Mitchell named STLB Socal Freshman of the Year

Signal The Light Basketball Southern California Freshman of the Year

F- JJ Mitchell (Citrus) “6-7”: Mitchell had a standout freshman season for the Owls and was a big part of their conference championship team this past season. Mitchell averaged 15.0 points and 8.5 rebounds for the Owls in his first season. The first year standout shot 51% from the floor and 26% from the three point line last season for the 21-8 Owls. Mitchell scored 20 or more points five times last season and scored in double figures in 22 games. The standout forward had a season high of 27 points last season and put together 10 double doubles. Mitchell had a season high of 17 rebounds in the playoffs and posted a 16 point, 16 rebound game against a very talented West Los Angeles team. Mitchell ended the season 21st in the state in offensive rebounding, 34th in rebounds per game and was selected 1st team all conference in the Western State South Conference in the 2023-2024 season.

Signal The Light Basketball Southern California All Freshman 1st team

G: Christian Watson (Fullerton) “6-5”: Watson had a standout freshman season for the Hornets and helped lead Fullerton to an Final Four appearance in his first season in Orange County. The Most Valuable Player of the Orange Empire Conference averaged 11.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists in his first season for the Hornets. Watson shot 56% from the floor, was 2nd on the team in scoring, 1st in assists and 1st in rebounding for one of the best teams in the state. Watson scored in double figures in 22 games, scored 20 or more points three times and scored a season high of 22 points against Saddleback in conference action.

G- Charlie Gehler (San Diego Miramar) “6-5”: Gehler was a standout for the Jets after having a solid freshman season. The guard averaged 17.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists for the Jets in the 2023-2024 season and was a first team Pacific Coast Athletic Conference selection. Gehler shot 44% from the floor, 39% from the three point line in his first season for the Jets. The super freshman scored in double figures 25 times, scored 20 or more points nine times and posted a season high of 28 points on two different occasions in the 2023-2024 season. Gehler was 26th in the state in defensive rebounds, and made 64 three pointers for the Jets. The shooting guard had a solid season for the Jets and helped lead them to a playoff appearance and 17 wins in his freshman campaign.

G: Daniel Michelini-Jackson (East Los Angeles) “6-5”: The freshman led the Huskies in scoring and was a key piece for the Huskies success in the 23-24 season. Michelini-Jackson averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game for the Huskies. The freshman shot 49% from the floor, 37% from three point range and 90% from the foul line in his first season. Michelini-Jackson scored 20 or more six times and had a season high of 31 points against Los Angeles Harbor in non conference action. The wing was named to the South Coast North All Conference team and led the state in free throw percentage and was very close to a 50/40/90 season in his first season for the Huskies.

F: JJ Mitchell: (SEE ABOVE)

F- Kaden Minter (Santa Ana) “6-7”: The freshman had a standout season for the Dons in his first season in Orange County. Minter averaged 19.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in his first season in southern California. Minter shot 48% from the field, 37% from downtown and 82% from the line for the Dons. The forward scored in double figures 24 times, scored 20 or more points twelve times, scored 30 or more points four times and scored a season high of 41 points against Saddleback in the last game of the season in conference action. Minter was named to the Orange Empire Conference all conference team. Minter added seven double doubles to his impressive resume at the offensive end and the forward was a key player for the Dons in his freshman season.

Signal The Light Basketball Southern California All Freshmen 2nd Team

G: Tyson Jackson (Glendale) “5-10”: The freshman point guard had a standout season for the Vaqueros after leading the team to a playoff appearance. Jackson averaged 18.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in his first season. The guard shot 43% from the floor and 38% from downtown in his freshman campaign. Jackson scored in double figures in 27 games, scored 20 or more points eleven times, and scored a season high of 30 points against Golden West. The guard made a three pointer in 26 of his 29 games and was an all conference selection in the Western State South Conference in the 2023-2024 season.

G: Avi Halpert (Moorpark) “5-11”: Halpert helped lead Moorpark to a very successful season as the freshman led the Raiders in scoring in his first season. Halpert averaged 18.3 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game in his freshman season. The guard shot 47% from the floor and 41% from downtown for the Raiders. Halpert scored in double figures in 24 games, scored 20 or more points twelve times, scored 30 or more points twice and had a season high of 42 points against Santa Ana in non conference action. The guard was an all conference selection in the Western State North Conference, 17th in the state in assists, and 3rd in the state in free throw percentage as the freshman shot 90% from the line.

