After a truncated season that deprived fans and players alike of the excitement and drama that only West Catholic Athletic League basketball can provide, the return to full play in 2022 looks to be one of the most competitive seasons the league has ever offered.
Between the lack of a full prior season to base predictions off of, the late addition of football players who were enjoying deep postseason runs on the gridiron, the depth on nearly every roster and the competitive balance across all eight teams, there’s a very real chance the 2022 WCAL season could be one of the best yet.
“We’ll see what challenges lie ahead, because there’s going to be a lot of them,” St. Francis head coach Mike Motil said. “On any night, the WCAL is very consistent. Nobody’s crazy, but everybody’s good. It’s gonna be a war.”
While the 2020 season and the abbreviated 2021 campaign were both characterized by star players and powerhouse top teams, this year’s edition offers a much more level field. Instead of battles between one or two top players, most of the 56 games that make up the league’s schedule will come down to role players rising to the occasion.
That’s bad news for YouTube channels looking to market an individual player, but it’s great for fans of team-oriented basketball and anyone who enjoys seeing an unlikely hero capture the moment. Accordingly, this year’s team previews highlight some of the bench players who could make an impact.
Bellarmine (7-2)
The Bells graduated star center Ryan Kiachian, now a freshman at Cornell, and while his individual production can’t be replaced, their depth is exceptional. Years of strong JV units has translated to a balanced varsity squad, one that’s won seven of nine games despite not having an individual scorer break 16 points in a game yet this year.
The even spread seems to be the go-to model for the Bells, who frequently see as many as seven different players hit 3-pointers over the course of a game. Depth has been tested with injuries in the post to Leon Bojer and George Andary, but sophomore Nick Corbett has impressed early on, including back-to-back double-doubles in wins over Hillsdale and Sacred Heart Prep at the DJ Frandsen Memorial.
A lineman on the football field, Corbett brings his same brand of physicality to the hardwood. Theoren Brouillette lined up at point guard last year and now plays off the ball with junior Tariq Weiser at the point, allowing him to show off his rebounding skills.
While the Bells’ depth is clearly their biggest strength, it also comes with its share of obstacles. Not having a go-to lineup can mean slow starts as players try to gel, and it may be difficult to find a hot hand to feed. That said, Bellarmine certainly has the defensive ability to overcome scoring droughts, allowing just 42.2 points per game in nonleague play.
Go-to lineup: G Theoren Brouillette (Sr.), C Nick Corbett (So.), F Brody Pearson (Sr.), F Nate Teresi (Sr.), G Tariq Weiser (Jr.)
X factor: Senior guard Brendan Launder is a 3-point threat who often finds himself among the higher scorers on the team and frequently plays as many minutes as most of the starters. Nic Alvarez has also been key off the bench after receiving limited minutes as a junior.
Mitty (7-3)
Winners of three straight league championships and back-to-back CCS Open Division titles, it would be hard to dismiss the Monarchs as WCAL contenders, even after graduating Mike Mitchell Jr., who’s now starting as a freshman at Pepperdine.
Aidan Burke is a four-year varsity player who crashes the boards with reckless abandon and plays top-notch defense. He’s improved his shooting ability as well, with an amazing 12-for-13 3-point performance as part of a career-high 42-point game in a win over Cathedral Catholic at the Father Barry Classic.
Junior forward Derek Sangster, whose offers include three West Coast Conference schools, scored 31 in a win over Christian Brothers and has accounted for at least 16 points in seven of 10 games. Burke and Sangster are beneficiaries of an offense that can effectively play with two point guards, with Isaiah Cabebe and Valley Christian transfer Jaiden Paran combining their services.
While Mitty’s main core is excellent, depth may be an issue for the Monarchs, something that isn’t a problem for most of the WCAL. Postponed games will lead to multiple three-game weeks, which could be especially difficult for teams that rely on the same 6-7 players throughout games. If Los Gatos transfer Gavin Ripp can quickly get up to speed, he could provide a major boost for a team that doesn’t otherwise have the same volume of bench players to rely on that most of the league can offer.
Go-to lineup: F Aidan Burke (Sr.), G Isaiah Cabebe (Sr.), G Tyler Jones (So.), G Jaiden Paran (Jr.), F Derek Sangster (Sr.)
X factor: Sophomore Nathan d’Abreu-Noronha is a standout reserve on a team otherwise lacking in depth. He played for Portugal’s U-16 team over the summer, scoring 17 points in a win over Bulgaria.
