WHO IS NO. 1? HOW ABOUT DE LA SALLE?
This was not a slam-dunk choice. Not nearly as simple as writing in Dougherty Valley as the No. 1 team at the end of last season or Campolindo two seasons ago. This one took some discussion and could be proven right or wrong in the coming week or weeks. But having watched Alec Blair break onto the scene as a freshman two years ago and lead De La Salle into the North Coast Section Open Division final in each of his first two years – not to mention NorCal Open Division semifinals last season – we’re going with De La Salle as our preseason No. 1 team and project the Spartans to be back in the NCS Open Division final again this winter and contending to represent the region in the state final. The 6-foot-6 Blair is a two-sport star who has done nothing but win since his arrival on the Concord campus. Last spring, he helped lead DLS to section and regional baseball championships as a center fielder. On the basketball court, he is a four-star talent with offers from Cal, Clemson and Oklahoma, according to 247Sports. Arshawn Salkhi and Leo Ricketts are also key returning players for third-year coach Marcus Schroeder, whose team graduated Billy Haggerty and Evan Wells, both all-Bay Area News Group players in 2022-23. The Spartans have also added two 6-7 junior transfers, David Balogun from Cornerstone Christian in Antioch and Braddock Kjellesvig from Christopher, according to Cal-Hi Sports’ Ronnie Flores. De La Salle certainly isn’t easing into the season as the Spartans open against Southern California powerhouse Centennial-Corona in the NorCal Tip-Off Classic at Dublin High on Nov. 25.
WHAT ABOUT RIORDAN?
By any measure, Archbishop Riordan looks strong on paper and might have a chip on its shoulder to boot, with the way last season ended. The Crusaders had three starters and two rotation players suspended by the CIF for a NorCal Division I semifinal against Granada, the result of a fight at home with Inderkum-Sacramento in the previous round. The CIF also took away a home game from Riordan, forcing the San Francisco school to travel to Livermore to play Granada, which won 69-57 on its way to capturing the regional championship. Since then, coach Joe Curtin has added six transfers to his roster, according to Cal-Hi Sports, and brings back players such as 6-5 junior Jasir Rencher, a four-star prospect per 247Sports with 14 college offers and terrific grades. He made the President’s Honor Roll, given to students with a 4.0 GPA or higher. Zion Sensley, who signed with St. Mary’s, headlines the group of transfers. He played on the Riordan team that lost to Archbishop Mitty in the CCS Open Division final in spring 2021, left for Prolific Prep in Napa for two seasons and now is back for his senior year. Riordan, which shared last season’s West Catholic Athletic League title with Mitty, will open this season against Roosevelt-Eastvale at the NorCal Tip-Off Classic.
SALESIAN IS RIGHT THERE, TOO
Salesian fell one victory short of winning the NorCal Division I title and playing for a state championship last season. Given the number of key players returning, don’t be surprised if the Pride contends for NCS and state Open Division titles. Aaron Claytor, Amani Johnson, Alvin Loving IV and Deundrae Perteete are all back for longtime coach Bill Mellis after receiving all-Bay Area News Group recognition in 2022-23.
STORYLINES AND NOTES
San Ramon Valley has quite a bit back from its team that made the six-team NCS Open Division and the semifinals of the NorCal Division I regional last season, including first-team all-Bay Area News Group selection Seamus Deely. … How quickly will Mike Hansen’s reload take at Dougherty Valley? All the Wildcats lost from last season’s team that won East Bay Athletic League and NCS Open championships were dynamic guards Ryan Beasley and Connor Sevilla, wing Blake Hudson and power forward Landon Edmond Jr. … Archbishop Mitty graduated its top player from last season, Derek Sangster, now at Princeton, but longtime coach Tim Kennedy should have the Monarchs in their familiar perch as San Diego-bound Gavin Ripp returns for his senior season. … Oakland High’s top star from last season’s Division III state championship team, Money Williams, is now at Montana. But per Cal-Hi Sports, the Wildcats have added two transfers from Pinole Valley, 6-foot Jonathan Chapple and 6-4 Isaac Johnson. … Rodney Tention, a former Loyola Marymount coach, has taken over from Mike Motil as St. Francis’ coach. … Kellen Hampton, who received all-Bay Area News Group honors as a sophomore last season at Moreau Catholic, transferred last spring to Southern California Academy in Northridge. … Jaeden Hutchins, who led Half Moon Bay to the Division IV state final as a junior and received all-BANG recognition, has transferred to Prolific Prep.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Alec Blair, De La Salle, 6-6, junior
First-team all-EBAL selection averaged 16 points, five rebounds and nearly two steals per game while leading DLS to the NCS Open Division final and semifinals of the NorCal Open Division regional.
Aaron Claytor, Salesian, 6-3, senior
Tri-County Athletic League Rock Division player of the year helped Salesian reach the NCS Open Division semifinals and the NorCal Division I regional final.
