CSU San Marcos Team Camp – Key Takeaways
Cal State San Marcos hosted its second and final team camp of the summer, bringing together a solid group of teams from San Diego and surrounding counties. The event gave Cougars head coach B.J. Foster a chance to evaluate potential…
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Continue ReadingCal State San Marcos hosted its second and final team camp of the summer, bringing together a solid group of teams from San Diego and surrounding counties.
The event gave Cougars head coach B.J. Foster a chance to evaluate potential recruits for the D2 program.
It gave me a chance to see how teams are stacking up heading into the 2019-20 season.
Here are some takeaways from the camp:
CSU San Marcos Team Camp – Key Takeaways
Look out for Murrieta Mesa in the CIF Southern Section
If you are looking for a sleeper team in the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 ranks, look no further than the Rams. The team returns a number of key pieces from last year’s team – 2022 PG Lewis Singleterry, 2020 G Cameron Rentie, F Matt McIntosh and SG Anthony Salek were four of the team’s seven leading scorers. Add to the mix improved returners Chris Phouthavuong, Josh Sleeman and Bryson Williams and a haul of key transfers – Temecula Valley triplets Jelani, Malik and Jabari Williams and 6-8 manchild Demorian Lowe from Calvary Murrieta – and the Rams have a ton of depth for new head coach Michael Bertulfo.
Orange Glen continues its strong spring
The Patriots made a nice run through the “lightning round” style bracket playoff to win the team tournament over Mt Carmel. OG has a head start over a lot of teams, as its key players have played together through the spring on the travel circuit. It shows, as the squad has tremendous chemistry and plays a fast-paced and scrappy style. Head Coach Chris Featherly has a nice core of 2021 players, spearheaded by W Adam Nieves and PG Mickey Chew. They will be challenged in the ever-tough Coastal League this year, but if they rack up enough wins in nonleague play, could be positioned to be a threat in CIF Division 2.
San Diego looks like legit Division 2 contender
The Cavers are looking for a third straight CIF title, each in a different division. And if the team’s performances in both the San Marcos and USD team camps are any indication, they will be in the mix in D2 this year. San Diego has arguably one of the top prospects in the section in 2021 6-3 G AJ Burgin and one of the most potent scorers in 2020 5-11 G Steve Stinson. But the key to their season will be the health of rapidly improving 6-6 F/C Tyler Stanley-Castillo.
La Jolla Country Day’s youth movement
Don’t mistake the Torreys for the power team that won the state Division 3 title. Gone are stalwarts Ryan Langborg, Ray Lu and Jayson Taylor. But the Torreys have a slew of underclass prospects that will soften the blow, headlined by 2022 6-2 G James Hapgood. The lean, long combo guard scores it ambidextrously and has taken strides in his ball handling, shooting and leadership. But he’s not alone: 6-1 2021 SG Gavin Bass-Sulpizio, 6-2 2022 SG Tate Smith and 5-10 2022 SG Jake Bluestein are marksmen from deep. 5-11 2022 PG Marc Begin has future star written all over him. If Country Day can continue to get positive contributions from its senior forwards Sam Coleman and Sean Reed (who both shot the ball well from deep), the team’s demise will be greatly exaggerated.