CIF San Deigo Section: Open Divison Preview

As the open division kicks off tomorrow with the best 8 teams in San Diego battling it out for the title of the best, we look at how these teams got here and why they each have a case to be the champions. With one of the most talented fields in recent history, these teams and players are ready to make a name for themselves.   1. St. Agustine: The one seed in the open division has proven all season long why they are at the top of the county and one of the best teams in the state as well. The Saints have not lost a game to a San Diego section team since 6/9/21 in a COVID-shortened season and have taken on elite out-of-county competition all season long this year. They boast an imposing frontcourt with the reigning CIF player of the year, [player_tooltip player_id='992479' first='Jurian' last='Dixon'] who has been their go-to guy and has had a stellar senior season along with ACU commit [player_tooltip player_id='994915' first='Derrius' last='Carter-Hollinger'] whose length and versatility allow them to have solid big man play. A stellar frontcourt backs them up with junior point guard Lolo Rudolph who has been having a breakout year along with PLNU commit [player_tooltip player_id='994949' first='Jaden' last='Matingou'] who can jump out of the gym. Their depth doesn't end there as they have an elite shooter in Wake Forest commit Vincent Ricchiuti and a jack of all trades in [player_tooltip player_id='1502799' first='Ian' last='De La Rosa']. The Saints have been the favorites to win and go back-to-back since the start of the season and haven't shown a reason for people to change their minds yet as they are one of the deepest teams not only in San Diego but in Califonia as well. They meet Mater Dei Catholic in the first round.   2. Carlsbad: The Lancers have had an impressive season from their young core that won the CIF D1 title last season and have established themselves as title contenders after going 9 and 1 coming out at the top of a stacked Palomar league as well as having already matched up with 5 out of the 8 teams in the Open Division field. They are led by an impressive big three consisting of super sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1630639' first='Jake' last='Hall'] who is the second-leading scorer in the county, junior [player_tooltip player_id='1502812' first='Tony' last='Duckett'] who is an elite two-way player, and senior floor general Cole Murray who is the glue that holds Carlsbad together. Their big three is joined by knockdown shooter Josh Shields, and spark plugs Tristan Guzman and Jett Kenady. Every player on the Lancers can handle the ball and stretch the floor, their lack of size which was once seen as a weakness has become a mismatch nightmare for opponents. This Carlsbad team not only met the expectations made on them to improve on last season but blew them out of the water and look like serious threats to win Open Division as they meet familiar league rival Torrey Pines in round one.   3. Montgomery: The Aztecs have had a strong showing this year coming out as Mesa league champs in a league that included two other open-division squads going 23-5 and in those 5 losses 3 came by one score and one came to one seed St. Agustine. If you are what your record says you are then Montogmery's says they are deserving to be called a top 3 team in San Diego and title contenders. Montogmery is still a very young team with their top contributors all being sophomores. The Sanchez twins JJ and Alek have brought their versatile but complimentary playstyles to the next level to get the Aztecs ahead of schedule in their success. They're joined by fellow sophomores Devin Hamilton who has taken a huge leap in his play from last season averaging 10 more points per game and jack of all trades [player_tooltip player_id='1630674' first='Xair' last='Mendez']. Montgomery uses their size to their advantage as they boast a pretty big line up and this allows them to slow the game down and control leads along with the ability to match up well on defense. They have already upset the favorite to win the Mesa league why not upset the open-division favorites as well. They open up round one in a rematch of a late-season thriller against Santa Fe Christian   4. San Ysidro: The Cougars were the favorites of many to be the top team in San Diego and it's not hard to see why when looking at their duo of 4-star Memphis commits. The human highlight reel [player_tooltip player_id='1069091' first='Mikey' last='Williams'] returned back to San Ysidro for his senior season and has looked every bit the part of the elite talent he is advertised as, and along with him came JJ Taylor. Taylor's ability with the ball in his hands along with his skill set at his size make him a unicorn and extremely tough to defend. As long as San Ysidro has their one-two punch available they will always be in the game until the last buzzer sounds. Joining them is Ty Ingram, one of the best if not the best freshman in San Diego that has been thrown into the fire guarding some of the toughest competition out there and is constantly improving, Gerardo Guerrero their trusty shooter, underrated big guy, and clean-up man Adrei Tovar and finally their captain and hard-nosed defender Princeton