LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – Four of the top five teams in the latest BurlisonOnBasketball Southern California High School Top 25 ratings will be headed for Springfield (MA) later this week.
Top-ranked Chino Hills and No.’s 3 (Sierra Canyon), 4 (Mater Dei) and 5 (Foothills Christian) are among the participants in the 15th Spalding HoopHall Classic.
The games will be played at Springfield College, located near the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame facility.
The “national” portion of the event will include 21 games over Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Martin Luther King Day).
*Foothills Christian – led by 6-foot-9, UCLA-bound T.J. Leaf – will face Sacred Heart High of Waterbury (CT) Saturday night at 7:45 Eastern Time.
The other three will play on Monday, with each of the games scheduled to be televised by ESPNU.
*Mater Dei (led by Oregon-bound senior Michael Cage Jr. and sophomores Spencer Freedman and Michael Wang) takes on powerhouse Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill Academy at 1 p.m. (also ET).
*Sierra Canyon (led by Nevada signee Devearl Ramsey and juniors Cody Riley and Remy Martin) faces Montverde Academy of Florida at 3 p.m.
*And Chino Hills – also ranked No. 1, nationally, by most “rating” sources and led by Ball Brothers Lorenzo (a senior and the Most Outstanding Player at three tournaments this season), LiAngelo (a junior) and LaMelo (a freshman) – takes on High Point (NC) Christian and 6-9, Kentucky-bound Edrice Adebayo at 5 o’clock.
The Huskies earlier knocked off High Point Christian (94-82) on Dec. 22 in a City of Palms championship semifinal in Ft. Myers (FL).
Updated Southern California Top 25 teams (Southern, L.A. and San Diego CIF sections)
(Record plus previous rating)
- Chino Hills (14-0/#1)
COMMENT: The win over No. 5 Foothills Christian Saturday night at Sierra Canyon marked the first time the Huskies had been seriously tested – down to the wire – by a California-based team this season. Next: There are Baseline League games at Los Osos (Tuesday) and Rancho Cucamonga (Friday) and then trip to Springfield.
- Torrance Bishop Montgomery (16-0/#2)
COMMENT: Something to contemplate – the underclassmen-dominated Knights may be the best team in the state and will be even better a year from now. Next: There are Del Rey League games at Serra (Wednesday) and St. Bernard (Friday).
- Chatsworth Sierra Canyon (11-1/#3)
COMMENT: The Trailblazers, who lost their best overall player (junior forward Ira Lee) to transfer last week, are still awaiting word on the eligibility of 6-10 sophomore Marvin Bagley Jr. (by way of Phoenix). Next: There is a home Gold Coast League game vs. Crossroads Tuesday night before Coach Ty Nichols and his program head to Springfield, MO, for the Thursday-Saturday Bass Pro tourney and then on to Springfield, MA.
- Santa Ana Mater Dei (15-2/#5)
COMMENT: The Monarchs got strong performances vs. Trinity foe Servite Friday from their skilled set of posts in senior Michael Cage Jr. and sophomore Michael Wang. Next: There are Trinity League games at JSerra (Monday) and home to No. 12 Santa Margarita (Friday) before the Monarchs head east Saturday morning.
- El Cajon Foothills Christian (9-3/#8)
COMMENT: T.J. Leaf used a 43-point and 21-rebound effort against Chino Hills Saturday against Chino Hills and Lonzo Ball to demonstrate why it is so likely he will join Ball on the 2016 McDonald’s All-American team when it is unveiled next Sunday on ESPN. Next: A game vs. San Diego County foe Santa Fe Christian Wednesday night is on tap prior to the team’s trip east.
- Redondo Beach Redondo Union (12-3/#6)
COMMENT: There was a bit of offensive raggedness in the second half but the Sea Hawks were in control throughout a pretty good Gahr team Saturday evening at Westchester. Next: They face their Bay League opener Tuesday night on the road Tuesday against their top challenger in No. 13 Inglewood.
- Encino Crespi (16-1/#9)
COMMENT: The Celts needed a baseline jump shot by sophomore Brandon Williams to pull out a 77-77 Mission League win, in OT, at Harvard-Westlake Wednesday night. Next: There is more Mission League action at Loyola (Monday) and home to Chaminade (Wednesday).
- La Verne Damien (15-1/#10)
COMMENT: The Spartans should be well-rested for the start of Baseline League action – they haven’t played since Jan. 2. Next: That Baseline play begins with a home game vs. Rancho Cucamonga (Tuesday) and a road game against Upland (Friday).
- Fairfax (15-2/#4)
COMMENT: The Lions were stunned by L.A. City “sleeper” Narbonne Saturday night at Roybal High. Next: There are home league (Western) games vs. Hamilton (Monday) and University (Friday).
- Corona Centennial (10-5/#7)
COMMENT: The Huskies were 3-3 (losses to No. 2 Bishop Montgomery, No. 9 Fairfax and No. 16 Westchester) with 6-9 UCLA-bound Ike Anigbogu in Nigeria with his family. The good news for the Huskies and his family are back in the US of A: Next: Big VIII League plays begins with a home game vs. MLK (Wednesday) a trip to No. 24 Roosevelt (their top competition in the league) Friday night.
