Odunewu is STLB Norcal Freshman of the Year

Signal The Light Basketball Northern California Freshman of the Year:

Shakir Odunewu (West Valley) “6-11”: One of the most dominant players in the state as the big man was a big reason why the Vikings won the state championship. Odunewu averaged 16.8 points and 10.0 rebounds in his first season in Saratoga and was named 1st team all conference in the Coast South Conference. Odunewu shot 63% from the floor (8th in the state), 2nd in offensive rebounds (127), 11th in defensive rebounds and 3rd in total rebounds. The big man scored in double figures in all 32 games he played in and had 20 or more points four times and he had a season high of 31 points against Foothill in which he was 13 of 14 from the floor. Odunewu had 16 double doubles and had a season high of 18 rebounds in a win against Chabot in non conference action and had a five game stretch where he was 42 of 48 from the floor. The freshman big was the best big man in the state and is expected to receive plenty of division one interest moving forward in his career.

Signal The Light Basketball Northern California Freshman 1st Team

G- Achilles Woodson (Skyline) “6-0”: One of the standout freshman in the state and the guard helped lead the Trojans to a playoff appearance and 19 wins. The guard was selected to the Coast North all conference team after averaging 16.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Woodson scored in double figures in 28 of his 29 games and shot 42% from the floor and 32% from downtown. The guard scored 20 or more times eight times and had a season high of 26 points against Solano. Woodson also had six double doubles, was 17th in the state in defensive rebounds and had a great freshman season for the Trojans.

G: Jalen Cunningham (Cabrillo) “6-2”: The freshman from Las Vegas had a standout season for the Seahawks. Cunningham was the 2nd leading scorer of the team after averaging 14.5 points per game and the guard also brought 3.6 rebounds to the table in his first season for the Seahawks. The shooter made 47% from the floor and also shot 44% from downtown in his freshman campaign. Cunningham made 91 three pointers on the season and made four or more three pointers in ten games this past season. The shooting guard was 5th in the state in three pointers made, scored 20 or more points eight times during the season and on the defensive side of the ball he was 25th in the state in steals. Cunningham was named to the 2nd team in the Coast South Conference after having a very good freshman season Seahawks that made a trip to the Elite Eight.

G: Rashaud Bradley (Columbia) “6-3” : Bradley had a standout season for the Claim Jumpers and was named to the Central Valley Conference first team. Bradley averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists in his first season in Sonora. Bradley shot 52% from the floor 35% from downtown and scored in double digits 26 times in his freshman campaign. The guard scored 20 or more points eleven times and scored a season high of 34 points against West Hills Lemoore in conference action. Bradley also had a 31 point performance against Sequoias and had a standout season for the Claim Jumpers in the 2023-2024 season.

F: James Nichols (West Hills Lemoore) “6-7”: Nichols had a standout season for the Golden Eagles after the freshman was named 1st team all conference in the Central Valley Conference. The freshman from Florida, averaged 15.9 points and 10.9 rebounds in his first season. Nichols shot 59% from the floor and also shot 38% from downtown for the Golden Eagles. Nichols scored in double figures 21 times in his first season, scored 20 or more points ten times and had a season high of 32 points against West Hills Coalinga. Nichols had 18 double doubles and posted a season high of 16 rebounds twice during the 2023-2024 season. The freshman was 9th in the state in offensive rebounds, 5th in the state in defensive rebounds, 5th in the state in rebounds per game and was 16th in the state in blocks in his first season in Lemoore.

C: Shakir Odunewu (West Valley) “6-9”: (SEE ABOVE)

Signal The Light Basketball Northern Calfornia Freshman All 2nd Team

G- Sidney Duplessis (Sacramento) “5-11”: The freshman guard had a standout and was a key piece for the Panthers in the 23-24 season. Duplessis was the 2nd leading scorer for the Panthers and helped lead the Panthers to a sweet sixteen appearance and a 26-4 record. Duplessis averaged 20.0 points, 4.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game in his first season. The guard scored in double figures in 29 games and had fifteen games where he scored 20 or more points. The freshman scored a season high of 32 points against Diablo Valley and the guard also was 20th in the state in steals and 7th in the state in overall points in his first season for the Panthers.

