This season will see new talent emerge and familiar talent grab the spotlight. Mariya Moore, Gabby Green, Mikayla Cowling, and Natalie Romeo headlined a strong 2014 graduating class.
The usual teams will be at the top. Miramonte, Carondelet, and Deer Valley should have little trouble sweeping the DFAL, EBAL, and BVAL respectively. Other leagues figure to be two-horse races. The TCAL-Rock will once again come down to St. Mary’s versus Salesian. Bishop O’Dowd, perhaps the strongest team overall, will have to stave off Berkeley to take the WACC-Foothill. And Cardinal Newman has only a slight edge over Santa Rosa, whom they tied last season atop the NBL. The other leagues are largely wide-open.
Despite the departure of the really big names from last year, there are plenty of players to be excited about. Sabrina Ionescu, Ma’Ane Mosley (Cal), and Aisia Robertson (Kansas), Hailey Pascoe (Lehigh University), and Jaiamoni Welch-Coleman (Weber State) have already proven they belong at Division I colleges.
Other players on our radar have the potential for a high-ceiling year. Minyon Moore (Mariah’s younger sister), Devin Murray, and Brandy Williams are among players who could grow leaps and bounds based on vacancies. And some players, such as Nina Bessolo, Tiffany Salinas, and Cyndee Kinslow, are hidden gems ready to gain more widespread recognition.
Then there’s perhaps the most exciting group—the wild cards. Every season we look forward to standout freshmen, transfers, and players with only minor minutes on their resume who suddenly make a splash.
No matter what happens, the NCS will display plenty of entertainment and showcase some of the best talent Northern California has to offer.
THE TOP 10 TEAMS
1. Bishop O’Dowd (23-4, 10-0 WACC-Foothill)
Aisia Robertson comes to the forefront because Asha Thomas, the Dragons’ other high-flying, multi-tooled guard, is injured for an extensive period. Bishop O’Dowd will call on bigs Amara Chidom and Christina Woolridge; guards Myah Pace and Mylah Andrada; and newcomers Zakiya Mahoney and Aerial Chavarin. The Dragons excelled as usual last season, but did relatively better than expected following the graduation of headlining stars. And it ended in disappointment when a scheduling gaff au caused disqualification from the postseason. So talented? Check. Hungry? Check. Pedigree? Check. All systems are go for O’Dowd.
2. Miramonte (30-2, 12-0 DFAL)
Head coach Kelly Sopak has a nice problem on his hands: how to complement a superstar with a stable of fresh and experienced role players. Sabrina Ionescu is that star. She’ll lead the team in scoring and likely a number of other categories. Keanna Delos Santos is a long distance specialist who can also drive the lane. Uriah Howard, like the other two a junior, has a soft shooting touch and can crash the boards. Power forward Jordyn Bryant and point guard Clair Steele are a pair of promising freshmen.
3. St. Mary’s (27-8, 8-2 TCAL-Rock)
Ma’Ane Mosley moves to front and center this season. Gabby Green and Mikayla Cowling were mega-stars, and Mosley played quietly but effectively under their long shadows. Layla Ybarra-Harvey is the tallest player at 6’0” and will be key to the Panthers’ success. Forward Carolyn Gill and guard Zavanna Negron are important role players. While Nate Fripp does not have the same depth of weaponry this year, the team track record and Mosley’s talent points St. Mary’s to yet another standout campaign.
4. Berkeley (24-9, 8-2 WACC-Foothill)
Cheryl Draper, like several others on this list a legendary coach, has plenty of tools at her disposal. Point guard Jaiamoni Welch-Coleman has fully matured as a player and continues to be a leader on the court in more ways than one. Over half the roster is made up of sophomores. Among them Xinavane Foreman, Rejah Bordenave, and Maya Jacobs have already shown the prowess to fortify the team in the next three seasons. Taki Brandon, a junior forward, also adds to the mix.
5. Carondelet (28-4, 14-0 EBAL)
Natalie Romeo, a do-it-all point guard, bolstered the careers of players like Makenzie Cast and Gabby Grupalo, who also graduated in 2014. The incumbent veterans and offensive strengths are guard Marcella Hughes and forward Katie Rathbun. For unknown reasons, Christina Chenault, who had a breakout season in 2013-14, is not on the team. Margaret Gartner, who was an institution at Carondelet, retired as coach. Elgin Leslie, who was an assistant last year and previously coached Campolindo, takes the clipboard.
6. Salesian (30-7, 10-0 TCAL-Rock)
The Pride have undergone a whale of a subtraction in Mariya Moore (who is already making noise in Louisville). But teams who expect an easy road or sorely mistaken. That’s because fiery Kian McNair still runs the point, Mariya’s younger sister Minyon Moore is a versatile talent, and pure scorer Julie-Anne Martin joins the squad for her first full year. While they won’t go as far as in recent years, Salesian is still a team to be reckoned with.
7. Cardinal Newman (24-8, 13-1 NBL)
This year the Cardinals should wrestle away sole position of first in the North Bay League after tying Santa Rosa in 2013-14. Junior Tiffany Salinas is a steady contributor who scores and rebounds generously. Senior Kylie Kiech is an adept guard, and sophomore Hailey Vice-Neat is an impressive force paired with Salinas in the front court.
