HFTV Insider Report: Vol. 11
HS / Club News & Notes
1. It looks as if Sudanese-Australian Big Fella Thon Maker (Orangeville) looks to be positioning himself for Reclassification into class of 2015.
2. There are a bevy of elite players but less elite teams in 2014-15 season. The cream of the crop looks to be Oak Hill, Montverde Academy and Findlay Prep, Plano West on the national level. On the West Coast look for Sierra Canyon, Bishop O' Dowd, Bishop Gorman, Corona-Centennial, Mater Dei, Chino Hills, Maranatha, Corona Del Sol, Village Christian, Centennial(LV) and Bishop Montgomery to make runs in their respective divisions as well as compete on for national reputability.
3. Their has been no story bigger than Josh Jackson early in the 2014 season. The Michigan native has lead Prolific Prep of Napa to a 14-2 record out of the gate. The dynamically talented SG/SF has been a breath of fresh air to Northern California HS basketball. Jackson's attitude and work ethic has been infectious according to coaching staff.
4. In one of the first elite matchups of West Coast parochial powers Bishop O' Dowd held serve against Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas. Rabb and Austin were to much for Zimmerman, Blair and Jeter @ the Tip Off Classic at Newark High School in Bay Area. Gorman also lost to Isaiah Bailey & Jesuit of Sacramento in the opening weeks on this season.
5. Plano West of Texas displays a legitimate three headed monster. Hogg, Mitchell and Anderson are a squad that looks destine to make a run for national supremacy.
6. 2016 West coast Big Fella Jayce Johnson has decided to leave Findlay Prep and attend Santa Monica HS.
7. In possibly the highest level event of the Christmas holiday, The COP (Final) was a classic match up between returning champion Montverde (Fla) vs. Wheeler (GA). Jaylen Brown out dueled Ben Simmons to capture the title, another notch on his belt in the race for the consensus #1 player in the nation.
8. After playing Bishop Gorman, Montverde and Oak Hill Academy all before Christmas, it's safe to say Lou Richie and Bishop' O Dowd are taking all comers this season.
