Meet the SJND Men's Varsity Basketball Team

Kyle Collins, center, # 21: A drummer, Kyle plays in the SJND concert band. In addition to drumming, he is also a member of the school’s swim team, competing in freestyle. Kyle, who is 6’4,” is a junior. Prior to SJND, he attended St. Lawrence O’Toole Elementary School.

 

 

Billy Connacher, center, #35:  Billy, one of SJND’s top science students, invented a wind turbine last year and presented it at the San Francisco Bay Area Science Fair. A 6’2” scholar athlete at SJND, he is planning to study science or engineering in college next year, preferably at Stanford or Cal. He also plays varsity baseball and attended St. Joseph Elementary School.

 

 

 

Ozei Evans, forward, #4: Ozei is a junior who transferred to SJND this year from Bishop O’Dowd.  Ozei, who is 5’10,” enjoys studying Spanish. “I like meeting all the new people here,” he says. “They’re friendly.” He attended St. Lawrence O’Toole Elementary School.

 

Chris Garcia, guard, #3: Chris is a senior whose favorite class is government. He will be attending Diablo Valley College in the fall and plans to study engineering. He attended St. Jarlath Elementary School. He is 5’7.”

 

Daniel Gargantila, forward, #20: A student of history, Daniel particularly enjoys studying California history and U.S. history. He is 5’10” and attended St. Jarlath Elementary School.

 

Gemeny Givens, guard, #42: The lone freshman on the team this year, Gemeny started playing with the varsity after the JV season ended. His favorite class at school is drama, and he is a scholar athlete, having maintained a 3.5 grade point average. He is 5’7” and attended St. Leander Elementary School.

 

D’Angelo Hutton, forward, #24: To D’Angelo, co-captain of the team, family is everything. He enjoys spending his summers camping with his family at DelValle Lake in Livermore, where he goes fishing, too. A 6’ senior, D’Angelo has plans for college. He was named to the second honors team of the Bay Shore Athletic League for his excellent play for the Pilots. He attended St. Leo the Great Elementary School.

 

Billy Johnson, guard, #11: This 5’8” sophomore also plays center field on the SJND varsity baseball team, where he has been a starter for the past two years. Billy also runs track for SJND. He attended St. Lawrence O’Toole Elementary School.

 

Deonte Jones-Mims, forward, #5: Deonte is a well-rounded scholar-athlete at SJND, and he stars in many of the drama productions at school. He played the Duke of Orsino in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” and also Vince Fontaine in “Grease.” Deonte, a 6’ senior, attended St. Joseph Elementary School in Berkeley.

 

Brendan Keane, center, #33: A film buff, Brendan also enjoys reading, and he’s looking forward to the movie version of his most recent favorite book, “The Road,” by Cormac McCarthy. He is a 6’9” sophomore and has been playing varsity basketball for SJND since 2007. He attended St. Joseph Elementary School.

 

Dominic Lippi, guard, #12: The son of Coach Don Lippi, Dominic has been trailing in his dad’s footsteps for 15 years. He also is an accomplished scholar athlete; attaining a 3.5 grade point average or higher while he has played championship basketball. Dominic, a 5’10” sophomore, attended St. Joseph Elementary School.

 

Joel Siapno, guard, #22: One of his brothers is studying music at New York University and another brother plays tennis, but Joel is more interested in basketball. He also enjoys studying Spanish. A 5’9” junior, Joel is also a scholar athlete, having achieved a 3.5 grade point average while playing championship basketball. He attended St. John’s Elementary School.

 

Jacari Whitfield, guard, #10: A sophomore and co-captain of the team, Jacari volunteers with the Peace Officers Association, Officers for Justice, and he helps with the annual Thanksgiving Food Basket giveaway. Last year, Jacari, who is 5’7,”  assisted a Baptist church with feeding the homeless, tutoring children and assisting with a toy and clothing drive. He attended Bancroft Middle School.

 

Evander Woods, forward, #31: After spending freshman year at SJND, Evander spent the first part of sophomore year attending Laurel High School in Maryland. He is happy to be back at SJND and playing basketball. The 6’3” sophomore attended Edendale Middle School.