CIF San Diego Section Open Division Preview
The San Diego Section Open Division preview was a lot easier three weeks ago.
Saint Augustine returned reigning CIF Player of the year Taeshon Cherry and a bevy of talented underclassmen. The Saints were a lock for the No. 1 spot.
Flash forward to today, and the Saints still have the talented sophomore quintet, but no Cherry.
The 6-9 forward checked into Foothills Christian on the eve of the season, changing the trajectory of not only the two teams directly impacted, but shaking up the entire landscape.
Prep Hoops So-Cal has examined the landscape, and will give you our best guess as to which teams will rise to the top of San Diego’s elite. We will start with an Open Division preview
The Favorite
Foothills Christian
This would have been an easier call to make two days ago, but the Knights are off to an 0-2 start, losing to Los Altos and Rancho Christian of the Southern Section. In the latter game, Cherry sprained an ankle and his status for the rest of the Battle Zone Tournament is unknown.
As disappointing of a start this is for the presumptive No. 1 team in San Diego, this team is built for February and March. As Cherry integrates himself into the team and the chemistry improves, Foothills will no doubt bounce back and be the favorites for the Open Division crown come March. There’s too much talent not to.
Beyond Cherry, the Knights boast a solid core, which includes 6-foot-5 junior wing Derrick Carter-Hollinger, who after his first two outings appears to be the prime candidate for “breakout star” in the region – and did we mention he is only 15 years old? The back court has talent, too: 5-8 junior Jaren Nafarette returns, as does 6-1 combo guard Dorian Blue. The Knights also added another talented transfer, 6-2 sophomore point guard Yassine Gharram, who had a strong freshman campaign for Point Loma. A third transfer, 6-4 forward Jalai O’Keith, will join the team in January. Rounding out the rotation, the Knights have 6-3 freshman guard Derrien Carter-Hollinger, younger brother of the aforementioned Derrick, and senior guard David Dixon.
The Contenders
Vista
The Panthers served notice in their first game that they have unfinished business. Last season, the team finished with its best record in school history, 28-5, and advanced to the CIF Open Division Semifinals, where it dropped a close game to regional standard bearer Torrey Pines. Most of players from that team are back, headlined by arguably the region’s top back court.
Taurus Samuels, a 6-0 point guard headed to Dartmouth next fall, is one of the top pure point guards in the state. His backcourt mate, 5-11 point guard Isaiah Morris, is the perfect complement. The Panthers fiery emotional leader has also signed to play at Cal State Dominguez Hills next fall. Jordan Hilstock, a 6-3 junior combo guard, rounds out the trio. In the team’s win over West Hills, Hilstock, one of Southern California’s top on-ball defenders, served notice that he is ready to play a bigger role in the Panthers offense, scoring 32 points on 8-11 from deep.
For the Panthers to contend, it will need contributions from its undersized frontcourt. 6-5 senior forward Shane Coats is long and improved, 6-3 forward Tavare Miller-Perdue can shoot the three and guard multiple positions when engaged, and 6-4 juniors Carter Starnes and Fletcher Pope provide girth and physicality.
Mission Bay
Last year, the “Young Bucs” started four sophomores and, at times, a freshman, and battled their way to a top-3 seed in the Division 1 playoffs.
This year, the Bucs are just the Bucs, and they have one of the deepest junior classes in the state, led by 6-2 point guard Rejean “Boogie” Ellis. Ellis is coming off of a breakout grassroots campaign that saw him emerge as the region’s top junior prospect. He is a threat to score 30 a night, but he has markedly improved his ability to get his teammates involved.
Those teammates are no slouches: 6-7 junior forward Ronnie Latting is a load in the paint, evidenced by his 20-rebound performance in the Bucs opening win over Santa Clarita Christian. 6-1 junior guards Jay Norton and Andre Scott are athletic combo guards who are stout defenders and streaky scorers. Once eligible, 6-2 junior transfer Michael Barcia will add athleticism and perimeter shooting on the wing.
The team’s lone freshman last year, Savaughn Davis, is one of the region’s top sophomore prospects. The younger brother of Bucs standout Justin Moore improved his shooting and his decision making over the summer, and provides a solid complement to the other guards in the fold.
For head coach Marshawn Cherry, this could begin a two year run where the Bucs will be one of the favorites to win the Open Division Crown.
San Marcos
The Knights had a down year by the program’s standards last year, losing in the second round of CIF play to eventual Division 1 champions Santa Fe Christian. The team was young, graduating only one of its top six scorers, including 6-4 senior shooting guard Kody Clouet, a deadly perimeter shooter who has worked hard to expand his game. But in order for the team to move into the realm of the region’s elite, they would need to improve their point guard play.
