The 2016-17 JC basketball season is about to start!
Here is a very bare-bones preview of Southern California for the coming season. I don't even pretend to know enough about the North to say anything at this point.
Though I was unable to attend the fall shootout (I got sick), event director Gerry Freitas graciously forwarded me a copy of the roster packet so I have some idea of who is playing where. That - and my own observations, both from the July shootout and from 16 years of following JC basketball in California - form the basis of this preview.
If you want more details, be sure to check out John Bynum's excellent series of previews on his Signal The Light site (http://signalthelightbasketball.com). He works a lot harder than I do!
So maybe I know what I'm talking about, or maybe not. In any case, at least you can see the new conference alignments in the wake of the demise of the Foothill Conference (R.I.P.)...
By conference...in order of anticipated order of finish...
Orange Empire Conference:
Saddleback - TJ Shorts & Breaon Brady lead defending regional champs
Fullerton - Kendall Lauderdale joins Ian Fox & Kenny Barnes on strong team
Irvine Valley - Expect bounceback season; 6-11 Lamont Tyler was impressive in July shootout
Riverside - Former Taft HS standouts Brandon Thomas and Travis Patrick will make an impact
Cypress - Excellent season last year but hit hard by graduation
Santa Ana - Some intriguing talent on the roster for the Dons
Orange Coast - Will have to scrap & claw to compete but they will
Pacific Conference - North
San Bernardino Valley - Foothill invader assumes top spot
Mt. San Jacinto - Longtime rivalry with SBVC is back...and there was much rejoicing!
Palomar - Coach John O'Neill gets the most out of what he has
Mira Costa - Will have the unenviable task of carrying out without Buddha
Miramar - Solid program should be in the 4-way race for 3rd
Desert - Young team (just 3 sophs) could be in mix for 3rd
Pacific Conference - South:
San Diego City - Coach Charlens' machine rolls on
Southwestern - Coach Cosentino always has solid, talented team
Grossmont - Pulled miracle comeback this summer vs solid LA Harbor squad
SD Mesa - Boasts enviable size on the front line
Cuyamaca - Calvin Harris says don't blame it on me
Imperial Valley - The "Abandoned" episode on the Salton Sea was fascinating
South Coast Conference - North:
East Los Angeles - Very strong team led by UTEP commit Roderick Williams
Chaffey - Statewide Final 4 team must reload but the Coaches K always do
LA Trade Tech - With Mac Wells back on the staff LATT will be vastly improved this year
Mt. San Antonio - Coach Maloney keep them in contention every year
Rio Hondo - Well-coached squad enters from the late great Foothill Conference
Pasadena - Look for improvement coming off 5-win season
South Coast Conference - South:
Compton - Loaded for bear with the likes of Dajion Henderson, Michael Chavers, Alonzo Taylor...
Cerritos - Very solid program should be in the mix
Long Beach - They're not big but they're pretty good
LA Harbor - Another solid program with a chance to challenge in 4-way race
El Camino - Onetime Hawaii signee Dillon Biggs (Dorsey HS/Glendale CC) joins the fold
LA Southwest - Nowhere to go but up after 1-21 season
WSC-East
Antelope Valley - On paper seems much the best here
Glendale - Cal Poly SLO bounceback Serigne Athj will make big impact
Citrus - Some good talent, keep an eye on true freshman Josh Caston
Victor Valley - Foothill Conf newcomers will renew acquaintance with AVC
Barstow - Most of last year's 8-17 team graduated so who knows
LA Valley - ??? as last year's soph-dominated squad has largely moved on
WSC-North
Moorpark - Raiders reload with Taft HS standouts Khiry Williams & Damian Wilson
Cuesta - Rusty Blair's team of international all-stars figures to be formidable as always
Allan Hancock - Two intriguing names on the roster in Deon Whiteside & Noah Willett
Ventura - Legitimate chance in wide-open conference race
Oxnard - Was impressive in July in 22-point win over Desert
Santa Barbara - Should have a good look at the rest of the field
WSC-South
Santa Monica - backcourt of Isaiah Ajiboye and Joe Robertson gives them the edge
Bakersfield - lots of talent to replace but Coach Hughes seems to have some size to work with
LA Pierce - Good local talent here gives them legit shot
West LA - Not really sure what to make of what should be a wide-open race
Canyons - Can't possibly have as many devastating injuries as last year's 5-21 squad
Projected Playoff Field (not in order except for the top 2):
Saddleback - state tourney
East Los Angeles - state tourney
Fullerton
Irvine Valley
Cypress
San Bernardino Valley
Mt San Jacinto
Southwestern
SD City
Compton
Cerritos
Chaffey
LA Trade Tech
Mt. San Antonio
Antelope Valley
Glendale
Citrus
Moorpark
Cuesta
Santa Monica
On The Bubble: (in alpha order)
Allan Hancock
Bakersfield
Grossmont
Long Beach
LA Harbor
LA Pierce
Palomar
Ventura
West LA