Riordan (6-4)
While every WCAL team plays an excellent schedule, the Crusaders took theirs to an even higher degree this year, not only participating in the Gridley Invitational - where they finished second - but also traveling to San Antonio to compete in the Marianist Classic. Riordan finished third in the winter break tournament, beating two Texas teams and only losing 33-30 to Moeller, a Cincinnati powerhouse that exploited Texas’ lack of a shot clock.
Three-year varsity guard Lee Hubbard III graduated, and both Zion Sensley and Mor Seck left for Prolific Prep, but Riordan still offers tremendous length and depth. Point guard King-Njhsanni Wilhite will need to be an offensive leader night in and night out, but he has all sorts of teammates who can aid him.
Within the typical starting lineup, Quinton Bundage is an exceptional defender and Antonio Pusateri offers raw athleticism and highlight-reel dunks every game. Most of the reserves could start for most teams, with Quentin Kennedy embracing a high-energy role in which he contributes maximum effort in short spurts and 5-foot-8 junior Zachary Jones establishing himself as a sensational on-ball defender who uses his football skills to snatch up every possible rebound. Jasir Rencher is a promising freshman, and while Mark Barer has missed time with injuries, he’s a three-year varsity player and 3-point specialist.
Two issues will persist for Riordan: Like any other team with depth, the Crusaders will need to figure out which combos generate success, and they lack recent playoff success. While Riordan has been a major contender over the past few years, the most recent section championship banner in the Crusader Forum is a 2018 CCS Division III title.
The Crusaders did get in on a three-way split for the league title in 2020, but were bounced by St. Francis in the CCS Open Division quarterfinals, and while they were 2021 WCAL-North champions, they lost to Mitty both in the WCAL championship game and the CCS Open Division championship. That said, Wilhite has an impressive pedigree in title games. In his freshman year at St. Ignatius, he scored 27 to win a CCS Division III title over Sacred Heart Cathedral, and last year he scored 35 in the overtime CCS championship loss to Mitty, including a late 3-pointer to tie the game in the fourth quarter.
Go-to lineup: G Quinton Bundage (So.), G Marcellus Edwards (Sr.), C Brendan Passanisi (Sr.), F Antonio Pusateri (Sr.), G King-Njhsanni Wilhite (Jr.)
X factor: On a team with an excellent bench full of tremendous length, no player represents those strengths more than Isiah Chala. A starting defensive end on Riordan’s football team, Chala stands at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds and can impact the game at any position, whether he plays as a guard or forward. Junior transfer Christian Wise, a 6-foot-5 forward/center who came over from Heritage, may be the piece to put the Crusaders over the edge, but as he’s yet to appear in a game due to the transfer period, it would be hard to circle him as the most important bench piece.
Sacred Heart Cathedral (2-4)
The Fightin’ Irish have by far the least experience as a unit of any team, with a first-year head coach in Caesar Smith and a unit that didn’t practice together in full until Dec. 17, when SHC’s football players went through their tryouts and first practice. They’ve played just two games as a full team, with plans to participate in the four-game Damian Lillard Classic scrapped after positive COVID cases.
Sacred Heart Cathedral is 2-0 with a mostly complete team (a couple of football players had yet to suit up for a game before the team went on pause), but unless the Irish schedule a few more games to bolster their non-league record, they’ll need to go .500 in WCAL play to qualify for the CCS playoffs.
It always seems like the Irish have a group of young guards available, and this year is no different with freshman Mykel Patton and sophomore Fedrick Pernell, who first experienced varsity basketball without the assistance of most of the more seasoned players who were concluding their championship football season.
The duo did get comfortable with forward Eli McCarty, who was pulled up to the varsity level midway through his sophomore season and has been a physical force in the paint ever since. With the football players in the fold, point guard Ray-John Spears has by far the most game experience and the highest offensive upside. He’s been on the varsity team since his freshman year and has started since he was a sophomore, including a 35-point performance in the 2020 Bruce-Mahoney Game.
Go-to lineup: F Eli McCarty (Sr.), F RL Miller (Jr.), G Mykel Patton (Fr.), G Fedrick Pernell (So.), G Ray-John Spears (Sr.)
X factor: Junior forward Jerry Mixon Jr. is another late add from football, and he’s arguably the most physically imposing player in the entire league. At 6-foot-3 at 220 pounds, Mixon is a fierce rebounder who can set devastating screens.