G: Mac West (Santa Ana) “6-4”: The guard had a standout season for the Dons after posting solid numbers in his freshman season. West averaged 16.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game for the Dons in his first season. The standout guard shot 42% from the floor and 29% from downtown and scored in double figures in 23 games last season. West scored 20 or more points seven times and had a season high of 29 points against Rio Hondo and Moorpark in non conference action. The guard was selected to the 2nd team all conference in the Orange Empire Conference after having a solid 2023-2024 season for the Dons.

F: Dylan Swillis (Pasadena) “6-5”: The standout from Fresno had a solid freshman season for the Lancers after averaging in double figures last season. Swillis averaged 11.7 points and 6.5 rebounds and helped lead the Lancers to a post season appearance. The forward shot 53% from the floor and made an impact on the glass on the offensive side of the basketball. Swillis scored in double figures 20 times during the season and posted 10 or more rebounds six times in his freshman season. Swillis had an eleven game stretch where he scored in double figures, was 22nd in the state in offensive rebounding and also had 45 steals on the season for the Lancers. Swillis was named to the honorable mention team in the South Coast North Conference after having a solid freshman season.

C: David Solomon (Santa Monica) “6-8”: The big man had a solid season for the Corsairs in his first season in Southern California. Solomon averaged 10.9 points and 7.2 rebounds in his freshman campaign and was a force for the Corsairs. Solomon shot 57% from the floor, scored in double figures 16 times and scored a season high of 24 points against Rio Hondo. Solomon was a first team all conference selection in the Western State South Conference in the 2023-2024 season and 24th in the state in field goal percentage and finished 18th in the state in offensive rebounds in his first season.

Signal The Light Basketball Honorable Mention Freshmen

Xa Landry (Antelope Valley), Malik Larane (Antelope Valley), Anthony Prestia (Barstow), Jalen Blanchard (Barstow), Trent Gordon (Cerro Coso), Josh Barnett (Canyons), Dillon Botts (Cerritos), Shadale Knight (Chaffey), Uriyah Rojas (Chaffey), Nate Simon (Chaffey), Mourad Toure (Chaffey), Brandon Suber (Citrus), Malik Khouzam (Citrus), Jontue Cooper (Compton), DJ Ralston (Copper Mountain), Luke George (Copper Mountain), Jamier Sykes (Cuyamaca), Peyton Guerrero (Cypress), Ethan Walker (Cuesta), Jamerson McClendon (Desert), Dylan Godfrey (East Los Angeles), Shamar Carter (El Camino), Wilfred Weir (Desert), Addy G’bye (Fullerton), JQ Strong (Fullerton), Karson Peffer (Glendale), Jacob Vargas (Imperial Valley), Ammon Allan (Irvine Valley), Marques Calcote (LA Harbor), Ijezie Anopueme (LA Harbor), Omar Gardner (LA Southwest), Ronnie Davis (LA Trade Tech), Johnathan Fields (LA Trade Tech), Kane Young (Long Beach), Kory Blunt (Los Angeles Valley), Franklyn Chambers (Long Beach), Kason White (Long Beach), Jacob Topete (Long Beach), Caleb Shepherd (LA City), Makael Reynolds (LA City), Kenji Cooper (Moorpark), Jerimiyah Smith (Mt. San Antonio), Mitchell Rawlins (Orange Coast), Daniel Ortiz (Oxnard), Jacorey Foster (Palo Verde), Jaylen Ayala (Palo Verde), JD Carr (Palo Verde), Jalen Vazquez (Pasadena), James Barker (Rio Hondo), Shaquille Samuels (Riverside), Andre Speight (Saddleback), Charlie Stallings (Saddleback), Isaiah Baker (San Diego Mesa), Jason Lee (San Bernardino), Chanel Mballa (San Diego Mesa), Ja’Von Maxwell (Santa Ana), William Pace (Santa Barbara), Ethan Boness (Santa Barbara), Jason Hilliard (Santa Monica), Mike Hill (Santa Monica), Eli Arthurton (Santiago Canyon), Tony Colley (Santiago Canyon), Trevor Manning (Santiago Canyon), Chico Lopez (Santiago Canyon), Jason Lee (San Bernardino), Ayden Lockett (Southwestern), Vernon Henry (Ventura), Reese Widerburg (Ventura), Sheldon Grant (Victor Valley), Mardochee Sambou (Victor Valley), Jordan Malveaux (Victor Valley).