Bay Area News Group boys basketball Top 15
(Mercury News & East Bay Times)
No. 1 CAMPOLINDO
Last spring’s final ranking: 1
Went 15-0 in the spring against a schedule filled with powerhouses. Return St. Mary’s-bound Aidan Mahaney and Cade Bennett, son of St. Mary’s coach Randy Bennett. Mahaney missed much of the spring because of injuries. Lost Bay Area News Group co-player of the year Emmanuel Callas to graduation.
No. 2 ARCHBISHOP MITTY
Last spring’s final ranking: 2
Central Coast Section Open Division champion in the spring. Finished 17-1. Bay Area News Group co-player of the year Michael Mitchell has moved on to Pepperdine but returning wing Derek Sangster is an “impact player on both sides of the floor,” according to coach Tim Kennedy. Shooting guard Aidan Burke also is back for the Monarchs.
No. 3 DUBLIN
Last spring’s final ranking: 6
North Coast Section powerhouse loses T.J. Meagher and Caleb Oden to graduation. But the Gaels bring back Courtney Anderson Jr. and Donovan Cooks, both college prospects in the Class of 2023. Longtime coach Tom Costello has led Dublin to at least 23 victories in each of the past five full seasons.
No. 4 SALESIAN
Last spring’s final ranking: 3
Salesian lost its first two games last spring, to Campolindo and Miramonte, then soared to 13 consecutive victories to close the season. Longtime coach Bill Mellis always has the Pride near the top of the NorCal rankings and this season should be no exception.
No. 5 BISHOP O’DOWD
Last spring’s final ranking: 5
When your top talent makes national news by becoming the youngest American professional basketball player ever, it’s a huge loss. So it is for the Dragons, who bid farewell to 16-year-old budding superstar Jalen Lewis, who would have been a junior this season had he stayed. But as usual, look for coach Lou Richie to keep his team somewhere near the top. Guard Tobias Aisien is a notable talent in the Class of 2024.
No. 6 ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN
Last spring’s final ranking: 4
Riordan returns junior star King-Njhsanni Wilhite from last spring’s team that lost to Mitty in the CCS Open Division championship game. But 7-1 Mor Seck and 6-7 Zion Sensley have left the San Francisco school for Prolific Prep in Napa.
No. 7 MOREAU CATHOLIC
Last spring’s final ranking: Not ranked
Trey Knight, son of longtime coach Frank Knight, is back for his senior season after reports in the spring that he was reclassifying into the Class of 2023 to play at BFL Prep. Knight’s return gives Moreau a veteran presence as the Mariners aim to stay among the Bay Area’s top teams. He has offers from DePaul and the University of San Diego.
No. 8 DE LA SALLE
Last spring’s final ranking: 8
New coach Marcus Schroeder moves to De La Salle from Randy Bennett’s staff at St. Mary’s. He replaces Justin Argenal, who left to take over at Dominican, a Division II program in San Rafael. The Spartans won at least 21 games in each of Argenal’s four full seasons and went 10-6 in the spring. Alec Blair, a 6-5 freshman, could be among the area’s top newcomers.
No. 9 PIEDMONT
Last spring’s final ranking: 11
Eight players are back from last spring’s team that went 11-5, including three starters. Point guard Jojo Murphy and G/F AJ Harris lead the way. But coach Ben Spencer says his team “should be a lot deeper and much better defensively.”
No. 10 CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER
Last spring’s final ranking: 7
Jeremiah Dargan, a 6-3 senior guard, leads the Ugly Eagles. He averaged 18.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game in spring as Clayton Valley finished 12-3. In a victory over Bishop O’Dowd, Dargan’s layup at the buzzer provided the decisive margin.
No. 11 ST. IGNATIUS
Last spring’s final ranking: Not ranked
Reached the semifinals of the CCS Open Division playoffs in the spring, losing a heartbreaker to Riordan. Ryan Conroy, a 6-1 guard, returns for his senior season. He was a Fab 25 selection by the Bay Area News Group at the end of last season.
No. 12 ST. FRANCIS
Last spring’s final ranking: Not ranked
One coach says St. Francis has “talent everywhere.” That could put the Lancers on track for their first 20-win season since 2016-17. The roster includes seniors Harlan Banks, Isaiah Kerr and Vince Barringer and a 6-6 freshman who already has a 247Sports recruiting profile page, Dallas Washington. St. Francis went 7-8 in the spring.
No. 13 DOUGHERTY VALLEY
Last spring’s final ranking: Not ranked
Aidan Sevilla, the Wildcats’ leading scorer last spring at 21.3 points per game, has graduated. But junior Ryan Beasley is back for coach Mike Hansen’s team. Beasley averaged 18.9 points per game in the spring as Dougherty Valley finished 9-5.
No. 14 BELLARMINE
Last spring’s final ranking: Not ranked
Bellarmine has been among the Bay Area’s most consistent teams, winning at least 20 games in each of the past four full seasons under longtime coach Patrick Schneider. The Bells don’t have the height they’ve had during this recent run but have speed everywhere, Theoren Brouillette, who can play all five positions, is a Stanford commit for volleyball.
No. 15 PRIORY
Last spring’s final ranking: Not ranked
Went 14-2 in the spring and was chosen for the CCS Open Division playoffs, losing to Riordan in the first round. Rostand Olama Abanda and Tayo Sobomehin, both juniors, averaged double figures in scoring last spring, and 6-9 Steve Emeneke is expected to make an impact this winter.
On the bubble
Granada, Mt. Eden, Oakland Tech, St. Joseph Notre Dame, St. Patrick-St. Vincent, San Leandro, Washington-Fremont, Valley Christian
Who’s back?
In the spring, the Bay Area News Group didn’t choose a traditional postseason honors team, Instead, we went with a Fab 25.
Here’s who is back from the team:
Cade Bennett, Campolindo, 6-0, senior
Picked up the slack with Aidan Mahaney sidelined much of the season because of injuries. Averaged 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Scored 25 in a win over De La Salle.
Aidan Braccia, Sacred Heart Prep, 6-2, senior
Averaged a team-leading 22.6 points per game for the CCS Division IV champs, along with 7.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.4 steals. In three wins over D-IV runner-up King’s Academy, he averaged 25.6 points. Also scored 25 and 19 in losses to Open Division quarterfinalist Priory.
Ryan Conroy, St. Ignatius, 6-3, senior
The guard helped the Wildcats reach the semifinals of the CCS Open Division playoffs. Scored a team-best 14 points in an opening-round victory over Serra. In a one-point loss to Riordan in the semifinals, he led S.I. with 18 points.
Jeremiah Dargan, Clayton Valley Charter, 6-6, senior
Transfer from De La Salle averaged 18.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Scored the winning layup at the buzzer to beat Bishop O’Dowd 60-58.
Kevin Gad, Granada, 6-7, senior
Averaged 17.4 points per game as Granada finished the spring season with a 9-3 record (according to results reported to MaxPreps).
Jojo Murphy, Piedmont, 6-2, junior
Scored at least 20 points in 14 of 16 games. Averaged 25.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.9 steals per game. Scored 38 in a win over San Leandro and had seven 3-pointers in a loss to Bishop O’Dowd.
