Key Players: PF Ivan Rabb 6-10 2015 (No. 10 Hoop Scoop, Cal-Hi Sports State Junior of the Year, Student Sports Second Team All-American); PG Paris Austin 5-11 2015 (No. 142 Hoop Scoop, Boise St., St. Mary’s, Montana offers).
Why This Ranking: The Dragons are big, have loaded up on their schedule and have one of the better inside-outside combos in the country in Rabb and Austin.O’Dowd also gained valuable experience at last year’s Tarkanian Classic, where it took FAB 50 No. 2 Mater Dei to overtime and defeated No. 4 Bishop Gorman in the third place game. The Dragons also have plenty of incentive after losing the rematch to Mater Dei in the CIF Open Division state title game in which Rabb did not shoot well from the field and the team missed critical free throws. Rabb was up and down during the summer, but he’s dominant for the Dragons and gives them a big advantage against all in-state foes. Against the national teams O’Dowd faces, Rabb will have more help this year inside with senior newcomer Arinze Chidom (6-8) and Isaiah Thomas (6-8) joining the fold after sitting out last season.Coach Lou Richie also has a 7-footer at his disposal in junior Mike Hauser, who could prove valuable when O’Dowd travels to the Iolani Classic, Bass Pro TOC and Hoophall Classic.
The Skinny: Give O’Dowd credit; it scheduled to make a run at the mythical national title and has earned the highest preseason national ranking for a NorCal team since 1991-92 when Jason Kidd was at Alameda St. Joseph. If the outside shooting comes through, this team is going to be really tough to beat. The country knows about Rabb, but Richie feels the biggest improvement comes from Austin in the form of maturity, leadership and setting the bar by example. “He’s the best point guard in the state,” Richie said. O’Dowd will have to jell right away because the Dragons face No. 4 Bishop Gorman on November 29 at the NorCal Tip-Off Classic and face No. 1 Montverde Academy on the road on December 12.
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