California's SoCal D2 State Regionals: Standout Players (Part 1)

Central, CA - Over the past two weeks, the CIF State playoffs have been taking place in gyms throughout the state of California. I was fortunate to not have to travel far to watch 3 of the 4 rounds of Regional playoff games, as Bakersfield Christian, the #3 seed in the SoCal State Regionals for Division 2, hosted games all the way to the Regional Finals. In this article, I take a look at 6 standout players from the games I attended live. This is a Part 1, which will be followed by a look at 7 more players from the State Regionals. In this article you will find the following information: player's information, relevant statistics, and a brief description of each player's skill sets and how they performed in the games I watched. The players are listed in alphabetical order, not ranked order, and we begin with Ricky Alonso.   Ricky Alonso SG (6'1 | 2026) - San Pedro Pirates   In the opening round the the D2 State Regionals, the #13 seed San Pedro Pirates had to make the long trip to take on the #3 seed Bakersfield Christian Eagles, which was longer than anticipated due to a fire on the Grapevine overpass between Los Angeles and Kern Country. The hour delay and extended time on the bus seemed to have an impact on the legs of the Pirate players, as the Eagles would jump out to a 24 to 6 lead and never looked back, as San Pedro would fall to BCHS 78 to 44. Despite the loss, Alonso was the lone bright spot for the Pirates, as he did his part to help his team try and compete against the home team. Alonso displayed his fluid off-ball movement, getting to his shot spots, and squaring up to fire off the catch, connecting on 4 threes over the course of the game, and was the only player to score in double-digits for San Pedro, ending with 12 points.    [player_tooltip player_id='2646533' first='Taiwo' last='Daramola'] PF (6'8 | 2027) - Bakersfield Christian Eagles    Daramola has been one of the fastest rising prospects on the West Coast the past 6 months, and his play in the D2 State Regionals has been nothing short of superb and dominant, especially from 15 feet to the basket. Daramola opened up the state regionals with a monster 20 point and 10 rebound performance, with 14 of those points coming in the first quarter and helping the Eagles build a lead it would never surrender. In the Regional semifinals against Carlsbad, Daramola would put up another double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds, with 6 of those points coming in the 3rd quarter to help the Eagles take the lead for the first time of the game, and a lead it would hold to the end. In the Regional Finals against Palisades, Daramola had one of his most dominant games of his high school career thus far, going for  28 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Most impressive was his play in the final period, where he would score 12 of the team's 14 points, as he would score the ball in a variety of ways around the basket and finish with a pair of free throws that helped his team edge of Palisades 59 to 57 to earn a spot in the D2 State Championships. Daramola will be the focal point for the Eagles offense and defense, and his dominance in the paint in the fourth quarter was key to the Eagles success in the win over San Joaquin Memorial in the first round of the D1 Section playoffs, which is the team it will play today in the D2 State title game.    Jayden Garner CG (6' | 2026) - Carlsbad Lancers    Garner, along with the rest of the lancers squad, had a strong start to the game, displaying the handles and moves to create off the perimeter, a good burst off the bounce to get into the paint, touch on shots around the basket, as well as effective with the mid-range jumper off the dribble. Garner also displayed his ability to be a good positional rebounder, which helped him push the ball off the glass or give his team second chance scoring opportunities. Garner finished with 10 points and 5 rebounds, with 7 of those points coming in the first half to help give his team a three point lead at the half, 30 to 33.    