Either Riordan’s players are not as good as their recruiting profiles state or they are poorly coached….
I don’t care if they are all juniors or whatever, they should not be losing games with a big lead against SI and getting boatraced by VC, if you really have 10 D1 level players or whatever has been stated regarding Riordan…..
Still a ways to go in the season so we will see how this all plays out….
Its a bit of both if we're being honest. There's nothing to suggest that the kids they claim are getting recruited aren't. Many of them are committing and they've sent guys to the next level in both of Ravipati's first two seasons. I think his biggest strength is just that: he's so well connected that he can get guys looks at a rate that other coaches, even in the WCAL, cannot.
Who was recruiting Isiah Chala before Ravipati came knocking? He's at Fresno State now.
Who was recruiting Zach Jones before Ravipati showed up? He's at UC Davis now.
Who was recruiting Joseph Herbert before Ravipati took over? He didn't even play for Coach Adhir but he's at San Jose State now on full scholarship after walking on. Ravipati got him looked at, not anyone else.
Look at their 3 signees from last year: Kalolo Taaga, Tyrone Jackson and Tobey Weydemuller. Taaga was a 1 year footballer player who converted from hoops and signed his NIL to USC, Jackson had zero buzz going into his junior year and probably doesn't go anywhere if he stays at Oakland Tech and Weydemuller didn't play but a handful of varsity games due to injury yet is at Cal.
My point is that.....as you alluded, maybe those guys aren't as great as their recruiting profiles state. Yet they're still getting recruited at an alarming rate! Seems to me like a Head Coach who fights to get his guys out. W Coach.
Vandermade is building a culture like Walsh did in his early years when he won WCAL in year 2 of coaching at Serra. Serra's 1st WCAL title in 30 years. I agree, the infancy excuse isn't valid anymore.
Building aye? Lol. Its much easier to build off of good foundation than it is off of no foundation.
You do realize that SI was a playoff team in 4 of Regalia's last 5 seasons at the helm, right? The only season they failed to see playoffs was the 2020 COVID Season when there was no playoffs! How many playoff appearances did Riordan have in that same span? You guessed it, GOOSE EGG!!!!!
And, Hell, don't forget to mention that Regalia retired. He isn't coaching anymore. John would still be at SI had he not decided to call em quits. Can't say the same for Mark Modeste, he was Fired.
I'm not trying to undermine what Lenny Vandermade is doing, he's done a good job but to compare the two situations is laughable.
SI Reports 29 Seniors, 28 Juniors, 5 Sophomores and a Freshman on their Varsity Roster.
Riordan Reports 14 Seniors, 22 Juniors, 12 Sophomores and 3 Freshmen on their Varsity Roster.
