NorCal Clash Preview
There are numerous things to watch for on August 24 in the 6th annual NorCal Clash, presented by NorCalPreps.com and led by Bishop O'Dowd power forward Ivan Rabb. Also see a strong collection of senior point guards and the newest transfer at El Cerrito.
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Rabb caps busy summer: Bishop O'Dowd 2015 power forward Ivan Rabb is the headliner of the NorCal Clash and among the top prospects regardless of class in the country. He was at the LeBron James Skills Academy and Peach Jam in July before trying out and making USA Basketball U17 World Championship squad. The U17 team is currently competing in Dubai. After returning to the states, he will participate in the Under Armour Elite 24 All-Star game in New York on August 23. A 5-star recruit, Rabb is ranked No. 4 in the country by Rivals.com.
Washington bound Chriss continues to rise: The coming out party for Marquese Chriss (Pleasant Grove) was in the NorCal finals against Deer Valley his sophomore year. The 6-foot-8 Chriss has steadily improved over the next year plus to now being ranked in the Top 50 nationally by Rivals.com. Chriss also tried out for the U17 World Championship team to end July. He is committed to Washington as part of a talented and important class for the Huskies.
Senior point guards return for second showing: Going into the summer, Paris Austin (Bishop O'Dowd) was No. 3, Noah Blackwell (Woodcreeek) was No. 6 and Tyrell Alcorn (El Cerrito) was No. 7 in the 2015 NCP Top 40. All three lead guards have been closely grouped in the rankings throughout their careers with Austin moving to the head of the class within the last year. After playing on the Juniors squad last year, the trio is back with the Seniors after taking a one point loss in 2013.
Hunt, Ratinho cap productive summers All players selected for the NorCal Clash have the combination of high school and summer successes, but two players who helped improve their stock this summer are Drake's Jesse Hunt and De La Salle's Jordan Ratinho. Hunt, a 6-foot-6 forward who helped lead the Pirates to the NorCal Division III title, showed he can stretch the floor and hang inside. He has offers from Eastern Washington and Sacramento State. Ratinho was one of the fastest risers in the region after tearing up the spring circuit. The 6-foot-4 guard has an early offer from Pacific.
El Cerrito leads with 3 players: Six programs have multiple players in this year's event led by three from El Cerrito. The Gauchos boast Alcorn and 2016s Sayeed Pridgett and Carlos Johnson, who transferred from Shadow Mountain in Arizona. Bishop O'Dowd brings a pair of seniors in Rabb and Austin from its NorCal Open Division title team. Another reigning NorCal champion, Folsom, will send 2015 post Colin Russell and 2016 point guard Jordan Ford.
Moreau Catholic, the defending NorCal Division IV champions, send its first players to the event in recent Cal commit Oscar Frayer and Brandon Lawrence while Modesto Christian will have Pacific commit Anthony Townes and Christian Ellis. Sacramento rounds out the list with 2016 standouts Solomon Young and Christian Terrell.