Written by: Wayne Dzubak
Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Owyhee
2. Mountain View
T-3. Eagle
T-3. Meridian
5. Timberline
6. Centennial
7. Rocky Mountain
8. Boise
9. Borah
10. Kuna
11. Skyview
12. Capital
Players to Watch
Cory Caldwell, Boise
Nate Cherry, Capital
Kaden Christensen, Centennial
Kyle Schabot, Centennial
Donovan Jones, Eagle
Gage Jones, Eagle
Gavin Gordon, Kuna
Ethan Pearce, Meridian
Davis Thacker, Meridian
Nate Ojukwu, Mountain View
Bayler Perrin, Mountain View
Liam Campbell, Owyhee
Jack Payne, Owyhee
CJ Jacobsen, Rocky Mountain
Sean Murphy, Skyview
Jake Anderson, Timberline
Rocky Mountain boys posted a perfect 10-0 mark during the regular season of 5A SIC basketball last year but 2020-21 was the season of the Meridian Warriors. The Grizzlies 10-0 run included a 52-50 victory over Meridian on February 5th but it turned out to be the only loss Meridian would suffer all year.
The Warriors rebounded from that loss to Rocky Mountain, posting a 20-1 overall record which ended with a rousing 68-54 win over Lake City in the 5A State Championship game, the Warriors first basketball title since 1992.
Meridian was led by Brody Rowbury, the Gatorade Player of the Year in 2020-21. The big guy averaged 17 points and 8 rebounds a game and could score from anywhere. The Warriors also featured McKay Anderson who was tabbed state tournament MVP and Joe Mpoyo who provided 17 points per game! Unfortunately for 5th year head coach Jeff Sanor, all three have graduated.
“We will have a lot of new faces on our team this year and I fully expect all of them to make meaningful contributions” says Sanor. The cupboard isn’t exactly bare however with four returning seniors in Davis Thacker, Ethan Pearce, Ladu Kaden and Brock Voegele.
Despite losing some serious offensive firepower, the Warriors hope to continue their defensive pressure which resulted in holding opponents to a mere 46 ppg last year.
Who then might dethrone the Warriors in 2021-22? Speaking of just 5A SIC teams how about the Eagle Mustangs?
Eagle features a pair of basketball standouts in Gage Jones and Donavan Jones. Eagle was 14-9 last year losing to Rigby in the state consolation game. Head coach Cody Pickett, entering his second season, will not only anchor his hopes in the two Jones boys but a third senior as well, Tristan Fleming. Eagle will need all three to help replace Jason Janish, the 2020-21 SIC Player of the Year.
Coach Pickett say’s he also is looking for a pair of new faces to step up this year in Hudson VanAlfen and Cole Pugh.
Maybe the biggest question surrounding the pending boys 5A SIC basketball season is the new school on the block, Owyhee. The Storm is coached by Andy Harrington who spent the last three years at Middleton where the Vikings were among the dominate 4A SIC teams.
Harrington has to build this team from scratch and doing so with some pretty good scratch players. Jack Payne comes to Owyhee from Boise High. Payne has committed to Colorado State and more specifically committed to basketball. Payne also played football at Boise High decided to concentrate only on basketball at Owyhee. At 6-5 Payne can play both point guard and small forward. Liam Campbell is a 6-5 sophomore with offers from at least five schools including Boise State and UC Santa Barbara plus interest from Utah and Oregon State.
Titus Bailey is a 6-3 guard who started at Capital last year while another guard Preston Sherburne came over from Rocky Mountain. Throw in 6-7 freshman Jackson Rasmussen who has generated early interest from Boise State and all of a sudden you can see why many coaches are saying don’t be surprised if Owyhee comes Storming out of the gate.
One thing is for sure, Owyhee’s early season schedule will be tough. They open with Utah 6A powerhouse American Fork and then they’ll play a tournament in California featuring nationally ranked teams.
So what about Rocky Mountain? The Grizzlies were 10-0 in regular season SIC play last year but 15-5 overall. The Grizzlies lost to Lake City in the opening round at state and then went two and out. First year head coach Derek Pegram, who spent the last four years at Nampa High, has a lot of rebuilding to do. “We lost a great group of seniors who led us to state and their leadership and experience will be missed” says Pegram.
Rocky Mountain key returners include a pair of juniors, Tegan Sweaney and Jack Andrews. Pegram, who replaces long time Rocky coach Dane Roy, is hoping the new coaching staff will bring both energy and enthusiasm.
