Some high schools still utilize JV teams to develop players

There are high school basketball players, and even parents, who cringe when a coach tells them, “You play on the junior team. »

Yes, times have changed. The days of college programs using JV teams to build their programs are largely gone. Freshmen with potential end up playing in college. Others are placed on freshman teams and try to develop chemistry with other freshmen. The attitude of players and parents is: playing JV is not cool.

But those looking to develop and perhaps improve when their inevitable growth spurt kicks in are missing out on what JV basketball is really for: player development.

It seems to have worked for three varsity stars this season who started on their school’s JV team: Santa Margarita’s Drew Anderson, Harvard-Westlake’s Pierce Thompson and Los Alamitos’ Isaiah Williamson. Fortunately, a little patience from everyone involved gave them the time and opportunity to wait for their bodies to mature and the rest is history. All three will one day play college basketball.

Anderson was 6-foot-3 as a freshman. He’s had a growth spurt and this season is listed at 6-9. He and his family embraced the idea of ​​learning to play on JV. He has now committed to Oregon State and is playing on the Southland’s No. 4 ranked team as a senior.

“My parents were athletes in college,” Anderson said. “They knew that with time I would get better.”

Thompson was a JV guard his freshman year and is unlikely to contribute at the varsity level with many guards ahead of him in the program. Under less pressure, he stood out. This season as a junior, his defensive prowess and three-point shooting make him Harvard-Westlake’s next best guard, following in the footsteps of Trent Perry.

Williamson had the family background to play on varsity as a freshman. His brother, Isaac, was a star guard for state champion Eastvale Roosevelt. But Los Alamitos was loaded with varsity seniors, so the decision was made to be patient and have him play on the JV team. This season, as a sophomore, he has emerged as a standout prospect in the class of 2028. He is a 6-4 lefty who can score from a variety of spots on the court.

Los Alamitos sophomore Isaiah Williamson was a JV player last season.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Harvard-Westlake and coach David Rebibo are a program that still believes in using the JV team to develop its players. He has five outstanding freshmen on a JV team this season that is 24-0. They embraced their journey of preparing to play in college next season.

Freshman Dekoda Ray led Harvard-Westlake’s undefeated JV basketball team.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Dekoda Ray, a 6-3 freshman guard, could play for many varsity programs, but he and his parents huddled together and decided a year on JV would be good for his development.

“We felt we had to trust the process,” Ray said. “Don’t play your game like you’re playing JV. Play like you’re playing for something bigger.”

Rebibo said “transparency” is the only way to communicate with parents and players.

“We want kids who want to go to college,” he said. “But it’s understood that we have to do what is in the best interest of their development and playing behind four senior backs doesn’t mean you’re going to be able to play. We’re very honest.”

All five JV freshmen will be heard from in years to come: Ray, 6-7 Nairobi Ebi, 6-5 Jackson Thomas, 6-1 Max Paquin and 6-5 Nathan Kashper. Most will join the university for the playoffs and practice with the university in the fall.

Another program that believes in JV teams as a training ground is St. John Bosco and coach Matt Dunn.

“Proudly,” Dunn said.

He lets everyone know that 11 St. John Bosco players who went on to play varsity basketball started on JV.

The JV team is a learning environment. If you make a mistake, a coach won’t immediately bench you like he does in college. Additionally, not all 14 year olds are socially ready to play with 19 year olds in college.

Anderson reminds everyone that at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what team you start on as a freshman.

“The work you do will always win,” he said.