have super long odds. Even Chico has two public high schools, so it’s not even like it was a given for these seven girls.

Something tells us this won’t be the last time we’ll be writing about this team. If they have their way, it could be as soon as this March.

This issue also features our All-NorCal Football honors. Building the All-NorCal Football team roster, and keeping it to just 54 kids, remains one of the most difficult things we do at SportStars HQ. It should be a hard list to make, though. It is ALL-NorCal. That’s covering six sections and more than 65 leagues.

For the record, we had Northern Section representation on that team, too. It was Grant Foster, a senior all-purpose standout for the undefeated CIF 5-A State Champions of Orland. ✪

YOUR TICKET TO CALIFORNIA SPORTS ADMIT ONE; RAIN OR SHINE

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LEFT TO RIGHT (WITH BASKETBALLS): Jojuan Carrington, Milan Moses and Julyana Amante have their SportStars photo shoot interrupted by their Dublin High teammates. That Gaels team finished 28-4 overall, won a North Coast Section title and finished as CIF NorCal runners-up. Moses became a decorated soccer player for San Diego State and University of San Diego. Carrington played basketball for both the University of Portland and CSU East Bay.

Chace Bryson photo

NCVA Brings An End To A Resurgent Boys Season As The Girls Begin To Take Center Stage

With Northern California Volleyball Association programs secruing 23 of the 28 Boys Junior National Championship bids, the NCVA’s boys season came to an emphatic close at the Boys Far Western Junior National Qualifier at the San Mateo Event Center on Jan. 7-8.

The big weekend for NCVA teams was highlighted by the Northern California Volleyball Club (Rocklin) earning four national bids and Red Rock Volleyball (Bay Area) coming in not far behind with three. NCVC’s four tickets to the dance came in the Open Divisions for the 15U, 16U and 17U age groups, and the USA Division for 18U. Red Rock claimed USA Division bids in 14U, 15U and 17U.

The Far Western event came on the heels of a strong NCVA Boys Power League season that reached its highest participation level since the last full season before COVID. Over 215 teams competed in Power League this past fall. The Far Western numbers were also the highest since the pandemic as the NCVA welcomed 156 teams.

Now it’s the girls turn.

And that’s a whole different ball game.

According to NCVA, over 610 teams from 89 different clubs have registered to compete in Girls Power League or Premier League play.

Power League weekend #1 for 17/18U was held on Jan. 21 in San Mateo. NCVA held Premier League qualifiers over the same weekend at the Capitol Sports Center (Sacramento), Mistlin Sports Complex (Ripon), and Courtside Sports (Manteca).

The next tournament events on the NCVA schedule include the 23rd Annual President’s Day Classic taking place in a pair of venues from Feb. 18-20. The 11U, 12U, 13U, 15U and 17U division will be hosted by @The Grounds in Roseville, while the 14U, 16U and 18U fields will be contested at the San Mateo Event Center. NCVA notes that at least 300 teams have registered for the tournament.

There will also be a combine attached to this event, which has become a routine occurrence at the NCVA’s tournaments. It will take place Feb. 17 at the San Mateo Event Center. It offers a bit of a different twist than those at previous NCVA events. In addition to being a video combine, coaches from NCAA, NAIA and junior colleges from California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Arizona will be invited to attend.

The combine will be open to all female players grades 8-12. Their club does not have to be entered in the tournament to attend. Find more information and a registration link at ncva.com/presidentsday/

Finally, the NCVA returns to Reno from March 3-5 for the Girls 18s Sierra National Qualifier at the Reno Sparks Convention Center. That event has already drawn close to 100 team registrations. Learn more at ncva.com/sierra/ ✪

AJ Gambol

Playoff basketball is different. Especially in one’s home gym, as a high seed in the state playoffs.

The Pleasant Valley High girls basketball team wasn’t ready for that spotlight when it arrived on its Chico campus last March. The Northern Section Division III champions were a No. 2 seed in the CIF Div. III field and lost by 11 to 15-seeded Evergreen Valley-San Jose.

But there’s a caveat: That Vikings team featured seven freshmen and one sophomore. They weren’t supposed to be ready.

They are now.

Powered by a core of talented sophomores, Pleasant Valley begins the fourth week of January with a 19-3 overall record and ranked No.17 in SportStars NorCal Top 20 girls basketball rankings. All three of the team’s losses are to other Top 20 teams from outside of the Northern Section.

“We weren’t quite yet ready for that big crowd last year,” Vikings coach Bob Paddock said by phone on the morning of Jan. 20. “They’re more experienced now. They’re a much different team than they were last season.”

Later that night, Pleasant Valley had a chance to prove that theory by hosting bitter rival Chico High in front of a packed gymnasium. The Vikings trailed by eight at halftime but won by nine, 60-51.

It was the team’s sixth win in a row and the 11th in the past 12 games for what will be one of the most fascinating teams to keep an eye on from mid-February to potentially mid-March.

There are no seniors on the Vikings roster, and no players taller than 5-foot-10. But they can put the ball in the hoop — at an average close to 62 points per game — and have a chemistry that’s difficult to rival.

All seven sophomores have played together at the AAU level from as early as third grade. A group of that size sticking together seems incredibly rare, especially in a city with multiple public high schools. They also arrived on Paddock’s coaches office doorstop at the perfect time. Perhaps the only time he’d have roster openings for that many freshmen.

“I’ve never moved that many kids up,” said the coach who’s now in his 12th season as coach of

All seven of Pleasant Valley’s current sophomore standouts are present in this photo of a Chico Tarheels AAU team from their fourth grade year. (Photo c/o Che Nelms)

the Vikings, though that tenure included a seven-year interruption when he coached at Durham High from 2009-2016. “COVID was probably a part of it, with some dropping out and losing interest after the abbreviated (2020-21) season.”