Timberline was 7-8 a year ago and early indications point to another 500 season for fourth year head coach Travis Noble. The Wolves do have guard Wade Zenner returning at point guard. His experience could bode well for new comer AJ LaBeau. The 6-11 junior played a few minutes last year and coach Noble expects LaBeau to be a difference maker down low, “He was committed to the gym and weigh room this off season” says Noble. Timberline also has a trio of 6-5 forwards in Jake Anderson, Jachin Mertes and Flynn Davis. All three versatile players who shoot well.
“We have more depth this year” claims Coach Noble, “Hopefully we will have a better rotation.”
The veteran coach of 5A SIC basketball is certainly Jon Nettleton, 17 years as head coach of the Mountain View Mavericks. The Mavs were 10-10 a year ago and return four starters, all seniors. Baylor Perrin, Blake Logsdon, Dylan Logsdon and Zach Bennett will give coach Nettleton some solid on court experience. Meantime coach Nettleton say’s keep an eye on Nate Ojukwu who is expected to see increased playing time and could have a positive impact.
As you might expect from a 500 team, the Mavericks suffered from a lack of consistency last year but with four returning starters coach Nettleton feels that won’t be a big issue this season and if the Mav’s play solid defense as they did a year ago, Mountain View could be a top three team in the SIC.
Boise High is another 500 team from a year ago. The Brave went 5-5 in league and 8-8 overall. Boise is coached by Manny Varela, now in his 7th year at Boise. The big player losses for Boise from a year ago are Whitt Miller and Jack Payne. Miller graduated while Payne transferred to Owyhee and is a big reason the Storm are mentioned as one of the season favorites.
Varela will lean heavily on returning players like Cory Cadwell, Jake Thompson, Jude Porter and Luke Britt. The chemistry from a year ago will be important as Varela anticipates production from a pair of newcomers in Marco Rosellini and Braiden Rhodes.
Varela cited a lack of effective communication last year but say’s “I’ve already seen improvement in early practices.”
The Kuna Kavemen posted a 4-11 record last year, hampered by injuries that kept a pair of starters out of the lineup for up to nine weeks. In fact Kuna had so many injuries they weren’t able to have a 5 on 5 practice session until mid-January of 2021. That being said, 7th year head coach Pete Longgood welcomes back three senior starters from last year. Guard John Evans and forwards Parker Chandler and Garvin Gordon. Kuna will need that chemistry as they try and replace All State standout Sean Austin who graduated.
Coach Longgood cited his team’s hard and unselfish play last year but feels there is room for defensive improvement and some patience on offense. When asked about new incoming players who could provide an impact, Longgood says “We have a ton of players who need to step up to the varsity level.”
Capital first year head coach Blas Telleria Jr. has a history with Capital basketball. Telleria spent 13 years as head coach of the Capital girls varsity squad and then 9 seasons as an assistant for the boys varsity. Telleria now has the job of turning around last year’s 0-11 campaign and fortunately he has a trio of solid returning players. Guards Nate Cherry, Max Clark and Avery Downey should provide Capital with a ton of senior leadership. Cherry received All SIC Honorable mention last year while playing for a winless team and Max Clark was Capital’s award winning quarterback on the football team which earned a playoff berth.
“We have a bunch of young studs” says Coach Telleria. Among them are three freshman, Marcellus Clay, David McNamara and Isaiah Telleria. Coach also expects quality time from juniors Cayden Hill and Kelly O’Conner plus a pair of sophomores Mekhi Dorrell and Ibrahim Talaso. Telleria is hopeful the mix of senior leadership and young talent will overcome Capital’s changes in coaching staff and philosophy that hampered the team last year. Coach Telleria knows Capital will be picked to finish well down the 5A SIC standings meaning his big coaching job this year will be to make his team believers in themselves.
Aaron Sanders is back for his 13th season as head coach of the Skyview Hawks. Skyview finished last year 3-15 but return three starting seniors and a pair of juniors giving coach Sanders a solid nucleus on which to build. Among the returners is guard Sean Murphy who was tabbed All Conference Honorable Mention.
Asked about new players that could make an impact, Coach Sanders cited Eloy Chaparro, Jayce Allen and Adam Davenport as young talent to watch. Sanders tells idahosports.com “Our kids competed hard last year through a ton of adversity.” Sanders added, “We need to take better care of the ball and shoot the ball more consistently.” Sander’s is looking forward to renewing season matchups against Nampa and Columbia absent since Skyview moved to 5A. “It’ll be nice to play teams within our own city and renew those rivalries.”