Prep Voices : Game’s the Same, but Not the Level of Competition

Before joining The Times Orange County prep sports staff in March, I covered high school sports in the San Fernando Valley, the South Bay and Ventura County. And while I have written about talented athletes in each of my previous stops, the level of play in this county is unlike anything I had previously experienced.

I knew about the baseball talent developed in the county each year, but I had no idea there are also so many gifted athletes throughout the other sports programs.

For a basketball nut such as myself, the action in the county is as good as watching some college teams--better in some cases. Brea-Olinda finished first in the final USA Today girls’ poll, and Mater Dei was ranked highly throughout the season in the boys’ poll.

I’ll gladly watch Nicole Erickson of Brea-Olinda handle the ball on a fast break, or Miles Simon of Mater Dei nail a three-pointer after rolling off a screen. Trust me, that beats writing about point guards who dribble balls off their legs on six straight possessions and centers who throw rebounds over backboards.

I’ve seen it happen--a lot.

For the most part, the support base is also the strongest I’ve encountered. In some of the areas I used to cover, it was odd to see filled stands at the so-called “major” sporting events such as baseball, basketball and football, let alone the minor sports. In these parts, however, it’s odd not to see scores of enthusiastic friends, parents and relatives cheering on competitors.

Many of the facilities I have seen are also excellent. Even at the older campuses, gymnasiums and stadiums are well maintained.

Some people think prep sports are the same all over. I now know otherwise.