Serra (7-2)
After missing two straight years and three of the last five due to hip problems, Chuck Rapp is back to lead the Serra Padres once again. Expect Serra to bring the same tenacious style of high-pressure defense and commitment to rebounding and drawing charges that has been synonymous with Rapp’s teams for years.
Offensively, Miles Klapper and Garret Keyhani are expected to pull the bulk of the load for Serra. Both transferred in before their junior seasons, and while it took Keyhani time to adapt to the system after coming over from Menlo, he’s fully in tune as a senior.
The 6-foot-8 Keyhani is committed to Division III Hamilton College but already looks like someone Division I and II coaches have overlooked, with a 23-point, 16-rebound performance against San Domenico and a 30-point, 13-rebound showing three days later against University as the Padres went 3-1 at the Bambauer Classic. Klapper, a lefty shooter with a variety of offensive moves, uses his arms to create space for himself and is a creative finisher from all over the floor.
Brady Smith is a catch-and-shoot threat from the outside in his third year of varsity action, and sophomore Ryan Pettis has already shown the ability to knock down clutch shots.
Rapp has rotated as many as seven reserves into games during non-league play, including junior guard Tommaso Leveroni, who stands at just 5-foot-8 but approaches the game with a coach’s mentality. The one thing that could hold Serra back is a lack of secondary scorers; the Padres are known to favor “system guys” who emphasize their program’s values, which can help translate to a great defensive unit but occasionally leaves the group on the floor without much offensive firepower.
Go-to lineup: C Garret Keyhani (Sr.), F Miles Klapper (Sr.), G Lucas Kramer (Sr.), G Ryan Pettis (So.), G Brady Smith (Sr.)
X factor: Junior forward Aiden Carleson stands at just 6-foot-2 but has jumping ability that allows him to play well beyond his listed height. He’s the exact type of rebounder that Rapp loves, and he’s also a smooth finisher around the rim. Six-foot-5 junior forward Seamus Gilmartin has yet to play due to a combination of football and injuries, but when active, he could add a physical presence as well. He served as a starting tight end on Serra’s CCS champion football team.
St. Francis (8-2)
With Montana-bound point guard Isaiah Kerr and 3-point specialist Vince Barringer leading the way, the Lancers enter 2022 with a trio of three-year starters and offensive firepower to rival that of any team in the Bay Area. The defending CCS Division II champions have been hampered by health issues - both injury and illness - to start the season, but have still won eight of their first 10 games.
Slow starts have been an issue for St. Francis, but with a 3-point heavy team that can score in surges, those bumps can be quickly overcome. Barringer has 33 3-pointers in his first 10 games, including a pair of games where he’s connected six times from behind the arc. He also hit five in a one-point win over Los Altos, a game where Kerr scored 26 to lead the Lancers back from an early 10-point deficit.
Defense has been a concern at times for the Lancers, including in the aforementioned Los Altos game and a 72-44 loss to Campolindo that they played without Kerr. They finally had a breakthrough in the semifinals of their own Joe Schram Holiday Classic, holding Palo Alto to just 25 points and only allowing 16 across the final three quarters.
The next night, they trailed Santa Cruz 43-39 after allowing a 20-point third quarter, but outscored the Cardinals 26-12 across the final period, going 18-for-21 on free throws. If St. Francis can play consistent defense to match an explosive offense, the possibilities are limitless.
Go-to lineup: G Harlan Banks (Sr.), F Vince Barringer (Sr.), G Isaiah Kerr (Sr.), F Brylan Lundy (Sr.), C Tim Netane (Sr.)
X factor: With Kerr and junior Gavin Everett both out during the Joe Schram Holiday Classic, senior point guard Darren Siscar filled the void, not only running the offense with composure but scoring 16 points in a quarterfinal win over Monterey. TJ Motil, son of head coach Mike Motil, is an undersized shooter with tons of familiarity with the system, and John Frazier is a traditional back-to-the-basket post, good for a change of pace on a team that usually relies on mobile, free-flowing bigs.
St. Ignatius (9-1)
This is supposed to be the year for the Wildcats. One of just two WCAL teams that has yet to appear in the CCS Open Division championship game, St. Ignatius boasts a core of three-year starters for the second time in less than a decade and has hopes to finish the season not only as the top team in San Francisco, but the best in the entire WCAL and one of the top sides in the whole Bay Area.