G: Jalen Robertson (Los Medanos) “6-2”: The guard had a standout season for the Mustangs as he was part of the three headed scoring punch in 2023-2024 season for Los Medanos. Robertson averaged 15.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists for the Mustangs and the guard was named to the all conference team in the Bay Valley Conference. Robertson scored in double figures in 22 games, scored 20 or more points nine times and had a season high of 30 points against Solano in conference action.

G: Marcellus Edwards (Chabot) “6-3”: Edwards played a key role for the Gladiators last season and helped Chabot to a solid 23-24 campaign. The guard averaged 12.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists and was named 1st team all conference in the Coast North Conference. The freshman shot 48% from the floor and 31% from downtown in his first season in Hayward. Edwards scored in double figures 19 times, scored 20 or more three times and had a season high of 25 points against Las Positas. The freshman was one of four players that averaged in double figures and the guard had a standout season for the Gladiators.

F: Jaden Haire (Sequoias) “6-7“: The freshman from Hanford, California was a key piece for the Giants in his first season in Visalia. Haire averaged 11.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in his first season and was an all conference selection in the Central Valley Conference. Haire shot 52% from the floor and had a solid role for the Giants. Haire was 4th in the state in offensive rebounding and 15th in the state in total rebounding. Haire scored in double figures 22 times and had a season high of 23 points against Columbia in the 2023-2024 season and the freshman had a season high of 15 rebounds against West Hills Lemoore.

F: Trey Booker-Lowery (West Hills Lemoore) “6-6”: One of the most exciting freshman in the state helped lead West Hills Lemoore to a standout season. Booker-Lowery averaged 14.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in his first season in the Central Valley. The forward shot 54% from the floor and shot 33% from downtown for the Golden Eagles. Booker-Lowery scored in double figures 24 times in the 23-24 season, had eight games of 20 or more points and had a season high of 32 points against Los Angeles Harbor. The forward had four double doubles and had a season high of 15 rebounds against Canada in a non conference win. Booker-Lowery is one of the most exciting freshmen in the state and is expected to be a solid prospect next season that should get plenty of attention.

Signal The Light Basketball Freshman Honorable Mention:

Ivan Soto (American River), Rashad Samuels (Butte),Jessy Maximin (Butte), Quentin Henry (Cabrillo), Mikey Pierce (Contra Costa), Jelani Clark (Contra Costa), TJ Steed (Feather River), Bricen Buciak (Gavilan), Elijah Mobley (Las Positas), Justin Aquino (Marin), Kenneth Brown (Monterey), Kayne Gilmore (Ohlone), King Jhsanni-White (San Francisco), Milandev Chatha (Skyline), Marques Greene (West Hills Lemoore), Brylan Lundy (Canada), Luca Joe Ewelt (Canada), Sean Crowley (Canada), Luke Mathiesen (Canada), Michael Wood (Diablo Valley), Elijah Keys (Diablo Valley), Derrick Monroe (Feather River), Miko Bear (Folsom Lake), Yigit Siri (Fresno), Mike Sarden (Fresno), Jacob Taylor (Hartnell), Ethan Hunt (Hartnell), Elliot Mobley (Las Positas), Sterlin Mcclanahan (Las Positas), Qshawn On’gele (Lassen), Tochi Onyeador (Los Medanos), Will Comerford (Merritt), Mohamed Aziz Hantous (Merritt), Lewis Sanchez (Modesto), Matt Gallagher (Monterey), Chris Farrington (Napa Valley), Jerard Jackson (Napa Valley), DeMarcus Allen (Porterville), Owen Patterson (Porterville), Matt Ruegge (Reedley), Jaydden Abuyen (Reedley), Miles Amos (San Francisco), Ray John Spears (San Francisco), Jermaine Haliburton (San Francisco), Davis Crilly (San Jose), Zaden Martin (San Mateo), Jermaine Patton (San Mateo), Andrew Taylor Bryant-Fey (San Mateo), Andrew Pengel (Santa Rosa), Aiden Pearsall-Morgan (Shasta), Benjamin Keown (Shasta), Aidan Carleson (Skyline), Justiz Armstrong-Wilson (Solano) Abram Bennett (Solano), Devan Minouei (Yuba).