Starting in January, we will begin the process of projecting the 2009 top players at each position, as well as a new top ten football team lists, along with as many fall schedule’s as possible. Next week I’ll post the All-CIF football teams…that’s right, all football, all the time. To get this started, how about a sneak preview from the Scouting Guru’s perspective. We expect the Guru to be hard at work until next fall.
Rowland quarterback Michael Ball had a great year and will only be a junior next season.
The Scouting Guru has been all over the San Gabriel Valley and beyond, and like always, he’s offered to share his thoughts, free of charge. Don’t hate, enjoy it for what it’s worth, which is one man’s opinion on the talent in the San Gabriel Valley.
From the Guru …
So, the idea of this team came from a ton of area coaches. So with the help of game footage and results of the all-league balloting, here is the 1st Team All-Underclass Team as put together by the SGV/IE Scouting Service.
Offense
Quarterback: Michael Ball, Rowland
Running Back: Adam Muema, Charter Oak
Running Back: Ricky Johnson, West Covina
Wide Receiver: Ify Umodu, South Hills
Wide Receiver: Wallace Gonzales, Glendora
Wide Receiver: Geoffrey Vaughns, South Hills
Offensive Line: Siosi Tanui, South Hills
Offensive Line: Richard Tejeda, West Covina
Offensive Line: Andy Orozco, Charter Oak
Offensive Line: Michael Wells, Diamond Ranch
Offensive Line: Raymond Ragoza, Baldwin Park
Guru Notes: The quarterback position was a no brainer. Ball stood out as the best underclassman this year. But he will have competition to hold the position as Glendora’s Chad Jefferies, Bishop Amat’s Jerry McClanahan and Charter Oak’s Josiah Thropay will give him a run for the money. And here is something else to consider. South Hills has had NINE consecutive QB’s named to the 1st Team All-CIF. So whoever gets the nod at QB on Cameron/Barranca gets thrown in the mix. Running Backs to watch for include J. Anderson from Amat and freshman Jamel Hart from South Hills. There is a ton of size at the WR position with Umodu and Gonzales on the field. And Vaughns has some of the best hands in the area. Along the front, the kid from SH already has an offer from BYU (and he is only going to be a junior next year).
Defense
Defensive Line: Tre Hale, Damien
Defensive Line: Peter Nonu, South Hills
Defensive Line: Leonard Rhodes, Walnut
Linebacker: Tre Evans, San Dimas
Linebacker: Reyes Barrera, South Hills
Linebacker: Brack Traley, Damien
Linebacker: Leon Youngblood, Charter Oak
Cornerback: Darian Johnson, Bishop Amat
Cornerback: Dennis Rufus, Charter Oak
Safety: Brandon Golden, Charter Oak
Safety: A.J. Powell, Charter Oak
Guru Notes: Hale and Nonu have big upsides and will fun to watch next year. The linebacking core is solid and if CO makes another run at the title next year, it will rely on the strength of the secondary. Any one of those three guys could start at BA right now if they wanted to. SH’s Miles Bevel (a 2x 1st-team all league selection at Free-Safety) is one to watch. Which leaves us with one final position…the all-purpose position!
All- Purpose: Cawantas Brown, San Dimas
Love the way this kid performs and competes on the field. HC informed us that he wants Brown at 205 lbs. next season. If that is the case, mark him as the early favorite to be the League MVP. He is that good. No punters and kickers until the end of the spring. Sorry!
As you look at the team, one thing becomes apparent, BA just doesn’t have the best talent in the area. If they get to seven wins next year, it will be a miracle. Charter Oak seems stacked and one thing to remember, the SH fresmhan team in 2006 went 9-1 and is considered one of the best teams they ever had. So you know that SH will be stocked and ready to go in 2009.
Love to get some feedback and if they are any players that we missed, well, that should be good enough motiviaiton when you are in the weight room this winter. Happy New Year.