The talent and chemistry was evident from the start. But it didn’t translate to immediate success. Pleasant Valley was just 10-7 when the calendar changed to 2022.

“They’d all had success in AAU, but playing AAU and playing high school ball is totally different,” Paddock said. “There’s the shot clock, and playing in front of your friends. AAU is all in front of your parents. High schools hold practice five to six days a week, which can also be different from AAU. They had to go through all that.”

They were also adapting to Paddock.

“For a long period of our lives we only really ever played for one coach,” sophomore center and co-captain Ava Dunn said. “Freshman year was a chance to begin playing for someone different. We had to adapt some, but Coach Paddock really cares about how all of us play. He really cares about us as a team and wants us to be the best versions of ourselves.”

One year later and they’re all getting closer to that version. A point of emphasis on that front is defense.

“Last year, a big issue on our team was defense and rebounding,” sophomore guard AJ Gambol said. The other cocaptain, Gambol led the team in scoring through the team’s first 19 games with an average of 15.3 a game. “Our offense was pretty good. We were always getting our buckets. We know our offense will come to us. This year we’re working on our defense and communication. Working hard on both ends of the floor.”

Before giving up 51 points to Chico, Pleasant Valley was holding opponents to just under 42 points per game. Paddock says the goal each night is 40.

However, if the Vikings get stuck in a shootout they’ve got more than enough firepower to hang.

In addition to Gambol’s 15 points a night, sophomore Maddux Wilson was averaging 14.7 through 19 games. That included a 30-point effort in a win over Crescent Valley-Corvallis (Ore.) in a third-place game at the West Coast Jamboree. She was 7-for-12 on 3-pointers in that game.

“She has a quick release and is just a pure shooter,” Paddock said of Wilson. “She hustles and is just non-stop energy.”

Sophomore guard Nya Fortune is also a deep threat and is third on the team in scoring with an average of eight points per game. Caitlyn Vickery, the one junior in the starting lineup, averages close to six points and six rebounds per game. Dunn is the team’s leading rebounder, pulling down close to seven a night.

We mentioned seven sophomores, though. In addition to Gambol, Wilson, Dunn and Fortune, there’s also Shannon Fong, a feisty guard that’s typically one of the first players off the bench for Paddock. Jada Nelms is also a reserve wing and Kabrey Cooper has been a key backup in the post.

Two of Pleasant Valley’s three losses were by single digits, including a 53-46 defeat to NorCal No. 3 Folsom (17-2) on Dec. 9. It was that loss, and not a win, that seemed to signal to Vikings players that they were nearing the team they believed they could be.

“I think the Folsom game was our best game,” Gambol said. “They’re a Top 10 team in the state and I think a lot of people thought we were going to get whooped, and we only lost by 7. We were really proud of how we played as a team. We were up in the fourth quarter, that’s how close we were to winning that game. And that gave us that much more confidence.”

Since then, the team’s only loss was a 46-44 loss to NorCalranked Heritage-Brentwood — a team that features 6-foot-4 UCLA-bound center Amanda Muse. Recall, Pleasant Valley’s

tallest player is 5-10.

“Our defense and trust in each other has really been the key,” Fortune said. “We all grew as individuals. I’ve been a lot more confident, and I can see that in my teammates as well.”

That trust is six to seven years in the making. It’s just impossible to fabricate the type of cohesion playing that long with each other can create.

Each of the girls know they can lean on each other when needed — and believe in one another to make them better.

“I like that AJ pushes me,” Fortune said. “She likes to pester me at practice. She’ll try to get into my head so I can learn how to keep opponents out of it. … She can really tell when I’m stressing or nervous with the ball. She’ll say, ‘Nya, take the ball. You know you can make it.’”

Wilson had similar sentiments about Dunn.

“Ava always tries to encourage me when I’m playing down,” the sharpshooting guard said. “She’s a very good all-around player, too. Especially with how she’s learned now that she can drive to the basket.”

Pleasant Valley has three weeks of regular season action left before it will look to win its fourth consecutive Div. III section title. But that definitely won’t be the end goal this time around.

“Our goal for each of our high school years is to win state,” Dunn said.

Bring on the spotlight and the crowds. ✪

Nyah Fortune

Ava Dunn

Player Of The Year

BLAKE NICHELSEN

If Blake Nichelson was a living room decoration, he wouldn’t be giant white letters spelling F-AM-I-L-Y. Or any basic item at your local Hobby Lobby.

He’s just different — and as opposing defenses found out this season, he’s just faster and stronger too.

It’s how Nichelson scored 43 of his 90 career touchdowns and tallied 2,541 of his 5,486 career all-purpose yards during a thrilling and fulfilling senior season for the Manteca Buffaloes.

It’s why, after a Sac-Joaquin Section Div. II championship and NorCal bowl game appearance, Nichelson was the obvious pick for recognition as the SportStars 2022 NorCal Player of the Year.

Nichelson’s drive to succeed and stand out powered a remarkable prep career.

“I don’t like to lose,” Nichelson said Jan. 17, from Honolulu after a Polynesian Bowl practice. “Whenever my team needed me, I knew I needed to step up and do well. I feel like coaches helped me throughout the week, and my natural abilities like speed helped a lot to go out there and make plays.”

The Ripon native, son of Nicole and Donald Nichelson and brother of former Ripon Christian athlete Wyatt Nichelson, will represent the 209 with Florida State football later this year.

