Taft basketball team is legit

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On Saturday, I went to watch the boys’ basketball scrimmage between Taft and North Hollywood and was stunned how good Taft looked. For the first five minutes, the Toreadors’ starting five missed hardly any shots from three-point range to layups. Even North Carolina-bound point guard Larry Drew Jr., pictured left, had a dunk.

They put on a full-court trapping press that was impressive. They played defense, shared the basketball and didn’t take wild shots. Bryce Smith, who has grown to nearly 6-5, put on a three-point shooting clinic. North Hollywood Coach Rob Bloom confirmed afterward that he thought Taft was outstanding and should be one of the best teams in the state.

-Image by Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times

Let me just say that when Taft plays in the Westchester tournament in the first week of December, Taft, not Westchester or Compton Dominguez, deserves to be the favorite.

This is the best a Taft team has looked early in a season that I can remember. It’s going to be one heck of a City Section season to see whether the Toreadors, Fairfax or Westchester emege as champs. And bring on the best in the state because the City teams are legit.

- Eric Sondheimer