Which Stockton ballers will compete in the Battle of NorCal basketball tournament?
Summer hoops in the 209 aren’t done yet as The Battle of NorCal 2023 is set to kick off on Aug. 12.
This all-star-like tournament is hosted by Simply Basketball and is going on its third year after it started in 2019. It pits the best players hailing from Stockton, Central Valley, Sacramento and the Bay Area against each other. All players will be vying for the bragging rights of the kings on the court in NorCal.
“Simply basketball does a great job of covering all of Northern California for the most part,” said Diondre Hawthorne, Edison boys basketball head coach. “They usually pick the players who are projected to be big names in the area and they host this as a way to get ready for the upcoming season.”
The 209 team will take on the Central Valley team while the Bay team takes on the 916 team, the winner of each game will go on to the championship round. Along with the four-team tournament, Simply Basketball will put on a dunk contest and a three-point challenge to round out the festivities.
Here are the Stockton-area players who were selected to represent the 209 as well as some of their accolades from last season.
(Athletes listed in alphabetical order)
Richard Banks
School: Weston Ranch
Year: Senior
Summary: Banks will be the key returner for Weston Ranch this season. Last season the 6-foot 4-inch guard was a bucket getter averaging 13.3 points per game, the second most on the team. With his length and size, he was just as effective on the other side of the ball. He led the Cougars in steals and blocks, racking up nearly 100 steals in his junior campaign. Banks will be a key defender for the 209 team.
Demarcus Cobb
School: Edison
Year: Sophomore
Summary: Cobb is one of three sophomores who were selected to play for the 209 team. As a freshman, he was a starter for Edison and played a vital role in getting the Vikings to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged six points and close to four rebounds per game. He also helped facilitate the Vikings' offense averaging the third most assists per game on the team. With three more seasons to go, Cobb will be a rising star from the 209.
Darrion Lilly
School: Weston Ranch
Year: Junior
Summary: The 209 team will have one of the most keen rebounders on their squad in Lily. Last season he averaged the third most rebounds per game for the Cougars, 4.2. He ended his sophomore season with close to 150 rebounds. Standing at 6-foot-5, Lily will be one of the bigger bodies on the 209 team this year.
Anthony Moore
School: Lincoln
Year: Junior
Summary: As a sophomore, Moore was the go-to guy for Lincoln last season. The 6-foot-5 do-it-all guard led the Trojans’ offense averaging close to 15 points per game. Moore was also the team’s top rebounder reeling in a total of 176 boards. Whenever Lincoln needed a bucket, Moore was either the one scoring or he could set up his teammates. He ended the season with a team-high of 58 assists. Moore will be a player you won’t want to miss from the 209 squad.
Daeleon Neal
School: Edison
Year: Senior
Summary: The Vikings quarterback on the court this season will be Neal after graduating Leon Mills Jr. The 6-foot point guard was running Edison’s offense as a junior reeling in 63 assists and averaging close to three dimes per game. When he’s not getting his teammates involved Neal can do the scoring as well. He finished his junior season with the team’s third-highest field goal percentage of 44%. He will be one of the elite point guards for the 209 team.
Mateen Rafiq
School: Weston Ranch
Year: Senior
Summary: Rafiq has been showing out all summer gaining the eyes of Simply Basketball and recruiters. The 6-foot guard didn't play for Weston Ranch last season but will be an elite transfer to watch in the 2023-24 season. During the summer he competed for the Rose City Ballers AAU team and he was a stat book stuffer. After 12 games he racked up a total of 263 points, 80 assists and 52 rebounds. Rafiq will look to do the same for the 209 team and for the Cougars in the upcoming 2023-24 season.
Quinton Thompson
School: Lincoln
Year: Senior
Summary: Standing at 6-foot-5, Thompson is one of the taller players selected to play for the 209 team. In his junior campaign, he utilized his size to be a big body threat in the paint for the Trojans. He ended the season averaging close to 10 points and four boards per game. In Lincoln’s final game of the 2022-23 season, Thompson dropped a season-high 20 points in its loss against Modesto Chrisitan.
Cayden Ward
School: St. Mary’s
Year: Senior
Summary: You won’t be able to miss 6-foot-5 Ward. For the Rams, last season he was a beast in the paint slamming down put-back shots and snagging rebounds. Ward ended the year leading his team in scoring and rebounding averaging 14.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He played an essential role in his team's SJS Division I playoff run last season. Ward was the only St. Mary’s player to be selected for the 209 team so he will be representing Stockton and the Rams in the tournament.
Mario Williams Jr.
School: Venture Academy
Year: Senior
Summary: Williams is the only Venture Academy baller to be selected to play for the 209 team. The 6-foot-4 guard did it all for the Mustangs helping them secure the Central California Athletic Alliance championship. Williams averaged over 20 points per game while shooting 57% percentage from the field. The lengthy guard also led his team in steals racking up 65 steals last season. He will be a walking bucket for the 209 team this year.
Record reporter Shannon Belt covers sports. She can be reached at sbelt@recordnet.com or on Twitter @ShannonBelt3. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: See which Stockton players will play in Battle of NorCal tournament