His impact at Manteca will live through more than just his rushing records.

“He’s a great kid who loves playing football and enjoys the whole process,” Manteca coach Mark Varnum said. “He is just a solid kid and I am pretty excited for his future, though we are going to miss him around here.”

Miss doesn’t quite cover it.

When the Sac-Joaquin Section vaulted Manteca into Div. II after winning three of the last four Div. III titles, Nichelson was the biggest reason the Buffaloes stayed successful.

It’s because heightened difficulty seems a little less challenging when you can fly.

“When the stage was the biggest and lights the brightest, that’s when he would show out,” Varnum said. “He wasn’t running up stats against lesser opponents, but rising to the occasion every time against our best ones.”

Lets look at those big moments:

›› In a 59-22 win over Div. I semifinalist Turlock, Nichelson rushed 23 times for 207 yards (nine yard average) and six touchdowns.

›› Nichelson broke his own school record for rushing yards in a single game during a showdown with league champion Central Catholic. He ran 24 times for 409 yards (17 yards per carry) with seven touchdowns.

›› During the SJS Div. II semifinals, he took 29 touches (including five catches) for 251 total yards and two scores to aid a 34-28 win against Rocklin.

›› Facing Granite Bay in the SJS finals, Nichelson used 31 carries and three catches to amass 308 yards and six touchdowns, doing the most important work in Manteca’s 51-48 shootout victory.

›› In the NorCal defeat to Pittsburg, Nichelson still managed over five yards a pop with 33 rushes for 172 yards and a score — with rain falling during all 60 minutes of play.

It’s a wildly effective big-game resume for an offensive stalwart who is projected to play defense at the next level.

He had 4.5 sacks and an interception in his senior

campaign, but he quickly began to pad that prestige in the offseason. According to 247sports.com, Nichelson led all players with 7.5 tackles in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, in January. He was also seen picking off a pass from Oregon signee Austin Novosad during the game’s series of practices.

Some in Tallahassee see dual purpose usage for Manteca’s star recruit.

“Another major recruiting victory for the Seminoles, Nichelson is a true two-way standout player for his high school,” FSU’s Tomahawk Nation reported in December. “He’ll be stopping touchdowns from happening in Tallahassee, but you can bet he’ll score a couple as well in a goal line back type of role. It’ll be hard to keep Nichelson off the field for long, and I expect he’ll be a special teams demon quickly.

“Do we gush about Blake Nichelson every time we talk about him? Yes. Is it warranted? Very much so. This kid gets it done in all three phases.”

The appreciation is shared by many. Nichelson is one of the state’s most recognized players, landing about as many after-season accolades as he had touchdowns. In addition to ours, here is a list of some others:

›› Adidas All-American

›› Maxpreps.com SJS Co-Player of the Year

›› Scorebook Live California All-State Team

›› Valley Oak League MVP

›› FrontRowPreps.com Player of the Year

›› Manteca Bulletin All-Area MVP

›› KCRA All-Star Team

›› 49ERS Sac High South Fall All-Around Football Player of the Year

›› Black Hat Football MVP

“I feel like it’s great (to be recognized) and to see all my work paying off,” Nichelson said. “It’s a dream come true to have all those awards and it has been a long time coming for all that stuff, since I was a little kid.”

The hype has done little to detriment Nichelson’s status as a team player.

“I think the big thing is, as he got bigger, with more hype, publicity and honors, he became a better teammate, a more humble person and a better leader,” Varnum said. “That’s not always the case in players, and some get a big head, but he went the other direction and was a great example for everybody as the guy they looked to.

“He was a huge part of our success the past few seasons, and not only what he did individually. His presence raised the level of play on our team, and that will be tough to replace.”

“I feel like I never have been the type to act different,” Nichelson added. “I keep it the same as it was before recognition, just trying to be a better person and staying humble.”

The All-American and Polynesian Bowls were two more steps on his continuous journey for success with a specific, professional target.

“Making it to the NFL is probably my biggest dream,” Nichelson said. “It will take a lot of hard work and dedication, showing up and working out and doing the extra stuff to set me apart from everybody else — separating yourself and being different.”

It’s why nobody is quite like Blake Nichelson. ✪

— Story By Ike Dodson

Offensive Player

JAIVIAN THOMAS

RB • McClymonds-Oakland

In a recent meeting with players who expect to take the field for the 2023 McClymonds football team, coach Michael Peters asked a question.

“I asked them who was going to be the next 21,” the coach said.

It was a clear reference to McClymonds’ star running back Jaivian Thomas, who wore No. 21 for the Oakland school. And after Thomas’s 2022 season, that’s a challenge that won’t be easily met.

“We rolled him the whole year,” Peters said. “We leaned on him a lot. … I can say that the one kid carried us to the state championship game.”

Thomas, nicknamed “The Jet”, opened the season by rushing for 227 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 24-21 win over Bellarmine-San Jose. He would average 210 rushing yards over his next 11 games, scoring multiple touchdowns in every game but the last — the CIF 2-AA State Championship bowl game where he was playing through illness (and still scored once).

In just 12 games, Thomas led all of Northern California and finished third in the state with 2,528 rushing yards. He rushed for 30 scores, had a pair of TD catches and also returned a kickoff 87 yards to the house.

And perhaps the most impressive stat line: In five games against 2022 section champions (Bellarmine, Pittsburg, San Ramon Valley-Danville, Lemoore and Mater Dei Catholic-Chula Vista), Thomas rushed for 1,074 yards and 13 TDs. It all added up to a season’s worth of effort that lifted a 12-win McClymonds team to league, section and CIF regional titles — and made Thomas the SportStars NorCal Offensive Player of the Year.