Seamus Deely, San Ramon Valley, 6-5, senior
Led his team in rebounds and assists, in addition to averaging 10 points per game. Received first-team all-EBAL recognition last season.
Amani Johnson, Salesian, 6-3, senior
Played a big role for the Pride as it reached the NCS Open semifinals and NorCal D-I final, averaging 9.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
Fedrick Pernell, Sacred Heart Cathedral, 6-1, senior
First-team all-WCAL pick helped seventh-seeded SHC capture the CCS Open title. Had 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting in an upset playoff victory over Archbishop Riordan. Averaged team-best 14.3 points per game.
Jasir Rencher, Archbishop Riordan, 6-5, junior
Received first-team all-WCAL recognition after helping the San Francisco school capture a share of the WCAL title. Had 17 points and nine rebounds in a key league victory at Serra.
ALSO KEEP AN EYE ON …
Jeremiah Collins, Pittsburg, senior
Brayden Harris, Bellarmine, junior
Luke Isaak, San Ramon Valley, junior
JP Kerrigan, Sacred Heart Prep, senior
Braddock Kjellesvig, De La Salle, junior
Anthony Lacy, Oakland, senior
James Moore, Clayton Valley Charter, senior
Deundrae Perteete, Salesian, senior
Ryan Pettis, Serra, senior
Gavin Ripp, Archbishop Mitty, senior
(Mercury News & East Bay Times)
No. 1 DE LA SALLE (22-9 last season)
Final ranking last season: 2
How it finished: NCS Open Division runner-up. Beat Archbishop Mitty 46-44 in the first round of the NorCal Open. Lost to Modesto Christian 57-56 in the semifinals.
Season opener: Nov. 25 vs. Centennial-Corona at Dublin HS, 8:30 p.m.
No. 2 ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN (23-7 last season)
Final ranking last season: 6
How it finished: Lost to Granada 69-57 in the NorCal D-I semifinals after multiple players were suspended and the game was moved from Riordan to the Livermore school because of a brawl in the previous round.
Season opener: Nov. 25 vs. Roosevelt-Eastvale at Dublin HS, 2 p.m.
No. 3 SALESIAN (26-9 last season)
Final ranking last season: 5
How it finished: Beat Granada 50-48 to finish third in NCS Open, then lost to Granada 60-47 in the NorCal Division I final.
Season opener: Nov. 25 vs. Campbell Hall at Bishop O’Dowd, 6:30 p.m.
No. 4 ARCHBISHOP MITTY (22-6 last season)
Final ranking last season: 3
How it finished: WCAL co-champs went 2-1 in CCS Open Division pool play. Lost to De La Salle 46-44 in the first round of NorCal Open.
Season opener: Nov. 25 vs. Branson at Dublin HS, 7 p.m.
No. 5 SAN RAMON VALLEY (26-8 last season)
Final ranking last season: 7
How it finished: Reached the NorCal Division I semifinals as a No. 10 seed, falling to Salesian 81-51 after beating Sacred Heart Prep 59-57 in OT a round earlier.
Season opener: Nov. 25 vs. Capital Christian-Sacramento at Dublin HS, 5:15 p.m.
No. 6 CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER (26-5 last season)
Final ranking last season: 13
How it finished: Won the NCS Division I championship, winning in overtime over Moreau Catholic 82-79 in the final. Seeded No. 1 in NorCal D-II, the Ugly Eagles lost to No. 16 seed Granite Bay 45-44 in the first round.
Season opener: Nov. 25 at Pittsburg, 7:30 p.m.
No. 7 DUBLIN (18-12 last season)
Final ranking last season: 19
How it finished: Lost to Inderkum-Sacramento 73-58 in the first round of the NorCal D-I regional, the Gaels’ fifth consecutive loss to end the season.
Season opener: Nov. 25 vs. St. Ignatius, 11 a.m.
No. 8 OAKLAND (27-8 last season)
Final ranking last season: 9
How it finished: Captured the program’s first state championship, winning the Division III crown with a 59-43 victory over Buena-Ventura after beating rival Oakland Tech in the regional final.
Season opener: Nov. 25 at Bishop O’Dowd, 5 p.m.
No. 9 CAMPOLINDO (23-8 last season)
Final ranking last season: 10
How it finished: Won the NCS Division II title. Lost to Archbishop Riordan 57-46 in the opening round of the NorCal D-I regional.
Season opener: Nov. 28 at Vanden, 7:30 p.m.
No. 10 BELLARMINE (15-14 last season)
Final ranking last season: 18
How it finished: Won the CCS Division I title and then upset Moreau Catholic 62-60 in the first round of the NorCal D-II regional. Lost in the second round to Vanden 74-60.
Season opener: Nov. 25 vs. Head-Royce at Dublin HS, 8 a.m.
No. 11 BISHOP O’DOWD (16-12 last season)
Final ranking last season: Not ranked
How it finished: The storied Oakland program looks to get back on track after finishing second in its league and not making the state playoffs last season.
