Fab Four Thrive at St. John Bosco

It’s easy to identify the four freshmen on the varsity boys’ basketball team at Bellflower St. John Bosco.

As they enter the gymnasium for a road game, two are carrying water jugs, one the water bottles and another holds the coach’s clipboard.

Three of the freshmen are starters, but all rank near the bottom of the totem pole, even below the managers, when it comes to dishing out the least-favorite assignments.

“They’re baby Braves,” Coach Randy Held said.

All four are 15 years old. Three look as if they’ve never shaved. Together, they make up what could be the most talented freshman class in school history.

Quinton Watkins is a 6-foot-4 guard who leads the Braves (9-2) in scoring with a 13.4 average. He’s drawing comparisons to former USC player Harold Minor because of his knack for scoring. Like Minor, he loves to shoot from the baseline. He’s the stepbrother of former Santa Ana Mater Dei standout D.J. Strawberry.

Daniel Hackett is a 6-4 guard with few weaknesses. He’s the team’s second-leading scorer at 12.4 points. He’s the son of assistant Rudy Hackett, a former Syracuse and NBA player. He lived in Italy from first through eighth grade. He speaks fluent Italian, some German and English. He glides on the court with the instincts and passion of a senior.

Kertd Elisaldez is a 5-8 point guard. He’s the team’s third-leading scorer at 9.8 per game and tops everyone with 16 three-point baskets. Held showed great confidence in starting a freshman at the most crucial leadership position on the court, but Elisaldez has the speed and maturity to ignite the Braves’ offense.

Finally, there’s Alex Jacobson, who stands 7-1 in his size-18 shoes and is the only non-starter among the freshmen. He moved to Brea from Minnesota as an eighth-grader and is slowly learning the nuances of basketball. He has blocked 21 shots in 11 games.

Together, these four freshmen hope to be the high school version of Michigan’s Fab Five of 1992. The Wolverines reached the NCAA final with five freshmen starters -- Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson -- before losing to Duke.

St. John Bosco will have a hard time trying to win the Serra League, which includes nationally ranked Mater Dei. By the end of the regular season, though, beware.

Held has conquered one major obstacle by blending the freshmen with his four sophomores, one junior and five seniors.

The freshmen display unusual intensity. They play hard every game and every practice, earning respect from their coaches and teammates.

Held knew playing four freshmen would cause headaches.

“They’re going to throw the ball away and do some silly stuff, where we get gray hairs,” he said.

But their talent, resiliency and willingness to learn made the decision an easy one to let them grow up on varsity.

Elisaldez spent all summer working to convince his older teammates that he could be an effective, dependable point guard despite his age.

“At first, it was hard,” he said. “Now they listen to me.”

Jacobson is the most intriguing prospect because of his size. He’s so tall that he was barred from boarding a ride at Knott’s Berry Farm. Teenage girls asked to take his photo thinking he was already a basketball celebrity. Others stare when he walks by.

“In Orange County, they’re not impressed,” he said of his size. “In Los Angeles County, they freak out.”

St. John Bosco won the Southern Section Division II-AA championship last season competing in the same league with Mater Dei, the state Division II champion.

By mid-January, the Braves hope to be ready to offer a challenge to Mater Dei. Watkins, who is good friends with Mater Dei’s outstanding freshman, Taylor King, can’t wait to test himself.

“I look forward to playing them, not only because I get to play against a good friend, but because they’re the team to beat,” he said.

Watkins already possesses the qualities of a big-time player.

“When the team is in need, I try to step up and play my best,” he said.

Watkins, Elisaldez and Jacobson knew each other from travel ball. Elisaldez was the one who convinced the other two to join him at St. John Bosco. Then Hackett arrived from Italy, forming the Fab Four.

“We’re trying to stay together and do something special,” Hackett said.

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Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.