CIF-SS Playoff Capsule: Division 4AA
The regular season came to an end on Saturday for CIF Southern Section teams, signaling the end to the 2019-20 campaign for some programs and the beginning of the postseason for others. Coaches and players must now change gears and…
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Continue ReadingThe regular season came to an end on Saturday for CIF Southern Section teams, signaling the end to the 2019-20 campaign for some programs and the beginning of the postseason for others. Coaches and players must now change gears and focus their energy to a win or go home scenario.
The CIF-SS breaks its playoff teams into ten divisions: The highest being the Open Division which is made up of the eight best programs and down through 5A. Teams are sorted into their respective divisions based on the competitive equity format which takes into account a program’s success over the last two years, resulting in an average score, and then divisional placement.
In these capsules, we’ll take a look at the favorites, darkhorses and highlight some of the players to watch. Here is our Division 4AA capsule.
The Favorite(s)
Renaissance Academy
The Wildcats possess a combination of size, length, skill and athleticism that few teams within this division can match. Coach Alon Margalit guided Renaissance to 19 wins on the season, including some solid victories over Taft, St. John Bosco, El Camino Real and Ribet Academy. Six-foot-8 wing Koat Keat is the catalyst for this squad as he can play both inside and out offensively, while 7-foot-1 center Nicodemo Anei provides a shot blocking presence in the paint defensively. The top-seeded Wildcats will open at home against Milken.
Oak Hills
The Bulldogs out of the high desert run a potent uptempo offensive attack, as evidenced by their 65.1 points per game average on the season. Oak Hills can hurt you both inside and out with 6-foot-7 senior forward Nykhai Williams bullying defenders in the paint and plenty of shooters to take some pressure off their big man by spreading the floor consistently on drive and kick action. Look for 5-foot-8 senior point guard Isaih Hyder to serve as the main source of playmaking for the Bulldogs. Oak Hills will open at home against San Bernardino.
Aquinas
The Falcons have a dynamic junior class duo in Nick Hopkins and Sheldon Grant. At 6-feet-5, Hopkins is averaging 21.3 points and 14.8 rebounds per game, while Grant, a 6-foot-2 point guard, is putting up 19.2 points and 9.7 assists per game. Aquinas is fresh off of an Ambassador League championship and, if it is to make a deep playoff run, will need a couple of role players to step up with big games should Hopkins or Grant have an off night.
The Spoiler(s)
St. Margaret’s
It’s always a benefit to having a coach who has been through some contentious battles throughout the year and the Tartans have just that in Chris Nordstrom. Nordstrom navigated the Trinity League and upper playoff divisions for many years as the head man at Orange Lutheran and now has his St. Margaret’s team in position to make some noise in 4AA. The Tartans have won nine straight games, including a perfect 8-0 mark in the Academy League and are led by athletic and versatile wing Will Kenner along with solid all-around guard Charlie Wohlgemuth.
Xavier Prep
The Saints will go as far as their seniors take them. Xavier Prep has six seniors who see major playing time, three of which are averaging double figures in scoring. Isaiah Skinner is the go-to guy and the 6-foot-4 wing hasn’t disappointed this season, averaging 20.4 points and nine rebounds per game on the season. Justin McWay (12.9 points) and Joshua Clark (12.0) are the other two major contributors for the 20-win squad led by coach Justin Sobczyk.
Xavier Prep wing Isaiah Skinner leads the Saints in scoring at 20.4 points per game this season.Five Players to Watch
Koat Keat, Renaissance Academy – Keat is a nightly double-double threat with his ability to rebound, lead the break and score in transition at 6-feet-8. The sophomore is dynamic on the break and difficult to keep in front due to his change of speed and direction and length with finishing around the basket.
Sheldon Grant, Aquinas – The lanky 6-foot-2 point guard is incredibly crafty with the ball both when creating for himself and for teammates. The junior is a dynamic shot creator with his vision, willingness to advance the ball in transition and ability to get two feet in the paint and hit shooters.
Nykhai Williams, Oak Hills – The 6-foot-7, 235-pound forward is a throwback style interior presence as he can use his big body to finish through contact in the paint, but has also showed plenty of skill and touch around the basket. One of the best parts of Williams’ game is how active he is on the offensive glass.
Will Kenner, St. Margaret’s – The 6-foot-3 wing is a dual sport guy, committed to Cornell for football, and brings that toughness and physicality to the hardwood. Kenner is an adept finisher in transition and attacks the basket off the bounce well in the half-court setting.
Isaiah Skinner, Xavier Prep – As mentioned above, Skinner is a bonafide scorer and does it in every way imaginable. The rangy 6-foot-4 wing has a smooth shooting stroke from both mid-range and 3-point levels and has the ball skills to beat defenders off the bounce and get to the basket.