CIF State Regional Playoffs: Ten Best
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This year’s CIF Open Division State Regional playoffs only featured two quarterfinal matchups, one in Northern California and one in San Diego. The No. 4 seed St. Augustine Saints faced off against a powerful West Ranch team that came in…
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Continue ReadingThis year’s CIF Open Division State Regional playoffs only featured two quarterfinal matchups, one in Northern California and one in San Diego. The No. 4 seed St. Augustine Saints faced off against a powerful West Ranch team that came in at 29-2, earning the 5 seed.
In a game that lived up to the billing of two of the state’s best teams, it was the host Saints that used an 18-12 fourth quarter to turn a 3-point deficit into a 63-60 victory in front of a sellout crowd.
Here were my top performers from the game.
Clutch performer
Jaden Matingou Jaden Matingou 6'3" | CG St. Augustine | 2023 State CA-S , 6-3 2023 G, St. Augustine
This award could also go to Matingou’s teammate Jurian Dixon Jurian Dixon 6'4" | SG St. Augustine | 2023 State #247 Nation CA-S , who scored 7 points in the decisive fourth quarter, but it was back-to-back plays by the Point Loma Nazarene signee that turned the tide in Saints favor. He took a charge to erase a go-ahead bucket by Isaiah Fields Isaiah Fields 6'5" | SF West Ranch | 2023 State CA-S , and on the ensuing possession, confidently knocked down a 22-footer from the left wing to give Saints a four-point lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Best scorer
Jurian Dixon Jurian Dixon 6'4" | SG St. Augustine | 2023 State #247 Nation CA-S , 6-5 2023 G, St. Augustine
Dixon got scoring started early, took a backseat in the third quarter, then revved back up in the final quarter, knocking down a three (from almost the identical spot Matingou hit his) and two difficult pull-up and turnaround midrange jumpers when his team needed them the most. Dixon scores it consistently from three levels and rebounds it well for his position too.
Most skilled
Andrew Meadow Andrew Meadow 6'7" | SF West Ranch | 2023 State #264 Nation CA-S , 6-7 2023 F, West Ranch
Meadow, who is a dead ringer for a young Kurt Rambis, has an excellent offensive toolbox. He uses the glass better than any player I’ve seen at the high school level in a long time, and can finish inside with either hand. Meadow pairs well with center Jazz Gardner Jazz Gardner 7'0" | C Los Altos | 2023 State #85 Nation CA-S in the high-low set, both as a passer and midrange shooter and a scorer on the block. His blend of power and touch is unique for a player his age. Headed to Boise State.
Big man in the middle
Jazz Gardner Jazz Gardner 7'0" | C Los Altos | 2023 State #85 Nation CA-S , 7-0 2023 C, West Ranch
Gardner towered over the tallest Saints player (6-6 Derrius Carter Hollinger), and for much of the game dominated the paint. He scored with his back to the basket and feasted on the offensive glass, and defensively he blocked 6 shots and altered dozens of other attempts. In previous viewings, Gardner would float on the perimeter to show off his touch from that area, but he made a concerted effort to punish the smaller Saints in the paint, a positive sign.
Best defender
Darrell Morris, Jr. Darrell Morris, Jr. 5'9" | PG West Ranch | 2024 State CA-S , 5-10 2023 G, West Ranch
Morris is the kind of guard that gets under his opponent’s skin because of how he defends. A quick guard with underrated length (albeit very thin), Morris is excellent at battling over screens and uses his active hands to create steals or deflections. He is an elite helpside defender, as his quickness allows him to get in position to draw charges at a prolific rate.
Best shooter
Jaqari Miles Jaqari Miles 6'2" | CG West Ranch | 2023 State CA-S , 6-3 2023 G, West Ranch
Miles, coming off the bench for the Wildcats, hit three first-half threes en route to 14 points in the game. A smooth shooter with a quick release, Miles is also a crafty ball handler who can get to his spots in the midrange and has a pretty refined pull-up game.
Best athlete
Isaiah Fields Isaiah Fields 6'5" | SF West Ranch | 2023 State CA-S , 6-5 2023 W, West Ranch
A chiseled wing with great length and explosive bounce, Fields made his mark on the game on defense and slashing to the basket. He’s arguably the Wildcats best on-ball defender, capable of switching onto multiple positions at the high school level. A right-hand dominant scorer, Fields has the strength to absorb contact on drives and finish around the basket, and showed flashes of midrange scoring as well. He’s a late bloomer with a ton of upside.
Best point guard
Lolo Rudolph, 6-2 2024 G, St. Augustine
For a stretch in the second and third quarter, Rudolph was the best player on the floor. His combination of speed, strength and pace have all been noted in previous reports, and he used all of them to attack the paint at will and finish a couple of high degree of difficulty shots over Gardner. But the area of his game that continues to evolve is his shooting, as he continues to develop confidence as his range extends beyond the college three.
Best Rebounder
Ian De La Rosa Ian De La Rosa 6'2" | SG St. Augustine | 2024 State CA-S , 6-3 2024 G, St. Augustine
De la Rosa started the game with 5 rebounds in the game’s first four minutes, attacking the offensive glass and using his quickness to the ball to outhustle his defenders to rebounds out of the area. What made it even more impressive was that he was giving up at least four inches to Meadow and eight inches to Gardner in those individual battles.
Best glue guy
Derrius Carter-Hollinger Derrius Carter-Hollinger 6'5" | SF St. Augustine | 2023 State CA-S , 6-6 2023 F, St. Augustine
Carter-Hollinger shook off some trouble at the foul line to have a big impact on the game. He battled admirably against Gardner as the primary defender on the 7 footer, using his quickness to get in front and steal some post entries, while using his length to force several overthrown entries that resulted in turnovers. He also forced a steal and had a big transition slam right after missing a pair of free throws, showing his mental fortitude. Arizona Christian has a very unique player on their hands.