“What can you say? You can’t say anything wrong about him,” Peters said. “He’s a great kid who just put in the work. … He has dedication and heart and a love of the game. Lots of kids don’t love this game. That kid was here every day in the weight room at 7 a.m. by himself. He prepared himself for his senior year, and it showed.”

It wasn’t the easiest path to get there.

Thomas suffered a hip injury during the 2021 COVID spring season and had to grind through rehab in time for the fall campaign. He entered

that season near the bottom of the running back depth chart. The turning point came after breaking off a 60-yard touchdown run in an overtime loss to Menlo-Atherton in the fourth game of that junior season.

“His confidence hit a new level. Around midseason of his junior year, he really figured it out,” McClymonds running back coach Jason Walton said. “Before that, he was just a kid playing football. Then he finally realized, ‘I can excel in this.’”

The McClymonds staff realized it, too. With only four returning starters on offense to open the 2022 season, Thomas was going to have to be ‘The Man.’

And it’s nice when “The Man” is also “The Jet.”

It’s more than just speed with Thomas, though.

“Tenacity and hard work. Leadership,” Walton said. “He watches a lot of film, lifts weights, and is always trying to see what he can do better. He’s matured as a back, too. You watch his junior tape and compare it to this year, and you can just see it. He’s just a great kid to be around, too.”

Walton is in his seventh season coaching running backs for the Warriors. Before that he spent time coaching at Skyline-Oakland and at Berkeley where he was an assistant on Alonzo Carter’s staff. That journey has allowed him to work with several proficient ball-carriers.

“I truly don’t like to rank and compare,” Walton said. “I’ve coached some great running backs and they’re all different in their own right. I can say this, Jaivian is among those guys at the top of the list. … The sky’s the limit for him.”

Thomas will next look to test his skill in the Pac-12 as a member of the California Golden Bears.

“It’s a different beast,” Peters said of college football. “He’ll have to get a little bigger and faster. He knows he’s going to have to take some real beatings. … I think he can do it. Those are things he’s aware of, and I don’t think he’s even taken a break since the end of our season. I’ve taken more breaks than he has. He’s been putting in work every day.”

McClymonds may be looking for its next Jaivian Thomas, but Jaivian Thomas is out to make sure Cal doesn’t have to look far. ✪

Player Of The Year

THOMAS

SportStars All-NorCal

OFFENSE

QB | LUKE BAKER (San Ramon Valley-Danville) | Jr.

NorCal Offensive Player of the Year shined both as a leader and a playmaker in helping SRV win NCS and NorCal titles and make its first trip to a CIF bowl game. Passed for 3,733 yards and 46 touchdowns, rushed for 237 yards and five more scores, and in the CIF Division 2-A game led two fourth-quarter game-tying drives to help the Wolves rally to force overtime.

QB | AUSTIN MACK (Folsom) | Jr.

Austin Mack’s breakout season was a symphony of efficiency. In leading Folsom to a 12-2 record and Sac-Joaquin Section Div. I title, Mack completed 269 of 382 passes for 3,498 yards with 40 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He saved his best game for the SJS semifinals, completing 34 passes for 460 yards and seven touchdowns in a win over Central Catholic.

QB | JOSEPH “JOJO” MCCRAY (Grant-Sacramento) | Sr.

The top passer in the SJS led Grant to a CIF Division 3-AA State Championship just a year after the same program went 0-9. His prowess behind center had a lot to do with it. McCray was 182 for 300 for 4,009 yards and 51 touchdowns and six interceptions. He rushed for eight touchdowns and also had three passing scores in the state bowl game.

QB | JADEN RASHADA (Pittsburg) | Sr.

Shouldered the hype and expectations that come with a 5-star recruiting ranking and helped lead the Pirates to NCS and NorCal titles as well as a trip to the CIF 1-A state bowl game. Passed for 3,055 yards and 32 touchdowns while also rushing for 419 yards and seven TDs.

QB | DASHIELL WEAVER (Campolindo-Moraga) | Sr.

Led the Cougars to a DAL-Foothill title and a trip to the NCS Division 2 final by passing for 3,239 yards and 32 touchdowns. Also finished with 543 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns, both team-highs. Accounted for all six of Campo’s touchdowns in an epic NCS D2 semifinal win over Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park.

RB | TYLER JACKLICH (Central Catholic-Modesto) | Sr.

One of the most prolific athletes in NorCal, Jacklich amassed 2,529 all-purpose yards with 30 touchdowns in Central Catholic’s 2022 campaign. He ran for over 150 yards in nine games, including six straight to close the year. Jacklich tagged Folsom for 217 yards and two touchdowns in Central Catholic’s season-ending defeat in the SJS semifinals.

RB | RYKER PETERS (Escalon) | Sr.

The hulking fullback led all SJS backs with 2,208 rushing yards and tallied 31 touchdowns in Escalon’s 13-3 state bowl championship season. He eclipsed 200 yards five times and averaged over 165 yards across section, NorCal and state bowl championship games. Peters picked up gains at over eight yards a touch in a remarkable senior season.

RB | DEVON RIVERS (Heritage-Brentwood) | Sr.

The Fresno State-bound back was No. 1 on any opponent’s scouting report, yet still managed to rush for 1,759 yards and 24 touchdowns in a tremendous senior season in which he also had to spend time at quarterback due to injuries.

There are no first-teams or second-teams when it comes to the SportStars All-NorCal Team. We build it as one 54-man roster.

If you’re on the team, you’re on the team. And that means these are the 27 players we’re sending out to put points on the board — because they were really good at making that happen this season.

