Californias best big men

This is the fourth of four features spotlighting the top five players at each position in California.

Today, we look at the top big men (centers & power forwards). We just couldn't narrow it down to five, so this week the list has seven players. All those listed are unsigned, and all but Cross are sophomores.

1. Jerome Habel, San Bernardino Valley. The premier prospect in California (any position), Habel has put up some monstrous numbers for a strong SBVC team. Never was he more impressive than in a January win against Rio Hondo, in which he posted totals of 29 points (12-of-15 from the floor) and 21 rebounds. But equally important was a game in December in the Canyons Tournament against a team made up of older players. They tried to rough him up a bit, and he went to the floor gasping for air after a particularly aggressive elbow to the ribs in the first half. But when it was over, not only did Habel not back down, he had 19 points and 23 rebounds in a 96-75 win.

Habel is tall and athletic, with long arms and good agility for a big man. He has a knack for getting to the ball on the boards. In the post, he's a skilled scorer but maybe an even better passer, as his 6 assists vs. the Valencia All-Stars and 4 against Rio Hondo suggest. His one weakness is that he's a little predictable once he starts his move, which results in some charging calls. But he more than makes up for that with his amazing productivity. He's averaging 16.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game this year.

2. Michael Earl, Fullerton.

In this incredible season for the Hornets, Earl has both literally and figuratively been right in the middle of it all. He's physically dominant in the post, with a variety of moves and a soft touch around the basket. He can also hit the open 12-to-15-foot jumper. And he's so strong that he's all but impossible to keep off the boards. He has good leaping ability, but it's his smoothness and skill that make him an impact player – think Elton Brand. He has multiple offers at the mid-major level but could go higher, particularly if he puts on his usual strong display in front of the coaches convention that is the state tournament. He's averaging 17.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, both of which lead the Hornets.

3. Joseph Taylor, LA City.

Following in the grand tradition of strong big men at LACC (Julian Sensley, Tony Key, Randy Holcomb and Tyrone Riley just to name a few), Taylor is a devastating force on defense and on the boards, and his offense continues to develop. He's an outstanding leaper, and plays with a fierceness that's impossible to teach. On the offensive end, he's still working on the post game but is a good shooter with a 15-to-18-foot jumper. And he's from a strong program with a winning tradition at LACC. He's averaging 8.5 points and 7.3 rebounds for the 30-3 Cubs.

4. Michael Cross, Feather River.

A bit of an unknown since he plays in a small conference away from the metro areas, Cross put up some amazing statistics this year. He had a 28-point, 19-rebound effort in a December game we saw in Santa Rosa, and had a 38-point effort against GVC rival Butte in November He uses his long reach and excellent anticipation to his advantage, and has a high skill level both in terms of scoring and rebounding. He can even step out and knock down an occasional 3-point shot. He's a freshman from Lexington, KY, and is averaging 16.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

t-5. Danny Mena, Ventura

The 6-6 power forward has really developed this year and is averaging 12.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.

t-5. Marcus Sikes, Mt. San Jacinto.

One of the most physically imposing players in California, Sikes has been a big part of the Eagles' season. He's an excellent scorer in close, has 3-point shooting range and is an excellent passer. His versatility was demonstrated when he led the Eagles in both rebounds and assists both times (and scoring once) we saw him this year. He's averaging 13.4 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.

t-5. Joseph Walker, Compton

Another big, strong and tough inside player, Walker is the inside anchor for a 21-5 Tartar team. He's strictly an inside player, but along with Taylor is the best defender on this list. He's also strong around the basket and on the boards. He's averaging 17.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game this season.