Caiden Jackson CG (6'1 | 2027) - Bakersfield Christian Eagles    Jackson has been the driving force on the perimeter for the Eagles in its run to the D2 State Championship game in Sacramento, as he has been the primary play maker on offense, and the head of the 1-3-1 defense that Bakersfield Christian is known for, turning defense to offense routinely. Jackson had a great showing in the Eagles D2 State Regional semifinals against Carlsbad, but it would take him some time to make his presence felt on the offensive end. After a scoreless first half and 3-point deficit going into the half, 33 to 30, Jackson would score all 8 of his points in the second half to help his team strom ahead and get the 65 to 50 win. Jackson displayed his improved play making and court vision throughout the game and finished with 9 assists, as well as 2 steals to help his team get out and score in the open court, where the Eagles were deadly in its run to the State D2 title game. Jackson followed up his solid showing in the Regional semis with an impactful game against Palisades in the Regional Finals. Jackson only scored 4 points, but his play making and decision making with the ball in his hands was on full display, dishing out another 9 assists and finding teammates in the right spot off the drive and kick pass or the cross court pass to beat the defense. But it was his 3 steals, in particular the one in the fourth quarter coming down the stretch, as he would steal the ball from Levey, dive on the ground to secure the ball, allowing his coach to call a quick time out. Huge possession from a player that has stepped up in critical moments all year for the Eagles. Jackson will need to keep his lead guard play on both ends at a high level against the Panthers in the State championship.       [player_tooltip player_id='2194700' first='Jeremias' last='Killebrew'] WF (6'5 | 2027) - Bakersfield Christian Eagles    Killebrew has played a different role for the Eagles during the State playoffs, as he has been the sixth man, which has helped provide a scoring punch off the bench that the Eagles have lacked this season, and he is in the game at the end when it counts most. Killebrew had a strong showing in the Eagles opening round win over San Pedro in the D2 State playoffs, as he would score 9 of his 11 points in the first half, as the game was never in doubt in the second half. Killebrew also pulled down 6 rebounds and generated 3 steals to impact the glass and to turn defense to offense, helping the Eagles build a 20 point lead going into intermission. Killebrew had a strong showing against Carlsbad in the Regional semifinals, scoring 12 points with 8 of those coming in the first half, connecting on a pair of threes, to help keep the Eagles close at the half, 32-30. Killebrew is one of the X-factors for Bakersfield Christian in the State D2 title game against San Joaquin and will be relied upon to space the floor from the perimeter, as well as crash the boards and show his defensive versatility.    Jack Levey SG (6' | 2026) - Palisades Dolphins    Levy was blistering hot in the first quarter of the Boys D2 State semifinals against Bakersfield Christian, as he would connect on 3 threes in the opening period and 12 points to help his team get out to a 22 to 14 lead going into the 2nd quarter. Levy knocked down another 3 ball in the 2nd period and the Dolphins would keep a lead at intermission, 32-30. BCHS did get its first lead in the 3rd period, at the 3:10 mark, but Palisades held a two point lead going into the final period, as Levey would add five more points in the third period. The monster fourth quarter from [player_tooltip player_id='2646533' first='Taiwo' last='Daramola'] of the Eagles proved to be too much for Palisades and Levey missed a half court deep three pointer, ending the magical season for the Dolphins, 59 to 57. Levey displayed quality handles, good uses of the hesitation, crossover, in-and-out, and hard pound dribble to get his defender off balance, great use of the screen to create space, and great movement off the ball to get open looks, with accuracy from the 3-point line off the bounce or the catch. Levey also showcased his quality court vision to find players cutting off the ball or off the drive and kick pass. Levey finished his high school career with 20 points, connecting on a total of 5 threes, and 6 assists in the tough 3-point loss to the Eagles.

Central, CA - Over the past two weeks, the CIF State playoffs have been taking place in gyms throughout the state of California. I was fortunate to not have to travel far to watch 3 of the 4 rounds of Regional playoff games, as Bakersfield Christian, the #3 seed in the SoCal State Regionals for Division 2, hosted games all the way to the Regional Finals. In this article, I take a look at 6 standout players from the games I attended live. This is a Part 1, which will be followed by a look at 7 more players from the State Regionals. In this article you will find the following information: player's information, relevant statistics, and a brief description of each player's skill sets and how they performed in the games I watched. The players are listed in alphabetical order, not ranked order, and we begin with Ricky Alonso.