Derrick Taylor coached Taft High to three L.A. City Section Division I boys basketball titles in 11 years and believes this season’s version of St. John Bosco could be better than any of those teams.
“This team, especially the starting five, is more talented than any team I ever had at Taft,” said Taylor, in his second season with the Braves. “I believe in my heart, if we are playing at our best I don’t think anyone in the state of California can match our level.”
Taylor kept going.
“This team is, gee whiz, this team is good,” he said. “I have never had anything like this before. The potential is outrageous. We have potentially three NBA players on our team.”
Taylor was speaking of senior wing Isaac Hamilton (6-foot-5), junior small forward Daniel Hamilton (6-7) and sophomore guard Tyler Dorsey (6-4). The elder Hamilton, a University of Texas-El Paso commit, is averaging 25.6 points. Dorsey is averaging 21.2 points and Daniel Hamilton is averaging 14 points and a team-high 9.5 rebounds.
The Hamiltons are returning starters. Taylor raves about Dorsey, a transfer from Ribet Academy who averages eight rebounds and 6.2 assists.
“He’s sensational,” Taylor said. “He is as good a young prospect as I’ve ever coached. He’s on the level of the Hamiltons. He has a clear chance of being an NBA player.
“The guy is almost a triple-double waiting to happen. If you look at his overall game, he does not have a weakness.”
Taylor said Dorsey is being “heavily” recruited by Florida, Duke, UCLA and Arizona.
The Braves have plenty more, such as senior guard Brian Nebo, a transfer from Gahr. And junior post Devin Burleson, who goes 6-9, 250. And senior power forward Darien Williams (6-8, 225), a transfer from Orange Lutheran.
That’s not to mention Millikan transfer Jordan Dallas, a 6-9 sophomore who transferred with his brother, senior guard Jason. Jordan Dallas is averaging 5.0 rebounds.
It’s a team Taylor is anxious to prove to be the best in California. The Braves are ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section Division 3-A and No. 5 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports in its preseason poll. Poly is No. 1. The teams will square off Feb. 2 in the Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei.
“We get a chance to really prove who is the No. 1 team in the area and the No. 1 team in the state,” Taylor said. “We believe we are the No. 1 team in the state and we get a rare opportunity to prove it.”
As for the Trinity League, in which the Braves (5-1) toil, they have to worry about Mater Dei, ranked No. 6 in the state.
“I like our chances against them,” Taylor said of the defending league, Division 1-AA and state Division I champion Monarchs. “But they have to be the team to beat until somebody beats them.”
Saints looking good
Over at St. Anthony, the Saints figure to have their best team in some time. With successful first-year coach Eric Cooper, formerly of La Verne Lutheran, in the fold, as well as some key transfers St. Anthony could make some serious noise.
The Saints are ranked No. 3 in Division 4-AA and don’t even have all their players yet. Guard Eric Cooper Jr. and 6-7 senior forward Kyle Benton – transfers from La Verne Lutheran and Gahr, respectively – won’t be eligible to play until Dec. 31 because of the CIF-SS transfer rule.
Guard Brian Wright, a senior transfer from Mayfair, currently is trying to get cleared to play by CIF.
Last season as a junior at Lutheran, Cooper averaged 15.6 points and made 42 3-pointers in helping his father’s team reach the 4-AA final, where it lost to Serra.
“He’s someone who can run the 1 (point-guard spot), calm it down no matter what the pressure is like,” Cooper said of his son, who is about 6-3 1/2.
Players who have started include wing Joinnaty Spears; guards Tony Warrick, Alexander Nailes, Drew Reid and Justin Fraizer and forward Johnathan Ross (6-foot-8). Cooper likes what he sees.
“They can be very good,” he said. “We have a lot of areas covered. And it’s not a bad thing for them (the transfers) to not be playing simply because it forces the younger guys to have to go out there and play right now and compete at a high level.”
St. Anthony opens Santa Fe League play Jan. 9 at Verbum Dei. The Saints will be favored to win league.
Also
Other area teams include Valley Christian, Compton Centennial, Downey Calvary Chapel, Los Alamitos, Firebaugh, Avalon and Whitney.
Over at Valley Christian of the Olympic League the Crusaders are 5-5. They are being led by the likes of Caleb Miller, a 6-7 senior forward; senior guard Chris Miller and junior forward Brian Bischoff. Senior guard DJ Ahana and freshman guard Stedmon Bryant also have played well.
At Centennial, the Apaches (5-3) out of the Pioneer League are trying to regroup after a 5-18 campaign. Back at the helm is coach Vadim Malikin, who led Centennial to the 2009-2010 3-A title game, where it lost to Serra.
The Wildcats of Whitney, out of the Academy League, are 4-5. Their balanced scoring attack is led by Anthony Seeman (9.7 ppg) and Daniel Olea (9.5 ppg). Seeman also averages 7.5 rebounds.
Most of Los Alamitos’ better players last season were seniors, so this year’s squad is much younger. But senior guard Wes Mitter is back, as is Khalid Washington, who was a reserve a year ago but is a regular this season.
Paul Kadletz, a 6-5 senior forward, is another player in a bigger role this season.
So far so good for the Griffins, who are 6-4. They begin Sunset League play Jan. 4 against Marina.
Downey Calvary Chapel lost its top three players to graduation. The Grizzlies of the Delphic League are struggling at 0-10 and are being led in scoring senior forward Dylan Bousema, who is averaging 7.7 points and 7.2 rebounds.
Firebaugh also is having a hard time. The Falcons, of the Harbor-Silver League, are just 1-9.
Avalon is off to a decent start at 4-3. Its top two scorers have been Edgar Alvarez and Gabe Hernandez, who are averaging 18.7 and 14.8 points, respectively. Hernandez, at 6-6, averages 11.3 rebounds as well.
The Lancers open San Joaquin League play Jan. 3 against Orangewood Academy.
