SoCal High School & Prep Report

San Diego's Top 10 Teams and
Players to Watch--(December 25, 1997)

With the prospect of the San Diego Nike Prep Classic looming from December 26 through December 31, 1997 in San Diego, it's rather timely that Patrick McKinney would send us the San Diego Union Tribune's rankings of the top 10 teams in the San Diego area, and a list of the top 25 "players to watch". Here it is, with some commentary and banter from us at SoCalHoops, and from McKinney (with a particular USDHS slant--guess which is his and which is ours):

Top Ten Teams (with last season's record:

1. USDHS (25-5) Division III. Nope this isn't just McKinney's personal favorite, the Dons were actually picked No. 1 in all of S.D.

2. Horizon (30-2) Division V. Blake and Trevor Jensen transferred here from Uni. They also have Zack Jones. State runner-up last year in Div V.

3. Rancho Bernardo (18-11). Rei Rivera (23.7 ppg last season)--he was the game MVP against Centennial on Saturday, December 20, 1997 in the Reebok Las Vegas Prep Classic with 24 points and 6 rebounds.

4. Rancho Buena Vista (25-5). Jamahl Mosley ('97 player of the year) went to Colorado as RBV regroups.

5. St. Augustine (21-11). Division III. USDHS' archrival and probably overrated. Good guards in Andre Porter and Terrence Terrell.

6. Grossmont (20-6). Featuring SDSU bound Vincent Okotie.

7. El Camino (31-3). Last year's #1. Division II

8. Vista (15-12). Charlie Marcado and Donyare Mayfield provide excellent backcourt, but team is small.

9. Poway (22-7). Huge, featuring SDSU bound Joe Mann.

10. Bishop's (20-7). McKinney says he has "No idea what they are doing with this group." Oh, well, we'll see.

25 players to watch (not ranked, but by alphabetical order only):

David Abramowitz (6'-0" Sr. PG)--USDHS

Aaron Abrams (6'-4" Jr. SG/F) Rancho Buena Vista

Wayne Bernard (6'-2" Jr. G) Horizon

Daryl Blackmon (6'-3" Sr. G) Kearny

Nick Booker (6'-4" So. SG/F) Bishop's "Newcomer of the Year"

Aaron Hands (6'-7" ?? C/F) Scripps Ranch--an improving player

Antonio Hale (6'-3" Sr. G) El Camino

Richard Hardwick (6'-2" Sr. G) Chula Vista--Averaged over 30 points

Mike Hausmann (6'-6" Jr. F) Bishop's

Ron Johnson (5'-11" Sr. G) Helix

Joe Mann (6'-10" Sr. C/PF) Poway High

Donyare Mayfield (5'-10" Sr. G) Vista

Ron McMillan (6'-6" Sr. F) USDHS--Can be an impact player

Charlie Mercado (6'-2" Sr. G) Vista

Roy Morris Bonita (6'-2" Jr. G) Vista

Vince Okotie (6'-7" Sr. C/F) Grossmont High

Andre Porter (6'-0" Jr. G) St. Augustine

Rei Rivera (6'-4" Sr. G) Rancho Bernardo

Patrick Robinson (6'-0" Sr. G) Morse

Anthony Watts (6'-4" Sr. F) Lincoln Prep

Drew Wahlroos (6'-4" Sr. F) Poway

Luke Walton (6'-8" Sr. C/F) USDHS-- Leading player in the San Diego region? McKinney says "In incredible shape. Will be a star this season and in the years to come." Probably.

Josh Washington (6'-0" Sr. G) Santa Fe Christian

Detrick Watts (6'-2" Jr. G) Horizon

Mike Wilson (6'-6" Sr. F) Granite Hills

That's it. Think someone who deserves to be on it was left off? Got an opinion? Good. That and a buck will get you a cup of coffee.

Seriously, if you think there's someone who belongs on such a list, let us know. We'll check it out, and if we agree we'll put it up here. Let us know either via e-mail or on the message boards.

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