Bee’s Best: 2024-25 All-Metro boys basketball lineups and Players of the Year
There was a choreographed dance bit in the gym performed at Rocklin High School recently, and of course, Mark Lavrenov was in the middle of the fun.
He’s the big man on campus at 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds, standing out in a crowd and standing tall and representing a sparkling example of campus involvement. The gym is also where the Thunder senior set records, becoming the all-time career scorer in the 33-year history of the Placer County School with more than 2,100 points and capping his career with being named The Sacramento Bee’s Player of the Year.
The fourth-year starter averaged 23.4 points and 12.2 rebounds in earning MVP honors in the top conference in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section, the Sierra Foothill League. Lavrenov helped power the Thunder to the Division II section championship, the program’s first since 2009, and the No. 1 seed in the Northern California Division II playoffs.
Rocklin lost in a second-round game to Clayton Valley Charter of Concord, but Lavrenov competed to the end, per his norm, scoring 28 points in his prep finale.
Lavrenov played with joy and emotion, pumping his fist after a big play delivered by a teammate or from his own doing. He also was active on campus as a young man soaking up his senior season before heading to Sacramento State to play basketball on scholarship for new Hornets coach and former Sacramento Kings star Mike Bibby.
“Mark is such a fun and funny guy, kids gravitate to him, a real joy to be around and coach,” Rocklin coach Steve Taylor said. “In that dance routine, Mark and the guys were great. People loved it. This is who he is. He is a total kid, not just a star basketball player. He attends football games with his face painted, having fun.”
Lavrenov takes basketball seriously but not himself.
“Enjoy life,” Lavrenov said. “It’s more than just basketball for me. Being a high school kid, I may have the pressure of being a player who is expected to do a lot, but I liked that.”
Taylor marveled at the growth of his prized pupil.
“What I saw early on with Mark was his willingness to work and get better, and a lot of kids aren’t like that,” Taylor said. “He was a kid who has literally gotten better at something in his game every year.”
Early on as a prep, Lavrenov was a big, thick kid with no outside game. He then worked on his body in the weight room and transformed into a big and lean kid with muscle, more agility and added drive.
“On almost every weekend (in the off-season), he’d text me and ask if we can open the gym so he can take shots,” Taylor said. “He’d get hundreds of 3-pointers up, all by himself. That’s what separates kid like that. He wanted to be great.”
Said Lavrenov, “I was definitely a prospect as a freshman. “These days go by so fast. I’m 18 years old and about to graduate, and I can’t help but reminisce about how fast it’s gone.”
Of his motivation, Lavrenov said, “The love of the game, and looking forward to making my parents (Lesia and Yuri) proud. They’re immigrants, and they’re hard working and they’re my why — why I get up and grind every day.”
Lavrenov said his best basketball days are head.
“I feel like I’m just getting started, and I can’t wait,” Lavrenov said.
Jesuit’s Kelly is Bee Coach of the Year
Tim Kelly of Jesuit is The Bee’s Coach of the Year after leading the Marauders to the greatest team championship feat in the 63-year history of the Carmichael school, where the gym walls are covered in banners spanning all sports.
In expertly crafting a scheme of ball movement and stellar defense to beat Los Angeles City Section powerhouse Chattsworth, Jesuit put on a masterpiece in delivering a 66-53 victory in the CIF State Division II finals at Golden 1 Center. Kelly and the Marauders didn’t buckle after a crushing, last-second loss to Rocklin in the section finals, and it led to the program’s first state crown in this sport.
Kelly said of his team after the state win, “Executing a game plan is these guys’ superpower.”
Players credited their coach and staff for the success as the Marauders went 27-9 overall and 8-1 in the postseason.
Others considered for Bee Coach of the Year:
▪ Mike Wall, who led the section’s top-ranked team in winning the Sierra Foothill League and beating three-time defending champion Modesto Christian for the section Division I championship in cementing his status as an all-time area coaching great.
▪ Steve Taylor, who led Rocklin to its first section championship since he led the Thunder to the 2009 crown, a thrilling late win over Jesuit in the Division II finals.
