One of high school basketball’s biggest headlines was the departure of No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes, and it happened two weeks before the season even started. The 6-foot-7 forward was facing disciplinary issues that eventually forged his decision to withdraw from Notre Dame, according to the school’s statement.
Stokes ended up in Seattle, at Rainier Beach.
Stokes is gone, so how will Notre Dame (3-1) adjust to the absence of prep basketball’s most talented force? He did help the Knights reach the CIF Southern Section Open Division final last year.
The answer: They’re adjusting nicely with the emergence of NaVorro Bowman Jr., who is one of the best point guards on the West Coast. The junior standout is a four-star recruit with offers from TCU, Illinois, Penn State, Cal, USC and Villanova.
Bowman Jr. is the son of former NFL linebacker NaVorro Bowman, who played for the 49ers and Raiders. He’s now the linebackers coach for the Chargers.
Through the season’s first four games, Bowman Jr. is showing he’s comfortable stepping into a bigger role — essentially being the Knights’ best player. He’s averaging 28 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He scored 36 points in the team’s loss to top-ranked Santa Margarita, 77-73, at Pauley Pavilion on Nov. 22.
Coach Matt Sargeant has a team capable of winning the Mission League title and the Open Division crown. And has San Diego State commit Zach White running the wing and do-it-all perimeter player Josiah Nance is set to return from injury this month.
MCCOY, STERLING LEADING TOP TEAMS
Sierra Canyon (4-0) continues to flex its muscles through the first two weeks of the season, and newcomer Brandon McCoy Jr. looks like he’s ready to help college basketball teams right now.
He continued his dunkfest season this past Saturday night when he scored 27 points — with eight dunks — in the Trailblazers’ 77-43 rout of Cleveland. Sierra Canyon’s only quality win came against JSerra on Nov. 22 at Pauley Pavilion, where McCoy had nine dunks.
Sierra Canyon’s schedule will ramp up when it takes on Rancho Christian, Bishop O’Dowd and Crean Lutheran on Dec. 10, 13 and 20 at home before traveling to Oregon to play in the Les Schwab Invitational after Christmas.
Harvard-Westlake guard Joe Sterling is heating up. The Texas commit has scored 31, 29 and 23 points in the team’s last three wins, respectively. The Wolverines beat two Nevada teams over the weekend in Bishop Gorman and Coronado.
Harvard-Westlake (4-1) has a nice home stretch against La Mirada on Tuesday, Long Beach Poly on Thursday and Bakersfield Christian on Dec. 9.
DIAPER DANDY FOR VILLAGE CHRISTIAN
Will Conroy Jr. is looking like the area’s best freshman so far this season. He’s averaging 24 points per game through the Crusaders’ first three games while shooting 48% from the field and 37.5% from downtown. He’s shooting 90% from the free-throw line.
Village Christian, No. 6 in the Daily News’ latest rankings, has a chance to show it’s a Division 1-level playoff team with a win over Crespi at home this week. Coach Julian Andrade has put together a tough nonleague schedule to test his team, including games against Notre Dame (Dec. 9) and Santa Margarita (Dec. 12).
Conroy Jr. is the son of former NBA player and current USC men’s basketball assistant Will Conroy.