- San Diego St. Augustine (12-3/#11)
COMMENT: The Saints won two of three games minus injured guard Otto Taylor last week. Next: There is a San Diego Western League home game vs. University City Tuesday and a non-league clash at home with Cathedral Catholic Friday.
- Rancho Santa Margarita/Santa Margarita (10-5/#12)
COMMENT: After playing by far the toughest December/early January schedule among Orange County programs, the Eagles opened Trinity League play with 17-point victory over JSerra Friday. Next: They take to the road for Trinity clashes against St. John Bosco (Wednesday) and No. 4 Mater Dei (Friday).
- Santa Monica (13-2/#13)
COMMENT: The Jonah Mathews-led Vikings had a wire-to-wire victory over a scrappy Millikan squad Saturday afternoon at Westchester. Next: Ocean League action at Hawthorne (Wednesday) and home to Lawndale (Friday).
- Inglewood (12-4/#14)
COMMENT: In non-league action last week the Sentinels held off Gardena Serra (56-46). Next: They open Bay League play at home Tuesday night against No. 6 Redondo Union and Friday against Palos Verdes.
- Los Alamitos (14-3/#15)
COMMENT: UC Irvine-bound guard Eyassu Worku scored 31 points to become the Griffins’ all-time leading scorer in a Sunset League win over rival Edison Friday night. Next: The Griffins play Sunset foes Fountain Valley (Wednesday/road) and Newport Harbor (Friday/home).
- A. Westchester (11-5/UR)
COMMENT: The Comets defended their home court well while overcoming No. 10 Corona Centennial Saturday night. Next: Western League play begins Monday (at Palisades) and continues Friday (home to LACES).
- Harbor City Narbonne (10-5/UR)
COMMENT: The player additions from the school’s L.A. City and state championship football squad make the Gauchos strong contenders for an L.A. City hoops crown, as wins over Taft and Fairfax last week demonstrated nicely. Next: Marine play begins Wednesday (at King Drew) and Friday (home to San Pedro).
- Chino Hills Ayala (14-2/UR)
COMMENT: The Bulldogs’ only losses have come to No. 4 Mater Dei (in OT) and to one of Northern California’s better teams (San Mateo Serra). Next: Palomares League play begins for them at Claremont (Tuesday) and home to Glendora (Friday).
- Montebello Cantwell-Sacred Heart (11-4/UR)
COMMENT: The Cardinals had a three-point victory over Gahr last week. Next: There is a home non-league game vs. Pioneer (Monday) and a Del Rey League opener at Serra (Friday).
- Mission Hills Alemany (12-5/UR)
COMMENT: It was a very nice week for the Warriors with a couple of Mission victories over Chaminade and Notre Dame and a win vs. No. 11 San Diego St. Augustine Saturday at Sierra Canyon. Next: Mission League games Wednesday (at Harvard-Westlake) and Friday (home to Loyola).
- Woodland Hills Taft (13-4/UR)
COMMENT: The Toreadors picked up a couple of players last week (after the 30-day transfer period). Veteran Travis Patrick is an L.A. City POY candidate. Next: They’ve got West Valley League games on tap on home to Chatsworth (Wednesday) and at El Camino Real (Friday).
- Orange Lutheran (13-3/UR)
COMMENT: The Lancers lost a Trinity League opener at home to No. 4 Mater Dei Wednesday but evened their league mark with a win at St. John Bosco Friday. Next: Trinity League games vs. Servite (Wednesday in Anaheim) and JSerra (Friday at home).
- Long Beach Poly (9-7/UR)
COMMENT: The Jackrabbits concluded the non-Moore League portion of their schedule with a loss to No. 2 Bishop Montgomery Saturday night at Westchester. Next: They’ll attempt to improve to 5-0 in league with games vs. Millikan (Monday/home), Jordan (Wednesday/road) and Cabrillo (Friday/road).
- Eastvale Roosevelt (10-5/UR)
COMMENT: The Mustangs haven’t played since beating Compton during the Take Flight Challenge at Redondo High on Jan. 2. Next: Big VIII League play begins at Norco (Tuesday) and home to No. 10 Centennial (Friday).
- Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (16-0/UR)
COMMENT: In full disclosure I haven’t seen the Mustangs this season but I’ve watched most of their key players in spring and summer “club and camp ball” settings. I will watch them against Inland Valley League foe JW North either Jan. 21 (in Moreno Valley) or Feb. 9 (in Riverside). Next: IVL games at home to Valley View (Tuesday) and on the road against Canyon Springs (Thursday).
Tapping at the widow (alpha listing): Lake Balboa Birmingham 9-4, San Diego Cathedral Catholic 8-4, L.A. Cathedral 7-9, Compton 9-6, Etiwanda 11-4, Riverside JW North 11-3, Oak Park 11-5, Rancho Cucamonga 10-7, Santa Barbara 17-1, Villa Park 11-5, Village Christian 14-3 and Walnut 14-2.
Leave a Reply