Here’s the 2022 SportStars AllNorCal Offense presented alphabetically within each position

RB | JAIVIAN THOMAS (McClymonds-Oakland) | Sr.

NorCal Offensive Player of the Year featured for the Warriors as one of the most dynamic runners in California. Cal commit ended the year third in the state among reported stat leaders with 2,528 rushing yards. Also averaged a gaudy 14.53 yards per carry and scored 33 total touchdowns for the OAL champs and CIF state bowl participants.

RB | CHARLES WILLIAMS (Marin CatholicKentfield) | Jr.

Marin IJ Offensive Player of the Year could change a game with one run for the NCS Division 4 champs. Rushed for 1,239 yards and 23 touchdowns despite often not playing full games due to blowout victories. Also rushed for 207 yards in the CIF NorCal Division 2-A game against San Ramon Valley-Danville.

WR | PHILLIP BELL (Christian Brothers-Sacramento) | So.

Bell’s big catches vaulted Christian Brothers deep into the playoffs. He ended the year with 73 grabs for 818 yards and 20 touchdowns, before an SJS finals loss to state-champion Grant. Bell’s playoff opener was probably his best work, 11 catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns against Merced.

WR | RICO FLORES JR. (Folsom) | Sr.

The Notre Dame-bound star receiver from Folsom ended his prep career with 3,222 yards on 201 catches. He had 72 catches for 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns in his twilight season. Flores could have made a difference in Folsom’s seasonending loss to De La Salle in a NorCal Bowl Game, but he broke his foot after torching Central Catholic for 118 yards and a score in the SJS semifinals.

WR | JACKSON HARRIS (Berkeley) | Sr.

Stanford-bound wideout earned WACC-Mission Offensive Player of the Year honors and helped lead a resurgent group of Yellowjackets to a league title. His 1,492 receiving yards ranked fifth in the state among reported leaders, and he also finished with 73 receptions and 24 touchdowns.

WR | TAESHAUN LYONS (Tennyson-Hayward) | Sr.

WACC-Foothill Offensive Player of the Year accumulated 1,007 yards and 10 touchdowns through the air for the Lancers. Washington-bound four-star recruit also displayed his playmaking ability in other ways, adding five rushing touchdowns and two punt return touchdowns.

WR | ROBBIE MASCHERONI (Campolindo-Moraga) | Sr.

The primary target for a potent Cougars pass attack racked up 66 receptions, 1,196 yards and 18 touchdowns. Scored at least one touchdown in 11 of Campo’s 12 games and had multiple scores six times. Bound for UC Davis.

WR | DANNY SCUDERO (Archbishop MittySan Jose) | Sr.

WCAL Player of the Year was a playmaker on both sides of the ball but his biggest offensive contribution came at wideout with 60 catches, 982 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also rushed for 309 yards and three more scores. Also a threat in the return game, Scudero accumulated over 1,800 all-purpose yards and finished in the CCS’ top 10 in scoring with 118 points.

WR | RASHID WILLIAMS (Pittsburg) | Sr.

Washington commit wrapped up an unforgettable four-year varsity career by helping the Pirates win the NCS Division 1 title and reach the CIF Division 1-A state bowl game. Stood out even in a receiver room that included multiple D-1 talents, catching 76 passes for 1,087 yards and 12 touchdowns.

TE | MASON NORBERG (Folsom) | Sr.

Norberg emerged as the top tight end in Northern California after a shocking season-ending injury to Stanford commit Walker Lyons freed up time in the spotlight. The heavily recruited senior was a blocking wunderkind and also caught 44 balls for 515 yards and eight touchdowns.

OL | OLIVER BARI (St. Francis-Mountain View) | Sr.

Earned WCAL Offensive Lineman of the Year honors as one of the road graders that paved the way for a Lancers ground attack that rushed for 152 yards per game. 6-foot-3, 250-pounder helped St. Francis rush for triple digits in all but one WCAL game.

OL | ZAIRE COLLIER (Granite Bay) | Sr.

The two-way stalwart on Granite Bay’s line was a first team All Sierra Foothill League selection and plowed the way to the squad’s 9-5 season. That included wins over Inderkum, Downey and Del Oro before a SJS finals loss to Manteca.

OL | RICHARD MCKAY (Clayton Valley-Concord.) | Sr.

Even as the Ugly Eagles transitioned to a spread attack, McKay continued to epitomize Clayton Valley’s hard-nosed approach up front. The 6-foot-7, 280-pounder earned first team all-East Bay Athletic League honors and helped the Uglies win the EBAL-Mountain Division.

OL | ALANI NOA (Grant-Sacramento) | Sr.

Bound for USC, Noa was considered one of the top recruits in all of Northern California, and for good reason. He has fast hands and feet, hulking size (6-4, 340) and an aggressive motor. He’s the second offensive selection on this list for a Grant team that won a CIF Division 3-AA State Bowl Game over San Jacinto.

OL | SIMIONE PALE (Elk Grove) | Sr.

The Stanford commitment should shine at the next level after dominating the trench in prep football. His driving blocks have paved way for Elk Grove to amass a bewildering 7,963 yards of rushing in the past two seasons. He is a rare talent that the Thundering Herd will miss dearly.

OL | COOPER POWERS (De La Salle-Concord) | Sr.

One of the latest to add his name to a long list of Spartan offensive line greats, Powers earned All-East Bay Athletic League first team honors and helped DLS reach the CIF Division 1-AA bowl game thanks to his physical play and stalwart leadership. Set to continue his career next year at national runner-up TCU.

