Since playing in the inaugural Team Esface College Prep program during this summer and fall, The King’s Academy senior Jon Taylor and Priory teammates Tayo Sobomehin, Isaiah Dean, and Ryder Bush have opened the season undefeated for their respective programs, including multiple tournament championships.

     Taylor, a 6-foot guard, has been the catalyst for The King’s Academy’s 11-0 start. He’s been the leading scorer for the Knights, averaging 21.9 points per game, and was named the Most Valuable Player at the Fremont Holiday Tournament. During the tournament, he dropped a season-high 35 points against Independence High School and followed with 22 against Fremont High School in the finals.

     “I would be lying if I thought we’d start 11-0,” King’s Academy head coach Cameron Bradford told The Mercury News. “I knew we had a lot of good players. Getting them to play together as a team was going to be the biggest challenge for us. The off-court activity has definitely helped the team.”

     Taylor has been nominated for the Bay Area News Group Boys Athlete of the Week award twice this season as The King’s Academy is off to its best start since 2010. The team made its debut in the most recent Bay Area News Group rankings as the 20th best team in the Bay Area. Taylor has already made multiple collegiate visits to Division II and Division III programs with aspirations of continuing his playing career after his senior  season.

Down the road, the Priory trio have had a historic start of their own. After winning tournament championships at the Redwood Classic and Burlingame Invitational, the Panthers currently sit at 9-0, making it their best start in school history. They entered the Bay Area News Group rankings in the 19th spot, ranking just ahead of Taylor’s squad.

     Sobomehin, a 5-foot-7 senior point guard, has been the steadying force for the Panthers while manning the point. He’s been the team’s second leading scorer, averaging 11.0 points per game, while also leading the team in assists.

     Bush, a 6-foot-1 sophomore guard, has made an immediate impact during his first season on varsity and been a key starter for the Panthers. He was named to the All-Tournament team at the Burlingame Invitational and has proven to be one of the top sophomores in the Bay Area.

     Dean, a 6-foot-2 senior guard, has been one of the top shooters for Priory and a key contributor off the bench. All three participated in the College Prep program during the past year and are on pace for a record-breaking season.

     With both The King’s Academy and Priory competing against one another in the West Bay Athletic League, it will be a tight race for this year’s WBAL title.