Jan 11, 2008

Everybody is chasing McClymonds again

Powell's return gives defending champ a potent duo

By Jimmy Durkin / MediaNews

There may be a prohibitive favorite, but that doesn't mean the Oakland Athletic League boys basketball race won't be an interesting one this season.

Despite the presence of McClymonds High School - last year's Div. I state runner-up - the other five teams enter league play believing that on any night a win is a possibility.

"Even more so this year, it's up for grabs," third-year Oakland coach Orlando Watkins said. "Mack is the favorite and rightfully so. But this league is so wide open ... you just never know with the OAL."

The Warriors came into league play with a 16-0 record and ranked No. 1 in the East Bay Super Poll. Coach Dwight Nathaniel, who is retiring after this season, is looking to go out with a bang.

"We told everybody last year we had a two-year plan - to win the state title and then come back and defend it this year," Nathaniel said. "We got there, but we didn't win it. Maybe I had (the plan) in reverse."

As if Mack didn't have enough talent, it got a boost with the return of 6-foot-5 athletic forward Damon Powell. Powell transferred from Mack to San Lorenzo after his freshman year, but after a year away, is back for his junior campaign. With most teams focusing on 6-6 senior Frank Otis, who will head to SMU next season, Powell has reaped the benefits and currently leads the team in scoring and rebounding.

"Mack is on another tier," Fremont coach Frank Knight said. "When they add Damon Powell back to their team - he's hands down the best player in the league - it's going to be tough to deal with them."

Outside of the Warriors, it figures to be a dogfight as the other five teams fight for the remaining two playoff spots.

"Fremont is going to be real solid," Nathaniel said. "They've been up and down so far but (Knight) has a solid group. Oakland High is going to be tough. Skyline has a good nucleus coming back. Even Castlemont has a good squad."

Here is a brief rundown of each OAL team:



Castlemont

COACH: Hodari McGavock, first season

2006-07 RECORD: 12-14, 3-7 OAL

TOP RETURNERS: G Victor Sandifer, Sr.; Mico Johnson, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS: F John Green, Soph.; F Brandon Ralls, Jr.

KEY LOSSES: F Anthony Turner; G/F Darrell Jones

OUTLOOK: After two years away, McGavock - the former Tech coach who won more than 450 games with the Bulldogs - returns to coaching in the OAL. The Knights are off to a solid start and are awaiting the return of point guard Omari Evans and 6-9 center Cory Douglas, whom McGavock expects back after the next grading period. They'll likely miss at least three OAL games. When they return, the Knights should be dangerous. The best question is: will it be too late?



Fremont

COACH: Frank Knight, seventh season

2006-07 RECORD: 14-13, 6-4 OAL

TOP RETURNERS: F James Albright, Sr., F Josh O'Neal, Sr., G Powell Lee, Sr.; G Chris James, Jr.

TOP NEWCOMERS: C Reggie Henderson, Sr.; Josh Calbert, Jr.

KEY LOSSES: G Gabe Kindred; G/F Sergio Ruiz; C Lonzo Jones

OUTLOOK: The Tigers bring experience to the table, as Albright and Lee are in their fourth year together on varsity and James is in his third. They already own wins over Modesto Christian and Oak Grove, plus they played very well at the Gonzaga D.C. Classic. Fremont is the only team to beat Mack in league play last year and, with seven seniors, figures to give the Warriors a run for their money and a spot in the playoffs appears likely.



McClymonds

COACH: Dwight Nathaniel, 13th season

2006-07 RECORD: 28-4. 9-1 OAL

TOP RETURNERS: F Frank Otis, Sr.; G Will Cherry, Jr.; G Damario Simms, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS: F Damon Powell, Jr.; G Quincy Hill, Jr.

KEY LOSSES: G Vincent McGhee; C Dannon Lemon; G Antwon Graham; G Michael Brown

OUTLOOK: The Warriors are clearly the league favorite after last year's run to the state title game and with an unblemished record coming into league play. The return of Powell gives the Warriors a dominating inside presence along with Otis. Throw in the guard play of Cherry, Simms and Hill (an Oakland Tech transfer), and you'd be hard-pressed to find a better starting five in the Bay Area. The Warriors also figure to play inspired ball as they look to send Nathaniel out with a state championship in his final year of coaching.



Oakland

COACH: Orlando Watkins, third season

2006-07 RECORD: 16-10, 5-5 OAL

TOP RETURNERS: G Damian Lillard, Sr., G P.J. Taylor, Sr., F Drake Green, Sr.; F Dondrale Campbell, Sr.; G Mariano Macedon, Sr.; F Marcus Aldridge, Jr.

TOP NEWCOMERS: G Zenan Robinson, Jr.; F/C Carlos Smith, Jr.; G T.J. Taylor, Fr.; G Dominique Taplin, Fr.

KEY LOSSES: F Henry Grant

OUTLOOK: The Wildcats are a dangerous team and should battle it out for that No. 2 spot behind McClymonds. Lillard can take over a game and Oakland has a good supporting cast that features plenty of senior leadership. A tough nonleague schedule, featuring the likes of Salesian, Bishop O'Dowd, El Cerrito, Reno, Berkeley, Dorsey and Sylmar should help the Wildcats be prepared for the rigors of the OAL and beyond.



Oakland Tech

COACH: Michael Quinney, first season

2006-07 RECORD: 6-16, 0-10 OAL

TOP RETURNERS: G Dion Turner, Sr.; F Sean Brekke-Meisner, Sr.; F Wesley Hanspard, Jr.; G/F Domineke Dunlap, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS: G Richard Boston, Jr.

KEY LOSSES: G Quincy Hill; G Edwin Peabody

OUTLOOK: Quinney is breathing new life into the Bulldogs in his first year at the helm after guiding the JV squad to a 29-1 mark last season. At 9-6, they've already surpassed last year's win total and figure to improve their winless league mark. With a win over Gilroy - one of the top teams in the Central Coast Section that features plenty of size and athleticism - already under their belt, Tech certainly has reason to believe it can compete in the OAL.



Skyline

COACH: Terrence Ransom, third season

2006-07 RECORD: 19-12, 7-3 OAL

TOP RETURNERS: G Kwame Vaughn Sr.; G Nefi Perdomo, Sr.; C Marcus Hightower, Jr.

TOP NEWCOMERS: F Greg Brown, Sr.; G Damon Jones, Jr.

KEY LOSSES: C Denarrio Tatmon; F Akil Danjuma; F Bobby Moore; G Donald Gaines; F Ken Rancifer

OUTLOOK: Despite a slew of seniors, Ransom says "leadership is question mark" for this group. Vaughn, a Loyola Marymount signee, is the type of player who can completely take over a game and Perdomo is growing into that type of role. Hightower, at 6-7, provides a post presence and Brown, a transfer who moved here from Dallas, Texas, will run the point. The Titans have also faced a brutal nonleague schedule and just returned from a trip south along with Oakland to play Dorsey and Sylmar.