Metu. San Ysidro is battle tested through their national schedule and they do not fear any team they will see in the Open Divison, they may only be the 4 seed but they might be the most dangerous team in this field as they meet La Costa Canyon in the first round who they had a battle with in the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic Tip-Off   5. La Costa Canyon: The Mavericks have had a very up-and-down season but look like they have figured things out as they have gotten red hot at just the right time. LCC is led by Colorado College commit senior [player_tooltip player_id='994935' first='Ty' last='Hendler'] who has established himself as one of the top point guards and leaders in San Diego and he is joined by fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='994912' first='Christian' last='Brown'] who has been an All-CIF player for them and deserves more attention from programs at the next level. Scrappy point guard Parker Jelsing has proven that he can step up for the Mavericks in big moments as well as Trevor Ladd who is LCC's motor guy and does a lot of things that don't show up on the stat sheet. A player that has given them a new spark though has been the addition of Wesley Smith 6-10 USC volleyball commit, Smith's addition has given them that piece they may have been missing and the Mavericks have not lost to a San Deigo section team since his addition to the roster. LCC was one point away from the Open Division final last season and they have the senior leadership as well as experience to get back there and get the job done this time. They get a star-studded San Ysidro team they played to the buzzer back at the Holiday Classic Tip-Off, before the addition of Smith who gives the Mavericks hope that this time will be different   6. Santa Fe Christian: SFC is a team that can open up the floodgates when they got hot and will put up points in a hurry. Brycen Mackenzie is a crafty three-level scorer who plays with confidence and has put up an All-CIF type of season and leads this high-powered Eagles offense, and his tandem partner Drew Bickley is an elite shooter who can pull from well beyond the free throw line and when they are both hitting they overwhelm teams. They are helped out by the playmaking of freshman Dax Hall as well as Greyson Mundis and Jermey Love who put defensive stamps on the game for SFC with their athleticism, the transfer of Jayden Luckett gave the Eagles a big body down low and created a well-balanced team that is gonna be dangerous in these playoffs. Their ability to have an offensive explosion on a hot shooting night makes them capable of getting farther than most thought but it is up to them to deliver on that. They play a Montogomery team they edged out at the buzzer in a first-round matchup that will be one to watch.   7. Torrey Pines: The Falcons come out with an 18-10 record, which for them would be considered a down year as they are one of the Gold Standards of basketball around San Diego County but they are still just as solid as ever. They are led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='994909' first='JJ' last='Bartelloni'] whose size, shooting, and experience make him a great player in the line of impressive Falcons seniors that come about each new season. Junior Zach Johnson brings a post presence with a soft touch around the rim and will box out all game long, and the sophomore Cody Shen has been a steady hand for the Falcons at point guard along with freshman Zander Ovies who have all had to step up in the absence of the injured [player_tooltip player_id='994913' first='Alex' last='Cabulio']. The Falcons also got a foreign transfer Max Zylicz who can light it up from three along with a deep roster consisting of size, capable shooting, and the coaching of the legendary Joh Olive, they have all the pieces needed to get a few upsets in these playoffs. They meet a familiar foe in round one, league rivals Carlsbad who they have already seen two times this season.   8. Mater Dei Catholic: The Crusaders are gonna be a tough out for any team as they boast two of the most important things needed for a big layoff run on their roster, athleticism, and shooting. Their go-to guy and Sacramento State commit Kristian Gonzalez has made huge leaps in athleticism and efficiency becoming one of the best scorers in his class and a smooth player to watch in general. Around him, he has two elite shooters in Sebastian Wiles who is also a great defender in his own right, and freshman Lincoln Grogan who has grown up fast for the Crusaders and fills his role well. Josiah Jefferson gives Mater Dei yet another tough athlete to guard as he slashes with ease and can knock down open shots. The Crusaders have already taken down San Ysidro and Carlsbad who are higher up than them in the Open Division standings and look to try to be the first San Diego section team to beat St. Agustine in two seasons as they match up with them in the first round.

As the open division kicks off tomorrow with the best 8 teams in San Diego battling it out for the title of the best, we look at how these teams got here and why they each have a case to be the champions. With one of the most talented fields in recent history, these teams and players are ready to make a name for themselves.