Final Top 20 rankings

[Streak One]

Mitty was a wire-to-wire No. 1 team for the 2019-2020 season ending as the NorCal Open Division champions. How did the rest of the list finish after No. 1?


Eight of the Top 10 teams in the final rankings were Top 10 in November. The big riser were Cardinal Newman (#12 preseason) and San Ramon Valley (#13 preseason).


Seven of the Top 10 teams in the final Top 20 come from the North Coast Section.


Laguna Creek, Del Oro, St. Mary’s-Berkeley, Woodcreek and Granite Bay are new teams to the final rankings after starting the year unranked.


Preseason Top 20 ranked teams that missed the final ranking are California (#11), Elk Grove (#16), Valley Christian (#17), Folsom (#18) and Lincoln-Stockton (#19)


FINAL Top 20 Rankings

1. Mitty (26-3) Preseason Rank: #1

2. St. Joseph (24-8) Preseason Rank: #5

3. Cardinal Newman (29-4) Preseason Rank: #12

4. St. Mary’s-Stockton (23-5) Preseason Rank: #2

5. Bishop O’Dowd (23-7) Preseason Rank: #3

6. Salesian (28-5) Preseason Rank: #7

7. Pinewood (25-5) Preseason Rank: #9

8. Miramonte (23-6) Preseason Rank: #4

9. Heritage (22-8) Preseason Rank: #8

10. San Ramon Valley (27-5) Preseason Rank: #13

11. Menlo (21-6) Preseason Rank: #10

12. Antelope (29-4) Preseason Rank: #6

13. Oak Ridge (24-7) Preseason Rank: #14

14. Oakland Tech (25-8) Preseason Rank: #20

15. Laguna Creek (28-4) Preseason Rank: NR

16. McClatchy (26-5) Preseason Rank: #15

17. Del Oro (24-11) Preseason Rank: NR

18. St. Mary’s-Berkeley (27-7) Preseason Rank: NR

19. Woodcreek (24-6) Preseason Rank: NR

20. Granite Bay (20-10) Preseason Rank: NR

 

[SouthBayHoopFan]

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I think this is the first time in memory that only one WCAL team is in the top 20. Looking at Valley Christian, Sacred Heart Cathedral, and St. Ignatius (who ended in a 3-way tie for second place) I can agree that those teams don't belong in your list. I wonder if next year will be any better for the 2 - 6 teams in the WCAL? I suspect there's a good chance Mitty could be a wire-to-wire #1 again next year.

 

[Irish_Cheers]

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I think this is the first time in memory that only one WCAL team is in the top 20. Looking at Valley Christian, Sacred Heart Cathedral, and St. Ignatius (who ended in a 3-way tie for second place) I can agree that those teams don't belong in your list. I wonder if next year will be any better for the 2 - 6 teams in the WCAL? I suspect there's a good chance Mitty could be a wire-to-wire #1 again next year.

You're probably right. Both of their lower-level teams finished undefeated.

 

[colhenrylives]

You're probably right. Both of their lower-level teams finished undefeated.

...again...

 

[colhenrylives]

Mitty is a CCS vacuum cleaner, sucking up an annual haul of young talent from throughout the South Bay and beyond. The program has become a permanent powerhouse that seemingly never sleeps when it comes to acquiring players.

 

[Norcal_Fan]

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I think this is the first time in memory that only one WCAL team is in the top 20. Looking at Valley Christian, Sacred Heart Cathedral, and St. Ignatius (who ended in a 3-way tie for second place) I can agree that those teams don't belong in your list. I wonder if next year will be any better for the 2 - 6 teams in the WCAL? I suspect there's a good chance Mitty could be a wire-to-wire #1 again next year.

I thought SMS is gonna have a good squad coming back? Shouldn't they be considered one of the top teams?

 

[OnBall8]

You're probably right. Both of their lower-level teams finished undefeated.

Yea I think thats 4 straight years of sweeps at all 3 levels.. the parity is all but gone for now in the WCAL.

AM pulled up a 6ft post midseason from their freshman team.. from the freshman team to the top team in nor cal.. Thats not happening anywhere else..