OL | AMOS TALALELE (Santa Clara) | Sr.

6-foot-5, 330-pound behemoth will join Grant’s Alani Noa in the fall as part of an impressive incoming class for Lincoln Riley and USC. Before becoming a Trojan, he starred as a Bruin and earned first team all-El Camino League honors on the offensive line in addition to being named Defensive Player of the Year

OL | DEREK THOMPSON (De La Salle-Concord) | Sr.

Left every piece of himself on the field and entered De La Salle lore as one of the Spartans’ leaders, both on and off the field. Harvard commit displayed his tenacity and strength in helping DLS rush for 3,474 yards on the season and return to a CIF state bowl game.

K | CARSON NICHOLS (Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills) | Sr.

NorCals best kicker was much more than a PAT booter. Nichols finished his career with 18 field goals, and drilled 12 of them during a sensational senior season. His longest, 48 yards, came in an SFL loss to Folsom. He also made a 34yard field goal in a playoff win over Turlock and his 41-yard make helped Oak Ridge edge Granite Bay, 17-16.

Carson Nichols

Cooper Powers

Simione Pale

JABARI MANN

LB • Serra-San Mateo

Patrick Walsh can always rattle off the measurables and the on-field highlights when asked what type of player Serra-San Mateo linebacker Jabari Mann is.

But really want to get the Padres’ head coach talking?

Ask about Mann as a person.

“Great person. Super gregarious. Very social. Great sense of humor. Great teammate,” Walsh said. “Everything you want in a Serra football player.”

Mann thrived as part of a tremendous ensemble cast for Northern California’s top team in 2022, helping the Padres reach the California Interscholastic Federation Open Division bowl game without much debate.

That effort, along with his role as one of the major playmakers on a defense for the ages, led to Mann earning recognition as the SportStars 2022 Defensive Player of the Year.

Of course, the numbers jump off the page when it comes to Serra’s defense. Playing in one of California’s toughest leagues, the West Catholic Athletic League, the Padres didn’t allow more than seven points in a league contest.

They finished the year 13-1, with wins over Folsom and De La SalleConcord and the only loss coming at the hands of prospect-laden St. John Bosco-Bellflower in the Open Division bowl.

Mann’s role on Serra’s dominant defense can be explained statistically just as easily as it can through the intangibles. He led the team with 87 tackles and added 10 tackles for loss along the way. The junior linebacker also tied for team-high honors with five sacks and added one interception.

“He’s very instinctual and he’s explosive,” Walsh said. “Obviously he’s got speed. He kind of reminds me of Devin White with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He’s an amazing athlete but tack on to that that he’s got the instincts to play that position and that’s what leads to a great ‘backer.”

be a one-man wrecking crew.

Instead, he displayed his leadership on the field as a playmaker alongside other talented playmakers. Fellow juniors Marley Alapati, Danny Niu and Joseph Bey have also garnered plenty of accolades, and they’ll all be back in the fall of 2023 to lead what should be another standout Padres defense.

“What’s been interesting this offseason is there’s kind of beauty in the eye of the beholder because they’re all similar yet unique in their own way,” Walsh said. “It’s been funny to see the Linebacker of the Year, Player of the Year, Player of the County, it’s kind of rotated between all these guys. And, everyone has it right. I don’t know if you can say anyone has it wrong because they’re all just fantastic players.

“Most importantly for me, they’re all great human beings. I think they feed off each other in being humble yet highly competitive playmakers.”

As an incoming senior, there is of course still room for growth when it comes to Mann’s development on the field. With offenses at all levels of the game continuing to emphasize the pass, linebackers are tasked with an even greater role in helping to slow down opponents’ aerial attacks.

“I think the game has changed so much that ‘backers have to cover either really explosive running backs or they might have to exit the box and cover someone in the slot,” Walsh said.

“I think he’s good at it. I think he’s a great pass rusher and great in the run game. This would be the next step for him to become great in the pass game. Not that he’s not good, but this is an opportunity for him to be great and show that he can be versatile at the next level where he can play inside the box, out of the box, he can move around.”

As the college coaches continue to come calling, they’ll do so with the knowledge that they’re not just getting a playmaker, they’re also getting a standout off the field.

“Realistically, the sky is the limit for him,” Walsh said. “He’s definitely a Div. I linebacker and I’m very excited to see where he lands.” ✪

Story by Ben Enos

As one member of a highly touted junior class, Mann didn’t need to

Player Of The Year

DEFENSE SportStars All-NorCal

DL | ASIATA AUCKLAND (Sutter) | Jr.

The Huskies’ speed rusher disrupted opponents’ passing games, recording 9.5 sacks and 34 QB hurries to go with 84 tackles.

DL | CONNER DASMANN (Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills) | Sr.

Edge rusher used his speed to record 10.5 sacks and force three fumbles, and added an interception for good measure.

DL | BRADY NASSAR (Amador Valley-Pleasanton) | Sr.

The San Diego State-bound defensive end was a Co-Defensive Most Valuable Player of the East Bay Athletic League’s Mountain Division after racking up 58 tackles (19 for loss) with seven sacks.

DL | JAKE PEARCE (San Marin-Novato) | Sr.

An absolute force for the back-to-back CIF State Bowl champions, Pearce recorded 83 tackles (34 for loss) with 12 sacks and a whopping EIGHT forced fumbles.

DL | JAE’VON REELS (Bellarmine-San Jose) | Sr.

Nearly half of his 63 tackles went for loss, which included 9.5 sacks. The WCAL Defensive Lineman Of The Year was also credited for 10 QB hurries, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

DL | COLLIN BRAY (Placer) | Sr.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Hillman dominated the trenches recording 10 sacks when he was not leading the way for Placer’s vaunted rushing attack.

