How good is Redlands East Valley boys basketball? That’s a question I wondered before I saw the Wildcats for the first time this season on Thursday night against Cajon.

They are very good. But it’s too early to tell exactly how good.

But one thing I noticed and verified by senior Julian Sinegal: they play better team defense than last year. Last year’s team had the best player: Eli Chuha, who should eventually play at the NCAA Division I level.

“But we would get caught standing around waiting for him to do something,” Sinegal said.

There is no such waiting this year. The team forces turnovers, has ball-handlers, enough size inside and some outside shooters. I don’t know exactly how far they can go, but they should win the Citrus Belt League at least.

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