Amari Bailey shares a laugh with sports anchor Jim Hill during Sierra Canyon’s basketball media day Wednesday in Chatsworth.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
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CHATSWORTH – The Sierra Canyon boys and girls basketball teams hosted a media day Wednesday evening that featured superstars Amari Bailey and Juju Watkins, both five-star recruits who will lead their teams into a season filled with out-of-state competitions and CIF State Open Division title expectations.
In addition to Bailey, a senior committed to UCLA, the Trailblazers’ boys team boasts four other top-level seniors in 6-foot-9 center Kijani Wright (USC), Ramel Lloyd (Nebraska), Shy Odom and transfer Jeremiah Nyarko.
The standout juniors are Bronny James, Mike Price, Tim Rudovskiy and Jojo Phillips.
The team’s most highly-touted player after Bailey is sophomore Isaiah Elohim, who recently picked up an offer from UCLA.
“This is by far the deepest team I’ve ever had during my time at Sierra Canyon,” boys basketball coach Andre Chevalier said. “When we sub, I don’t think there’s a major drop-off.”
The biggest question about the Trailblazers now is the team’s health. Bailey, James, Lloyd and Odom have all missed time during the team’s fall events playing as California Basketball Club (CBC) in Miami, Las Vegas and Atlanta.
“I expect everyone to be healthy when the season starts,” Chevalier said.
Amari Bailey lets out a smile during Sierra Canyon’s basketball media day Wednesday in Chatsworth.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Amari Bailey and Bronny James pose for a photographer during Sierra Canyon’s basketball media day Wednesday in Chatsworth.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Amari Bailey, Coach Andre Chevalier and Kijani Wright (l-r) field questions from reporters during Sierra Canyon’s basketball media day Wednesday in Chatsworth.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Amari Bailey, Coach Andre Chevalier and Kijani Wright (l-r) field questions from reporters during Sierra Canyon’s basketball media day Wednesday in Chatsworth.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Amari Bailey, Coach Andre Chevalier and Kijani Wright (l-r) field questions from reporters during Sierra Canyon’s basketball media day Wednesday in Chatsworth.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Head Coach Andre Chevalier fields questions from reporters during Sierra Canyon’s basketball media day Wednesday in Chatsworth.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Coach Andre Chevalier and Ramel Lloyd Jr. during Sierra Canyon’s basketball media day Wednesday in Chatsworth.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Bronny James poses for a photographer during Sierra Canyon’s basketball media day Wednesday in Chatsworth.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Kijani Wright poses for a photographer during Sierra Canyon’s basketball media day Wednesday in Chatsworth.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Amari Bailey during Sierra Canyon’s basketball media day Wednesday in Chatsworth.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Bronny James and Amari Bailey pose for a photo during Sierra Canyon’s basketball media day Wednesday in Chatsworth.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
The Sierra Canyon girls team will undoubtedly be the team to beat in the Southern Section, if not the state.
Watkins is a transfer from Windward who checked into Sierra Canyon during the summer. She joins MacKenly Randolph and Izela Arenas, two promising sophomores, along with shooter Sofia Ruelas and crafty playmaker Christy Reynoso.
Watkins and Randolph will likely be McDonald’s All-Americans one day, and that kind of talent helped the team line up games against other national powers. Their schedule includes trips to Texas, Alaska and Las Vegas, and the team will also play in Staples Center on Dec. 4.
“Our team motto this year is ‘All work, no hype,’ ” girls basketball coach Alicia Komaki said.
The Trailblazers have welcomed back junior Crystal Wang, who was in the program as a freshman but was in China all of last school year due to COVID-19. Now she’s back, taller (6-foot-2, the tallest player on the team) and much improved.
Juju Watkins answers questions from reporters during Sierra Canyon’s basketball media day Wednesday in Chatsworth.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Girls’ basketball Head Coach Alicia Komaki lets out a smile during basketball media day at Sierra Canyon Wednesday in Chatsworth.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Girls’ basketball Head Coach Alicia Komaki speaks to reporters during basketball media day at Sierra Canyon Wednesday in Chatsworth.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Girls’ basketball players Izzy Arenas and Juju Watkins have fun during a photoshoot during Sierra Canyon’s basketball media day Wednesday in Chatsworth.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
