The Register’s All-Couny boys basketball first team.
Eyassu Worku
Los Alamitos, Guard, Sr.
The Register’s player of the year.
Evan Battey
Villa Park, Forward, Jr.
He was All-Crestview League first team. Surprisingly nimble for being 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, he averaged 24 points a game. His scoring high was 44 points against Adelanto. “You look at his body, and you see a post guy,” Villa Park coach Kevin Reynolds told the Register’s Brian Whitehead about Battey. “He’s a strong kid, but he’s a unique talent. He’s big, but he can put the ball on the floor, and he’s a willing passer. … He’s someone you build a team around.”
MJ Cage
Mater Dei, Center, Sr.
The 6-foot-10 Cage was co-MVP in the Trinity League. He averaged 12 points and nine rebounds a game. He led the Monarchs to a 27-5 overall record, an undefeated record in league and the semifinals of the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs. He signed with Oregon.
Spencer Freedman
Mater Dei, Guard, So.
He was perhaps the most consistent player for the Monarchs. Freedman averaged 14 points and four assists a game. He was co-MVP in the Trinity League and first-team All-CIF in the Open Division. He was MVP of the North O.C. Championships and all-tournament in the Beach Ball Classic. The 6-foot-1 guard was second in the county in assists (116) and third for 3-pointers made (88).
Kezie Okpala
Esperanza, Forward, Jr.
He was Crestview League player of the year. The 6-foot-6, 175-pound junior averaged 23 points, which set a school record, according to Coach Mark Hill. Okpala also led the team in rebounding, assists and steals. He scored 30 or more points in three games. He is receiving recruiting interest from several colleges, including UC Irvine.
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ALL-COUNTY BOYS BASKETBALL
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com