Shocker, at least to me. I thought Santa Rosa and Newman would be the top two in the NBL this season. I didn't think Monty had enough scorers. I guess I was wrong! Next couple games should be good.
Wow so they're doing it in basketball too. What a complete joke. So they're division is their division when it's weak and ripe for the picking. When it's loaded, they use the excuse to petition up and play in a weaker division. All for the purpose of winning a trophy. I ripped these guys on the football boards and it seems like they're taking it to the next level in basketball.A little off topic but I find it very interesting that newman has decided to petition up to division 2 this year! Especially after the football program decided to stay at the division 4 level for football this season. Could it be that they are trying to avoid some of the bay area powers Salesian, St Pats, St Joe's and others. Traditionally NCS division 4 is very competitive and it is well known that NCS division 2 probably the weakest. I think it's a little weak and definitely sends mixed messages. Im not sure why they even allow schools to cherry pick there division. Any thougts?
Thanks for the clarification. I originally thought this to be rumors.I cant defend this move by CN COACH BONFIGLI. Hes clearly doing it to dodge D4 competition and IMO at this point of his career only cares about wins and adding to his wins legacy. Heck his 1st game of the year he scheduled Averroes HS. A school of 52 kids/ D6. What a difference between the boys and the girls programs. In this case the criticism is deserved.
I think you have to view every choice Newman makes within the overall goals of the school. They are having a difficult time keeping their enrollment up and use the athletic dept and its success as a prime mover in recruiting students. I think all of their divisional jockeying decisions are advocated from above in hopes of increasing their profile.
dumb decision. They won't make NorCal. EC, Odowd, Moreau will be top 3. Only 1 spot left. I would've gone to D3 if anywhere. They'd be a NorCal team in D4 for sure. Maybe Bonfigli is looking at getting a head start on his golf game
The open teams I could see battling include: Woodcreek, Sheldon, BOD, Dublin, Salesian, and maybe a Folsom. But I don't see anybody else getting pulled up. The thing that will benefit newman is they basically play in a D2 league. (NBL). Even though it will be pretty weak this year they have a good chance of winning it. But clearly D4 with St Pats, Salesian, St Joes, and a few others is loaded. Is Palma still d4? They are very good for norcal.
The open teams I could see battling include: Woodcreek, Sheldon, BOD, Dublin, Salesian, and maybe a Folsom. But I don't see anybody else getting pulled up. The thing that will benefit newman is they basically play in a D2 league. (NBL). Even though it will be pretty weak this year they have a good chance of winning it. But clearly D4 with St Pats, Salesian, St Joes, and a few others is loaded. Is Palma still d4? They are very good for norcal.
The open teams I could see battling include: Woodcreek, Sheldon, BOD, Dublin, Salesian, and maybe a Folsom. But I don't see anybody else getting pulled up. The thing that will benefit newman is they basically play in a D2 league. (NBL). Even though it will be pretty weak this year they have a good chance of winning it. But clearly D4 with St Pats, Salesian, St Joes, and a few others is loaded. Is Palma still d4? They are very good for norcal.
Palma looks like they could be better than they were last season and they were in the state D4 final. They have one of the top Norcal point/shooting guards Jamaree Bouyea back and lots of players back with experience. They lose their 6-6 forward that is now playing at Cal State East Bay but return his brother who started last season as a soph and had broke his leg before the state norcals (6-5 junior Garret Maker) who is going to be a star. His father played center on the Villanova team that defeated Parick Ewings Georgetown Hoya's in the NCAA finals. They return another staring guard and forward and have some young players that are very good. They seem to play better defense (have some physicality) this year and spread the ball around on offense. They seem to have more weapons. They worked hard in the offseason to try to get back to state. They are the favorites to win their league - MBL Gab a D1 league and probably will run the table by a high margin. They don't have St Francis or Mitty on the schedule this year but it looks like they could be a top 5 team in CCS this year. They play what looks like a good Los Gatos team tomorrow so will have a better indication of this team as far as a test.
Palma only has one senior that played on varsity football F Cameron Jones (OL/DL). Jone's sister is star underclass Mitty Girl's basketball player. As far as next season, they will lose PG Bouyea who is the best player on the team and has interest from mid major colleges and lower division offers. Also will lose Sr Guard Nikhil Manimaram. They have a couple other seniors that they will lose that are two year players and were on the norcal championship team.
Back next season will be:
Jr Garret Maker, 6- 4 or 5, F, who's 6-11 father played on the Villanova National championship team. He's a good defender and offense will improve (started since frosh year). High upside. I think he is more athletic than his brother but focuses on just basketball. He would probably be a TE on the football team if he played football. He played football in the youth leagues but opted out in high school like his brother.
So Colin Neff, TE on JV who is a 3 sport athlete. His brother is a starting pitcher at St Mary's Moraga but also a 3 sport athlete at Palma and a top player at all of them. He could be more athletic than his brother. I think Colin probably could have played varsity football this year. I believe he is a good baseball player as well.
Jr Peter Powers (transfer from Mitty) who also plays football. May compete for QB position on varsity next season and most likely on defense. His brother Jack played at Palma and played football at OL at AZ State and now at Univ Virginia. I think Peter is around 6-2 or 3. His brother is 6-6 or 7 and so he probably has room to grow.
Jr Joey Burlison G. is an elite golfer that already has offers in that sport. He has basketball genes in his family. Father was one of Palma's top players in the 80s and a college player.
They have a very strong frosh class as far as athletes and could bee some being impact players next season especially at Guard. Palma has been very blessed at the guard sport in recent years with Orlando Johnson (NBA), Noah Allen (UCLA/Univ Hawaii) and now Jamaree Bouyea. I don't think they have that type of player coming up, but they should still be competitive.