CIF Southern Section Division Preview: Division I Contenders
The new CIF Southern Section competitive equity format has shaken up the playoff divisions for the 2017-18 season and beyond.
Let’s take a deeper dive into exactly what competitive equity means.
The division placement for each team is based upon a two-year weighted power point total, as described by the CIF-SS website, which take into account strength of a team’s regular season schedule results (33 percent) and playoff performance results (67 percent).
In addition, regular season contests are weighted based on strength of opponents. For example, a victory over a team in Division 1 is given more “points” than a win over a team in Divisions 2, 3, 4, and 5 and the same goes for playoff performance results.
The past CIF division placements have revolved mostly around number of enrollment, and while the number of students at a specific school is no longer a determining factor, the division breakdowns, especially toward the lower end, still have many of the smaller schools in those lower divisions.
This brings us to our first CIF-SS Division breakdown in Division I.
Note: This list excludes the 10 Open Division contenders that will be published soon.
Division I Contenders
Dominguez
The Dons have a talented trio in Cal State Fullerton-bound Wayne Arnold, Brenton Woods and Sean Harlston who have been playing together and building rapport for the last few years. Arnold is one of the best jump shooters in Southern California, Woods is an improved decision maker and Harlston, a junior, has the chance to be a bona fide Division I recruit. Dominguez also has two potentially game changing transfers in wait. Seniors Keith Carlton (Lynwood) and Gary Williams (Gahr) are both hoping to become eligible this season.
Eastvale Roosevelt
There might not be a team that lost more production on both ends than the Mustangs. Matt Mitchell (San Diego State) and Jemarl Baker (Kentucky) averaged a combined 42.5 points per game last season and were both very good perimeter defenders. If there’s one thing coach Stephen Singleton can do, though, it’s get any kid to play hard for him. David Agba and Jared Williams will be the go-to guys for Roosevelt this season, but look out for spark plug Brandon Porter, a 5-foot-8 point guard who plays with a ton of toughness.
Etiwanda
Legendary coach Dave Kleckner is back for another year after rumors of retirement floated in the spring and summer. The Eagles are one of the best defensive teams in the state year-in and year-out, which has them as a perennial contender no matter which division they compete in. Six-foot-6 Pepperdine-commit Kessler Edwards is the steadying offensive force for Etiwanda and the addition of Rancho Cucamonga transfer Toby Okwuokei adds an explosive scorer at the point guard position. Add returning guards Bryce English, Krystian Wilson and Elijah Harkless into that mix and Etiwanda certainly has the pieces to make a deep playoff run.
JSerra
The Lions lost its top producer from last season in Sebastian Much, but return the likes of San Diego State-bound center Joel Mensah, talented guard J.T. Robinson, steady guard Jordan Alvarado and sharpshooter Kevin White. In addition, JSerra came up again on the waiver wire by securing the transfer of 6-foot-4 small forward D.J. Rodman from Corona del Mar. JSerra plays a hard-nosed, high energy brand of basketball under head coach Zach Brogdon.
Long Beach Poly
This is the smallest team perhaps in Long Beach Poly basketball history is still a very good one. Seniors Darryl Polk, Jr. and Jesse Galloway lead a guard corps that will have to hit the 3-point shot at a consistent clip to make a deep playoff run. Juniors Justin Rene and Giordan Williams could be the x-factors come playoff time with their ability to put the ball in the basket. The biggest key for the Jackrabbits, however, will be rebounding. Poly’s tallest player is a shade over 6-feet-3, so blocking out and limiting teams to one shot will be crucial.
Santa Monica
Six-foot-4 Rice-signee Payton Moore, one of the most improved all-around players in the area, as he’s managed to work his way into a legitimate playmaking guard after relying solely upon athleticism and speed early in his high school career. Seattle U-bound wing Rip Economou will need to have a good year shooting the ball from the perimeter if the Vikings are to make a deep playoff run. Coach James Hecht has plenty of solid supporting cast members in Jacoby Hill, Ethan Berks, Cameron Jacquet, Amir Adams and Quincy McGriff.
St. John Bosco
Head coach Matt Dunn needed another athletic, slashing forward to go along with Alpha Okoli and help stay competitive in the Trinity League and that came by way of transfer. The Braves added 6-foot-6 wing Jonathan Salazar from Trinity International in Nevada. Bosco has some solid guard play in Christian James, Jake Bailey and Fernando Gomez, but the physicality and energy of Josh Adoh will be an important factor.