Here are 10 Orange County players who were great for their teams in the regular season.
Their greatness needs to continue henceforth if these teams are to advance far in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs.
Jarrett Brodbeck, Esperanza: He is averaging 22 points a game for the Aztecs, who take a 19-7 record in the playoffs. Brodbeck, a 6-foot-5 senior guard, suffered an eye injury two weeks against Villa Park in the first quarter, missed the reminder of the game. He did not miss Esperanza’s final two regular-season games and played well in both, with 25 points in a loss to Foothill and 19 in a win over Canyon. Brodbeck is an all-around, versatile scorer and good ball-handler for his size. The Aztecs need to him to continue to be their leader in the playoffs.
Tyler Burch, Westminster: The county’s regular-season scoring champion, at 26.9 points a game, scores in bunches and scored a bunch against Ocean View on Wednesday. Burch, a 6-foot-5 senior guard, scored 56 points in the Lions’ 89-79 loss. He made nine 3-pointers, seven in the fourth quarter. Some of those 3s were taken from more than 25 feet from the basketball. Burch scored 43 points in each of Westminster’s two previous games, wins over Orange and Santa Ana. Westminser tied Ocean View, where Burch spent his freshman and sophomore years, for the Golden West League championship. Burch might be able to single-handedly win a playoff game for the Lions.
MJ Cage, Mater Dei: More steady than spectacular, Cage’s rebounding and shot-blocking skills have been important to the Monarchs’ undefeated run in the Trinity League. A 6-foot-10 junior, Cage is averaging 12 rebounds and 4 blocks a game. He had 12 rebounds and six blocks when Mater Dei beat Fairfax of Los Angeles in the Nike Extravaganza earlier this month. Cage has scholarship offers from many colleges, including Arizona, Kentucky, UCLA and USC. If he asserts himself like he did in the Fairfax game and in last year’s state playoffs, Cage can make a real difference for the Monarchs.
Sam Darnold, San Clemente: The Sea View League player of the year in football just might be the league’s player of the year in basketball, too. Darnold, a 6-foot-4 senior forward, is the Tritons leader in scoring, at 15 points a game, and in rebounding, at 9 rebounds a game. He was Orange County football offensive player of the year and signed with USC for football. Darnold led San Clemente to a CIF championship game in football, and might be leading a long playoffs run for the Tritons in basketball, too.
Brae Ivey, Edison: Equally good at slashing to the basket or shooting outside, Ivey has enjoyed a strong senior year for the Chargers. He is averaging a team-high 17 points a game for Edison, which tied Los Alamitos for the Sunset League championship. He scored 58 points over two games last week, including 30 against Los Alamitos. Ivey plays well in big games and there are plenty of big games in these playoffs.
Rex Pflueger, Mater Dei: He had the difficult task of replacing Stanley Johnson as “The Guy” for the Monarchs. Pflueger, a 6-foot-6 senior guard, has done just fine. He is averaging 18 points and six rebounds a game. Some of Pflueger’s better games have been against some of Mater Dei’s tougher opponents. He scored 25 points in a Trinity League win over Orange Lutheran and 27 points with 15 rebounds in a league win over Santa Margarita. Pflueger, signed with Notre Dame, will be counted upon heavily by the Monarchs in the playoffs.
Rogers Printup, Orange Lutheran: It is difficult to stand out on a team as good and deep as Lutheran’s but Printup has done so. He is averaging 15 points and five rebounds a game for the Lancers. Printup scored his season high of 32 points last week in a Trinity League win over JSerra. He signed with UC Davis. Printup does not have to be the leader all of the time for the versatile Lancers. But he will be important to them.
Josh Rodriguez, Sonora: He is included in every “who is the best point guard in Orange County” discussion. Rodriguez, a 5-foot-11 senior headed to Pt. Loma Nazarene, is averaging 21 points a game. He is an excellent outside shooter, can take the ball to the hoop with ease and is one of the better passers and ball-handlers in the county. Rodriguez had his season high of 32 points last week in a win over Buena Park. Sonora went 10-0 in the Freeway League. If the Raiders get to another CIF championship game, Rodriguez will be a main reason why.
Brandon Smith, Godinez: He is averaging 24 points a game for the Grizzlies, who are 23-4 and won the Orange Coast League championship with a 10-0 league record. Smith, a 6-foot-5 senior guard who signed with UC Irvine, is a lock to be Orange Coast League player of the year. Coaches tell players to “let the game come to you,” i.e. don’t force shots, play within the game’s pace and within yourself. Smith has the maturity to do just that. In the Grizzlies’ win over Laguna Beach last week, Smith made 8 of 10 shots, almost all of them within five feet of the basket because those shots were available to him. He can shoot outside, but he won’t shoot outside just for the sake of shooting outside.
Eyassu Worku, Los Alamitos: Unfortunately for all of the other teams in the Sunset League, Worku is only a junior. He might be the best player in a league of several standout players. Worku is averaging 17 points, five rebounds and four assists a game for the Griffins, who tied Edison for the league championship. He was excellent in Los Al’s two games against Edison, scoring 25 points in the Griffins’ one-point loss to Edison last month and 28 in their 10-point win over the Chargers last week. His smooth, quick style will be difficult for opposing point guards to handle in the playoffs.
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