ALL-COUNTY BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM 2023-24
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Aidan Fowler, JSerra, Senior
Aidan Fowler was having one of those games that basketball players dream about.
Fowler indeed was in an almost dream-like trance when he and his JSerra teammates beat Mater Dei’s boys basketball team for the first time.
“I was definitely in the zone,” he said. “I was with my girlfriend earlier that day and I was saying to her, ‘Hey, I might have 40 points tonight.’ It was like I spoke it into existence.”
Fowler scored 36 points in the Lions’ 68-62 home win over Mater Dei in a Trinity League game Jan. 24. He made 14 of his 22 shots.
He had plenty of other great games this past season, too, and he has been chosen the Orange County boys basketball player of the year.
Fowler, a 5-11, senior guard, averaged 18 points a game. He could score in multiple ways – 3-point shots, mid-range jumpers and quick, strong drives to the basket. Fowler shot 50 percent on all shots, 44 percent on 3-pointers and was 78 percent at the free-throw line. He led the team in assists (134) and committed only 64 turnovers in 32 games.
He also led JSerra to the No. 1 spot in the season’s final Orange County rankings.
The Lions were one of eight teams selected to the elite Open Division of the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
JSerra coach Keith Wilkinson assigned Fowler to cover the opposing team’s best guard.
“He meant more to our team than any other player,” Wilkinson said.
Fowler, who was All-County first team last season, gave a preview of what this season would be about for him and the Lions when he scored 31 points in a 90-76, double-overtime win over Roosevelt of Eastvale in November. Roosevelt went on to play in the CIF-SS Open Division and CIF Southern California Regional Open Division championship games.
That win over Roosevelt was a signal that this could be a special season for the Lions, who also defeated Mater Dei 67-59 in the Open Division playoffs as Fowler scored 18 points.
“When we played Roosevelt, we were down by 15 points or something like that,” Fowler said. “We showed that we had the resilience to (fight back), that we could come together like that. I said after that ‘we’re an Open Division team and we belong here’ because our goal was to be an Open Division playoff team this year.”
Fowler was one of only two Orange County players selected to the All-CIF Southern Section Open Division team. Mater Dei’s Brannon Martinsen was the other. Fowler was also on the All-Trinity League first team.
Fowler said what he will remember most about this season is working and winning with his teammates.
“We’d been together for three, four years,” he said. “We had a lot of seniors and we connected well with each other, and not just basketball-wise.”
COACH OF THE YEAR
Aaron Riekenberg, La Habra
Aaron Riekenberg led the Highlanders to their first CIF Southern Section boys basketball championship in his seventh season as La Habra’s coach.
They beat St. Bonaventure 76-45 in the CIF-SS Division 3AA final. La Habra also earned its first win in the CIF Southern California Regional playoffs, a 79-68 victory at Cathedral Catholic of San Diego in Division II.
The Highlanders went 30-5 overall to set a school record for boys basketball wins in a season.
“We had such a special group of guys,” Riekenberg said. “They all played for each other.”
He shared credit for La Habra’s historic season with assistant coaches Evan Barry, Max Jimenez, Patrick Pajam and Scott Sinek.
ALL-COUNTY FIRST TEAM
Aidan Fowler, JSerra, Sr., G: Orange County player of the year.
Kaiden Bailey, Crean Lutheran, So., G: He averaged 24 points and four assists a game and was an Empire League MVP.
Luke Barnett, Mater Dei, So., G: Barnett was All-Trinity League first team, made a team-high 113 3-pointers, averaged 15 points a game.
Isaiah Bernard, Foothill, Sr., F: He averaged 13 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals a game and was named Crestview League MVP.
Collin Haugh, Dana Hills, So., G: Haugh was the Sea View League MVP and led Orange County in scoring at 26 points a game.
Acen Jimenez, La Habra, So., G: The point guard for the CIF-SS Division 3AA champions and was the Freeway League player of the year.
Brannon Martinsen, Mater Dei, So. F: He led Mater Dei in scoring at 17 points a game and was named All-CIF Open Division and All-Trinity League first team.
Sebastian Rancik, JSerra, Sr., F: Rancik (Colorado signee) was All-Trinity League first team.
Barak Simon, Marina, Jr., G: Simon was named CIF-SS Division 2A player of the year after helping the Vikings win the division championship.
Maxwell Scott, Corona del Mar, Fr., G: The Wave League MVP and an All-CIF Southern Section Division 2A selection.
ALL-COUNTY SECOND TEAM
David Abisogun, Fairmont Prep, So., F
Brandon Benjamin, Mater Dei, Jr., F
Liam Gray, Los Alamitos, Jr., G
Malakhi Johnson, Villa Park, Jr., G
Brady Karich, Mater Dei, Sr., G
Grayson Sinek, La Habra, Jr.
EJ Spillman, Pacifica Christian, Jr., G
Wes Trevino, Los Alamitos, Jr., G
Owen Verna, Mater Dei, Jr., G
Michael Wright, Cypress, Sr., F
ALL-COUNTY THIRD TEAM
Jaedon Anderson, La Habra, Jr., F
Jack Berry, Newport Harbor, Jr., G
Aaron DeSantiago, Fountain Valley, Jr., G
Dylan Gomez, Marina, Jr., G
Josh Goodall, Canyon, Sr., F
Ryan Gov, Cypress, So., G
Kaz Hampton, Edison, Sr., F
Travis Paleo, Foothill, Jr., G
James Schindler, Woodbridge, Sr., G
Dallas Washington, Santa Margarita, Jr., F
ALL-COUNTY FOURTH TEAM
Sergio Maggette, Sage Hill, Sr., G
Dylan Galvan, Orangewood Academy, Sr., G
Porter Hansen, San Clemente, Jr. G
Mason Hodges, San Juan Hills, Jr., F
Jaedon Hose-Shea, Estancia, Sr., G
Jacob Majok, Crean Lutheran, So., F
Matt Mowers, Trabuco Hills, Sr., F
Jack Rivera, Santa Ana, Sr., G
Alex Stewart, Pacifica Christian, Sr., G
Zaid Yunis, Northwood, Sr., G