Players of the Bishop Gorman High basketball team, from left Chris Nwuli, Eli Bradley, John Mobley Jr., Jase Richardson and Keenan Bay take a portrait during the Las Vegas Sun’s High School Basketball Media Day, Nov. 2, 2022.
Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 | 2 a.m.
The club basketball team affiliated with Desert Pines High School defeated Bishop Gorman’s club team during a fall tournament in October.
Perennial state favorite Gorman doesn’t lose many games during the boys high school season, but during the offseason club games — those in the spring, summer and fall — the top teams in Las Vegas routinely take turns beating each other.
Some games, teams only play reserves to get the entire expected roster experience. Other games, they have players on vacation.
The bottom line: There’s lots of good basketball being played in Las Vegas, and on any given night, any of the teams in the Sun’s high school preseason top-10 can beat the other.
Preseason No. 1 Gorman, of course, is the benchmark.
The Gaels were undefeated and ranked in the top-10 nationally last season before losing in overtime of the state championship game against Liberty. That stopped Gorman’s streak of nine consecutive state titles. It also reaffirmed the notion that even though Gorman is the team to beat, there are many quality programs in Las Vegas that could emerge victorious.
“It was a good run and something we are proud of,” Gorman coach Grant Rice said of the championship streak. “We are excited to start the season with a great group of guys. We’ll be ready to go.”
The season starts today across Las Vegas, including with Gorman traveling to Oakland, Calif., to face Northern California’s Bishop O’Dowd.
Here’s the Sun’s preseason top-10:
Bishop Gorman
• Last season: 5A state runner-up
• What’s to like: Gorman has the deepest roster of any team in town, with at least seven players who are considered Division I prospects — John Mobley Jr. (Ohio State commit), Jase Richardson, Chris Nwuli, Eli Bradley, Keenan Bey, Ryder Elisaldez and Quentin Rhymes. Only Bey and Bradley are seniors. Mobley and Richardson combine to make one of the best backcourts in the nation. Both are strong shooters, passers and defenders. ESPN ranks Nwuli, an athletic post player, as the 24th overall recruit nationally for the class of 2025.
• Biggest obstacle: This Gorman team, unlike others through the years, does not have one player who has won a state championship. They are hungry to make their mark — and make amends to falling to Liberty in overtime of the 2022 state championship game.
Players of the Liberty High basketball team, from left Angelo Kambala and Dedan Thomas Jr., take a portrait during the Las Vegas Sun's High School Basketball Media Day, Nov. 2, 2022.
Liberty
• Last season: 5A state champions
• What’s to like: While other teams across town have lacked confidence in past showdowns with Gorman, Liberty showed last season that it wasn’t going to back down. Liberty lost its first three meetings of the season against Gorman, but the Patriots still brought a certain swagger into the championship game that was critical to pulling off the upset. Liberty returns one of the state’s top players in junior point guard Dedan Thomas Jr., who as a sophomore averaged 13.3 points, 5.4 assists and two assists per game. They also return guard Angelo Kambala, who averaged 11.7 points per game in 2021-22, and juniors Kaeden Castillero and Andre Porter. Kambala and Castillero are accomplished outside shooters and can easily take over a game with their shot-making ability.
• Biggest obstacle: The Patriots aren’t as strong on the interior after graduating post players Joshua Jefferson and Aaron Pierce.
Players of the Durango High basketball team, from left Taj Deqourville, Jevon Yapi, Tylen Riley, and Mason Brown take a portrait during the Las Vegas Sun's High School Basketball Media Day, Nov. 2, 2022.
Durango
• Last season: Lost in the regional semifinals
• What’s to like: Durango’s top two players — senior guard Tylen Riley (Cal Baptist commit) and junior shooting guard Taj Degourville — are as good as any tandem in Las Vegas. Riley averaged 17 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season and Degourville scored 15.5 points, giving the Trailblazers an experienced duo to lead the charge. Sophomores Jevon Yapi and Mason Brown are poised to make a splash in their first varsity season of regular minutes.
• Biggest obstacle: Durango’s season will be dictated by how quickly its underclassmen can emerge, especially after expected top returner Sterling Knox transferred.
Players of the Coronado High basketball team, from left Tee Bartlett, Josiah Cunningham, Blake Sullivan and Sebastian Mack take a portrait during the Las Vegas Sun's High School Basketball Media Day, Nov. 2, 2022.
Coronado
• Last season: Lost in the regional semifinals
• What’s to like: The Cougars are led by four-star recruiting prospect Sebastian Mack, who signed with UCLA earlier this month. Mack hasn’t played during the past two high school seasons but is still considered the top senior in Las Vegas. He’s joined by returners Josiah Cunningham (12 points per game last season) and Blake Sullivan. And the Cougars should have an advantage on the interior all season with 6-foot-8 post player Tee Bartlett.
• Biggest obstacle: Coronado lacks player depth and will attempt to strengthen its bench in nonleague play over the next five weeks, starting Saturday in Oakland against Modesta Christian of California.
Players of the Mojave High basketball team, from left Giali Chapman, C.J. Shaw and Nathan Sherrard, take a portrait during the Las Vegas Sun's High School Basketball Media Day, Nov. 2, 2022.
