Bailes Balls - Jaden Bailes headlines the FTH All-Sophomore Team
It's been a year since the Class of 2026 made a loud statement on the San Diego basketball scene as freshmen, with a record number of players averaging double digits in their first year on the varsity level.
One of the players who didn't was St. Augustine's Jaden Bailes, but for a good reason. Bailes, a 6-2 scoring guard, was behind six seniors, including all-CIF players Jurian Dixon and Jaden Matingou.
With the six graduates gone, Bailes was cast in a new role last summer as one of the Saints two primary scoring options with senior Lolo Rudolph playing for the Japanese U-19 national team. Bailes responded by averaging over 20 points per game last summer, including standout performances at the Boys Cali Live and Section 7 team camps.
Bailes carried that momentum into this season, leading the Saints in scoring and capturing all-tournament accolades in the top divisions of the Tarkanian Classic and Torrey Pines Holiday Classic, earning an All-Western League first-team selection and, most recently, being named to the All-CIF San Diego Section first team.
Bailes is the unanimous FTH Sophomore of the Year.
Here is the rest of the All-Sophomore team.
1st Team
Caleb Newton, 6-3 G, Mission Bay
Breathlessly athletic and talented, the mercurial transfer guard overcame early inconsistency to earn All Western League first-team honors after averaging 14.5 points per game for the D1 champion Buccaneers.
Ty Ingram, 6-2 G, Cathedral Catholic
Ingram started the season on a tear that would have likely seen him be an all-league and all-section honoree, but an injury during the first game of Western League play cut his year short. Averaged 19 points per game.
CJ Aldrich, 5-11 G, Rancho Buena Vista
The crafty scoring point guard leveled up in Year 2, earning All-Avocado League co-player of the year honors while leading his team to the CIF D2 championship game. Aldrich averaged 22.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
Lincoln Grogan, 6-3 G, Mater Dei Catholic
Grogan led the Crusaders in scoring at 14.2 points per game with some of the best shooting splits (48% FG, 41% 3FG and 89% FT) in the county. Grogan, who also averaged 5.3 rebounds per contest, was the lone sophomore on the All Mesa League First Team.
Dax Hall, 6-1 PG, Santa Fe Christian
Hall emerged under first-year coach Matt Carlino into a 14 point-per-game scorer, good for second on the squad, and elevated his game down the stretch to will the Eagles to a share of the Coastal League title. Hall was named to the All Coastal League first team, one of two sophomores on the first team.
JuJu Lebel, 6-4 W, Christian
Lebel transferred from Foothills Christian and, after recovering from a broken leg suffered during the off-season, led the Patriots (22 points, 10 rebounds) to a 2nd place finish in the City League and a second-round appearance in the Division 2 playoffs.
Jayden Gray, 6-1 G, Victory Christian
A year after helping lead the Knights to the D3 title, Gray averaged 17 points and 5 assists per game to get his team to the Division 2 semifinals, where they lost to the eventual champs. Was named to his second straight All South Bay League first team.
Wyatt Tilson. 6-3 F, La Jolla Country Day
The second of two sophomores to make the All Coastal League first team, Tilson blossomed into the Torreys No. 2 scorer at 15 points and their leading rebounder at 6 per game. Tilson's big moment came where he scored a putback layup to upset Torrey Pines in the Open Division playoffs.
Jalen Williams, 6-2 G, San Marcos
Williams was an unsung star for the Knights, averaging 17 points per game and leading his team to a second place finish in the Palomar League, a semifinals appearance in the D1 playoffs and a state playoff appearance. He was named to the All Palomar League first team.
Diego Ortiz, 5-8 G, Mira Mesa
Ortiz was named the City League player of the year after blistering opponents all season, averaging 22.8 points per contest on 49 percent shooting and 37 percent from deep.
DJ Humphries, 6-0 G, Olympian
Humphries was named to the All South Bay League 1st team after dramatically improving as a sophomore, averaging 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals per game.
