The boys basketball preseason O.C. top 10 for the 2015-16 season:
1. Mater Dei
As always, the Monarchs have several all-star players, among them senior 6-foot-10 center MJ Cage (an Oregon signee) and sophomore Spencer Freedman, a highly regarded point guard who transferred from Santa Monica. Mater Dei, 34-2 and CIF State Open Division finalists last season, has more depth than it has enjoyed in a while. Also expected to make significant contributions are 6-2 senior Bailey Stout, who started at point guard last year, 6-4 junior Matt Weyand, 6-9 junior Miles Brookins, 6-7 junior Justice Sueing and 6-7 sophomore Mike Wang.
2. Santa Margarita
This might be the best Eagles team since the one that won a CIF-SS championship in 2006. Junior guard Kaden Rasheed was All-CIF last year when Santa Margarita went 19-8 and reached the Division 1AA quarterfinals. Other standouts include Kaden’s brother Noah Rasheed, a senior guard, 6-8 Adrease Jackson, who transferred from Tesoro where he was Sea View League co-player of the year as a sophomore, 6-7 sophomore forward Jordan Guest and 6-2 senior guard Colin Ferrier.
3. Orange Lutheran
The Lancers return several outstanding players who started or played plenty of minutes on last year’s team that went 24-6 and advanced to the CIF-SS Open Division semifinals. Among them are 6-3 junior guard Chris Williams, 6-7 senior forward Kavaughn Scott, whom Lancers coach Chris Nordstrom expects will have an All-County year, 5-10 junior point guard Joseph Riley and 6-4 senior forward Zac Jervis. The Lancers and Santa Margarita will challenge Mater Dei for the Trinity League championship.
4. Los Alamitos
Eyassu Worku, a 6-2 senior who signed with UC Irvine this month, is among the top point guards in Southern California. The Griffins have other returnees who made large contributions to last year’s Sunset League co-championship team, beat Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS 1AA quarterfinals and finished 27-3. Among them are senior guards Pepe Garcia (6-3) and 6-2 Keith Pagett.
5. Villa Park
Spartans coach Kevin Reynolds said this year’s team could one of the better ones he has had in 20 years at the school. Evan Battey, a 6-7 junior who transferred from Los Angeles CES, averaged 20 points and 14 rebounds a game last year. Myles Franklin, a 6-4 junior point guard, was All-Crestview League last year. Julien Franklin, a 6-5 freshman, is expected to start. The Spartans have a solid inside presence in 6-9 senior Max Olsthoorn.
6. Foothill
The Knights, 28-4 and CIF-SS Division 1A champions last year, lost some good ones to graduation, including 1A player of the year Eric Patton. But a solid corps of returnees will keep the quality high. Among them are seniors Lucas Araujo (6-3) and Matt Avila (6-4). Jacob Sanchez, a 6-foot senior guard, was a key player in the playoffs. Defense usually is a Foothill strong suit and Coach Rusty Van Cleave expects that to continue this season.
7. Servite
The Friars, who were 15-14 last season, will have one of their better teams in years. Jacob Hughes, a 6-11 junior center, has offers from several schools including Washington State. Otis Reale, a 5-10 junior guard, is from Italy where he has played on the 16-and-under national team. He will have to observe the 30-day sit out period before he is eligible. Cameron Griffin, a 6-5 senior, was All-Trinity League second team last year.
8. Esperanza
Kezie Okpala, a 6-6 junior, was All-Crestview League second team last year, and could rise to All-Orange County this year. Other returning starters from last year’s team that went 22-8 and reached the 3A semifinals are Garrett Geiger and Travis Kettering. Coach Mark Hill expects that when Brendan Harrick, a 6-5 sophomore who transferred from Servite, becomes eligible in January after sitting out the required first month for transfers who do not make the residence change, the Aztecs could be very special.
9. Edison
Graduation took away some outstanding players who last season helped the Chargers go 25-7 and share the Sunset League championship with Los Alamitos. But, like last year, Edison has a terrific set of guards, including juniors Nate Matthews (6-3) and Randall Walker (6-2). Edison’s weakness is its lack of inside presence, but that’s been the situation for a couple of seasons and the Chargers have fared just fine.
10. El Toro
By their high standards, the Chargers were slightly disappointing last year when they finished 18-11 and in fourth place in the South Coast League. They might return to the top this season. El Toro brings back three starters, including sophomore point guard Julian Bruce, junior center Levi Hazely and senior forward Patrick Schoen. Dawit Wilson, a junior guard, played on El Toro’s varsity as a freshman, was at Long Beach Poly last school year and returned this school year to El Toro where he was the starting varsity quarterback this season.
More in the boys basketball preview for 2015-16:
Boys basketball preview: Top players to watch
Boys basketball preview: Other players to watch
Mater Dei’s depth could be its biggest strength
Boys basketball preview: Important dates
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
