Laguna’s Burzell shines

Blake Burzell has been in the Laguna Beach High boys’ basketball program for only two years, but in his sophomore season, he has attained All-CIF Southern Section status.

Burzell, the MVP of the Orange Coast League, was named Monday to the All-CIF-SS/Southern California Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Assn. 2015-16 Boys’ Basketball Division 4AA Team.

He is the only sophomore, and one of two underclassmen, to make the 10-player 4AA team.

“I think it’s a big honor for Blake, particularly because the division is so good and so talented,” Laguna Coach Bret Fleming said. “He’s only a sophomore, and this bodes well for him in the future.”

Burzell, a wing, missed five of the Breakers’ 30 games this year due to injury or illness, Fleming said. He averaged 18.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in 25 starts. In Laguna’s final game of the season, a CIF-SS Division 4AA quarterfinal round loss to Studio City Harvard-Westlake, he poured in a game-high 30 points against a Wolverines team that was eliminated in the semifinals but will play Saturday in the CIF State Division IV championship game.

“Blake’s success starts with his competitiveness,” Fleming said. “He follows that with a tremendous amount of confidence. It doesn’t matter who he’s going up against. He steps out on the floor and plays with a lot of confidence. He’s got a really bright future.”

Burzell also headed the 2016 All-Orange Coast League Team. Five Laguna players made the all-league team. Senior guards Darin Richardson (13.2 ppg., 67 three-point shots made) and Isaac Wulff (12 ppg., 3.1 assists/game) were named first team, and senior guard Spencer Wong (3.2 assists/game, “led us in steals, was our best defender,” Fleming said) and senior center Nick Rahder (6.4 ppg., 6.7 rebounds/game) to the second team.

The Breakers won the Orange Coast League championship, reached the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 4AA playoffs, and finished the season 23-7.

In addition to achieving the all-league honor, Richardson has been invited to play in the Orange County All-Star Basketball Game next month, Fleming said.

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2016 Orange Coast League Boys’ Basketball Team

MVP: Blake Burzell, Soph.

First Team

Laguna Beach: Darin Richardson, Sr.; Isaac Wulff, Sr.; Costa Mesa: Mason Tufuga, Sr., Chris Calderon, Sr.; Godinez: Ramon Lopez, Jr.; Saddleback: Paulino Castillo, Jr.; Calvary Chapel: Kevin White, Fr.

Second Team

Laguna Beach: Spencer Wong, Sr., Nick Rahder, Sr.; Costa Mesa: Calvin Ko, Sr.; Godinez: Nikolas Escobedo, Sr.; Saddleback: Quac Le, Sr.; Calvary Chapel: Andy Larson, Sr.; Estancia: Evan Pettingill, Jr.

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2015-16 All CIF-SS/SCIBCA Boys’ Basketball 4AA Team

Players of the Year: Chibueze Jacobs, Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks, Sr.; Kobe Smith, Serra. Soph.

Coach of the Year: Tom Hoffman, La Canada.

Team: Blake Burzell, Laguna Beach, Soph.; Ray Knight, Serra, Jr.; Cassius Stanley, Harvard-Westlake, Fr.; Wolfgang Novogratz, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.; Stefan Desnica, San Gabriel Academy, Sr.; Koko Kurdoghian, La Canada, Sr.; Sebastian Much, JSerra, Jr.; Kyle Stewart, Mission Prep, Jr.