All-Southern California Sophomores, Part I

<p>LAGUNA NIGUEL – Three players who were key members of CIF sectional championship teams are among my All-Southern California Sophomore selections.</p> <p>Topping the third-team choices are guards <strong>A.J. Burgin</strong> (San Diego) and <strong>Brenton Knapper</strong> (Colony), whose teams won San Diego Division 3 and Southern Section 2A titles, respectively.</p> <p>Knapper’s classmate, forward <strong>Denim Dawson</strong>, was a fourth-team selection, as was 6-foot-8 <strong>Pape Cisse</strong> of Fairmont Prep of Anaheim, the Southern Section 4AA champion.</p> <p>Burgin, who helped San Diego win the section Division 4 title as a freshman, averaged 17 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists while also bagging City League Player of the Year kudos.</p> <p>As a reminder, these selections are based upon on-court accomplishments this past season not on “next-level potential” or “how heavily a kid is being ‘recruited’””.</p> <p>The first- and second-team choices, along with the SoCal Player of the Season, will follow shortly.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>THIRD</u></strong></p> <p>A.J. Burgin                           6-2                          San Diego</p> <p>David Elliott                        6-1                          Lake Balboa Birmingham</p> <p>Keith Higgins                      6-2                          West Hills Chaminade</p> <p>Chris Howell                       6-5                          San Marcos (San Diego)</p> <p>Brenton Knapper             6-0                          Ontario Colony</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>FOURTH</u></strong></p> <p>Pape Cisse                           6-8                          Anaheim Fairmont Prep</p> <p>Nick Davidson                    6-8                          Santa Ana Mater Dei</p> <p>Denim Dawson                 6-3                          Ontario Colony</p> <p>Houston Mallette             6-4                          Newport Pacifica Christian</p> <p>Luke Turner                        6-6                          Temecula Rancho Christian</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>FIFTH</u></strong></p> <p>Christian Bento                 6-11                       Temecula Great Oak</p> <p>Harrison Hornery             6-9                          Santa Ana Mater Dei</p> <p>Christian Johnson            5-11                       L.A. View Park</p> <p>T.J. Muhammad                5-10                       Santa Monica Crossroads</p> <p>Scotty Washington          6-4                          Bellflower St. John Bosco</p> <p>Peyton Watson                     6-4                          Long Beach Poly</p>