Editor's note: Prep2Prep is previewing some of the top boys basketball teams in the Bay Area. Today we take a look at Moreau Catholic High School of Hayward.
If you’re looking for a youthful and exciting basketball team to follow this season, look no farther than Moreau Catholic. The Mariners are brimming with talent that is sure to last for years to come. With just one senior and one junior on the roster, Moreau Catholic will rely heavily on standout sophomores Oscar Frayer, Brandon Lawrence, and Armond Simmons to compete for the Mission Valley Athletic League title.
After competing in the Hayward Area Athletic League for more than 50 years, Moreau Catholic played its debut season in the MVAL last year. The Mariners immediately showed that they can compete in their new home. They finished the 2012-2013 season winning 12 of their last 14 games to finish 18-10 overall and 10-4 in conference play. They tied James Logan for second place in the MVAL, and their season ended in a 75-42 loss to Salesian in the second round of the NCS Division IV playoffs.
It was a season headlined by three impressive freshmen who showed little signs of inexperience as they balled out against teams from all around the Bay Area. Frayer (12.9 ppg), Lawrence (10.9 ppg), and Simmons (14.0 ppg) were the Mariners three top scorers in leading them to just their second winning season in over eight years.
Frayer, who stands at 6-5 and 180 pounds, is known for his ability to navigate his way through defenses with his impressive handles and throw down dunks that electrify crowds. He was recognized as one of the Top 40 ranked freshman basketball players in the nation by City League Hoops and has drawn interest from Stanford and Memphis, according to rivals.com. He also plays for the stacked Oakland Soldiers 17-U Elite AAU team, which consistently showcases California’s top players.
This year, Moreau Catholic will have even more youthful depth with the addition of freshman Damari Milstead. The 5-11 point guard is currently one of the top freshmen in the state of California and has drawn interest from several Division I colleges already.
Milstead is confident in his team’s ability to perform well as such a youthful unit.
“I think our team strength is our depth and youth,” he said. “We always have at least three people on the court that can create their own shot.”
With a youthful and star-studded roster, the Mariners have garnered high expectations for the upcoming season. They were ranked as the 25th-best team in the state by calhisports.com.
“We look at expectations as stuff other people care about," coach Frank Knight said. "What we care about is getting better with everyday of practice and every game."
Knight took over the reigns as head coach in 2010, and has since turned the program in the right direction. He led the Mariners to a 16-11 record in his first season as head coach. It was the team’s first winning record in several years.
“We have changed the basketball culture at Moreau Catholic in four years," said Knight. "Now we just want to see how far we can get."
But standing in their way is MVAL powerhouse Newark Memorial. The Cougars were ranked the 18th best team in the state according to calhisports.com, and have dominated the MVAL for many years. They have won 14 of the last 15 MVAL titles and have won the last 11 titles consecutively.
Newark Memorial finished last season with a record of 23-8 and 14-0 in conference play. The Cougars won the NCS Division II title and lost to Archbishop Mitty in the first round of the CIF State Championships.
Moreau Catholic lost to Newark last season at home by just two points, after losing to them earlier in the season by 20.
This will be an exciting season for Moreau Catholic. A fresh face in a Cougar-dominated league, the Mariners will look to their young stars to give them a shot at claiming a MVAL title.
“We all are ready to be the hunted and know that every game we will get the best of every team we play against,” said Milstead.