2nd Team
JJ Walker, 5-8 G, Olympian
The unsung leader of the Division 3 champions, the floor general averaged 10 points, 2.3 assists and 2 steals per contest en route to All South Bay League 2nd team honors.
Alex Williams, 6-0 G, Steele Canyon
Williams earned his second all-league first-team honors, this time in the Grossmont Hills League, as the Cougars second leading scorer.
Eli Stevens, 6-0 G, Madison
Stevens competed admirably in the rugged Western League, leading the Warhawks in scoring at 15.1 points per game.
Isaiah Owens, 6-2 W, Victory Christian
The ultimate cleanup man, Owens averaged 10.8 points and nearly 6 rebounds per contest while defending the opponent's bigs. Earned a second all League 1st team selection.
Lawrence Lam, 6-5 W, Westview
Lam made a big leap in Year 2, earning All Valley League 1st team honors.
Adrian Ownbey, 6-3 W, Maranatha Christian
Averaged 13.8 points, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals per contest earning All Coastal League honorable mention.
Clay Grebing, 6-7 F, Mission Bay
Emerged during Western League season as one of the key reserves on a deep Mission Bay roster, averaging 8 points, 5 rebounds and 1 block per game. Would be a starter at a number of programs.
Ezekiel Walker, 6-1 G, Maranatha Christian
All Coastal League honorable mention selection averaged a team-high 14.8 points and 2.6 assists and chipped in 4.9 rebounds per contest.
Tevaris Green, 6-4 W, Torrey Pines
Didn't put up the gaudy numbers of some of his counterparts, but Green averaged 5.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game and was a key rotation player for the Open Division Falcons.
Max Meza, 6-2 G, Cathedral Catholic
Emerged following the season-ending injury to Ty Ingram as a starter and key contributor for the Open Division Dons. Averaged 6.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, elevating that to 9 points per game in his final 11 contests.
3rd Team
Kai Carlson, 6-4 F, Cathedral Catholic
Jacob Allen, 6-8 C, Steele Canyon
Salim Underwood, 6-3 W, Steele Canyon
Ronnie Scott, 6-2 G, Steele Canyon
Josiah McDowell, 6-1 G, Lincoln
RJ Miller, 6-3 F, Scripps Ranch
Daniel Mariduena, 6-5 F, Poway
Jake van der Vorst, 6-1 G, Mission Hills
Grant Rodriguez, 6-0 G, Poway
Mykah Simmons, 6-2 G, Mission Hills
DK Montgomery, 6-0 G, Mar Vista
Dash Ekeroth, 6-1 G, Maranatha Christian
Wyatt Cann, 6-0 G, Oceanside
Romeo Wright, 6-6 F, Bishop's
4th Team
Makai Orje, 5-10 G, Mt. Carmel
Romeo Friend, 6-1 G, Vista
EJ Shaw, 5-10 PG, West Hills
Terry Gant, 6-1 G, San Diego
Kristian Giordano, 6-2 G, Helix
Jason Black, 6-0 G, Helix
Cash Heverly, 6-3 G, Poway
Charlie Barajas, 6-5 F, Scripps Ranch
Isaac Weatherred, 6-3 G, Patrick Henry
Dany Carreon, 6-2 W, Calexico
Marc Vitela, 5-11 G, Imperial
Caleb Gleason, 6-1 W, Madison
Mason Zennedjian, 6-0 G, Victory Christian
Lower Division sophomore team
Dre Cleaves, 6-3 W, Tri-City Christian
Noah Soltero, 6-4 F, Southwest SD
Jeramiah Turner, 6-1 G, Tri-City Christian
Jose Galvan, 5-9 PG, Del Lago Academy
Jason Wilson, 6-1 G, El Capitan
Kayden McMahon, 5-9 G, El Capitan
Gage Blakemore, 6-2 G, Tri-City Christian
Ethan Abeles, 6-3 W, San Diego Jewish Academy
Jack Silberstein, 6-5 F, San Diego Jewish Academy
Dominick Espalin, 6-0 G, Crawford
Elliot Watkins, 5-10 G, Fallbrook
Caleb Lapka, 6-2 G, Calvin Christian
