High School Basketball

2009 San Fernando Valley All-Area Boys Basketball
 
April 1, 2009

Jack Pollon

 

Player of the Year
Michael Williams, Taft, Sr.
Williams not only shined on a team with great plyers around him, he almost single-handedly led Taft to its third City championship since 2004.  Williams played his best in Taft's biggest games scoring 32 points against eventual Division I state champion Westchester of Los Angeles. The 32 points was more than the entire McClymonds of Oakland team scored (31) in the state final against the Comets.  Williams never shyed away from taking the big shot down the stretch for the Toreadors, who won yet another West Valley League championship in undefeated fashion.  Williams averaged 18.7 points, 4.1 assists and shot 45% from 3-point range. Williams had six games of 27 or more points.  What separated Williams from the rest of the pack was his big play ability on the biggest stages.  Williams was the West Valley League M.V.P. and was named to the All-City first team.  His huge final six weeks of the season garnered him more scholarship offers than he knows what to do with. Williams is deciding between several schools including New Mexico St., Cal St. Fulleron, Cal St. Northridge, San Francisco and others.

Justin Hawkins, Taft, Sr.
The UNLV-bound Hawkins averaged 15 points and three steals but his experience, defense and leadership helped Taft reach the City final for the third time in his four years. Hawkins was an All-City first team selection and a first team All-West Valley League pick.

Terran Carter, Taft, Sr.
Carter may not have been an offenseive superstar but he still averaged a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds per contest. Carter provided invaluable rebounding and defense down low and often made the defense have to key on him freeing up Williams and Hawkins on the perimeter. Carter will attend CSUN next year and was a first team All-City selection and first team All-West Valley League pick.

Tyler Honeycutt, Sylmar, Sr.
Honeycutt averaged 18.7 points and 11.5 rebounds helping the Spartans to a share of the Valley Mission League championship with Reseda. Honeycutt had 10 games of 24 or more points and his 6'9 long-wiry frame allowed him to get to balls most others could not. Honeycutt's athleticism, wing span, ability to play on the perimeter and ability to finish strong at the rim garnered a scholarship offer from UCLA's Ben Howland. The All-City Section first team and All-Valley Mission League first team selection will play in Westwood next year staying close to home.

Prince Obasi, Cleveland, Sr.
Obasi averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds while being the go to guy for Cleveland. Obasi led the Cavaliers to the semifinals at the Galen Center but they didn't have enough firepower to beat Westchester.  Obasi was a first team All-City Section selection and made the All-West Valley League first team.

Alex Tiffin, Thousand Oaks, Jr.
The 6'7 thin forward will never be mistaken for the most imposing player on the floor but Tiffin was the key cog in helping Thousand Oaks win the Division II-A champiomship in an upset victory against Leuzinger of Lawndale.  Tiffin scored 24 points, had seven rebounds, three steals and blocked seven shots in the final at the Honda Center. Tiffin was named the division's player of the year and was an All-Ventura County first team selection.

Brad Lewis, Simi Valley, Sr.
Lewis averaged 24.7 points while making 94 3-pointers for the run and gun Pioneers. Lewis was the Ventura County player of the year, the Ventura County Coaches Association MVP and was named to the Division II-A first team. His 94 3-pointers were good for second all time in school history and 5th all time in county history. The Marmonte League MVP and Crescenta Valley tournament MVP scored 715 points this season and 1,215 in his two year career at Simi Valley.

 

Ryan Watkins, Reseda, Sr.
Watkind averaged 22.7 points, 10.8 rebounds and two blocks for the City Section Division II champions. Watkins and guard Randall Harris put reseda back on the map in local basketball circles with their up-tempo, full court pressing aggressive style. Watkins was the Valley Mission League player of the year and an All-City Section second team selection.

Erik Swoope, Harvard-Westlake, Jr.
Swoope averaged 12.7 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in helping the Wolverines capture the Division III-A championship in a victory against Gahr of Cerritos. Swoope was named co-player of the year in the divison and was an All-Mission League first team pick.

Bak had a stellar season after moving to the United States from Africa two years ago. Bak averaged 18.7 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks. Bak scored 31 points against Templeton in a first round playoff victory, made the Division V-AA first team and was a first team selection in the Olympic League. Bak received several scholarship offers with his 6'10" frame and chose Cal.

Jules Montgomery, Chaminade, Sr.
The Long Beach St.-bound forward averaged 21 points, 11.6 rebounds and shot 54% from the field while being named the co-player of the year in Division IV-A. Montgomery's season was cut short when he suffered a knee injury in the semifinals that kept him out of the championship game and first round state playoff game.

