Sabrina Ionescu was one of the greatest athletes in Bay Area high school basketball history as a star at Miramonte. Over the past three years, the showcase that bears her name has featured some of the best talent in the region.
That’s no different in 2024, when Carondelet will pair with its Concord neighbor, De La Salle, to host an all-day hoops showcase.
The nation’s No. 1 team, Archbishop Mitty, will play University-San Francisco at 5 p.m. UConn commit Morgan Cheli and five-star sophomore McKenna Woliczko have led the Monarchs to a 14-0 record.
Reigning state Division I champion Oakland Tech, led by super-sophomore forwards Jhai Johnson and Terri’A Russell, will take on McClatchy-Sacramento.
Central Coast Section power Pinewood will face potential NorCal Open team St. Mary’s-Stockton and its Texas-bound standout Jordan Lee, and Ionescu’s alma mater, Miramonte, will face Washington-Fremont.
Host Carondelet, which is led by Ionescu’s high school coach, Kelly Sopak, will play Valley Vista-Arizona on Friday and St. Patrick-St. Vincent on Saturday.
Meanwhile, a plethora of strong boys teams will play in Crush in the Valley showcase at Contra Costa College in San Pablo.
The Bay Area’s No. 1-ranked boys team, Salesian, will meet Millennium-Arizona. The Pride is 19-1, which includes an impressive victory over Archbishop Riordan on Monday at De La Salle’s MLK Classic.
Riordan, which bounced back Tuesday to win a big league game at Mitty, will play Centennial-Corona at the Crush.
Riordan has future Saint Mary’s player Zion Sensley. Centennial boasts UCLA commit Eric Feeney and Arizona commit Carter Bryant.
Prolific Prep will play Dream City Christian at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, with the Napa prep school boasting the top player in the class of 2025 (A.J Dybantsa) and 2026 (Tyran Stokes).
Prolific Prep, which also has former Half Moon Bay standout Jaeden Hutchins on its roster, will play Friday and Sunday, too.
Here is the schedule for this weekend’s two showcases:
Boys basketball
Carondelet’s Sabrina Ionescu showcase
At Carondelet and De La Salle HS
Friday, Jan. 19
Carondelet vs. Valley Vista-Arizona, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 20
Pinole Valley vs. Dublin, 9:30 p.m.
Clayton Valley Charter vs. Granada, 9:30 p.m.
Piedmont vs. Lincoln-Stockton, 11 a.m.
St. Mary’s-Stockton vs. Pinewood, 11 a.m.
Liberty vs. Alameda, 12:30 p.m.
Miramonte vs. Washington-Fremont, 12:30 p.m.
Carondelet vs. St. Patrick-St. Vincent, 2 p.m.
Oakland Tech vs. McClatchy, 2 p.m.
Maria Carillo vs. Clovis West, 3:30 p.m.
Caruthers vs. Valley Vista, 3:30 p.m.
Archbishop Mitty vs. University, 5 p.m.
Branson vs. Campolindo, 5 p.m.
Folsom vs. Archbishop Riordan, 6:30 p.m.
Cardinal Newman vs. Priory, 6:30 p.m.
Marin Catholic vs. Cornerstone Christian, 8 p.m.
Redwood vs. Salesian, 8 p.m.
Boys basketball
Crush in the Valley showcase
At Contra Costa College
Friday, Jan. 19
Prolific Prep Green vs. DNA Prep, 3 p.m.
Golden State Prep Grey vs. William Jessup, 4:15 p.m.
Western Canada Prep vs. Golden State Prep Black, 6:30 p.m.
Accelerated Prep-Colorado vs. Bella Vista-Arizona, 8:15 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 20
Moreau Catholic vs. Fortune School, 10 a.m.
Bishop O’Dowd vs. St. Patrick-St. Vincent, 11:30 a.m.
Monterey Trail vs. Branson, 1 p.m.
Vanden vs. Clovis North, 2:30 p.m.
Millennium-Arizona vs. Salesian, 4:15
Prolific Prep vs. Dream City Christian-Arizona, 6:15 p.m.
Centennial-Corona vs. Archbishop Riordan, 8 p.m.
Weston Ranch vs. Bullard, 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 21
Simpson vs. Prolific Prep Green, 9 a.m.
Golden State Prep Black vs. Golden State Prep Grey, 10:45 a.m.
DNA Prep vs. Western Canada Prep, 12:30 p.m.
Dream City Christian vs. Accelerated Prep, 2:15 p.m.
Bella Vista Prep vs. Prolific Prep, 4 p.m.
Source: www.mercurynews.com