DL | JEWELOUS “JUJU” WALLS (Pittsburg) | So.

Only a sophomore, Walls was the Pirates’ most impactful player down after down. He finished with 99 tackles (25 for loss), a team-best eight sacks, four forced fumbles and two recoveries.

LB | KAINOA ACIA (Del

Oro-Loomis) | Sr.

The Golden Eagles’ quick OLB earned All-League honors in the mighty Sierra Foothill League, making 47 tackles and recording 6 sacks.

LB | WILL CLEMENS (Marin Catholic-Kentfield) | Sr.

Clemens was the Marin County Athletic League Defensive Player of the Year and won the same award region-wide from the Marin Independent Journal. He led the 13-1 Wildcats with 82 tackles and added five sacks.

LB | MARCO JONES (San Ramon Valley-Danville) | So.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound linebacker strikes an immediate presence on the field — and that’s before he’s flying around making one of his 149 tackles or forcing one of his five turnovers for the section- and NorCal-champion Wolves.

LB | JABARI MANN (Serra-San Mateo) | Jr.

Our NorCal Defensive Player of the Year led the way for a dominant defense that helped pave the way to the CIF Open Division State Bowl Game. Mann had a team-best 87 tackles with five sacks and an INT.

Just like with the offense, there are no first-teams or second-teams when it comes to the SportStars All-NorCal Team. It’s simply compiled as one 54-man roster.

If you’re on the team, you’re on the team. And the following 27 players are the dudes we’re sending out for stops. Come at us! Here’s the 2022 SportStars AllNorCal Defense presented alphabetically within each position.

LB | JERRY MIXON JR. (Sacred Heart CathedralS.F.) | Sr.

Oregon-bound talent led Fightin’ Irish with 79 tackles while also adding four sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked field goal. He also contributed over 600 total yards of offense.

LB | NICK AFATO (Yuba City) | Sr.

Afato quarterbacked the Honkers’ defense with 100 tackles in just 10 games, including 11 tackles for loss, and picked off a pair of passes when he was not throwing them as Yuba City’s signal-caller on offense.

LB | SHAY O’KELLY (Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton) | Sr. .

O’Kelly was the leader of a defense that allowed seven points or less in seven of the team’s 11 games. The only game in which the Gators allowed more than 14 was a 28-21 loss in the CCS Open Division playoffs. He had a team-best 135 tackles and three fumble recoveries.

DB | JOSEPH BEY (Serra-San Mateo) | Jr.

Bey followed up on his stellar sophomore campaign by delivering a junior season that won him West Catholic Athletic League Defensive Back of the Year honors. He was credited with 46 tackles, 20 of them solo.

DB | GRECO CARRILLO (Folsom) | Sr.

San Jose State-bound safety shut down opposing receivers and had three interceptions when teams dared to throw the ball in his direction; recorded 75 tackles for Bulldogs’ stout defense and had a scoop-and-score TD in the CIF 1-AA NorCal playoff against De La Salle.

DB | OMARI GAYLES (St. Mary’s-Stockton) | Jr.

The Rams’ ball-hawking safety had three interceptions and 96 tackles to go with five fumble recoveries and four blocked kicks.

DB | JONATHAN GUERRERO (De La Salle-Concord) | Sr.

His seven interceptions, a pick six, a sack and 25 tackles made him a no-brainer selection. Guerrero’s most impactful interception may have come in the final minute of the half during the CIF Div. 1-AA NorCal final at Folsom.

DB | WARREN SMITH (El Cerrito) | Sr.

The unquestioned leader of a fantastic Gauchos secondary, Smith was often avoided at all costs by opposing passing games. The Washington State-bound corner did log 36 tackles, six pass breakups and a forced fumble. He also had over 800 yards receiving with eight TDs.

DB | SAILASA VADRAWALE (Rancho CotateRohnert Park) | Sr.

Arguably one of the Bay Area’s best two-way players of 2022, the Cal-bound Vadrawale could’ve made the team on his defensive back chops alone. He led the 75 tackles (37 solo) with an interception, blocked field goal and a fumble recovery scoop-and-score.

AP | GRANT FOSTER (Orland) | Sr.

As a run-first QB for the undefeated (15-0) CIF 5-A CIF State Bowl champions, Foster rushed for 2,082 yards and 32 TDs. He also completed 29 passes for 373 yards and 4 TDs (no INTs). On defense he logged 25 tackles, three interceptions, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.

AP | COOPER FLANAGAN (De La Salle-Concord.) | Sr.

It’s safe to wonder if the presence of Flanagan would’ve helped tip the scales in De La Salle’s 33-28 CIF Div. 1-AA State Bowl loss to Lincoln-San Diego. The Notre Dame tight end commit missed both CIF games with an ankle injury. He had 38 tackles (10 for loss) with 3.5 sacks and an interception. He also caught 27 passes for 497 yards and 3 TDs.

AP | CHRIS LAWSON (Foothill-Pleasanton) | So.

How does a player make his inclusion an easy choice? Being named both the Offensive AND Defensive MVP of one’s league is a heckuva way to start. That’s what the highly coveted 2025 recruit did. Lawson amassed more than 1,000 all-purpose yards with 16 total TDs. He also had 51 tackles with a sack and interception.

AP | FERRARI MILLER (McClymonds-Oakland) | Sr.

He did a bit of everything for the CIF 2-A finalists, spending time at QB, RB and safety. He reached 1,073 yards rushing on just 79 carries (more than 14 yards/ carry) with 15 TDs. Yes, that’s a rushing TD once every 5.2 carries. He also had a pick six in the state championship game.

