SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM PREVIEWS: San Gabriel Academy, California, Northview, and Covina.
SGA looks poised for another deep playoff run; California could be a major Del Rio League title contender; Northview and Covina will attempt to stop San Dimas' chase for a Valle Vista League title.
Sab Gabriel Academy Team Championship photo (Escarcega)
San Gabriel Academy
Coach: Kevin McCloskey
Asst. Coaches; Terrance Littlefield, Rob Summers
PROJECTED GUARDS RETURNING
PROJECTED FORWARDS RETURNING
PROJECTED CENTERS RETURNING
TOP NEWCOMERS
California HS
Coach: Joel Simonds
Asst Coaches: Bryan Dayton, Chuck Robles
PROJECTED GUARDS RETURNING
Luke Sanchez 12 5'11 160 G All-League 1st team, 73 3pt FGM, 12ppg
Edgar Beltran 11 5'10 140 G split Soph year on JV/V
Darius Cabrera 11 5'9 140 G split Soph year on JV/V
PROJECTED FORWARDS RETURNING
Joshua Linares 12 6'0 160 W All-League H.M.
Anthony Ramirez Marquez 12 6'0 175 W
Tyler Makasakit 12 6'0 170 W
PROJECTED CENTERS RETURNING
Andrew Meza 12 6'3 225 Post
TOP NEWCOMERS
Victor Mendez 12 6'2 170 F Missed all but 4 games due to illness
Kenny Renfrow 11 6'3 150 F/W
Coach Simonds’ Comments: “We return 6 seniors, 4 of which played major roles for us in 22-23. Luke Sanchez led the team in scoring as a JR, earning 1st team All-League Having Victor Mendez available this year will really change our look from last year. He missed all but 4 games due to illness. He's a good athlete and can make shots. Our senior group has shown the way through their hard work and dedication. Tyler Makasakit, Anthony Ramirez Marquez and Josh Linares were roll players but have shown that they are prepared to step in. Edgar Beltran & Darius Cabrera got varsity experience as sophomores and will need to step up into more prominent roles as juniors. We will compete to be near the top of the league. La Serna is the defending champ, so until someone knocks them off, they're the favorite. We hope that having a returning group that contributed so much last year we'll be in a good position to make a run at a really good season.”
CRYSTAL BALL: Hopes are high at California HS as the Condors have big expectations in 2023 - and they are justified. Even though La Serna was the class of the Del Rio last year, the Condors more than held their own. Now that La Serna appears to be coming back to the pack, this is the most likely team to knock the Condors off the throne. Makasakit, Ramirez and Linares are going to have to step up their game this year and they are more than capable of doing that. Meza gives Simonds much needed presence in the low post and let’s keep an eye out for Victor Mendez, who could be the missing element that this team needs to win a league title. The talent is there, but will it all mesh together in 2023. We say yes and pick the Condors to win the DRL!
Northview HS
Coach: Chris Confair
Asst. Coaches: Quentin Harvey, Jonathan Alvarado
PROJECTED GUARDS RETURNING
Adrian Almaraz 12 5'10 PG 7.7 PPG 2.3 APG 2nd Team All Valle Vista
Caleb Mckendrick 12 6'1 SG 10.3 PPG 4.5 RPG 1st Team ALL VALLE VISTA
Kani Johnson 12 5'9 PG
PROJECTED FORWARDS RETURNING
Sam Osi 12 6'1 SF 11.2PPG 5.6 RPG 1st Team ALL Valle Vista
Alex Medrano 12 6 SF Starter
Brian Dominguez 11 6'2 G
PROJECTED CENTERS RETURNING
Nick Santillan 12 6'1 C 2nd Team All Valle Vista
Aaron Arreola 11 6'3 C
John Rincon 11 6'3 F
TOP NEWCOMERS
Justus Peoples 9 6'4 Incoming freshman younger brother of NICK PEOPLES
Coach Confair’s Comments: “Our team this year returns 9 players and have a freshman that will contribute right away. We have the experience Sam Osi is a 4-year starter and Caleb, Adrian, Alex, Nick have all been on Varsity for three years. Our strength this year as most seasons is our defense, we are a defensive minded team and staff. We will continue taking charges and being aggressive and physical. Sam Osi is here and ready to take the next step, him and Caleb Mckendrick both 1st team all-league players are poised for a great year. Weakness for us is consistent scoring from our starters and then what we can get out of our bench. I am not sure how deep we really are at the moment. League will be tough again this year, San Dimas returns the MVP of the league and is always hard to play against, Diamond Ranch returns the other MVP in Jaden Wynt and their PG who is solid. Every year we compete with Covina and those games are exciting as a rival game. Charter Oak return three solid players from last year and then we have west Covina with a brand-new coach interested to see how they compete, they played so hard and energized last season I am sure they will do the same.”
CRYSTAL BALL: You think these guys are worried about San Dimas? I think not. Confair is starting to string together some nice teams and this one appears to be on the right track. Almaraz and McKendrick will provide that senior leadership that is going to be key for the Vikings this year. Sam Osi could be one of the better shooting forwards in the east region of the SGV and Medrano is another starter that will be returning in 2024. Interested to see if Peoples will be able to get some meaningful court time, he does have the athletic pedigree to be a good one. Santillian is another returning all-league player. Whatever you do, don’t sleep on Northview - they will make you pay for it. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with having a great basketball and wrestling program on the same campus
COVINA HS
Coach: Will Bissman
Asst. Coaches: Isaac Hall, Rob Torres
2023-24 Schedule
PROJECTED GUARDS RETURNING
Heworth Abraham, 12; VVL All-League
Abraham Perez, 12
Juan Martinez, 11
PROJECTED FORWARDS RETURNING
Adrian Paramo, 12
Brenden Gill, 12
PROJECTED CENTERS RETURNING
Devin Ceballos, 12
TOP NEWCOMERS
Elvin Caballero, 12
Ryan Munoz, 11
Karsen Ulrich, 11
Jake Duronselet, 11
Coach Bissman’s Comments: We have a solid core group of returners who won 16 games last season (led by Cevallos and Abraham) and we are excited to add to that core, top newcomer Elvin Caballero, who I think will be one of the best PG’s in the area. Additionally, once football season is over, we will be adding 4 dynamic athletes who are also very good basketball players. The strength of our team is and will always be defense. We will pride ourselves on giving maximum effort on the defensive end.”
CRYSTAL BALL: Yeah, we know that San Dimas is the favorite to win the VVL, but you can’t help but expect a huge dogfight for the league title and you have to throw Covina in the mix. Cevallos and Abraham appear to be sitting on big seasons. The key to this team is the production that they will get from the football players once their season is over. If the production is there, look out! Let’s check back with these guys when they have their December tournament to see where they are at. It’ll be fun for Bissman and company this year.
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