When any basketball coach rave about an opposing player, it alarms sportswriters to take notice and investigate.
It turns out that all the good things coaches are starting to say about 6-foot-4 junior guard Donovan Webb of Golden Valley High are true. Canyon Country coach Ali Monfared said Webb could be the best player in the Foothills League, which held a media day in Canyon on Saturday.
Webb is one of those players who worked hard when no one was looking. His focus was on improving his three-point shooting, and all those hours in the gym could pay off.
“I’m a gym rat,” he said.
He was moved to point guard last season and continued to report to other players. This season he was given the signal to take charge. “We handed him the keys to the car,” first-year coach Scott Barkman said.
With a 4.3 GPA, Webb said he understands what his role should be.
“I needed to take my game to the next level,” he said.
Golden Valley and Valencia will be the favorites as each team has experience with returning players.
Valencia have their own much-improved player in youngster Stephen Irons. He was 6-5, 170 pounds last season. He is now 6-7 years old and weighs 210 pounds after eating a lot of chicken and rice while working on his strength.
“The day we lost the playoff game was when I started to pick myself up,” he said.
Coach Greg Fontenette said, “His development has been like night and day.”
A double-double is in his future, and it's not about In-N-Out. He will score and rebound to support Valencia's talented 2027 squad.
Saugus returns Braydon Harmon, who scored 43 points against West Ranch last season.
Hart coach Tom Kelly is in his 26th season at Newhall High and 36th overall (he was the head coach at Burbank Burrows for 10 years).
Canyon won the 2A championship last season and lost most of its players, but standout point guard Isaac Yuhiko returns. who scored clutch goals in the Cowboys' triple-overtime win over St. Bonaventure.
Former Golden Valley coach Chris Prince has become an assistant director, but his son Wyatt remains on the team. Asked if his father had received a raise, Wyatt replied, “I hope so.”
West Ranch's Conner Peterson was asked about playing against friends in the league. “It’s like playing against your brother,” he said. “You want to beat them.”
Castaic coach Louis Fernando expressed optimism for his team, saying, “I don't need to train the ego and I don't need to train the effort this year.”
This is a daily look at positive developments in school sports. To report any news, email [email protected].