Enter 6-5 freshman Chris Howell, who has a chance to be the region’s best point guard prospect since Jaylen Hands. Howell, the younger brother of former San Marcos, has the court vision and handle to elevate some of the Knights complementary players.
Also returning is talented 6-4 sophomore “point forward” Elijah Randall, who had a triple double as a freshman, and the vastly improved 6-8 Cody Mathis, a long rim protector who can finish plays above the rim and step out and hit open shots from midrange. Ryan Orlando, Will Corbin, Ryan Hagood and Kyle Snyder are experienced role players.
Saint Augustine
It would be foolish to count out the Saints after Taeshon Cherry’s transfer. This team is still very talented, and Coach Mike Haupt’s coaching prowess gives them an advantage over almost every team in the section.
Now, the focus shifts to 6-7 sophomore Chibuzo Agbo, a talented forward who has diversified his game over the summer. Fellow sophomores Kimo Ferrari (5-11 point guard), Luke Haupt (6-5 forward), Alex Dennis (6-5 forward), Declan Bretz (6-0 point guard) and Tyson McWilliams (6-1 guard) comprise one of the toughest 10th grade classes in the region. Junior wing Seth Hayes, who is a standout multi-sport athlete who will round out the Saints rotation.
While Cherry’s loss stings in the short term, it also will accelerate the growth of the sophomores, who now have to shoulder bigger loads. By March, this team could be very dangerous.
Torrey Pines
Year in and year out, the faces on the Torrey Pines team change, but the results stay the same. John Olive is the reason for that success.
The dean of North County coaches plays a style that places value on synergy and teamwork over individualism, and the results can’t be disputed. But this year, it looks like one player will step to the forefront, at least on the offensive end: 6-2 junior guard Bryce Pope.
Pope, whose twin brother Michael Pope is a strong player in his own right, has served notice throughout the fall that he could be one of the section’s leading scorers by season’s end. His season opening performance – 34 points against Point Loma – did not dampen that notion.
In addition to the Pope brothers, talented senior guard Finnian “Finn” Sullivan returns. The 6-4 point guard sets the table for the Popes and others, and he has proven he can call his own number and score off the bounce. If the team can get contributions from 6-7 junior center Noah Viera and its role players – 6-5 sophomore Brandon Angel, 6-2 junior guard Ryan Brown, 6-0 sophomore guard Nick Herrmann, 6-3 senior forward Kevin Kampfer and 6-4 sophomore forward Luke Stratton – expect the Falcons to, once again, be in the mix for the Open Division crown.
Mater Dei Catholic
The South Bay standard bearer in recent years is expected to once again rule the roost in the Mesa League. But this team is built for a potential Open Division run, headlined by one of the top guard-forward duos in the region. Trey Anderson, a 6-7 senior forward, leads the charge, and he’s joined by talented 6-4 sophomore guard Beon Riley, last year’s Full-Time Hoops Freshman of the Year.
The Crusaders also return New Zealand born brothers Josh and Jake Tawhiao, who are talented combo guards and deft shooters. Reggie Jackson, a senior guard who was an afterthought on last year’s team, grew six inches and improved dramatically over the year and is now part of the team’s core.
Beyond the seniors, Mater Dei Catholic has a host of freshmen who will be asked to play early and often. 6-3 forward Melo Sanchez, 6-4 forward Nico Meza, 6-5 wing Mauricio Reyes, 6-3 forward Bryan Orozco and 5-11 point guard Jessie Campbell are as talented a freshman quintet as you will find in any region. The Crusaders also expect 6-8 sophomore transfer Max Lane (Mar Vista) to play a role when he becomes eligible Jan. 1.
Dark Horses
La Costa Canyon – The Mavericks bring back a host of returners from last year’s team, and some talented newcomers. 6-3 junior point guard Graham Cook leads the charge, and seniors Chandler Daugherty and Cole Patterson have improved year over year. Senior guard Jaquan Carroll and junior guard Taro Boyd give the team an infusion of athleticism, and 6-5 Sage Creek transfer Charles Williams will provide depth on the interior.
Newcomers Sam Kramer, a 6-6 forward who played junior varsity last year, and 6-4 sophomore Charlie Schmitz are both talented role players. This might be the year the Mavs – a surprise Open Division qualifier last season – become legit contenders.
La Jolla Country Day – After a tumultuous off season that saw on two-fifths of the team’s talented 2019 class transfer, the Torreys will still be in the mix in the Open Division. 6-4 junior sharpshooter Ryan Langborg – who will be one of the section’s leading scorers – is a big reason why. But the holdovers are also talented. Senior Alex Cho is a physical scoring guard who can make plays for himself and others, junior point guard Ray Lu is as tough as nails, and 6-10 junior center Jayson Taylor keeps getting better.
