It looks like Mitty and Riordan are 10-15 points better than everyone in the WCAL this year ... although I don't know much about Sacred Heart Cathedral. Seems like 5-6 years ago there was more parity. Serra, SF, SI, the Bells and SHC all had their moments in the sun. What has changed?
Parity absent in WCAL
- Thread starter parkdale
- Start date
Mitty and Riordan have separated themselves for at least the past few seasons. They’ve been 1 and 2 since 2018-19. And really Mitty has been great for a long time as we all know. Bellarmine is the program that seems to have taken a pretty steep fall. But Serra and SHC always were tough outs and SI/SF aren’t bad this year but not at all threats. I do agree that it’s Mitty and Riordan by a long shot. Maybe the impact of post pandemic migration?
Mitty and Riordan do have a noticeable gap from the rest of the league this year. SI graduated a really big and good senior class, Serra seems to be stuck in neutral, St. Francis graduated some quality seniors and lost Dallas Washington to transfer and Bellarmine is going through a coaching change after losing a really good one in Patrick Schneider.
But yes, Riordan and Mitty are the class of the league
But yes, Riordan and Mitty are the class of the league
There was a period in the early-mid 90s when Mitty was meh. The best players in the area were either going to Bellarmine or St. Francis. Fast forward to 2005 and Drew Gordon and thats when they took off and havent looked back.
Im going to call it as it is about Riordan's basketball program. They are the furthest thing from a true city school. Their talent is pulling in international players with their boarding program. That isnt anything to get upset about at all and great for Riordan to give opportunities to the kids. I think its great to see all this assembled talent play together.
Serra hoops is always going to be 3rd fiddle to football and baseball. The last highly touted hooper was either Caruso or Stansberry IMO.
SH is still rebuilding/finding identity. VC is not a serious basketball school. St. Francis/Bellarmine/SI have young squads with potential but not ready to challenge Mitty or Riordan.
Im going to call it as it is about Riordan's basketball program. They are the furthest thing from a true city school. Their talent is pulling in international players with their boarding program. That isnt anything to get upset about at all and great for Riordan to give opportunities to the kids. I think its great to see all this assembled talent play together.
Serra hoops is always going to be 3rd fiddle to football and baseball. The last highly touted hooper was either Caruso or Stansberry IMO.
SH is still rebuilding/finding identity. VC is not a serious basketball school. St. Francis/Bellarmine/SI have young squads with potential but not ready to challenge Mitty or Riordan.
Look at the Riordan roster for last year's CCS Open Championship team that went to the second round of Norcals. There were zero International students on the team. SI and SH rosters are also comprised of kids outside the SF city limits. Does Mitty only have San Jose city kids?
The EBAL this year has clearly passed the WCAL in terms of quality teams top to
Bottom.
Bottom.
One-offs can happen. Repeat: I am not against Riordan assembling a basketball squad of international players with their boarding program.
Lets do the math here. Of the 15 on SH's roster, TWELVE of them are from SF middle/grammar schools.
I cant speak of SI's roster. I dont know if they still sell the Wildcat program at games but those used to give the info on the athletes and their middle schools.
I dont know about Mitty's makeup. You tell me where most of them are from. I just know from what I've seen in the 90s and 00s which teams had who and Mitty has gotten alot of players since 2005. Did not say all. I said alot.
All the WCAL schools have players from out of their area. Mitty currently has a transfer from Felton. And Gavin Ripp came from Los Gatos and Paran transferred from Valley Christian. Serra has a transfer. Riordan’s Tshamala and Alex Kuminga are cousins and are here in the Bay Area because of Jonathan. Jr. Tyrone Jackson was from Oakland Tech, but his family moved back to San Francisco per a local story during football season. Christian Wise is from SF HS royalty being related to the great AAA players Willie and Francoise Wise, Riordan football and basketball star Aron Wise and a relative of Jaha Wilson. Really, the only boarding school players are freshman Andrew Hilman and Kaia Berridge from New Zealand. SHC had a pipeline of kids from the East Bay during the Jerry Brown/Kevin Greene days. Riordan’s kids come from the City, Peninsula and East Bay. Last year’s Riordan roster included 2 SF kids now playing at Lincoln (Cortevious Taylor and Quentin Kennedy).
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Riordan thinks outside the box. SHC new coach is at least trying, by making ties with workhardplayhard. He is also the AD so he has all the power to make business decisions. The demographic don't really benefits city schools with High rent, tech jobs. People who used to live here moving to eastbay, pleasanton, sac, etc. Remember when WCAL teams use to have 4-5 6'4-6'7 footers and 2 each on lower level teams?
Bellarmine is going to have a transition year fitting in new coach Sarrett. Although a protege of Schneider, I can't help but think Bellarmines coaching hire decision will need some time to allow the new staff to get their feet used to the grind of WCAL.
Riordan was always a basketball school and thats it...(mission on tuition). SHC will find a way to get more players again, the cycle has not completely turned yet but it will like all the prior years when SHC had Coach Barbour.
If you want to see parity come to East Bay and EBAL. Dublin, DLS, Monte Vista, San Ramon Valley, Granada and Dougherty Valley.
The EBAL gauntlet starts tonight:
Dougherty Valley 15-1 at San Ramon Valley 15-1
De La Salle 13-3 at Monte Vista 13-3
Granada 13-3 at Foothill 12-5
Cal High 12-4 at Amador Valley 9-6
Dublin 11-6 at Livermore 9-9
They only play each other once this season, so every game means that much more.
Lucky. I think DV is a little too fast for SRV, but will be a terrific game. Keep us posted !