▪ Nathan Gilbert, who guided Casa Roble to its first section championship in the 59-year history of the Orangevale school and first trip to a NorCal tournament.
▪ Jermaine Brown, the inspirational coach for Christian Brothers who has battled health issues and helped coach from his hospital bed as the Falcons won the section Division III championship at Golden 1 Center.
Jesuit’s Schroeder is Large School POY
Asher Schroeder of Jesuit is The Bee’s Large School Player of the Year after the 6-5 senior guard led the Marauders in scoring at 17.1 points per game, in rebounds at 7.6, in cool floor leadership and in all-out effort.
Jesuit coaches called Schroeder the hardest working player in the program in years, if not decades, as the Marauders fed off his energy and smarts to win the school’s first CIF State basketball trophy.
Christian Brothers’ Powers is Medium School POY
Daniel Powers of Christian Brothers is The Bee’s Medium School Player of the Year after his versatility and leadership played a key role in the Falcons winning the school’s first section championship in more than 20 years, a 59-56 triumph of Merced in the Division III contest at Golden 1 Center.
Powers averaged 11.8 points, and he led the team in rebounding average (6.9), in assists (4.8) and in steals (1.9) as CB went 27-8.
Casa Roble’s Ambriz is Small School POY
Benny Ambriz of Casa Roble is The Bee’s Small School Player of the Year after the four-year starting guard led the team in scoring at 17.5 points per game and to the program’s first section championship and CIF NorCal berth.
Casa Roble tied Natomas for the Golden Empire League and then defeated Natomas for the section title, 70-68, as Ambriz scored 17 points and had seven rebounds. The Rams finished 29-5.
Woodland Christian’s Bruhn is Smallest School POY
Romello Bruhn of Woodland Christian is the repeat winner as The Bee’s Smallest School Player of the Year after the junior guard led the section in scoring at 31.2 points a game and electrified in the biggest basketball moment in the 20-year history of the Yolo County school.
In the section Division V championship against Argonaut at Golden 1 Center, Bruhn scored 49 points in an 87-63 victory. He made 16 of 23 shots in scoring every which way. Bruhn is a 2,400-point prep scorer with a year to go.
Sacramento Bee 2024-25 All-Metro Teams
Player of the Year
F Mark Lavrenov, Rocklin, Sr.
Large School Player of the Year
G Asher Schroeder, Jesuit, Sr.
Medium School Player of the Year
G Daniel Powers, Christian Brothers, Sr.
Small School Player of the Year
G Benny Ambriz, Casa Roble, Sr.
Smallest School Player of the Year
G Romello Bruhn, Woodland Christian, Jr.
First Team
G Siincere Hudson, Inderkum, So.
G Rashawn Inglemon, Monterey Trail, Sr.
G Manno Jenkins, Natomas, Jr.
G Chase Rawlins, Folsom, Sr.
G Aiden Rollins, Franklin, Jr.
G Jaylen Valdez, Destiny Christian, Sr.
Second Team
F Devaughn Dorrough, Monterey Trail, Fr.
C Kaleb Edwards, Oak Ridge, Sr.
F Andre Gomez, Grant, Jr.
F Chad Johnson, Sheldon, Sr.
G Sir Marius Jones, Sacramento, Sr.
G Kannon Rector, Placer, So.
Third Team
F Joven Dulay, Folsom, Sr.
F Stephan Hewitt, Christian Brothers, Sr.
F Malachi Johnson, Inderkum, Sr.
G Emmett Rose, Placer, Jr.
C Max VanLaningham, Woodcreek, Jr.
G Derron White, Monterey Trail, Sr.
Fourth Team
G Michael Butcher, Burbank, Sr.
G Connor Delaby, Rocklin, Sr.
F Taylen Goodman, Inderkum, Sr.
F Sebastian James, Sheldon, Sr.
F Amaury McKinney, Jesuit, Sr.
F Mason Pearcy, Casa Roble, Jr.
