We continue our 2013-14 team previews with a look at Damien of La Verne, Calif., which won its first CIF Southern Section title last season with a young club. Throughout October, we’ll preview many of the top teams from across the country as a countdown to the release of our preseason 2013-14 Student Sports FAB 50.
Note: All information that follows came from a questionnaire that was sent to and returned by the school’s head coach. If you would like your school to be profiled, please return the questionnaire that was mailed out earlier this month or it can be filled out online.
The information can also be emailed to editor Ronnie Flores: ronnie@studentsports.com. StudentSportsBasketball.com thanks the programs that have submitted information.
Team Name: Damien (La Verne, Calif.)
Head Coach: Matt Dunn (201-96 at Damien, 228-119 overall)
2012-13 Record: 26-7, 18-8 (J.V.), 21-4 (Frosh.)
Final Ranking: N/A
Returning Starters: 3
Returning Lettermen: 9
Players Most Deserving of Preseason Honors: G Jeremy Hemsley 6-3 2015 (CIFSS Div. III-AA POY, CalHiSports.com All-State Soph., No. 39 Hoop Scoop Top 100), W Malik Fitts 6-5 2015, G Micah Robinson 6-2 2015.
Newcomers Who Could Make An Impact: G Bryce Peters 6-3 2016.
Coach’s General Outlook: We have a very athletic and skilled team. We also have experience, as six returnees played on the school’s first CIFSS championship team. I do think we can be one of California’s better teams and should be ranked. Our main weakness is obvious — we don’t have anyone with experience who is over 6-foot-5.
Events Scheduled To Play In: APU Showcase vs. Mission Viejo (Azusa, Calif.), Los Osos MLK Event, North Orange County Tournament.
Team(s) On Schedule Deserving of Ranking: Chino Hills (Chino Hills, Calif.), St. Augustine (San Diego, Calif.)
StudentSportsBasketball.com Comments: Damien rode some clutch play by Hemsley to the CIFSS Division III-AA title, but it is going to need some big wins and a bit of luck to be FAB 50 ranked. Coach Dunn mentions Chino Hills (led by elite 2016 Lonzo Ball) as a team that should be ranked and with good reason — that program won the Sierra League title and swept second-place Damien in league play. In the CIFSS, teams in the same league are not always played in the same playoff division and Damien took advantage. Hemsley made a national name for himself on the summer grassroots circuit and Damien won’t be sneaking up on any opponents in the events it plays in. The Spartans also have to display the ability to defeat teams with more size, beginning with league foe Chino Hills.
Fast Fact: Jeremy Hemsley is the nephew of football-basketball standout Roy Hemsley of Windward (Los Angeles). Both 2015 players elevated their national stock this summer and Roy Hemsley is rapidly turning into a bonafide football recruit for the small school on L.A.’s Westside.
Send corrections or comments to ronnie@studentsports.com and be sure to leave a comment that others can check out.
RELATED: FAB 50 Consideration Form
2013-2014 Team Previews
Desert Pines (Las Vegas) CLICK HERE
Rainier Beach (Seattle) CLICK HERE
Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) CLICK HERE
Leave a Reply