Crespi's Sterling among top freshmen making noise
Just when you thought he couldn't do it again, Crespi's Joe Sterling would sink a 3-pointer more purely than the last.
The standout freshman made six 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 36 points to anchor the Celts to a 72-71 win over Simi Valley in a boys basketball game Tuesday night.
Malakai Perrantes made two free throws with just 1.6 seconds left to win the game. Perrantes is a freshman, too.
You can already hear the Crespi student section chanting “He's a freshman, he's a freshman” at home games as the season goes on.
As impressive as the 36 points was, what might be more impressive was Sterling's ability to eke out a win without Crespi's best player. Peyton White, the Daily News Freshman of the Year last season, was held out due to an ankle injury.
Chatsworth freshman Alijah Arenas has been scoring in bunches, too. He's the son of former Grant High standout Gilbert Arenas, who went on to be an
All-Star in the NBA. Alijah Arenas scored 35 points in a game against North Hollywood and tallied 27 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Sun Valley Poly on Tuesday.
Sterling and Arenas are the early front-runners for this season's Daily News Freshman of the Year award, but the season is young and there are many other talented local freshmen expected to contribute to their varsity squad.
Harvard-Westlake's Dominique Bentho is a 6-foot-8 forward who adds depth, size and strength to an already savvy, talented Wolverines roster.
Amir Jones is a freshman for Harvard-Westlake to keep an eye on.
Nick Giarusso at Oaks Christian could be the team's most talented player and could evolve into the goto playmaker. Giarusso has scored double digits in the Lions' past two wins.
Heritage Christian's Delan Grant and Birmingham's Caleb Newton will play key minutes. Notre Dame guard Zach White, who started at the beginning of the season when the team was waiting for players to get eligible, is a long, athletic and active player.