 

[Streak One]

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I think this is the first time in memory that only one WCAL team is in the top 20. Looking at Valley Christian, Sacred Heart Cathedral, and St. Ignatius (who ended in a 3-way tie for second place) I can agree that those teams don't belong in your list. I wonder if next year will be any better for the 2 - 6 teams in the WCAL? I suspect there's a good chance Mitty could be a wire-to-wire #1 again next year.

I was noticing that too. I don’t remember a time with just one WCAL team.

Is this the most dominant Mitty has been in the WCAL? Going over the past ten years, it seems there was always a team or two that was really good to challenge them.

 

[ClayK]

It goes in cycles ... there was a time six or seven years ago when what is now the DAL (Campo, Acalanes, etc.) was very strong. This year, much different story.

One factor: The growth of volleyball as opposed to basketball, which has taken quality athletes away from hoops.

 

[Norcal_Fan]

I was noticing that too. I don’t remember a time with just one WCAL team.

Is this the most dominant Mitty has been in the WCAL? Going over the past ten years, it seems there was always a team or two that was really good to challenge them.

When SHC was at it's peak, it had the pipeline with Mission Rec and kids were coming in droves. After Ocasr passed away, the Mission Rec program never recovered and neither did SHC. They're very good, but not anywhere where they once were.

 

[GBBall4L]

When SHC was at it's peak, it had the pipeline with Mission Rec and kids were coming in droves. After Ocasr passed away, the Mission Rec program never recovered and neither did SHC. They're very good, but not anywhere where they once were.

Maybe Coach Russell needs to try to get established with the Bulldawgs AAU Club to help his pipeline or is that a St. Ignatius friendly club?

 

[Irish_Cheers]

Maybe Coach Russell needs to try to get established with the Bulldawgs AAU Club to help his pipeline or is that a St. Ignatius friendly club?

He should take a look wherever he can. Any former Mercy athletes coming in should help. Where else would they want to play? Riordan doesn't even have teams yet.

 

[Norcal_Fan]

Maybe Coach Russell needs to try to get established with the Bulldawgs AAU Club to help his pipeline or is that a St. Ignatius friendly club?

having an AAU program that funnels kids into the program like a Mitty or Pinewood are no brainers. A lot of the winning teams win, because most of those teams are the ones that have the best athletes either by recruiting or funneling kids through AAU. Why other coaches don't do it is a wonder to me.

 

[personalogic]

having an AAU program that funnels kids into the program like a Mitty or Pinewood are no brainers. A lot of the winning teams win, because most of those teams are the ones that have the best athletes either by recruiting or funneling kids through AAU. Why other coaches don't do it is a wonder to me.

You say that like it's an easy thing to do. For a high school coach to develop a top AAU program takes talent as a coach and recruiter, a tremendous amount of time, and the willingness to stick with it for many years. And even with all that, there is no guarantee that you will survive the competition. Most high school coaches who run AAU programs are focused on developing the players they already have, as opposed to pulling in top prospects from surrounding areas. Mostly they watch their best players migrate to a handful of established/sponsored programs over the summer, just hoping they attend a few high school camps/workouts over the summer, and come back in the Fall without a boatload of attitude.

 

[ClayK]

And AAU teams are money-losing propositions, on top of being very difficult to build and maintain.

Bottom line: There are only so many good players, and like good players down at the park, they like to be on the same team and win all day.

 

[Norcal_Fan]

You say that like it's an easy thing to do. For a high school coach to develop a top AAU program takes talent as a coach and recruiter, a tremendous amount of time, and the willingness to stick with it for many years. And even with all that, there is no guarantee that you will survive the competition. Most high school coaches who run AAU programs are focused on developing the players they already have, as opposed to pulling in top prospects from surrounding areas. Mostly they watch their best players migrate to a handful of established/sponsored programs over the summer, just hoping they attend a few high school camps/workouts over the summer, and come back in the Fall without a boatload of attitude.

I didn't say it's easy to do, just said im surprised at why more coaches don't do it. I'm not privy to the cost of running an AAU program (but know how much it is to pay lol), but if a coach can break even, I think that's good. AAU doesn't always mean travel all over like EYBL teams, and yes it takes time to develop.

 

[SouthBayHoopFan]

I'm not privy to the cost of running an AAU program (but know how much it is to pay lol), but if a coach can break even, I think that's good.

It all depends on how many gassers you can pick up.