Jamaree Bouyea appears to have found a franchise that believes in his talents, a system that fits the Palma graduate’s skill set, and a coach who has confidence in the veteran playmaker.
Having spent time with five different NBA teams for a total of 19 games over his first three years, shuffling from the G-League to the NBA, Bouyea has played in 12 games this year for the Phoenix Suns.
Signed to a two-way contract, the 6-foot-2 guard has remained a part of the Suns roster since his arrival, averaging seven points a game in 14.3 minutes of action.
The 26-year-old is shooting 58 percent from the field and 52 percent from beyond the 3-point arc for the Suns, scoring five points, while collecting two rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal in 16 minutes against the Warriors.
His best game in Phoenix and in his NBA career came recently against Oklahoma City when Bouyea dropped in 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while doling out six assists.
Bouyea, who honed his skills as a youth for Seaside’s Finest, has become one of Phoenix’s team leaders in blocked shots at 1.1, while averaging 1.7 assists, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals a night.
Prior to being signed by Phoenix, Bouyea had stints with Miami, Washington, Portland, San Antonio and Milwaukee, starting his first NBA game last season for the Bucks.
Having spurned offers to play in Europe after being released by the Bucks, Bouyea was tearing up the G-League with the Austin Spurs before signing with Phoenix. During his first season in the G-League with Sioux Falls in 2023, he was named to the all-rookie team.
Undrafted after helping the University of San Francisco reach its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 25 years, Bouyea led Palma to three straight Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division titles and a spot in the CIF State Division IV title game in 2016.
Dalman named to Pro Bowl
A decision to leave the Atlanta Falcons for the Chicago Bears in free agency in the off-season has paid massive dividends for Drew Dalman, who was named to his first Pro Bowl this year as a starter.
In addition, the 6-foot-4, 305-pound center is headed to the postseason for the first time in his five-year career, having been a huge part in the Bears’ turnaround, as the franchise has gone from 5-12 in 2024 to 11-4 going into the final two games of the season.
Dalman, who prepped at Palma, is the first player from the county to be named to the Pro Bowl since former North Salinas product Kassim Osgood earned his third Pro Bowl invite as a special teams player for the then San Diego Chargers.
The Bears’ revamped offensive line has gone from one of the worst in the NFL in 2024 to among the best this season. Quarterback Caleb Williams had been sacked just 23 times going into Sunday night’s game, as opposed to 68 in 2024, the third highest in NFL history.
The Herald’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2016, Dalman spent four years at Stanford, earning all-Pac 12 honors before entering the draft as a redshirt junior, where he was selected by the Falcons in the fourth round in 2021.
Dalman’s father Chris, spent eight years in the NFL as a center-guard for the 49ers, and was on their last Super Bowl-winning team in 1995.
Flag football all-star game
Several of the top senior flag football players from this past fall in the tri-region area will be on the same field on Sunday in the Central Coast High School All-Star Flag Football game.
The event, which will showcase the top seniors from Santa Cruz County against the elite from Monterey County, will be held at noon at Aptos High.
One side will be sponsored by the Reggie Stephens Foundation, with the other being the Gino Panelli Foundation.
Among those expected to take part include Ava Staehle, who moonlighted in the fall playing field hockey for Carmel, while leading the school’s flag football team in interceptions.
Salinas will be represented by Jaslyne Coronado and Alissa Escutia, who combined for nearly 3,500 receiving yards and 45 touchdowns.
Dania Rodriguez and her 1,200 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns will suit up for King City, along with Elsie Sargenti of Palma and Maya Ibarra of North County.
A skills competition will take place before the game.
CSUMB women solid start
It’s been 13 seasons since Cal State Monterey Bay produced a winning season in women’s basketball, so the 4-5 start is cause for optimism.
The Otters have already surpassed last year’s entire win total of three in their first nine games, while snapping a 23-game California Collegiate Athletic Association losing streak.
CSUMB already has a road win this year, and a conference victory, something that didn’t occur last winter in a 25-loss season.
Riley Walls has quickly asserted herself on the hardwood as a true freshman for the Otters, leading the team in scoring at 8.4 points. The 5-foot-9 former Clovis West guard is also averaging a team-high 5.3 rebounds a night.
Leah Sarabia has doubled her scoring output from last year for CSUMB, averaging 8.4 points, with 11 steals, while Malaysia Lucero is dropping in 8.3 points in her first season for the Otters after leading Antelope Valley to a conference title in its final season.
Ledjan Pahukoa is coming off the bench, shooting 57 percent from beyond the 3-point arc, while senior guard A’ajah Slocum leads the Otters in steals and assists.
Monterey Bay FC acquires forward
In an effort to add more scoring punch to an offense that was near the bottom in scoring the last two years, Monterey Bay FC has acquired forward Wesley Leggett from the Charleston Battery.
In 18 appearances last year for Charleston, which finished second in the United Soccer League Championship’s Eastern Conference, Leggett collected two goals and an assist.
“A huge part in my decision to join Monterey Bay FC was the coaching staff and the trust I have in their vision and leadership,” said Leggett. “I truly believe in the project they’re building and the environment they’re creating. I’m motivated to grow and compete.”
Prior to joining Charleston last summer, the 24-year-old Leggett played for Loudoun United FC for three seasons, finishing third all-time in appearances (90), third in goals (17) and sixth in assists (8). His first professional goal came in the U.S. Open Cup in 2023.
Leggett helped St. John’s reach the NCAA Tournament in 2021, producing nine goals and six assists in three years.
Coaches needed
Palma is looking for a shot put and discus coach in track and field for this spring. Go to jason.smith@smithfamilywines.come
Alisal is searching for a varsity boys volleyball coach for the spring. Contact Jose Gil at jose.gil@salinassuhsd.org or 831 796-7600.
Game needed
Pacific Grove is looking for a football game for the second week of the season. Contact Dan Powers at dpowers@pgusd.org.