Huskies look to continue dominance in SCN
When it comes to the South Coast North Conference in Southern California, East Los Angeles Junior College has been the team to beat and the Huskies will look to continue their dominance this upcoming season. The Huskies have won 20 straight conference games and their last conference loss was against Chaffey on February 8, 2019 when the Panthers were still in the conference. Last season the Huskies were undefeated in conference for a second straight year which earned them another post season bid. Since the 2018-2019 season, East Los Angeles has put together a 78-11 record and have turned into a traditional Southern California powerhouse. Coming into the new season, the conference looks much improved after three teams last season struggled and had 11 wins between them. Mt. San Antonio made the post season but typically the conference has been below average compared to other conferences record wise throughout the state. Pasadena, Los Angeles Trade Tech have made a move in the upward direction and although we expect Mt. San Antonio to fall in the standings, the Mounties will still be competitive this upcoming season. Rio Hondo will be another team that is improved and overall the conference will be better from top to bottom.
2022-2023 Signal The Light Basketball South Coast North Conference Projection
East Los Angeles (25-5): The Huskies have been the team to beat within the South Coast North Conference. East Los Angeles won 25 games, went undefeated in South Coast North action, picked up a 2nd round victory against Cerritos in the post season but eventually suffered an away loss against West Los Angeles last season to end their run. The Huskies have a lot of talent returning to their lineup for the upcoming season. East Los Angeles will be a very experienced team for the upcoming season as South Coast North MVP “6-5” Corey Cofield (9.0 points) returns to the squad, “6-3” Jon Sanders (8.3 points), “6-3” Demetrius Calip (5.6 points), “6-5” Brandon Wilson (6.8 points), leading scorer from last year “6-5” Tyrelle Hunt (10.9 points), “6-8” JT Langston (8.7 points) and “6-11” Christian Oliver (3.8 points) all bring sophomore experience from a balanced scoring attack we saw a year ago. East Los Angeles will also add “6-7” Greg Melvin (Virginia Beach, VA), “6-2” Donjae Lindsey (Oakland, CA), “6-7” Elisha Cofield (Los Angeles, CA), “6-5” Benjermin Jones (Long Beach) and “6-3” Noel Scott (transfer from Austin Peay) will add depth to the Huskies for 2022-2023.
Projection: Experience is huge in this junior college world and the Huskies have plenty of that heading into the season. East Los Angeles welcomes back a big part of their team that were a big part of their 25 win season from a year ago. The Huskies have size on the wing and will be one of the deepest teams in the state. We project the Huskies will win another conference title and have the chance to make a deep post season. If the outside shooting is better than last season, we could see the Huskies going very far with the talent they have for the upcoming season.
STLB best college prospect: “6-8” JT Langston
Los Angeles Trade Tech (6-18): The Beavers had a rough season a year ago as they troubled to find consistency and struggled to a 6-18 year. Los Angeles Trade Tech finished conference action with a 4-4 record which left them in 3rd place and missing the post season as the Beavers struggled to find wins in non conference action. With that being said we have entered a new era as Marcus Bryant took over the squad and has put together a lot of talent for the upcoming season without any returners. Los Angeles Trade Tech is a very talented bunch as “6-5” EJ Evans, “6-3” Jazerie Hoggatts, “6-0” Gabe McQuay and “6-1” Jade Rose Jr. will provide some sophomore experience to the group. “6-3” Omari Ferguson is a smooth left hander, “6-5” Roland McDougal III brings athleticism, sharpshooting “6-5” Devon Jainlett may be one of the best shooters in the state along with “6-10” Brandon Sanders are all freshman that will all provide contributions to the program for the upcoming 2022-2023 season.
Projection: Los Angeles Trade Tech is a very talented team that will be one of the most improved teams in the state. They will be a handful for anyone on the court this season as they will be able to hold their own in the upcoming season. The Beavers are a handful when they are out in transition and have the capability of beating anyone in the state but at the same time showed at the Juco Jamboree that they could be a Jekyl and Hide team as well. With so much talent in their back court the Beavers will give themselves a chance to win a lot of games and make a post season push. We have them finishing 2nd in the South Coast North Conference with the Beavers making the post season for the 2022-2023 season with all the talent that coach Bryant and his staff has put together.
STLB best college prospect: Devon Jainlett “6-5”
Pasadena (1-26): The Lancers had a season to forget a year ago after winning one game last year. Pasadena stepped on the floor 27 times and lost 26 times and went 0-8 in the South Coast North Conference. After the season, the Lancers brought in Ryan Frazer was named the head coach after having a successful campaign at MiraCosta and leading the Spartans to the Elite Eight. Coming into the new season, the Lancers return two players from last season. “6-0” Jordan Flowers (14.9 points) and “5-10” Brandon Torimaru (8.6 points) are two back court players that return for their sophomore seasons. Frazer added a lot of experience and brought over three transfers from his Elite squad as “6-4” Jonathan Tchengang (3.2 points), “6-9” Nigel Wilson (4.2 points) and pass first point guard “6-2” Jayden Winfrey (3.9 points) are coming over from MiraCosta. They will add their winning experience to the squad for the upcoming season. “6-5” Marquise Nellom, “6-1” Caleb Gerber (4.0 points) comes over from Golden West JC and midrange specalist “6-2” Rande Harper comes into the program from Columbia Greene CC. “6-3” Nurridin Abdur-Rahmann (Atlantic County Tech), “6-8” John Parmeter-Zapata (North Tahoe HS) will add size to the front court and “6-2” Myles Watkins (Centennial HS) are all freshman that will look to contribute in their freshmen season.
