Here are 20 Sac-Joaquin Section boys basketball players to watch in 2022-23 season
As fall sports come to an end, teams all around San Joaquin County are lacing up their sneakers in preparation for the 2022-23 high school boys basketball season. After champions were crowned in February of last year, area teams are back to the drawing board in hopes that things will go in their favor this year.
The season is began on Nov. 18, and SJ County teams are already hosting non-league matchups ahead of Thanksgiving break. With the season just kicking off, The Record has composed a list of players across the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section to watch for the 2022-23 season.
The list will include players from the Tri-City Athletic, Trans Valley, Mother Lode, Western Athletic Conference, Valley Oak, Central California Athletic Alliance, and San Joaquin Athletic Association leagues. These 20 players are just some of the talented athletes from the area as there are plenty more who hail from the 209.
(Players listed in alphabetical order)
Mwandishi Adams
Forward, Edison (Senior)
As a 6-foot 5-inch junior, Adams was a key role player for the Vikings in last season’s SJAA championship run. He helped offensively, averaging 7.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. With lead rebounders Elijah Watkins and Devan Thompkins graduating last year, Adams will have big shoes to fill at the four and five spots. Last year he had the highest field goal percentage of 60% after playing 24 games.
Jackson Anderson
Point guard, Escalon (Senior)
Despite ending its season in the first round of the Division 4 playoffs, Escalon had plenty of players who stood out last season including Anderson. The 6-foot junior point guard was a slasher on offense, averaging 14.1 points per game and shooting 35% from beyond the arc. With the help of Anderson, the Cougars only lost four league games in the TVL and finished with an overall record of 19-10. Anderson will look to run Escalon’s offense this season.
Maddox Casas
Forward, Linden (Senior)
The Lions struggled last season only winning five games, but senior forward Casas will be a key to turning things around. Last season, the 6-foot 4-inch forward averaged a team-high of 7.1 points per game. Casas also led his team averaging 4.8 rebounds per game and with 67 total rebounds.
ICYMI:San Joaquin County prep football teams go bowling in NorCal regional championships
Josh Chavez
Center, Stagg (Senior)
At 6-foot 4-inches and 230 pounds, Chavez does it all for the Delta Kings. In his junior season, he led the team with 17.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game and shooting 51%. Chavez also led on defense with 3.3 blocks per game.
Jay Clifton
Point guard, Calaveras (Senior)
Clifton was a vital part of Calaveras' successful season last year as one of many players who can get buckets. In the Sac-Joaquin Section, Clifton was ranked weighted in the most field goals made with 252. He averaged 22.2 points a game shooting 46% from the field. The 6-foot point guard had a knack for reading the court as he averaged 4.3 assists per game, the most for the Redhawks. This season is sure to be more of the same from Clifton.
Jordan Flores
Guard, Millennium (Senior)
Flores was one of the bright spots for Millennium following its 7-13 overall finish. The junior guard helped the Falcons win half of their league games in the CCAA as their lead scorer. He averaged 8.7 points a game and was the team’s best three-point shooter. He scored a career high 22 points against Stockton Christian on Dec. 21, 2021 to help lead Millennium to a 71-44 win.
Thys Van Der Hoek
Center, Ripon Christian (Senior)
The Knights may have the tallest center in the TVL with 6-foot 8-inch, 240 pound Van Der Hoek. As a rising senior, the big-body center will look to be a threat in the paint on both sides of the ball. Last season he shot 60% from the field and averaged 7.4 points per game. He had the fifth most rebounds per game in Sac-Joaquin Section Division 5, with 9.5 rebounds. Defensively, Van Der Hoek was Ripon Christian's lead blocker finishing with 44 total blocks.
Khristian Holmes
Guard, Weston Ranch (Senior)
Holmes was the Cougars' facilitator on offense last season as he led his team in assists per game, 5.1. The 6-foot 205-pound guard can outhustle his opponents to the basket whether that's to score or grab rebounds. In his junior year, he averaged 16.2 points per game and was Weston Ranch’s lead rebounder, grabbing about seven rebounds a game. He and Mobley will be a dynamic duo for the Cougars this season.
Neal King
Forward, Argonaut (Senior)
Standing at 6 foot 2 inches, King will return as a forward who can score in and outside of the paint. As a junior, he averaged 6.8 points per game and the third most assists per game on the team, 3.3. King’s biggest contribution comes in rebounding as he leads his team in rebounds per game, 7.4 rebounds. Having their lead rebounder returning can help the Mustangs have a longing postseason run in Division 5.
