Two of this week’s SoCal/NorCal honorees are Marvin Bagley of Sierra Canyon and Kameron Taylor of Bakersfield Christian. Photos: Twitter.com & turnto23.com.
For the first time, we switch to boys and girls hoops for these honors also will take this chance to welcome big-time junior Marvin Bagley of Sierra Canyon. Bagley is this week’s SoCal Boys Player of the Week. Our other choices are going out to Stockton, Murrieta and Bakersfield.
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Note: For these honors, we consider CIF Central Section players for Northern California. To find out how your business could benefit by sponsoring these honors each week, email markjtennis@gmail.com.
Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Boys Basketball Player of the Week
Marvin Bagley
(Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth) Jr.
Showing why he is considered by some as the No. 1 Class of 2018 recruit in the nation, Bagley put on a show for those in attendance at the Sierra Canyon tournament, which began with our own Ronnie Flores helping to present at a ceremony for Sierra Canyon being the 2015-16 Division IV State School of the Year.
Bagley had 14 dunks and finished with 37 points as the Trailblazers defeated Alemany of Mission Hills 79-64 in the championship game. Also grabbing 10 rebounds to finish with a double-double, he was averaging 26.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game through the first five games of the season.
As a sophomore, Bagley started at Corona del Sol in Tempe, Arizona, but decided to enroll at Sierra Canyon in the middle of the season. He had to sit out after the move, but perhaps to the dismay of the rest of the state he is eligible now.
UCLA head coach Steve Alford was at Bagley’s season debut as his teammate, Cody Riley, is committed to the Bruins.
Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Girls Basketball Player of the Week
Keilanei Cooper
(Vista Murrieta, Murrieta) Sr.
This 5-foot-7 guard has already shown that the Broncos may not drop too far this season after the graduation of multi-year standouts Jaelyn Brown (now at Cal) and Brittney Reed (now at Loyola Marymount).
Last week when Vista Murrieta defeated Lakeside of Lake Elsinore 55-40 (the same team that made it to last season’s CIF Division III state championship and lost to Sacred Heart Cathedral), Cooper shined with 28 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
Earlier in the season, Cooper had 29 points, six rebounds and five assists in a win over JSerra Catholic of San Juan Capistrano. She is averaging 20.1 points, 3.1 steals and 2.9 assists so far this season.
Cooper has signed with UC Riverside and judging by her performances so far that could be a steal for the Highlanders.
Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Boys Basketball Player of the Week
Andre Kelly
(Lincoln, Stockton) Jr.
Not far from our office in Stockton is the home gym of this junior standout who on Tuesday night posted a career-high 27 rebounds to go with 18 points and five assists during a 70-60 win over Elliot Christian of Lodi.
With double-doubles in all but one game this season, Kelly had four double-doubles last week, including 31 points and 17 rebounds during a 55-52 win over Lodi.
Listed at 6-foot-8, he is currently averaging 25 points and 14 rebounds per game. Last season as a sophomore, Kelly averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds and was named to the All-Area second team by the Stockton Record. Currently, he is listed with offers from Montana and San Jose State.
Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Girls Basketball Player of the Week
Kameron Taylor
(Bakersfield Christian) Sr.
Since losing three straight games, the Eagles have won four in a row after a 69-46 win over Garces Memorial of Bakersfield on Tuesday night that saw their senior leader score a season-high 37 points and also grab a season-high 10 rebounds.
Taylor is currently on a three-game stretch that has seen her score at least 26 points, including 27 points and had a season-high 10 assists during a 61-28 win over Bishop Union before scoring 26 points during a 47-39 win over Lindsay.
Through seven games this season, she is averaging 24.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.4 steals per game.
Playing varsity since her sophomore season, Taylor has seen her numbers improve each season, going from 16.7 points as a sophomore to 20.6 as a junior. She just missed making both the All-State Division IV and All-State Underclass teams last season.
Stockton office assistant editor Paul Muyskens also contributed to this post. Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports
