Sunday's Nor Cal JUCO Jamboree

Standard Disclaimer: try not to read too much into the wins and losses and player outputs from this weekend's Nor Cal JUCO Jamboree at City College of San Francisco because a goodly number of reserves received playing time plus some teams were missing talents due to injury.

Having typed the above, there is no jinx connected to being highlighted on this blog vis-a-vis being on the cover of Sports Illustrated so here goes: City College of San Francisco has to be the pre-season favorite in northern California, no ifs, ands or buts With the Big Three -- Trevor Dunbar, Jalen Canty, Shon Briggs -- finally on the court, plus Tulsa transfer Keondre Dew, the Rams pressed opponents into usually resounding defeat. El Camino College in particular as the Southlanders trailed 56-10 at halftime while seemingly ignoring the fact of being pressed and that a double-team trap was coming after each in-bounds pass.

Here's a stream of consciousness, hopefully coherent, series of thoughts and observations from the day:

Out of Marysville High, freshman point Danny Lewis looks to be a starter for Butte College. The Roadrunners under Coach Russ Critchfield look to have a solid combination of talents and weapons and taking the Golden Valley Conference once again seems very do-able.

Contra Costa College Comet sophomore Deonte Smith is a keeper. He's listed at 6-foot-7 and provides an inside presence defensively for Coach Miguel Johnson as well as solid work on the boards. Does CCC have enough consistent outside shooting is a valid question?

It is simply just fun to watch point Frankie Ferrari play and he's on the court for the Cañada Colts this season. It appears he and his teammates are already on the same page. Sophomore backcourter Crisshawn Clark provided a highlight Sunday when he used a backdoor cut to grab a lob pass and slam it down, being way over the rim.  Coach Mike Reynoso's guys aren't big but cohesive and oozing hustle.

5-foot-11 sophomore George Johnson is understandably the starting point for College of Marin -- he plays calm and under control, penetrating, drawing defenders and kicking the ball out and appears stronger than before. By the way, former Riordan High talent Robert Colton is with Coach Dave Granucci and the Mariners.

Good to see Matthew (Newark Memorial High) Thomas back on the court and playing for Coach Keenan McMiller and Merritt College.

Liked the play of Monterey Peninsula College sophomore point DeOndre Otis. He had a good all around showing for Coach Blake Spiering on Sunday, looking very comfortable and also stronger than before.

It's worth noting that the CCSF roster has just two non-qualifiers and just one player from outside the Bay Area/northern California. Jerrod Nodar and Jashandeep Kahlon were in civies and the Coach Justin Labagh's Rams still put the hammer to opponents.

San Jose City College will be a fascinating team to follow this season, one tied to the performance of 6-foot-10 sophomore Akil Douglas. In the first game of the day against Porterville, he was 'en fuego' from mid-range to long distance. Not as much later versus Marin. Listed at 210 pounds and that seems a stretch, he's still a twig who needs to become a branch with his body. Douglas definitely prefers to go left and can be knocked off balance fairly easily on a dribble-drives but he's so tantalizing as a face-up four. His build screams redshirt year at a four-year college next season. Speed City appears to lack outside shooters this season which is really unusual.

A Special Note: didn't get his name but a coach from Dominican University stood the entire day while watching games. Word is he now has an agent and will star alongside Robert Downey Jr. in the next "Iron Man" film.