Projection: There is no doubt in our minds that Pasadena will be a much improved team. The 2022-2023 Lancers have brought in guys that have been to the Elite Eight and a returner that has shown the ability to score the basketball, and some other pieces that will make them an improved team. I really like the back court of the Lancers and Nigel Wilson is a big that impacts the defensive end but will it be enough to make a post season run. We project that Pasadena will finish in 3rd place in the conference this upcoming season but it would not surprise us if they do finish 2nd and make the post season.
STLB best college prospect: “6-2” Rande Harper Jr.
Mt. San Antonio (19-8): The Mounties will look to repeat the success that they had a season ago winning 19 games and making a post season appearance. Mt. San Antonio picked up a first round victory against Mt. San Jacinto before losing in the 2nd round against a very good Fullerton team. The Mounties finished in 2nd place in the South Coast North and had a great year in 2021-2022. Mt. San Antonio lost some key pieces from last seasons team including leading scorer Shaquil Bender who transferred to Fullerton College. The Mounties lost two other players that averaged in double figures along but return three players from the 19 win team. “6-5” LJ McClain (7.9 points), “6-0” Noah Laurie (3.2 points) and a much improved “6-9” Matt Brown (3.2 points) return for their sophomore seasons. Brown showed a very nice outside touch and McClain played well for the Mounties at the Juco jamboree last month. “6-4” Mikah Grander (Hesperia HS), “6-5” Nick Hopkins (Aquinas HS), “6-2” Cross Granger (JW North HS), “6-4” Pearce Johnson (Diamond Ranch HS) and “6-2” sophomore transfer Jalen Milner will all be newcomers to the Mounties for the 2022-2023 season.
Projection: This upcoming season could be a different type of season for the Mounties. Mt. San Antonio lost a lot of pieces (Hunter, Bender, Brown, etc) to their puzzle that went well last season and will look to stay competitive for the upcoming season. Brown and McClain will have solid seasons and we expect Hopkins and Gardner to step up as freshmen but not a lot of depth in their front court will hurt the Mounties. We expect Mt. San Antonio to drop in the standings and project them to finish fourth in the South Coast North Conference in the 2022-2023 season.
STLB best College prospect: Mikah Gardner “6-4” freshman
Rio Hondo (4-24): The Roadrunners will look to have an improved season from a year ago after Rio Hondo won four games in the 2021-2022 season. Rio Hondo finished South Coast North Conference in fourth place after going 2-6 picking up both wins against Pasadena. Coming into the new season, the Roadrunners lose four players that averaged in double figures but leading the list of returnees is “6-1” sophomore guard Alwyn Saddler. The guard was 3rd in scoring on the team last season averaging 11.9 points and 4.0 rebounds a year ago. “6-1” George Ashley (9.1 points), “6-4” Daniel Liese, and “6-5” Andre Batiste (9.0 points and 6.0 rebounds) will add some depth to the front court for the upcoming season. Rio Hondo will welcome in “6-6” Max Morelli a transfer from Clark CC, “6-0” Colby Evans (Dominguez), “6-3” Myles Jones (Rancho Cucamonga), “6-1” Sebastain Loera (Schurr HS), “6-5” Isaac Mucino (Sierra Vista HS), “6-7” Axel Perez (La Serna HS), and “6-5” Kobe Headspeth (Mayfair HS) to the 2022-2023 roster.
Projection: Coming into the new season, the Roadrunners lost a lot of scoring from a year ago but do return four players from a year ago. Rio Hondo lacks depth and it will hurt them in a much improved South Coast North Conference. The Roadrunners have two back court players that have the ability to put the ball in the basket but will it be enough to compete throughout the season. We see the Roadrunners finishing in 5th place in the South Coast North Conference in the 2022-2023 season.
STLB best College Prospect: “6-5″ Andre Batiste
STLB All South Coast North preseason 2022-2023 All Conference team
G: John Sanders (East Los Angeles)
G: Devon Jainlett (Los Angeles Trade Tech)
G: Rande Harper Jr. (Pasadena)
W: Tyrelle Hunt (East Los Angeles)
F: JT Langston (East Los Angeles)
Other Players to consider: Matt Brown (Mt. San Antonio), Nick Hopkins (Mt. San Antonio), EJ Evans (LA Trade), Roland McDougal (LA Trade), Omari Ferguson (LA Trade), Brandon Sanders (LA Trade), Mikah Gardner (Mt. San Antonio), Nigel Wilson (Pasadena), Jayden Winfrey (Pasadena), Alwyn Saddler (Rio Hondo), Max Morelli (Rio Hondo), Noel Scott (ELAC), Greg Melvin (ELAC), Donjae Lindsey (ELAC).
Signal The Light Basketball South Coast North Projection
1. East Los Angeles
2. Los Angeles Trade Tech
3. Pasadena
4. Mt. San Antonio
5. Rio Hondo