Fifth Team
F Reid Brear, Del Oro, Sr.
G Luke Browne, Jesuit, Sr.
G Ian Engh, Rio Americano, Jr.
F Ryder Lyons, Folsom, Jr.
F Moses Oginni, Casa Roble, Sr.
F Myles Wiggins, Destiny Christian, Jr.
Sixth Team
G Jonah Beck, Nevada Union, Sr.
G Noah Hargrove, Elk Grove, Jr.
P Jayden High, Twelve Bridges, Sr.
G Maison Phillips, Jesuit, Fr.
G Benjamin Sandy, Franklin, Jr.
F Oreste Yong, Roseville, Jr.
G Aeron Wallace, Natomas, So.
Honorable mentions
Safi Abadela, Twelve Bridges, Jr.; Josiah Andrews, Rocklin, Jr.; Logan Baker, El Dorado, Sr.; Kaiser Bowen, Folsom, Sr.; Malachai Brown, Antelope, Jr.; Jacob Butler, Lincoln, Sr.; James Carraway, Vanden, Jr.; LJ Chadwick, Inderkum, Jr.; Tyler Chambers, Union Mine, Sr.; Adrian Devenecia, Rio Americano, Sr.; Isiah Dixon, Vanden, Sr.; Dylan Donley, Bear River, Sr.; Brady Estes, Whitney, Sr.; Ahzeil Franklin, Monterey Trail, Sr.; Jonah Gilchrist, Twelve Bridges, Sr.; Nate Hibbert, Vanden, Jr.; Ezrah Kaheaku, Antelope, So.; Mathias Howard, Roseville, Jr.; Demari Hunter, Grant, Jr.; Michael Kirby Jr., Woodcreek, Jr.; Diego Maldonado, Colfax, Sr.; Matt Manfredi, Union Mine, Sr.; Joe Manley, Placer, Jr.; Ren Marsh, Roseville, Sr.; Liam Mason-Melberg, Sacramento Waldorf, Sr.; Edmund Michalski, West Campus, Jr.; Quentin Mitchell, Antelope, Sr.; Chriseanie Nealy, Vanden, Jr; Andre Rabb-Patterson, Christian Brothers, So.; Tyler Ritter, Roseville, Jr.; Baron Sabir, Sheldon, So.; Jordan Sayer, Oak Ridge, Sr.; Elijah Sykes, Sheldon, Sr.; Connor Sullivan, Oak Ridge, Sr.; Tanner Thomas, Woodland Christian, Sr.; Jace Thompson, Rio Americano, Sr.; Shawn Underwood, Sacramento, Sr.; Zach Villanueva, West Campus, Jr.; Jaylan Virgil, Laguna Creek, So.; Diego Villanueva, Natomas, Jr.; Brandon Wasserman, Franklin, Sr.; Alfred Wilkins, Natomas, So.; Brandon Williams, Jesuit, Jr.; Mark Williams, Nevada Union, Jr.; Pharrell Williams, Pleasant Grove, Sr.; Ely Willis, Rocklin, Sr.; Aharon Young, Kennedy, Sr.
▪ How the teams were picked: The Sacramento Bee All-Metro basketball teams were selected through personal observation, coaches’ nominations and regional media insight. Team playoff success enhanced players’ standing.
The Bee’s Final Top 20
1. Folsom (28-4)
2. Jesuit (27-9)
3. Rocklin (25-9)
4. Inderkum (29-3)
5. Destiny Christian (22-13)
6. Monterey Trail (24-7)
7. Sheldon (19-10)
8. Christian Brothers (27-8)
9. Woodcreek (24-8)
10. Vanden (21-9)
11. Franklin (23-7)
12. Oak Ridge (17-10)
13. Casa Roble (29-5)
14. Natomas (25-9)
15. Placer (26-4)
16. Rio Americano (18-11)
17. Sacramento (18-12)
18. Burbank (23-10)
19. Roseville (19-11)
20. Twelve Bridges (23-9)
This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 5:00 AM.