Cooper Belmont
School: Fresno Christian
Grade: Senior
Position: Guard
He's qualified because: West Sequoia League MVP checks out with section D-V titles as a junior and senior and a school-record 1,286 points in three seasons. Averaged 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 steals for 25-3 team this season.
Chris Russell
School: Bullard
Grade: Junior
Position: Guard
He's qualified because: On a team with a star (Bee All-Star Aaric Armstead) and depth, Russell found no headlines. But there's no denying the value of the All-County/Metro Athletic Conference point guard, who led the team in assists and was second in steals.
Royshon Snowden
School: Memorial
Grade: Senior
Position: Wing
He's qualified because: At 6-6 and potent from long distance, he averaged 14.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks while giving opponents plenty to consider outside of Bee All-Star center Robert Upshaw.
Ryan Swain
School: Buchanan
Grade: Senior
Position: Guard
He's qualified because: Stabilizing force in Buchanan's progressive rise to the section's elite in his four-year career, the All-Tri-River Athletic Conference selection averaged 14.4 points and more than seven rebounds and six assists a game.
Keonta Vernon
School: Tulare
Grade: Junior
Position: Center
He's qualified because: Near-miss first-teamer averaged 19.1 points, 14.3 rebounds and 4.6 blocks. With 501 rebounds, became only the section's second player in history (Bee POY Grant Verhoeven did it twice) to collect at least 500 in a season. And, with 26 points and 18 rebounds while giving away 6 inches to 7-footer Upshaw, Vernon was clearly the player of the game in a 52-42 loss to Memorial for the section D-II title.
T.J. Viney
School: Edison
Grade: Junior
Position: Guard
He's qualified because: All-County/Metro Athletic Conference pick ran the Tigers' offense and reserved his best offensive productions for the best competition -- scoring 24 points twice against Memorial and 23 once against Bullard.
Jalen Watson
School: Mt. Whitney
Grade: Senior
Position: Guard
He's qualified because: A 6-2 point guard who also made an impact inside, he started three seasons, twice was named All-West Yosemite League and was an ideal complement for Bee All-Star center Will Nelson.
Honorable Mention
Adam Armstead, junior, BullardDerek Austrum, senior, Sierra
Nick Ball, senior, Memorial
Shaq Barker, senior, Clovis North
Justin Barrels, senior, Central
Jake Blunt, senior, Sierra
Brantley Bynum, senior, El Diamante
Jesus Cabello, senior, Riverdale
Cody Hall, junior, Farmersville
T.J. Jackson, senior, Clovis West
Daniel Johnson, senior, Hoover
Ahmad Jones, senior, Hoover
Justin Lea, senior, Central
Jesus Magana, senior, Caruthers
Jordan Maquinalez, senior, Tulare Western
Khaneal Mason, junior, Clovis West
Ryan Neufeld, senior, Fresno Christian
Walter Orr, senior, Bullard
Zack Rogers, senior, Corcoran
Josue Salaam, junior, Hanford West
Jordan Stallworth, senior, Memorial
Brad Thakham, senior, Bullard
Josh Witschi, senior, Central Valley Christian
The reporter can be reached at (559) 441-6366, aboogaard@fresnobee.com or @beepreps on Twitter.
