SGV/WHITTIER PREP SPORTS ZONE: BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM PREVIEW: Bonita, San Dimas
Both teams returning quality guards for the 2023-24 season.
BONITA HS
Coach: Tim Godley
Assistant Coaches: Sal Magallanes Kenny Walter Mike Cunerty Kenneth Walter Gavin Eckler Zach McClellan
PROJECTED GUARDS RETURNING
Josh Kim 12 6' 180 G 2nd Team All CIF, 1st Team All Palomares League
Collin Henry 12 6'3" 175 PT
Hunter Smith 11 6'2" 165 SG
Sean Shibasaki 12 5'9" 170 G
Jake "JQ" Quintana 12 6'2" 190
PROJECTED FORWARDS RETURNING
Colton Perez 12 6'5" 205 W 1st Team All CIF
Andrew Sanchez 11 6'4" 200 Fwd
Naasir Ainsworth 12 6'2" 175 Fwd
TOP NEWCOMERS
Beau Rudometkin 10 6'5" 190 Fwd
James Kim 10 5'9" 155 PT
Sam Kolody 11 6'4" 175 Fwd
Coach Godley’s Comments: “8 returners; Most experience in a few years; Must stay healthy; League: Palomares always tough, Glendora returns a bunch of guys they will be tough. Ayala has some key returners. New coaches at: Alta Loma, Claremont, and Colony.”
CRYSTAL BALL: You could make a serious argument for Tim Godle being coach of the year in the area. Their win over San Dimas in the CIF-SS playoffs was one of the great games of the year - it was what high school basketball is all about. That was then and this is now - and the now is that this team is one of the more intriguing teams in the Palomares. We love Quintana’s game, and he only figures to get better in his final year of high school basketball. Sanchez and Ainsworth give Godley some low post presence and we are intrigued with Rudometkin and Kolody. Could this team knock of Colony at the top of the league standings — maybe! But we look out for those matchups against Glendora to be very intense and close. Look for another solid season from the Bearcats.
SAN DIMAS
Coach: Jeremy Ketterling
Assistant Coaches: Nick Galloway Elijah Jackson Ernie Baltierra
PROJECTED GUARDS RETURNING
Nathan Yearout 11 5'8 g 10. ppg 2nd team All League
PROJECTED FORWARDS RETURNING
Logan Hodson 12 6'4 g/f 14 ppg 8 rpg Valle Vista League MVP, 2nd team All CIF
TOP NEWCOMERS
Levi Sinclair 12 6'4 F 2nd team All-League
Ryan Quach 12 5'11 G
Andrew Diep 10 5'9 PG Honorable mention All-League
Coach Ketterling’s Comments: “I am really excited about this year’s team. We bring back some key pieces. Logan Hodson is probably the best player I have had the opportunity to coach. Levi Sinclair has played really well inside and has averaged 12 ppg and 10 boards in the spring and summer. Our guards are bit under sized but are skilled and can really shoot the ball. We lost our starting back court (2 multiyear all league players) but are really excited with some of our new up and comers. Sophomore Andrew Diep will run the point, he is true floor general and does a great job taking care of the ball. Guard Ryan Quach has shown great promise in the off season. We will rechallenge ourselves with a tough preseason schedule (Single games with La Canada and Bonita). Our league looks much improved and will be tough. We were moved up 2 divisions, to 2A, but we are eager for the challenge.”
CRYSTAL BALL: You are looking at the prohibited favorites to win the Valle Vista League title (although Covina and Northview might have something to say about that). It helps to have shooters back with size and that is what coach Ketterling has in Logan Hodson, who was one of the premier underclassmen outside shooters in the area. He’s back and will definitely be a player to watch during the season. Nathan Yearout averages 10 points a game and was a second team all-league selection. We are looking for huge improvement from him. Have to like the fact that San Dimas will be playing Bonita and La Canada in their nonleague schedule. The La Canada game will be a nice test to see where the Saints are at. You can be sure another deep playoff run can be counted on from Ketterling and company - another top-10 area ranked contender…. FOR SURE!