AP | RL MILLER (Sacred Heart Cathedral-S.F.) | Sr.

Fresno State-bound star scored five defensive touchdowns, returning four of his five interceptions for scores and adding a fumble recovery TD. He was also the WCAL Wide Receiver Of The Year with 32 catches for 687 yards and eight scores.

AP | BLAKE NICHELSON (Manteca) | Sr.

Florida State-bound star amassed 2,541 all-purpose yards and scored 41 offensive touchdowns (27 rushing; 14 receiving). On defense, the bruising linebacker recorded 44 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and an interception. Nichelson also returned two punts for scores to define “all-purpose.”

AP | SCOTT NIXON (Sheldon-Sacramento) | Sr.

Nixon was a Swiss Army knife on the gridiron eclipsing 2,200 all-purpose yards (1,280 receiving; 858 rushing) and 27 offensive touchdowns. He added 48 tackles and 4 sacks on defense, and was the Huskies’ punter to ensure that there were little to no plays where he was not on the field. ✪

Jonathan Guerrero

Joseph Bey

Ferrari Miller

Greco Carrillo

If you’ve played a down for Grant Union High School football in Sacramento, you are a #Pacer4Life. It seems simple enough. But for co-head coaches Carl Reed and Syd’Quan Thompson, it’s more than just a slogan or hashtag for Grant.

“It’s way more than a slogan,” said Reed. “It’s a belief.”

That belief — in the players, in themselves and in the mission of the program — led to a 12-2 record and Sac-Joaquin Section and CIF State Bowl Championships that earned the co-head coaches SportStars NorCal Coaches of the Year honors.

Grant sitting atop the football world in December 2022 was nothing new as the Pacers boasted seven previous section banners as well as being the first CIF State Open Division Champions (the Pacers defeated Long Beach Poly 25-20 in 2008). But getting back to the top was no small task.

Just two seasons ago, Reed took over the head coaching duties after longtime coach Mike Alberghini retired, and the Pacers posted an 0-9 mark that extended the program’s longest losing streak to 17 games. Change was definitely needed to return Grant to relevance, so Reed sought answers from his players and alumni.

The head coach conducted exit interviews with players and met with coaches in December 2021 that resulted in the decision to bring on Thompson as cohead coach and forge a new beginning.

“We asked ourselves ‘How can we change things with our opportunity?’,” Thompson said of he and Reed’s early discussions. “We brought the kids in and addressed goals and challenges. But it wasn’t just about football. We had bigger challenges that needed to be addressed for the team to improve.”

Historically, Grant football has faced more challenges and bigger obstacles than those of other schools. Academic eligibility, housing, nutrition and safety are greater concerns at Grant than at the majority of the schools the Pacers compete against.

“We had lost kids to grades in the past, and some kids might be getting their only food at school,” Reed said of the challenges he has seen as a student, teacher, administrator and coach on the campus in Del Paso Heights. “Our biggest success is not on the football field, it’s preparing these kids for school and life.”

“Those victories are big. It’s great to have an Alani Noa (a USC commit), but it’s even better when we can have others with offers and getting help with continuing their education to be prepared for life.”

Reed and Thompson sought to build relationships with this team to help them succeed in life first and then on the football field. Having mentors on the coaching staff that have experienced life and football at Grant — almost every Grant coach is an alum — paid dividends. Every Pacers coach hopes that success will carry on well beyond one magical season.

How magical the season could be did not completely dawn on Reed and Thompson until somewhat late. Despite outscoring their first four Metropolitan League opponents 264-22, the coaches knew that league powerhouse Monterey Trail would be the true test. While many observers expected the Pacers to be exposed by the Mustangs, Grant stood firm and lost a 49-42 shootout that opened a lot of eyes, including Reed’s.

“That game came down to who had the ball last,” Reed said. “We lost the game, but right then everyone knew that something was brewing there.”

After a 56-21 victory over Laguna Creek to conclude the regular season, the Pacers shined in the playoffs. Grant’s high-powered offense, led by quarterback Joseph “JoJo” McCray and wide receiver Kyrell Goss-Pruitt, hit its stride as Grant captured the SacJoaquin Section Div. III title and the CIF State Bowl Division 3-AA championship.

What started as a change in the structure of the coaching staff and philosophy ended in the ultimate turnaround for a storied program. “After 0-9, we said that we never wanted to feel that again,” Reed said. “We changed the structure of the program and that was the match. That made the difference.”

That difference is something that Reed and Thompson believe can translate beyond the football field.

“We have kids that deal with the reality of life,” Thompson said. “From Day One, we let them know that we are going to be here for them.”

Thompson has a deep understanding of the unique challenges and responsibilities of being a #Pacer4Life. The 2005 graduate was a two-way standout that experienced the pressure and pleasure of wearing the No. 1 at Grant before accepting a football scholarship to Cal and being drafted by the Denver Broncos. He and younger brother, Shaq Thompson (a veteran linebacker on the Carolina Panthers) were raised by their mother, Patrice, in Del Paso Heights.

In short, he embodies #Pacer4Life. In step with Reed and the rest of the coaches, they instilled the belief behind the #Pacer4Life mantra that made them more than just SportStars Coaches of the Year. ✪

Carl Reed

Syd’quan Thompson

More Student, Less Student Debt.

The Army National Guard is the ultimate learning experience. Think about it: We’ll help you pay for college, train you in a valuable new career, and put you in position to serve your community in times of need. And it is part-time. Where else can you get all that?