Mojave
• Last season: 4A state champions
• What’s to like: It’s rare to return the top two players off a state championship team, but Mojave will do just that with its backcourt of sophomore C.J. Shaw and senior Giali Chapman. Shaw averaged 16.6 points and 3.6 steals per game last year in his maiden prep season, and Chapman poured in 5.3 assists per game. Nathan Shepard, who averaged 7.3 points per game last year as a freshman, has impressed with the improvements in his game.
Biggest obstacle: Mojave spent most of last season under the radar chasing Las Vegas and Spring Valley in Cass 4A. Now, they are the team to beat — and the team with the biggest target on their backs.
Players of the Desert Pines High basketball team, from left Kameron Ricks, Prince Davis and Isiaac Boykin, take a portrait during the Las Vegas Sun's High School Basketball Media Day, Nov. 2, 2022.
Desert Pines
• Last season: 5A playoff qualifier
• What’s to like: The Jaguars are led by senior guard Isiaac Boykin, who averaged 15.1 points per game last season and who in 2019-20 was part of the Desert Pines team that lost in the state championship game. That experience — especially with the pandemic forcing cancellation of the 2020-21 season — will give Desert Pines a distinct edge come the playoffs in February. Evan Tatum, who scored 11.7 points per game last season, was also part of the state runner-up squad. Desert Pines also has a handful of underclassmen ready to contribute, such as sophomore Prince Davis (8.1 points per game last season).
• Biggest obstacle: Desert Pines has proven it can knock off the city’s elite teams. It will need a maximum effort, though, to match the talent of teams ahead of them in the rankings.
Players of the Spring Valley High basketball team, from left Davin Mabry, Jamison McCall, Alijah Adem and Jordan Cosby take a portrait during the Las Vegas Sun's High School Basketball Media Day, Nov. 2, 2022.
Spring Valley
• Last season: 4A state runner-up
• What’s to like: Spring Valley has the best player in the Class 4A in guard Alijah Adem, who averaged 26.4 points and 7.8 assists per game last season. Adem’s skill set fits perfectly with the Spring Valley’s style of play — the Grizzlies averaged 75 points per game last season and try to do everything fast. Often, they overwhelm league opponents who simply don’t have the stamina to keep up. Spring Valley also returns Jamison McCall, who averaged 7.8 points and 2.4 steals per game last season as a sophomore.
• Biggest obstacle: Some teams — for whatever reason — struggle against certain teams on their schedule. For Spring Valley, that team is Mojave. The Grizzlies’ were out of rhythm last year in the championship game. They’ll likely face Mojave again for the championship in February. The Grizzlies also had two of their top returners transfer.
Players of the Centennial High basketball team, from left RJ Nance, Elijah Burney and Kohlman Smith, take a portrait during the Las Vegas Sun's High School Basketball Media Day, Nov. 2, 2022.
Centennial
• Last season: Missed the playoffs
• What’s to like: Centennial only won nine games last season and is still very much a work in progress. But the Bulldogs will be drastically improved with Karen Weitz — the school’s legendary girls coach — taking over as head coach. Weitz is coaching both the Centennial boys and girls teams this season. She’s expected to follow a similar script in building the boys program as she’s used over the past two decades with the girls. The successes won’t be immediate, but there are early signs of her influence: The Bulldogs during the summer and fall club seasons have impressed with their effort. Centennial is led by senior guard Elijah Burney (7.7 points per game last season), Kohlman Smith (11.3 points and 6.3 rebounds) and Spring Valley transfer RJ Nance.
• Biggest obstacle: This won’t be a quick flip — and Weitz knows it. Her goal is to have this year’s team ready to make a playoff run and slowly but surely build a championship-contending team.
Players of the Foothill High basketball team, from left Jay Haylock, Zak Abdalla and Collier Roberts, take a portrait during the Las Vegas Sun's High School Basketball Media Day, Nov. 2, 2022.
Foothill
• Last season: Lost in the first round of the playoffs
• What’s to like: Chris Crunk became the coachat his alma mater last season on the eve of a playoff game against perennial power Bishop Gorman. The Falcons, in showing their potential, only lost by nine points. Foothill isn’t the biggest team and the Falcons don’t have the best athletes, but they seem to play hard most nights. And Crunk is determined to get the most out of his roster, saying it’s a dream to lead the program. The Falcons are led by sophomore Zak Abdalla, who paced them in scoring with 13.6 points per game last season, senior Jay Haylock (10.4 points and five rebounds per game) and forward Collier Roberts.
• Biggest obstacle: Foothill simply doesn’t have the manpower to compete against the likes of Gorman and Liberty in the same week come the playoffs.
Players of the Arbor View High basketball team, from left Jalen Dickel, Brian Townsend, Maximus Romero, Ridge Adams, and Wyatt Jaeck take a portrait during the Las Vegas Sun's High School Basketball Media Day, Nov. 2, 2022.
Arbor View
• Last season: Lost in the first round of the playoffs
• What’s to like: Arbor View, which is three years removed from competing in the state semifinals, should enjoy a return to relevance this season, especially with sophomore Brian Townsend — 11.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game as a freshman — leading the way. The Aggies will also lean on returners Wyatt Jaeck, Ridge Adams and Jalen Dickel, the son of former UNLV point guard and Arbor View assistant, Mark Dickel.
• Biggest obstacle: Just like some of other Class 5A teams in the rankings, the Aggies don’t have the players to consistently battle with the teams vying for a championship.
