SAN RAMON — Dougherty Valley star Jalen Stokes has been ready for this recreation for the reason that begin of the varsity 12 months.
“I kind of tried not to think about it too much before the start of the season,” Stokes stated. “But I’ve definitely had it circled on my calendar.”
On Friday, Dougherty Valley will journey to Dublin for its annual rivalry recreation. The 2 colleges, situated simply 5 miles aside, have a protracted and storied historical past as basketball rivals. This 12 months, each applications are taking part in at an elite stage as Dublin (21-4) and Dougherty Valley (19-6) are thought of two of the Bay Space’s high groups.
However this 12 months’s recreation will likely be dominated by one storyline.
Stokes was a star for Dublin for 3 years, however determined to switch to Dougherty Valley for his senior season – a transfer that raised eyebrows across the basketball group.
Dublin’s Jalen Stokes (2) shoots the sport successful basket towards Liberty’s Quinton Bundage (2) at Dublin Excessive Faculty in Dublin, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)
His switch was initially denied by the North Coast Part, prompting Dougherty Valley coach Mike Hansen to throw shade at Stokes’ earlier faculty. However after successful his attraction in December, the 6-foot-5 ahead has been on a tear for the final month.
Whereas he doesn’t precisely know what his reception will likely be like when he enters Dublin’s gymnasium, Stokes views Friday’s recreation as a full-circle second.
“It’s definitely going to be sentimental,” he stated. “I had my senior night at Dougherty Valley the other night, but it will be senior night for Dublin on Friday, too. So it’ll kind of be my last home game for me over there.
“I’ve spent so many years, dedicated so many hours to that program. So, it’s definitely sentimental for me.”
Stokes was a embellished participant at Dublin for 3 seasons. As a junior, he averaged 19.4 factors and eight.3 rebounds per recreation and led the Gaels to an NCS Division I title recreation berth the place Dublin finally fell to Dougherty Valley.
Dublin’s Jalen Stokes (2) celebrates after capturing the sport successful basket towards Liberty’s Quinton Bundage (2) at Dublin Excessive Faculty in Dublin, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)
However Dougherty Valley’s begin to the season couldn’t be any rockier after Stokes was denied eligibility, forcing him to take a seat out the workforce’s first 12 video games.
Even with the surface noise, the Wildcats nonetheless managed to go a good 8-4 in that span.
“They’re a tough group. Sometimes they’re tough to coach, but they’re mentally tough kids and they got an edge to them. They’re battle tested.”
Stokes finally received his attraction and has torched league opponents ever since.
He dropped 47 factors in a detailed loss to San Ramon Valley. He scored 32 factors to snag a key win over De La Salle. And towards cross-town rival California, he exploded for twenty-four factors whereas grabbing 11 rebounds.
In the meantime, Dublin has shocked many with out Stokes.
Dougherty Valley’s Jalen Stokes (2) goes up for a dunk towards California within the first half of their recreation at California Excessive Faculty in San Ramon, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Going into Friday’s recreation, Stokes continues to be not sure whether or not his return will deliver cheers or boos.
“You know, I don’t know what to expect,” Stokes stated. “I got a lot of friends over there and they talk a lot of trash, but I really am clueless. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
However one factor is for certain when Stokes steps out into his outdated stomping grounds: There will likely be no kumbaya between outdated teammates.
“I think it’s kind of unspoken. We’re friends outside the court but when we step inside the lines, we’re enemies,” Stokes stated.
Dougherty Valley’s Jalen Stokes (2) shoots a basket from underneath the rim towards De La Salle within the second interval of their recreation at Dougherty Valley Excessive Faculty in San Ramon, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