Season opener: Nov. 24 vs. Beverly Hills, 6:30 p.m.
No. 12 SERRA (17-12 last season)
Final ranking last season: 12
How it finished: Beat Archbishop Mitty on the final day of pool play to reach the CCS Open final. Lost to Sacred Heart Cathedral in the section title game and then to Salesian 48-33 in the NorCal Division I regional.
Season opener: Nov. 25 vs. Sequoia, 7 p.m.
No. 13 SACRED HEART PREP (20-8 last season)
Final ranking last season: 8
How it finished: Seeded 15th, the Atherton school reached the quarterfinals of the NorCal D-I regional, losing at San Ramon Valley 59-57 in OT.
Season opener: Nov. 30 vs. Granada at Riordan HS, 6 p.m.
No. 14 MOREAU CATHOLIC (23-7 last season)
Final ranking last season: 16
How it finished: Reached the final of the NCS Division I playoffs, losing to Clayton Valley in overtime, and then lost a stunner at home to Bellarmine 62-60 in the first round of the NorCal D-II playoffs.
Season opener: Nov. 24 vs. Vanden at Bishop O’Dowd, 12:30 p.m.
No. 15 MONTE VISTA (19-10 last season)
Final ranking last season: Not ranked
How it finished: Upset by James Logan in the first round of NCS Division I playoffs after tying for fourth place in the EBAL standings.
Season opener: Nov. 28 vs. Freedom, 7 p.m.
No. 16 SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL (16-13 last season)
Final ranking last season: 11
How it finished: Won the CCS Open Division championship, beating Serra in the final after winning a tiebreaker in pool play. Lost to Granada in the NorCal D-I opener.
Season opener: Nov. 30 at Sonoma Valley, 6:30 p.m.
No. 17 MENLO-ATHERTON (21-7 last season)
Final ranking last season: 20
How it finished: The 10th seed in the NorCal Division II bracket, the Bears lost to Weston Ranch 69-65 in the opening round.
Season opener: Nov. 22 at Los Gatos, 6 p.m.
No. 18 OAKLAND TECH (22-12 last season)
Final ranking last season: 15
How it finished: Beat Oakland for the third time this season, 53-50, to win the Oakland Section championship but then lost to Oakland 77-61 in the NorCal Division III final.
Season opener: Nov. 24 vs. Grant-Sacramento at Bishop O’Dowd, 2 p.m.
No. 19 YGNACIO VALLEY (21-7 last season)
Final ranking last season: Not ranked
How it finished: Reached the semifinals of the NCS Division IV playoffs and lost by three points to The King’s Academy in the first round of the NorCal Division III regional.
Season opener: Nov. 25 vs. Lincoln-Stockton, 9:30 a.m.
No. 20 LIBERTY (22-6 last season)
Final ranking last season: Not ranked
How it finished: Went undefeated in Bay Valley Athletic League play and lost to California in the quarterfinals of the NCS Division I playoffs.
Season opener: TBA
Editor’s note: Teams eligible for the Bay Area News Group rankings come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The rankings were compiled by BANG’s Darren Sabedra and Joseph Dycus.
SEASON HEATS UP IMMEDIATELY
Gerry Frietas has put together another superb lineup of games to start the new season in his NorCal Tip-Off Classic at Dublin High. And like last season, Bishop O’Dowd will have a solid group playing in its Thanksgiving Showcase.
Here are the lineups:
Thanksgiving Showcase at O’Dowd
Friday, Nov. 24
Moreau Catholic vs. Vanden, 12:30 p.m.
Grant-Sacramento vs. Oakland Tech, 2 p.m.
Sheldon-Sacramento vs. Dougherty Valley, 3:30 p.m.
Modesto Christian vs. Davis, 5 p.m.
Beverly Hills vs. Bishop O’Dowd, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 25
Oakland Tech vs. Moreau Catholic, 12:30 p.m.
Torrey Pines vs. Inderkum-Sacramento, 2 p.m.
Benicia vs. Beverly Hills, 3:30 p.m.
Oakland vs. Bishop O’Dowd, 5 p.m.
Campbell Hall vs. Salesian, 6:30 p.m.
NorCal Tip-Off Classic at Dublin High
Saturday, Nov. 25
Head-Royce vs. Bellarmine, 8 a.m.
Ygnacio Valley vs. Lincoln-Stockton, 9:30 a.m.
Dublin vs. St. Ignatius, 11 a.m.
Weston Ranch-Stockton vs. Bakersfield Christian, 12:30 p.m.
Archbishop Riordan vs. Roosevelt-Eastvale, 2 p.m.
Vanden-Fairfield vs. Clovis West, 3:30 p.m.
San Ramon Valley vs. Capital Christian-Sacramento, 5:15 p.m.
Archbishop Mitty vs. Branson, 7 p.m.
De La Salle vs. Centennial-Corona, 8:30 p.m.
