SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone Boys Basketball Preview: Keppel, Northview
Duong returns to coaching at Keppel; Northview looks to capture the magic again in 2022-23.
(Photo: Hudl)
Keppel HS
Coach: Hung Duong
Assistant Coaches: Danny Woo Mike Chan Kenny Phan Todd Kitagawa Royce Shinba
2021-22 Record: 11-8
Projected Guards Returning
Darrin Chung 12 6'0" Â Guard
Jason Lue 12 5'10" Â Guard
Kyle Tam 12 5'8" Â Guard
Dennis Lieu 12 5'8" Â Guard
Projected Forwards Returning
James Preciado 12 6"0" Â Forward
Projected Centers Returning
Ethan Ly 11 Â 6'4" Center
Thomas Rodriguez 11 Â 6'1" Center
Top Newcomers
Chris Countreras 10 Â 5'9" Guard
Alex Benitez 9 Â 6'0" Guard
Strengths and Weakness according to Coach Duong: Strength: 7 Returners  Weakness: Lack of experience
2022-23 Schedule: Keppel HS 2022-23 Boys Basketball Schedule
Crystal Ball: Hung Duong is back coaching and for those that watch basketball intently on the west side of the valley - we should all rejoice. He is one of the more underappreciated coaches in the area and one of the truly genuine characters on the area. One thing you can count on is that he will get the most out of his players. Those that follow this program have a bit of a wry smile on their face because of the improvement that the team has shown this summer. Thomas Rodriguez is one of the more consistent players in the area and junior Ethan Ly will give the Aztecs some much needed low post play. The guard play will be just fine. All in all - this will be a very intriguing team to follow. I make this team the second choice to win the Almont League title.
Northview HS
Coach: Chris Confair
2021-22 Record: 19-13
Assistant Coaches: Joseph Debablis, Ronald White
Projected Guards Returning
Adrian Almaraz :11 5'10 Guard, Forward, 4PPG 2APG was 6th man
Kani Johnson: 11 5'10 Guard 3.3 PPG was 7th man
Louie Cortez: 12 5'9 Guard
Isaac Gastelum: 12, 5’10. Guard
Projected Forwards Returning
Sam Osi 11 6,0, 6PPG 2-year starter will be 3rd Honorable Mention
Alex Medrano 11 6'0
Brian Dominguez 10 6'2
Caleb Mckendrick 11 6'1 3.3 PPG was 7th man
Projected Centers Returning
Nick Santillan 11 6'1
Aaron Arreola 10 6'3
John Rincon 10 6'3
Coach Confair’s Comments: Coming off the best finish in school history, going to the semifinals and state Projected Centers Returning We have some areas we need to fix. Defensively we will be tough, as we had last season. We will continue to work hard on defense and take charges. We return seven players that did get minutes last year. Aaron Arreola. But our weakness will be maturing as a team. we are young in experience returning just one starter. So, scoring will continue to be an issue. Our games will be in the 45 range and our goal to keep them under 42. League will be tough, San Dimas is solid again and charter oak will be tough with new coach Marcus Bryan. He gets his team to play hard. Covina is a rival and those games go either way, even though we won the first time in 8 seasons last year. West covina plays hard and are well coach. and D Ranch is unseen and unkown.
2022-23 Basketball Schedule: 2022-23 Northview boys basketball schedule
Crystal Ball: What a season it was for the Vikings last year as they made a deep playoff run and had the valley on pins and needles. That was then and this is now, which means that the Vikings will have to find players to replace departed graduated players Nick Peoples, Emilio Perucho, Leo Tovar and others. Adrian Almaraz and Kani Johnson, who were key players off the bench last year, will be counted on for major scoring production this year and forward Caleb McKendrick will also be tapped heavily by coach Chris Confair. Sam Osi is a returning all-league player, so you can be sure that he’ll draw his fair share of attention. The Valle Vista League will be a gauntlet this year and this team is one of the reasons why. We can easily see this team winning a league title and making another big run in the playofs.