Cameron Lowe
Forward, Venture Academy (Junior)
In the paint, Venture Academy will have the 6-foot 2-inch Lowe to help reel in boards and put back shots in the upcoming season. The junior forward played this role seamlessly last season as he shot 69% from the field and scored about 10 points a game. He averaged about seven rebounds per game last year, the second-most on the team. Lowe will look to become their lead rebounder and take on a bigger role defensively as he already had 10 blocks last season.
Noah Lyons
Guard, Manteca (Senior)
The rising senior guard will be a key part of Manteca’s team this upcoming season. Lyons finished last season averaging the third most points per game on the team 10.5 shooting 42% from the field. Since the bulk of the Buffaloes' offense graduated, Lyons is next up as a contributor on offense. Manteca will look to have another season that involves the playoffs in Division 3 with the help of Lyons’ consistency at the guard position.
Elijah Malamed
Shooting guard, Calaveras (Senior)
Calaveras finished second in the Mother Lode League thanks to the junior guard duo of Malamed and Clifton. Malamed averaged the second-most points a game at 13.1 shooting 46% from the field. The 6-foot 2-inch guard is both a three-point and defense specialist as he led the teams in total steals, 58, and in field goal percentage from the three-point line, 43%. With Malamed, Calaveras looks to return to the Division 4 playoffs.
Leon Mills
Guard, Edison (Senior)
Mills was Edison's lead scorer last year averaging 17 points per game and scoring almost 400 total points. The 6-foot guard helped the Vikings go undefeated in the SJAA and to a playoff run that ended in the quarterfinals of the 2022 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 boys basketball playoffs. He will look to continue to lead his team in assists and steals as he did in his junior year.
Elijah Mobley
Guard, Weston Ranch (Senior)
Mobley will be returning for the Cougars as their sharp-shooter. Last season, Mobley averaged 24.4 points per game, the most in the VOL and eight-most in the section. On top of his ability to score buckets, his shot selection has him shooting 57% from the field. With Mobley leading the charge, Weston Ranch finished last season as VOL champs. Next season the Cougars will look for Mobley to get them past the quarterfinals in the Division 1 playoffs.
Anthony Moore
Forward, Lincoln (Sophomore)
As a freshman, the 6-foot 5-inch, 165 pound Moore was a big part of the Trojans' success last season. Moore averaged 8.4 points per game with the team's highest 57% from the field. His size in the paint had him grabbing close to five rebounds a game and finishing the season with over 100 boards. Moore will continue to be a big body for Lincoln this season as they look to be back-to-back T-CAL champs.
Jeremiah Nash
Forward, McNair (Senior)
McNair ended its season without any postseason play but rising senior forward Nash will look to change that this season. Standing at 6-foot 2-inches and 170 pounds, Nash averaged 13.3 points per game shooting 47% from the field as a junior. His contribution extends to defense as he snags at least three steals per game, the most for the Eagles.
Benito Ruiz
Guard/Forward, Kimball (Senior)
After a fourth-place finish in the VOL, the Jaguars are looking to bounce back with the help from Ruiz. At 6-foot 3-inches, Ruiz plays both the guard and forward position, no matter his role on the court he is an offensive threat. Last season, he averaged 11 points per game, while shooting 58% from the field. He was also the teams leading rebounder, grabbing a total 181 boards for Kimball.
Skylar Strickland
Guard, St. Mary’s (Senior)
After graduating a handful of seniors, Strickland will soon become the face of St. Mary’s offense. As a junior, he averaged 7.1 points for the Rams. The 5-foot 10-inch senior was also a key defender finishing the season with 52 steals. He helped the Rams make it to the quarterfinals last season.
Thurmond Thorpe
Guard, Mountain House (Junior)
Coming off of a first-place finish in the Western Athletic Conference, Mountain House looks to build off of that momentum with Thorpe. The rising junior guard was the Mustangs' second-leading scorer last season, averaging 11.2 points per game. He shines in hustle plays as the team's lead rebounder, grabbing about six rebounds a game and finishing with a total of 147 rebounds. His 16 blocks also led the team.
Mario Williams
Shooting guard, Venture Academy (Junior)
The Mustangs' biggest offensive weapon this season will be Williams, a 6-foot 3-inch junior shooting guard. In his sophomore year, he averaged 15.3 points per game and scored 443 points in the season. Venture Academy will look to him as the go-to shooter as they look to repeat as CCAA league champions.
This article originally appeared on The Record: 20 San Joaquin County boys basketball players to watch in 2022-23
