The honors continue to roll in for senior Jeremy Hemsley of Damien and junior Lonzo Ball of Chino Hills. They were among the seven players from Southern California who were named recipients of the prestigious John R. Wooden Award.
Ball, who has committed to UCLA, was singled out among those in all Division 1 schools. He has almost single-handedly lifted the Huskies into a spot in the CIF Division I state championship game at 8 p.m. Friday at Cal-Berkeley.
Hemsley, who has signed with San Diego State, has propelled the Spartans to the state title game in Division III. Damien finished first in the incredibly tough Baseline League, which includes Chino Hills and perennial title contender Etiwanda.
Damien plays for the Division III state title at 4 p.m. Friday.
Ball and Hemsley earned first-team All-CIF honors in their respective divisions earlier this week.
Damien moves to No. 1
The Damien boys volleyball team moved up to No. 1 in this week’s CIF-SS Division 5 poll.
The Spartans (8-4) graduated a dominant player in Erik Leggio but they have more depth, so coach Randy Bohlmann is optimistic.
“We have a lot of depth with about 10 guys that are playing a lot,” he said. “We may not have that one dominant guy, but we’re more balanced.”
The team is led by senior setter Christian Hernandez. Among the other returners is junior libero Nick Hibshman.
Contributors to the offense include junior outside hitter Chris Mercado, junior rightside Mike Spinney and senior opposite Chris Jorritsma.
There are also two freshman seeing significant playing time — Andrew McCarson and Daniel Enriquez.
The team isn’t even at full strength yet, as senior middle John Prata is still with the state-bound basketball team.
Campos picks college
Upland High School volleyball standout Alex Campos has chosen to attend NAIA Hope International University. She played for Upland for three years after transferring from Los Osos following her freshman year.
Campos, a 5-foot-5 setter, was also considering Lourdes (Ohio) and Notre Dame de Namur in the Bay Area. She visited all three schools.
“It’s close to home and the volleyball program is pretty good,” she said of the decision.
Campos, a first-team All-Baseline League selection, plans to major in psychology.
Navarro honored
Los Osos baseball standout Niko Navarro has been named CalHi Sports Southern California Baseball Player of the Week.
Navarro, a third baseman who has committed to San Diego State, hit three home runs in one game, a win over Etiwanda in which he went 4 for 5 with six RBIs.
Hoops coach resigns
Western Christian boys basketball coach Lester Simpson has resigned, Athletic Director Jose Ramirez confirmed.
Simpson headed the program for three years, his teams going 25-43 in that stretch. The best season came in 2013-2014, when the Lancers went 16-7 overall and placed second in the Ambassador League.
The past season was a rebuilding one and the squad went 1-20.
Ramirez said the position has already been flown inside. It is now open to outside applicants.
