On the boys basketball scene, we hear rumors all summer about where players will end up, but it’s usually best to wait to report transfers until “check-in time,” when kids enroll and begin attending classes.
One team that will have a different backcourt is defending CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA champ Sera of Gardena. Senior point guard Ajon Efferson checked out and is headed to Pasadena, where he played at two years ago. Junior point guard Ellis Salahuddin has also left coach Dwan Hurt’s program. It was rumored throughout the summer Salahuddin would end up at Mater Dei to help the three-time defending state champions shore up its lead guard position, but according to Eric Sondheimer of the Los Angeles Times he’s headed to Orangewood Academy of Garden Grove.
One player who will remain at Serra is wing Ron Freeman. He reportedly had some off-court issues at the school, but he’s back as part of Hurt’s 1-2 frontcourt punch with Tavarion Dawson. A wing who did leave the program was 6-5 senior Chris Sandifer. He’s enrolled at Taft of Woodland Hills, where he’ll team up with 6-3 junior Clifton Powell to give the Toreadors a solid 1-2 punch.
Sandifer told us during the summer he was strongly considering a New England Prep school, but it was decided staying in California was the best move for him. Sandifer is a talented player already committed to Missouri, but he’s never really settled in and played a complete high school season anywhere.
Returning Cal-Hi Sports sophomore all-stater Bennie Boatwright has left Alemany of Mission Hills for Village Christian of Sun Valley. Boatwright attended Oaks Christian of Westlake Village as a freshman, but now he’ll team up with forward Marsalis Johnson and fast-rising guard Bryan Alberts to make Village Christian one of the prohibitive Division V state favorites. Boatwright has major college offers, but is another who has yet to translate that into a dominant high school season.
Another sophomore all-stater, 5-11 guard Kendall Small, left Ocean View of Huntington Beach for Mayfair of Lakewood. Broderick “Buddha” Jones is expected to join Small at Mayfair, but we haven’t got confirmation he’s officially enrolled yet. We do know Jones, another sophomore all-stater, will not be back at View Park Prep of Los Angeles.
