Roundball fans eagerly awaited the arrival of the 2003 graduating class, and they haven’t been disappointed. We expected the D-I collegiate ranks to receive a healthy transfusion of talent and so they have. Now, let’s meet the Jewish Sports Review’s 2002-3 (seniors only) Boys’ High School All-America Basketball Team, almost all of whom played for highly successful programs.
First-Team
F – HARRISON SCHAEN – Mater Dei H.S. – 6:8 1/2 from Los Angeles, CA
F – ISSAC ROSEFELT – St. Thomas Academy – 6:8 from St. Paul, MN
F – SAM KAPLAN – Worcester Academy – 6:7 from Worcester, MA
F- BRIAN ELBOGEN – California H.S. – 6:7 from San Ramon, CA
G – MICHAEL RUDOY – Chicago Latin – 6:7 from Chicago, IL
Second-Team
C – JEFF HOROWITZ – South Mecklenerg H.S. – 6:9 from Charlotte, NC
C – TODD WOLFSON – El Camino Real H.S. – 6:9 from West Hills, CA
G – AVI FOGEL – Torrey Pines H.S. – 6:2 from Encinitas, CA
G – TODD GOLDEN – Sunnyslope H.S. – 6:3 from Phoenix, AZ
G – RYAN BAUM – Memphis University School – 6:4 from Memphis, TN
G – ADAM PICOW – Pope John Paul II H.S. – 5:9 from Boca Raton, FL
G – SHAWN WEINSTEIN – Peninsula H.S. – 6:1 from Rolling Hills Estates, CA
G – DAVID GALE – Brewster (NH) Academy. – 6:1 from Sherman Oaks, CA
Mater Dei H.S. went 35-2 winning the State D-I championship as HARRISON SCHAEN scored 10.5 ppg on 52% FG shooting with 9.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and a new school single-season and career record for blocked shots. Harrison was named Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register All-Orange County, 1st-team, and All-CIF, D-I, 1st team. As talented in the classroom as he is on the hardwood, Harrison now takes his game to Princeton the D-I Ivy League.
St. Thomas Academy matched Chicago Latin’s 27-3 mark reaching the State finals in the 3-A tournament. ISAAC ROSEFELT led the charge with 21 ppg on 60% FG shooting with 11 rpg and 3 bpg. An aggressive rebounder with an explosive first step, Isaac was named Minneapolis Star-Tribune, All-Metro, 1st-team, and St. Paul Pioneer Press, All-State, honorable mention. he will play college hoops with Bowling Green of the D-I Mid-America Conference.
With a 25-4 record, Worcester Academy was ranked the #2 prep school in the U.S. by prepstars.com. A power forward who plays the power game and the first player at his school to total 1,000 career points, SAM KAPLAN knocked down 20.4 ppg while ripping down 10.2 rpg. Sam was named All-New England, Prep Schools, 1st-team, and will play D-I hoops with Yale of the Ivy League.
See the article about College Football Players.
California H.S. was 1-6 while BRIAN ELBOGEN was hobbled by a sprained ankle and 18-2 following his return. Brian has a large, powerful body, and he doesn’t hesitate to throw it around. “He has an unparalleled work ethic,” said Coach Gary Wilson. “I don’t know if I’ll ever have a player like this again.” Brian contributed 17.5 ppg on 55% FG accuracy with 9.5 rpg and 2.5 bpg. He was named Contra Costa County Player of the Year and San Francisco Chronicle, All-Metro, 2nd team. Brian joins Harrison Schaen at D-I Princeton in the Ivy League.
Chicago Latin dominated the independent schools with a 27-3 record as MICHAEL RUDOY, who can work inside or step outside and drain treys, wore out the cord with 24 ppg while attacking the glass for 13 rpg and feeding for 4 apg. Because Michael has a handle, we have made him the point in our height-gifted first-team. Mike was MVP of the Independent League, Chicago Sun-Times, All-Area (20 players and he was the only one from a private school) and All-State, Class AA Independent Schools, 1st team. Michael will join Harrison and Brain and a Jewish frosh troika at D-I Princeton in the Ivy League.
JEFF HOROWITZ started his senior season playing with a stress fracture in his shin and was finally forced to sit down for a month. Coach Carey Clarke advised JSR that Jeff was in top shape for only 10 of South Mecklenberg’s 36 games (23-6). Jeff finished with 12 ppg on 52.5% FG shooting with 7 rpg and 2.3 bpg. Still, he was named all-conference and played in the NC-SC All-Star Game. Following an outstanding junior season, Jeff signed early with the College of Charleston, a rising power in the D-I Southern Conference.
Improving each year, TODD WOLFSON saved his best for last as he led El Camino Real H.S. (16-9) with 22.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg and 4.1 apg. Named All-West Valley, 1st team, Todd is an invited walk-on with D-I UC Santa Barbara of the Big West Conference.
An excellent decision maker and a fine athlete who can score in traffic, AVI FOGEL directed Torrey Pines H.S. to a 24-6 record scoring 17.0 ppg on 49% FG accuracy and 39% in treys, while claiming 4.2 rpg, feeding for 5.5 apg and filching 2.2 steals. Avi was named All-Palomar League, 1st-team, and All-North Country, 2nd-team. He will be plying his trade at the University of San Diego – D-I level.
A versatile athlete with outstanding instincts and vision, TODD GOLDEN orchestrated a 22-5 season for Sunnyslope H.S. notching 14 ppg, grabbing 4 rpg, dishing for 7.5 apg and making off with 3 spg. Todd was named All-Skyline Region, 1st-team, and All-State, honorable mention. He is an invited walk-on with Saint Mary’s of the D-I West Coast Conference.
Strong as a bull with an excellent vertical leap and fine outside shot, RYAN BAUM led the Memphis University School (17-12) with 16.5 ppg on 46% FG shooting with 48 treys and 6.5 rpg. He was named All-Metro and All-District and All-State, Div. II, 2nd-team. Ryan is an invited walk-on with Lafayette of the D-I Patriot League.
Quick, creative and with an outstanding handle, ADAM PICOW found the net for 12.5 ppg and gave t up for an amazing 10.1 apg (highest in Palm Beach County). He was named All-Area, 1st-team, all-conference, 2nd-team, and South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Class 3A-2A-1A, 2nd-team. Adam is an invited walk-on at Central Florida of the D-I Atlantic Sun Conference.
Peninsula H.S. finished at 14-15, but it would be criminal to lay the blame at the feet of SHAWN WEINSTEIN, who exploded for 28.5 ppg (5th highest in Greater L.A.) on 45% FG shooting and 81% from the stripe, while battling for 5.8 rpg, feeding for 4.7 apg and making off with 3.1 spg. Shawn was named MVP of the Bay League, All-CIF, Div. I-AA, 2nd-team, and made 4 all-tournament teams. He turned down an offer from D-I Montana State to attend San Diego State of D-I Mountain West as an invited walk-on.
Playing a post-graduate season, DAVID GALE deposited 10 ppg, fed for 4.5 apg and took off with 3 spg for Brewster Academy (18-13). The team captain was named All-New England, Class A Prep, and he will be an invited walk-on for Loyola of Chicago in the D-I Horizon League.
