SoCalHoops HS Top 10
Division IV-AA--(Jan. 17, 2001)
SoCalHoops HS Top 10
Division IV-AA--(Jan. 17, 2001)
 Southern Section D-IVAA Top 10 as of Jan. 7, 2001) |
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| 1 | Crespi | No question with the win over Simi and some other convincing play, Crespi has gone from near worst last season (not in talent, but chemistry) to one of the best this season. Led by returning veteran scoring threat Andrew Moore, the Celts have also been getting excellent performances from Kingsley Anawanyu, Charlie Sheibler, Allan Ellis and several others. May actually be a contender for Mission League title, which is pretty amazing considering that two weeks ago, they weren't. | ||
| 2 | St. Paul | The Swordsmen have been getting solid play from James Samarin, Dontay Holloway and Rudy Serna, and they are off to a good preseason start, and will be tough at playoff time. Tough team. | ||
| 3 | La Salle | Lost most of the offense to graduation from last year, but picked up transfer Jeremiah DeLeon from neighboring Rio Hondo Prep, and coach Steve Goldstein returns some proven scoring with Anthony Napolitano and Julian Harmon as well as a solid group of players in Jairo Francia, Matt Kelley, Pat Kennedy, Chris Rakiewicz. Have beaten most lower division teams and have played close with many tougher teams from higher divisions in preseason. Could go either way. | ||
| 4 | Marshall (Pasadena) | Hassan Moody, Harvester Haynes, Don Daniels, Chris Strings, Ken Lumpkin and Bryson Haynes have all been capable of scoring in bunches, and lead this quick group of athletes who have lost only two games in preseason, (to Agoura in the finals of the Hoover-Burbank tournament and to Buckley at the Montclair Prep Tournament). Perhaps the most athletic team in the division. | ||
| 5 | Murphy | Despite the loss to transfer of Curtis Small, the Nobles have been getting solid preseason results with guys like Travis Singletary, starting point guard Robert Soriano-Hewitt, junior Justin Turman, and freshman Chukwuma Awaji; they don't have a lot of height with Leslie Stewart (6'-4" Sr. F) being the tallest player, but there isn't a lot of height in this division anyway. Francisco Menendez and Jesus Villa also provide some depth off the bench. Could challenge the upper half of this division. | ||
| 6 | Twentynine Palms | 29 Palms has reached the CIF semifinals six consecutive years (the finals in 1996 and 1999), but lost four of five starters to graduation. Ken Randale is the only returner. Randale, a 6-5 junior center, 6-4 senior forward Johnny Palmer, junior guard Ray Hester and junior forward John Cooley are now the team's nucleus, and they've had some good wins in the preseason and some tough close losses (like a two point loss to Banning). They should do well in De Anza League play, and coach Brian Murray thinks this team may be better than last year's. . . how much better is the big question. | ||
| 7 | Rosamond | The Roadrunners lost All-CIF players Cory Allred and Jonathan Nave to graduation, but still have some excellent shooting with Kevin Kees and Adam Cooper, good rebounding from Hunsaker and solid play from guys named Murray, Harris, Godfrey, Landaverde, Punell, and Monroe. Unfortunately, like Kern Valley, they are among the teams we haven't seen, but we hear very good things about them. Took second to Santa Ynez at the Carpinteria Tournament this weekend. | ||
| 8 | Valley Christian-Cerritos | No, there's no one on this team named "Streelman" this season, but the Crusaders are still beating teams in higher divisions and getting it done with guys named Cramer, Weaver, Benson, Keil, Joo, Osborne, and Kuyper. The big scorers thus far have been Nate Brink, Matt Lovinger, and Bill Swain. | ||
| 9 | Northwood | Playing with only underclassmen, Northwood has compiled an impressive early pre-season record. Junior guard Matt Susson and soph Drew Terry lead this interesting and surprisingly good team. | ||
| 10T | Kern Valley | Justin Anderson and Daniel Jenkins are the two players we hear about most on this team; unfortunately it's difficult to see them given the distances at which they've played their games from the LA metro region, so we have to rely on what we hear and read. Still they have some good preseason results and look promising. Kyle Dooley, Kyle Ludington, Cody Preston and Ryon Dierck have also provided key play. | ||
| 10T | St. Bonaventure | Have shown a lot of promise in the preseason from Clay Hertel, Chris Saunders, Wade DeSmidt, and Ryan Dolinar. While they haven't beaten anyone big-time yet, it's a small CIF-SS division, and anything can happen. | ||
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