GC Toledo Rivera has rounded out his game beyond the catch-and-shoot skill he showed as early as December 2019, Rory Kenneally is a Swiss Army knife of sorts and Sean Quanico is a skilled outside shooter and top defender despite being one of the smallest players on the floor.
Combine the trio with Ryan Conroy, a gritty ball-handler and defender, and SI has a small-but-mighty lineup that’s put up impressive results so far this season, including a Russ Peterich Tip-Off Classic crown with wins over Branson and Monte Vista. The Wildcats are also responsible for Miramonte’s lone loss to date.
The only main player SI needed to replace from last year’s team was center Ethan Jew, and 6-foot-7 junior John Squire has filled the role so far. He was named MVP of the aforementioned Peterich tournament, with a double-double against Branson in the semifinals. In a second meeting with Monte Vista at Acalanes’ Chris Huber Classic, he scored 20 in an overtime win.
If there’s one concern for the Wildcats, it’s rebounding. Second chances doomed St. Ignatius in a rematch with Branson for the Huber championship, and with just one true big available, the guards have to box out well in order to avoid giving up easy putbacks.
Go-to lineup: G Ryan Conroy (Sr.), F Rory Kenneally (Sr.), G Sean Quanico (Sr.), G GC Toledo Rivera (Sr.), C John Squire (Jr.)
X factor: Alex Rike was a frequent double-digit scorer off the bench as a junior, and while he’s yet to find his stroke as a senior, his ability gives head coach Jason Greenfield a major weapon off the bench. Adrian Di Lena offers a similar profile and is now listed at 6-foot-3.
Valley Christian (5-4)
Unlike many years, Valley Christian won’t be a game that teams can rest starters for or schedule next to a monster non-league opponent. The Warriors have arguably the most physically intimidating team in the entire league, a pair of impactful transfers and a head coach who played under arguably the greatest coach in the sport’s history.
Six-foot-5 point guard Nico D’Augusta had to sit out nonleague play after transferring from Los Altos and 6-foot-8 center Jacob Bannarbie wasn’t allowed to play in the first five games after arriving from San Diego, but the tandem give a Valley Christian team that already offered excellent size and muscle a pair of experienced players with Division I potential.
Bannarbie’s offers include USF, UC Santa Barbara and Washington State. He’s not the only one with offers under his belt; Pasha Goodarzi, a 6-foot-5 junior sharpshooter, has interest from UCSB, San Jose State and DePaul. They’ll all be under the direction of Raymond Townsend, who played for John Wooden from 1974 to 1978 at UCLA and has taken over the program after Mark DeLuca stepped aside to attend to his family.
While the Warriors’ size will give them a psychological advantage from the moment they walk into any gym, getting all the pieces to gel with two transfer starters and a new coach is an obstacle, no matter how skilled the players and coach may be. A 76-46 defeat against Granada showed that the program is a work in progress, but a 63-54 win over St. Mary’s-Albany at the Damian Lillard Classic, with Goodarzi scoring 21, showed Valley Christian’s capabilities.
Go-to lineup: C Jacob Bannarbie (Sr.), G Nico D’Augusta (Sr.), G Pasha Goodarzi (Jr.), F Chidi Onu (Sr.), F Marcus Washington (So.)
X factor: Noah Lodewyk, who doubles as an excellent golfer, started before Bannarbie gained eligibility and is a threat for double-digit rebounds, even off the bench. Sophomore Tzahari Trevino gained experience at point guard with D’Augusta waiting, and could join him in the backcourt when Townsend chooses to run with a smaller lineup. Wiry junior guard Shea Mattox has played varsity ball since his freshman year, and Matthew Aboujudom is another double-digit threat off the bench.
Predictions
Picking a champion out of such a level field would be impossible, so we’ll give you this instead: Every team will have at least three wins and at least three losses. Additionally, a team finishing in seventh or eighth at the conclusion of the season will have a win over a team finishing in first or second.
As for Player of the Year, the award typically goes to a senior on one of the top teams. With so many teammates likely to take votes from each other on teams like St. Ignatius, Riordan and Bellarmine, Mitty’s Aidan Burke would be a safe bet, though he’ll have some competition from within his team courtesy of Derek Sangster. Sacred Heart Cathedral’s Ray-John Spears is also a possibility, especially when considering his offensive skillset.