8. Deer Valley (26-6, 10-0 BVAL)
The Wolverines lost a lot of talent in its 2014 class-most notably versatile forward Maranne Johnson. But Brandy Williams, a post player, and Jordan Morales, a wing, have been along for the ride the past few seasons and are ready for primetime roles. Also jumping up the charts are senior guards Amani McCrary and Taya Carter, and junior wing Artearra Coffey. Deer Valley may not reach the same heights as in the past few seasons, but they can sweep the BVAL and make a mark in the playoffs.
9. Dublin (19-11, 9-3 DFAL)
Milan Moses is at the helm of an experienced squad primed for a memorable season. Jojuan Carrington and Julyana Almante patrol the front line, while Tiaja Andrews fills the wing. But it is the point guard Moses who brings an undeniable energy and hustle and has the capability to become show-stopper with her gutsy drives and rainbow jumpers.
10. Santa Rosa (28-5, 13-1 NBL)
Morgan Bertsch was a huge force in the paint, and the Panthers may struggle to replace the production they got from Katie Daly at the point last year. But Devin Murray is already expanding her game to accommodate the vacancy in the middle, and Kylie Oden is an effective wing with height.
THE TOP 10 PLAYERS
1. Sabrina Ionescu, Junior G/F, Miramonte
She came, she saw, she conquered ... that may as well be the mantra for Miramonte’s 5-10 wing. She can sink college-distance 3’s, pass like the better point guards, rebound like a center, is nearly automatic at the charity stripe, plays tenacious defense, and is never afraid to drive head-long into traffic and kiss it off the glass. Last season Sabrina averaged nearly 19 points a game, and over her first two seasons has tallied 388 rebounds and 257 assists (6.3 and 4.1 respectively). You can already pencil in a few triple-doubles, and maybe even a quadruple-double or two, for this MaxPreps 2014 Division III MVP.
2. Ma’Ane Mosley, Senior F, St. Mary’s
You may or may not remember her from her freshman year at Salesian, or recall that she missed her sophomore year (her first with St. Mary’s) due to injury. And if she flew beneath your radar last season because Gabby Green and Mikayla Cowling gobbled up the headlines, you’re forgiven (she averaged 12.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game). But this season the athletic forward arrives stronger and with an enhanced skillset. More than that, she becomes the first option on a perennial winner, which means the Cal-commit will be impossible to ignore.
3. Aisia Robertson, Senior G, Bishop O’Dowd
When Robertson arrived on the scene alongside Asha Thomas in 2012, she immediately earned a prominent role in the backcourt. She’s a distance shooter who can do everything well and has impressive speed. This season we are likely to see her really come into her own, now that Asha Thomas is sidelined with an injury and Ariell Bostick is two years removed.
4. Hailey Pascoe, Senior G/F, Clayton Valley Charter
This 5-9 forward has the capability to score at will, and that will happen often this season because there’s not a whole lot of talent around her. Pascoe is adept from every spot on the floor, whether it’s draining one from downtown, nailing it from the wing, or driving hard to the lane and drawing a foul. She also is a skillful passer, an effective rebounder, and hustles relentlessly.
5. Jaiamoni Welch-Coleman, Senior PG, Berkeley
Jaiamoni is a floor general extraordinaire, a point guard with heart and a tough demeanor. She finds ways to score and finds open teammates with smart passes. With a young but talented squad one year older, Welch-Coleman’s natural tendencies to display her emotions and to direct movement will again play well in Berkeley.
6. Nina Bessolo, Junior F, Valley Christian-Dublin
For two years, Bessolo has been plugging away at Valley Christian. She has long arms and scoring and rebounding potential every time out. She averaged 13.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game while forming a devastating 1-2 punch with Kayla Frierson. Her stock could rise or fall in part because a new coach is in town, but expect growth.
7. Minyon Moore, Junior G, Salesian
Minyon played only a portion of her freshman year due to injury, but last season began to show her capabilities. She gets the absolute most out of her frame, and often piles up equal numbers of points, rebounds, assists, and steals. She’s a fierce competitor as well, and should have plenty of room to grow on this year’s team.
8. Devin Murray, Senior F, Santa Rosa
Murray averaged a hair under 15 points a game last season on a super-talented Panther team which has since lost a couple of key players to graduation. As a result she’ll be asked to do more. Her balanced offensive set and senior status means she’ll often have the ball in her hands. While primarily a scorer, expect other parts of her game to grow.
9. Brandy Williams, Senior C/F, Deer Valley
Williams averaged 8.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game, and all those numbers should improve because fellow post Alejandra Cephas graduated. The three-sport star was hardly on the radar her first year with the club, 2012-13. Last year she had a modest season-high of 15 points several times, but recorded double digit rebounds in 20 of 24 contests. Deer Valley fans will be excited to see what she accomplishes in 2014-15.
10. Antuanisha Wright, Senior G, Emery
Wright might be the best player we haven’t seen. Playing against weak competition, her sometimes cartoonish numbers should be adjusted. But she also became a fixture at summer events and has put up such consistent figures that she is too hard to ignore. She did register three triple-doubles, shot a respectable 45 percent from the floor and averaged 23.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4.3 steals per game.
On the bubble: Kian McNair (Senior PG, Salesian), Tiffany Salinas (Senior F/C, Cardinal Newman), Milan Moses (Senior PG, Dublin), Cyndee Kinslow (Senior F/C, Freedom).