The Torreys also got a transfer of their own in 5-11 shooter Collin McGrath, who moved to San Diego from the Bay Area and played on Archbishop Mitty’s JV team last year. Along with senior shooter Ben Daugherty and sophomore forward Sam Coleman, the Torreys can scare any of the teams ahead of them on this list.
Santa Fe Christian – Despite graduating the heart and soul of the Division 1 championship team, point guard Owen Aschieris, the Eagles are as dangerous as any of the teams on this list. As one onlooker said, “they’ve got 15 guys and they all shoot it.”
Senior forward Matthew Stevenson leads the team. The 6-4 Swiss-army-knife forward was the unsung hero in the Eagles championship game, deftly running the team’s offense as Aschieris was blanketed by Lincoln’s guards. 6-3 senior Jack McRoskey will inherit the role vacated by Aschieris, and 6-2 senior Brook Gray and 6-0 senior guard Michael Anderson are improved. The most improved player on the roster might be 6-6 senior wing TJ Askew, who will play a much bigger role this season. 6-3 senior bruiser Luke Sanders will also play an expanded role.
The loss of 6-6 senior forward Demitri Washington to a football injury puts a damper on the outlook, but the Eagles could find themselves at the fringe of the Open Division or the top of Division 1.
Canyon Crest Academy – Don’t let the opening-season egg laid against Otay Ranch fool you. The Ravens will be in the mix all season, thanks to an unheralded group of seniors that play together on both ends. 6-2 Tyler Elsom is an underrated two-way guard, and 6-4 senior guard Aaron Acosta has improved dramatically the past two seasons. 6-5 forward MJ Metz is one of the best interior defenders in the section, and 5-10 point guard Sam Crespy is a steady hand at the top of the Ravens offense.
If the Ravens can get contributions from sophomore guard Frank Gelfman and junior transfer Brennan Bordok, the season opening loss will be a distant memory.
Poway – Had Cherry’s transfer not occurred, Poway would have had the highest-profile fall defection, as 6-8 senior Jordan Cooke-Harper abruptly left the program. The loss could have crippled a lesser program, but the Titans should still contend due to 6-3 senior wing Zach Reiter, one of the region’s top returning scorers. Cooke-Harper’s understudy, 6-8 Deshaun Cooper, is a young junior who appears to have turned the corner as a prospect, and will have a big role this season.
Senior 6-4 wing Jax Singh is long and shoots it, and senior Jack Estepp is the role player every team needs. Look for sophomore Adam Sevier to get minutes at the point, and junior Jeff Lubsich has a nose for scoring. Sophomore forward Lucas Shepherd is a sleeper.
Cathedral Catholic – Yes, this team graduates McDonald’s All-American Brandon McCoy and is coming off a season where even with him the team was 12-15. But the Dons could quietly be in the mix by the end of the season due to a trio of experienced freshmen. 6-7 forward Obinna Anyanwu comes into high school as one of the most heralded prospects the region has ever seen. His fellow freshman, 6-3 guard Thomas Notarainni, a talented wing scorer, and 5-8 point guard Alex Wade starred on one of the top 16u AAU teams in California, Cali Boost. If the Dons can get consistent contributions from 6-4 junior Raymond Shay and 5-11 junior guard Connor Williams, this team could be peaking at the right time.
D1 contenders
San Diego’s Division 1 is a tricky field to handicap because it’s not set until season’s end, when the top eight Division 1 teams advance to the Open Division, and the remaining teams duke it out for the Division 1 crown. Some of our dark horses may very well be in the latter field, but here are some other teams that will contend.
El Camino – Senior guard Jalen Flanagan leads a young supporting cast that defends and gets out and runs.
Orange Glen – I would not want to play Orange Glen if I am any team on this list. Undersized, the Patriots play a fast, yet disciplined brand of ball and are led by one of the region’s most underrated prospects, senior guard Damien Miller. The Patriots are dangerous.
Helix – Last year’s Division 2 champions lose returning All-Section forward Miles Norris to transfer, but return a solid core (once football season ends), including senior guards Jaylin Henson, Amari Green and Isaiah Wooten, senior forward Carson Baker and sophomore standout Maurice Holmes.
Rancho Bernardo – Senior sharpshooter Knox Winkler is overlooked as a prospect, and he’s joined by a very underrated cast, including seniors Cristian Wagner, Glenn Mbamo, Max Castin and Jonathan Watts and 6-8 junior big man Drew Cisse.
Patrick Henry – Senior duo Christian Choice and Jayden Holloway are both 30-point threats, and the balance of the team hit shots from deep and defend.
Mission Hills – You can never count a team with a high-major prospect out of the race, but even with 6-11 Oregon State signee Warren Washington, the Grizzlies will be facing an uphill climb. Once football ends, Washington will get some help in the form of 6-2 senior guard Chris Olave, one of the state’s best dual-sport athletes.