15th NorCal Tip-Off Classic highlighted by No. 4 Notre Dame vs. No. 5 Modesto Christian
It’s a staple in Northern California.
The NorCal Tip-off Classic, a brainchild of West Coast scout Gerry Freitas, will tip-off its 15th season Saturday at Dublin High School.
The event generally signals the start of the boys basketball season in Northern California.
Freitas says the event is “designed to promote or showcase Northern California basketball to college coaches, media/scouts and the general public.”
Each year, at least one juggernaut out of the area has challenged a NorCal power, usually its best team.
That is the case Saturday when defending Northern California Open champion Modesto Christian tangles with Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks in the finale of the eight game, all day event.
Notre Dame is ranked No. 4 in the SBLive preseason basketball rankings and Modesto Christian is No. 5.
* SBLIVE SPORTS 2022-23 CALIFORNIA PRESEASON TOP 25
Notre Dame, coached by Matt Sargeant, features Gonzaga commit Dusty Stromer, a returning All-State wing as well as Duke-bound point guard Caleb Foster.
Add in junior shooting guard Mercy Miller (Houston) — the son of rapper Master P — along with senior forward Dante Ogbu and junior forward Jayden Harper and no wonder the Knights were ranked 17th nationally in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated preseason Power 25.
Notre Dame is off to a 3-1 start with a 66-64 loss Saturday to West Ranch-Valencia (4-0).
Modesto Christian, 30-6 last season, return one fo the nation’s top junior guards in Jamari Phillips, who averaged 23.0 points per game as a sophomore. He has 15 college offers and is ranked the No. 6 shooting guard in the country by 247Sports.
The Crusaders have much more in San Diego State-bound guard BJ Davis (17.0 ppg) and two other college-bound players in 6-10 Prince Oseya, Darius Smith and 6-6 Manasse Itete (10.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg). Modesto Christian gave Centennial all it could handle in the state Open title game last season, before losing, 59-50.
Modesto Christian junior Manasse Itete (32) is fired up for the 2022-23 season to get underway, starting with the NorCal Tip-off which is Saturday at Dublin High School. Photo: Dennis Lee
2022 NorCal Tip-off Classic at Dublin High School
- Game 1: 9:30 am, Granada-Livermore vs Vanden-Fairfield
- Game 2: 11 am, Dougherty Valley-San Ramon vs Oakland Tech
- Game 3: 12:30 pm, Campolindo-Moraga vs Grant-Sacramento
- Game 4: 2 pm, Oakland vs Monterey Trail-Elk Grove
- Game 5: 3:30 pm, Riordan-San Francisco vs Weston Ranch-Stockton
- Game 6: 5:15 pm, Dublin vs Inderkum-Sacramento
- Game 7: 7 pm, Archbishop Mitty-San Jose vs Clovis North-Fresno
- Game 8: 8:30pm, Modesto Christian vs Notre Dame
The top four teams in The San Francisco Chronicle’s preseason rankings will be on hand: No. 1 Riordan, no. 2 Mitty, no. 3 Granada, and No. 4 Oakland, Other ranked teams are Campolindo (No. 7), Dublin (No. 8), Dougherty Valley (No. 9) and Oakland Tech (No. 11).
Other players in the event that have committed to Division I schools are Dublin combo guard Courtney Anderson Jr (Colorado), Dougherty Valley guard Ryan Beasley (USF), Mitty forward Derek Sangster (Princeton), Oakland guard Money Williams (Montana), Granada 7 -foot center Andrew McKeever (St. Mary’s College) and Monterey Trail guard Varick Lewis (Long Beach State).
Other senior college prospects include Dublin guard Donovan Cooks, Grant post Jordan Bobo, Granada forward Tyler Harris, Riordan guard King-Jhsanni Wilhite and Inderkum guard Jalen Glenn.
Among top juniors are Vanden wings Tyler Thompson and Ahsan Huff, Grant guard Darnell Hunter, Clovis North guard Connor Amundsen, Granada wing NaVaughn Long, Riordan’s Lolo Taaga, Nathan Tshamaia and Kaia Berridge, and Monterey Trail guards Ben Roseborough and Brandon Gibson.
Top sophomores include Clovis North guard Loukas Jones, Notre Dame guard Angelino Mark and Riordan forward Jasir Rencher.
Among the best freshmen will be Grant wing Andre Gomez, Modesto Christian guard Rashad Cotton, Notre Dame forward Zach White and Riordan’s Andrew Hilman and Alex Kuminga, the younger brother of Warriors’ wing Jonathan Kuminga.