Two Players, Assistant Coach Leave Mater Dei

Two standout Mater Dei boys’ basketball players and their father, an assistant coach for the team, have left the school, and the boys are expected to enroll at Corona Centennial, Monarch Coach Gary McKnight said Thursday.

Junior forward Erik Soderberg, his brother Lance, a sophomore forward, and their father, Mark, left Mater Dei because the commute from Corona to Santa Ana “was getting too much for them,” McKnight said.

McKnight said he also believes Erik Soderberg may have wanted more playing time, although the player never brought up the issue with McKnight.

Centennial Coach Val Popov, whose Huskies (12-2) are the top-ranked team in Riverside County, said he expects the boys, along with their freshman brother, Brett, to enroll today.

Popov said he has not spoken with Mark Soderberg about a coaching position.

“We’re excited at the prospect of having [the boys],” Popov said. “It adds to our depth, and that’s a very positive thing for us.”

Erik began the season as a starter but recently was supplanted by Lance, who had converted 54% of his field-goal attempts coming into this week.

“Lance has got potential to be a CIF player of the year,” said McKnight, whose Monarchs (16-1) are the No. 1 team in Orange County. “He’s a very solid player.”

McKnight said he does not expect the defections to hurt his team.

“We’ll be fine,” he said. “I probably have one of the few programs that has that luxury” of possessing great depth.