SoCalHoops Recruiting News

CIF State D-V Boys' Final Preview: Rosters,
Records & Predictions--(Mar. 16, 2001)

Since this game is just hours away, we thought we'd post up the rosters and our predictions before it becomes a "done deal."   For those not familiar with these two teams, this is probably going to be one of the best games of the State Finals, and believe us, if we could be there, we would.  It will be a game with excellent guard play, featuring two D-I signees, each of whom has led their team to this game:  Chris Alexander, who has signed with Cal State Fullerton for Price, and for St. Elizabeth, Bakari Altheimer, who will play at Santa Clara next year.  

Here's the preview info from the State CIF official website on this game (this can also be found at this link):

Division V Boys -- Price, Los Angeles (32-3) vs. St. Elizabeth, Oakland (23-12)
Price is the defending state champs in Division V, while St. Elizabeth makes its first appearance in the title game. Price had 21 points from Chris Alexander and 19 from Jermaine Jamerson in the regional final win over Immanuel Reedley (69-59). Oscar Edwards was the leading rebounder in that game with 11. Bakari Altheimer was a one-man wrecking crew for St. Elizabeth with 28 points in the Mustangs, 60-39, regional win over Capital Christian of Sacramento.

That's a nice capsule summary, not very informative though, and way too brief.  Here's our take, with the rosters first:

The roster for Price may not have as many players, but there's little doubt in our minds that Price is the team to beat and is also likely to repeat as State Champions.   The big matchup will occur between Alexander and Altheimer.  Bakari comes into the game averaging 20.3 ppg, and 4.1 rebounds.   While their abbreviated media form doesn't disclose assists, the number is probably not too high since it looks like, at least among those who receive significant time, that Bakari is "the man."   Others who get significant floor time and/or start for St. Elizabeths includ Scott Greene (8 ppg 2.2 rpg), Odunkian (9 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Nuno (9.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg), Daggs (7.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg), for a total of 54.2 ppg.    For Price, the Knight have four players averaging double figures: Alexander   comes in averaging 15 pg and 6 rpg, Jamerson 10 ppg and 5 rpg, Howard 14 ppg and 1 rpg and Edwards 11 ppg and 7.  We're not sure just how deep St. Elizabeth really is beyond what we can see from the stats, since we haven't seen them play, but Price has its limitations, and if they are tested, as they were against Kilpatrick, or get into foul trouble as they did against Kilpatrick, that could change the balance. Otherwise, we have to give the nod to Price.  They've been here before, know what it takes, and have beaten a lot of quality teams, including Calvary Temple (Modesto), Gardena Serra, St. Paul, Verbum Dei, and of course, everyone in their league and in the Southern Section playoffs, where they emerged as the two-time Southern Section champs.

Again, wish we could see this one, because it will be an excellent game. We'll have the results up later today.  But we're picking Price.   No point spread, but we've gotta go with what we know.

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