Boys’ basketball: Santa Monica’s trio of top juniors has team on the rise

The basketball season begins next week, and Santa Monica is already a team on the rise thanks to a trio of outstanding juniors.

Rip Economou, a 6-foot-7 junior, was impressive as an offensive player during the summer and is Santa Monica’s top returnee.

But the Vikings have added two highly touted transfers in 6-4 junior guard Payton Moore from Windward and 6-6 junior guard De’sean Allen-Eikens from North Dakota.

Add to that, 6-7 Daniel Schreier returns, and the Vikings have another solid guard in Marcus Gee.

It’s the first time in seven years that Coach James Hecht won’t have a player named Mathews on the team. Jonah Mathews is off to USC and brother Jordan is at Gonzaga after playing at Cal.

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