Maverick Ahanmisi, Golden Valley, Sr.
Keegan Hornbuckle, Campbell Hall, Sr.
James Johnson, Campbell Hall, Jr.
Evan Smith, Calabasas, Sr.
Randall Harris, Reseda, Sr.
Jamal McClerkin, Chaminade, Jr.
Lonnie Jackson, Valencia, So.
Damiene Cain, Harvard-Westlake, So.
Daymond Cowlah, Montclair Prep, Sr.
Cameron Broomi, Van Nuys, Sr.

Jason Johnson, Cleveland, Jr.
Jordan Friedman, Birmingham, Sr.
Anthony Montoya, El Camino Real, Sr.
Kevin Williams, Chatsworth, Sr.
Gary Ricks, Sylmar, Sr.
Antonio Garrett, Monroe, Sr.
Kevin Riewthong, Kennedy, Sr.
Rasheem Harris, Reseda, Sr.
Nick Ng, Van Nuys, Sr.
Corey Payne, Grant, Jr.
Julio Mejia, North Hollywood, Sr.
Alex Moreno, Arleta, So.
Nick Brown, Verdugo Hills, Sr.
Andre Alexandrian, Burbank, Sr.
Cameron Blocker, Burroughs, Sr.
Brad Wyche, Hart, Sr.
Parker Dominguez, Hart, Sr.
Noel Mansour, Saugus, Sr.
Steven Thornton, Golden Valley, Sr.
Mike Edwards, Canyon, Sr.
David Franklin, West Ranch, Sr.
Emmanuel Anumba, Valencia, Sr.
Gabe Borboa, Crespi, Sr.
Blake Stanton, Crespi, Jr.
Austin Kelly, Harvard-Westlake, Jr.
Malik Speed, St. Francis, Sr.
Antonio Lopez, Thousand Oaks, Sr.
Chris Carter, Thousand Oaks, Sr.
Danny Cox, Simi Valley, Jr.
Charles Benton, Newbury Park, Sr.
Jordan Coleman, Calabasas, Jr.
Stephan Hicks, Agoura, Jr.
Alec Hess, Westlake, Sr.
Monzaigo Williams, Antelope Valley, Sr.
Arvin Garcia, Palmdale, Sr.
Chris Shaw, Knight, Sr.
Javion Garner, Lancaster, Sr.
Derrick Chambers, Quartz Hill, Sr.
Clarke Anderson, La Canada, Sr.
Mike McGlashan, La Canada, So.
Sam Levine, Oak Park, Sr.
Tyler McGrath, Oaks Christian, Sr.
Jules Sharpe, Oaks Christian, Sr.
Chandler Abbott, Malibu, Jr.
Andrew Farhadi, Buckley, Jr.
Michael Cohen, Sierra Canyon, So.
Edmund Chow, Flintridge Prep, Sr.
Alexis Bersabe, Bell-Jeff, Sr.
Dushon Carter, Renaissance Academy, Jr.

 

Final Top 10
1. Taft (27-5)
2. Thousand Oaks (30-3)
3. Harvard-Westlake (28-7)
4. Reseda (24-8)
5. Chaminade (20-13)
6. Golden Valley (27-4)
7. Cleveland (20-9)
8. Sylmar (19-8)
9. Campbell Hall (19-9)
10. Simi Valley (22-7)

Rich Endres, Thousand Oaks
Endres guided the Lancers to the Division II-A championship while racking up 30 wins. Even more impressive, Thousand Oaks went undefeated in the Marmonte League and Endres was able to blend a team that had no superstar players into a hard-working group built on execution and defense.

Michael Avery, Crespi, Fr.
Avery came in as a bally-hooed junior high standout that committed to Kentucky before he graduated from the eighth grade. Avery had some rough outings in the beginning of the season getting used to and
understanding the high school game but also had some moments that showed his immense potential. Avery averaged 10 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Avery also scored in double figures in eight of Crespi's last 12 games including 24 against Loyola of Los Angeles in January. A gifted shooter and passer, Avery could become one of the best players in the region by his junior year.

Reseda at Sylmar, Feb. 13
This game was a barn-burner as both teams reached triple-digits in Sylmar's 106-101 overtime victory. Sylmar came back from an 11-point halftime deficit to force the extra period and six different players
scored 22 or more points in the game.  Tyler Honeycutt had 26 points and 10 rebounds to give Sylmar a share of the Valley Mission League championship on the last day of the regular season. Randall Harris scored 31 points and dished out 10 assists to lead Reseda.