Frank Burlison

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Somewhere in the U.S. of A there may be a high school junior who is as forceful, powerful and dominant as Chicago Whitney Young’s Jahlil Okafor.

But that suggestion would be a difficult sell to Coach Sharrief Metoyer, his Long Beach (CA) Poly team and those who watched the teams clash in Springfield College’s Blake Arena late Saturday afternoon during the 12^th Spaulding Hoophall Classic.

The 6-foot-10, 260-poundish Okafor hit 13 of 17 shots from the floor – six of those dunks – en route to a 26-point, seven-rebound and three blocked-shots performance before subbed out for the first time with about two minutes to go in the Dolphins’ eventual 85-52 shellacking of one of California’s best squads.

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BELLFLOWER, Ca. – Until proven otherwise, the Mater Dei Monarchs remain – as usually the case – in the pole position for “best team in Southern California – and the rest of the state, too” honors.

And, after his performance while leading his team to an impressive Trinity League victory over the host St. John Bosco Braves, someone in Southern California is going to have to dazzle us to demonstrate that they are as good, much less better, than Mater Dei’s standout junior, Stanley Johnson.

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LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – It’s a few days late . . . it’s Jan. 3, after all.

But here’s my take on the 2012 portion of the 2012-13 college hoops season, with, 1) my top 12 teams; 2) top 12 non-freshmen and, 3) top 12 freshmen (plus two).

 

Teams

1.Duke

2.Michigan

3.Louisville

4.Kansas

5.Indiana

6.Syracuse

7.Arizona

8.Gonzaga

9.Ohio State

10.Cincinnati

11.Butler

12.Minnesota

 

Non-freshmen American

Trey Burke                              6-0                   So.                   Michigan

Michael Carter-Williams         6-7                   So.                   Syracuse

Alex Len                                 7-1                   So.                   Maryland

C.J. McCollum                        6-3                   Sr.                    Lehigh

Doug McDermott                   6-8                   Jr.                   

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LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – Some extensive navigating of the Southern California freeway system was involved, but the final Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday of 2012 provided a wonderful way to wrap up the December portion of the high school hoops season.

I spent Wednesday at Torrey Pines High in San Diego County, watching the first round of National Division games that made up the 23^rd edition of the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic.

Teams that impressed me were Richmond Salesian, Sacramento Sheldon, Los Angeles Windward, San Diego St.

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PALM SPRINGS, Ca. – The MaxPreps Holiday Classic gets underway Wednesday with the Invitational Division the headliner from among the 10 boys’ varsity divisions from which teams will be competing for titles over the next four days.

Foremost among the nationally known elements in the Invitational Division field are Richmond (TX) Fort Bend Travis, led by Kentucky-bound twins Andrew and Aaron Harrison, and Los Angeles Loyola, which is off to an 8-0 start behind the play of junior point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

First-round games Wednesday will be played at three sites: Cathedral City High, Palm Desert High and College of the Desert (a community college).

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