LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – Be it as it may, the 2020-21 Southern California boys’ basketball season – minus the 2020 element to the season – is underway.
The still-lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will have great impact on what transpires until the end of the season – which not might be until the third weekend in June, if, as some expect, the CIF State Office announces there will be state championship games to wrap things up.
Here is my “21 (teams) for 2021 preview”; consider the first three teams list as “1-A, 1-B and 1-C” for the time being:
Boys Top 21/Southern and L.A. City Sections
- Sierra Canyon
2019-20: 30-4 (Southern Section and State Regional Open champion)
2021: 0-0
Outlook: Return starters (or guys with “starter’s minutes”) in Amari Bailey, all-Southern Section selection last season, and forward Shy Odom. Each is among the better juniors in California. Seven-three Harold Yu (didn’t return from China) and sophomore Bronny James (recovering from knee surgery) aren’t expected to play this season. Key transfers include senior guard Ryan Grande (La Canada) and juniors Ramel Lloyd (Taft; was at Calabasas in 2018-19), Chance Westry (Trinity in Camp Hill, PA) and Alpha Chimbambe (until a few weeks ago, he was at JSerra).
- Ribet Academy
2019-20: 29-3 (SS 2A and State Regional D1 champion)
2021: 0-0
Outlook: A big and skilled frontcourt (6-9 Yuuto Williams, Seton Hall-bound Tyler Powell and 6-6 junior Tre White), to go along with quality guards in returning all-Southern Section choice Barrington Hargress and Crespi transfer Mike Price. Only Sierra Canyon and Etiwanda were better at the end of last season.
- St. John Bosco
2019-20: 23-9 (SS Open)
2021:7-0
Outlook: Size, skill and experience abound for the Braves, led by seniors Lamaj Lewis (signed with Loyola Marymount) and Scotty Washington (a 6-5 guard who missed all but the final few games of last season because of shoulder surgery). They could start a big “all-junior” frontcourt with Jeremiah Nyarko and Chris Estrada (both 6-8) and Marco Kenz (6-6).
- Mater Dei
2019-20: 25-8 (SS Open runner-up)
2021: 6-0
Outlook: The Monarchs suffered heavy backcourt losses but start the biggest lineup in California via 6-10 Harrison Hornery (signed with USC) and fellow 6-9 NCAA DI signees in Wilhelm Breidenbach (Nebraska) and Nick Davidson (Nevada). Joining them are Davidson’s 6-8 sophomore brother Zack Davidson and 6-5 junior Gabriel Quiette.
- Damien
2019-20: 26-9 (SS D1 semifinalist)
2021: 15-0
Outlook: A potent perimeter is on hand by way of returning starters in seniors Malik Thomas (pictured/USC-bound) and Chris Nickelberry, along with one of SoCal’s best 2022 prospects in R.J. Smith. Six-four Harry Han played a lot as a junior and 6-8 sophomore Jimmy Oladokun Jr. is on his way toward becoming at dominant force in the paint at both ends of the floor.
- Westchester
2019-20: 22-9 (L.A. City Open champion)
2021: 0-0
Outlook: Ed Azzam return a deep and quality backcourt, notably in seniors T.J. Wainwright, Joseph Johnson and Zion Sutton. Manning the frontcourt could be senior Tim Lofton and 6-8 sophomore Angel Corona. The 6-3 Wainwright was an All-L.A. City selection as a junior, when the team bounced back from two league losses to Fairfax to knock off the Lions in the City Open final.
- Heritage Christian
2019-20: 24-4 (SS 2AA quarterfinalist)
2021: 9-1
Outlook: The Warriors lost to Oak Park Saturday night while missing three starters with injuries, including Arizona State-bound Justin Rochelin. Other returning starters are forward Kyle Frelow and jump-shooter Luke Murphy. But the program’s most gifted player is 6-4 Isaiah Elohim, the most explosive and polished freshmen in SoCal who has hit the floor running, dunking, jump shooting and rebounding for Coach Paul Tait.
- Windward
2019-20: 28-8 (SS D1 champion)
2021: 5-1
Outlook: Versatile forward Devin Tillis is at UC Irvine but four other starters are back, including juniors Dylan Andrews (a guard who committed to UCLA Friday) and Kijani Wright, at 6-9 one of the elite post prospects in the national class of 2022.
- Harvard-Westlake
2019-20: 25-7 (SS Open)
2021: 7-2
Outlook: David Rebibo has two four-year players in center Truman Gettings (one of the best low-post players in California) and 6-4 Adam Hinton (a skill scorer and defender who plans to be an MD, post-basketball). Six-four junior Cameron Thrower scored 30 points Saturday at Chaminade and no program has a better collection of sophomores (including 6-8 Brady Dunlap, a transfer from Hart) and freshmen.
- Etiwanda
2019-20: 30-4 (State Regional Open runner-up)
2021: 0-0
Outlook: Two-time all-Southern Section selection Jahmai Mashack (who signed with the University of Tennessee in the fall), and two key reserves, 6-5 Darvelle Wyatt and 6-3, quick-jumping Marcus Green return. Dave Kleckner’s junior varsity team was 18-0 two of its standouts, point guard Jimmy Baker and forward Curtis Williams, seem likely to be starters sooner than later.
- Corona Centennial
2019-20: 27-5 (SS Open)
2021: 3-1
Outlook: Junior Donovan Dent is the anchor and a deep sophomore class, including guards Jared McCain and Kylan Boswell (a transfer from Colony) and 6-6 Aaron McBride, means there isn’t going to be much slippage in this high-octane program for a while.
- Long Beach Poly
2019-20: 17-13 (SS D1)
2021: 2-0
Outlook: Led by California’s only 2021 McDonald’s All-American, 6-8 Peyton Watson, this could be the most gifted and experienced team the Jackrabbits have fielded in a while. Watson is joined by a strong junior class (including his brother, Christian, and jump shooter Gabe Cummings) with transfers of note in Jalen Pitre (6-8/Gahr) and Lorenzo Marsh (6-5/St. Anthony).
- Chaminade
2019-20: 26-9 (SS 2AA semifinalist)
2021: 5-1
Outlook: They don’t come anymore dynamic/explosive with the ball in their hands in SoCal than K.J. Simpson. He’s also got multiple quality jump shots to get his passes to, notably in Keith Higgins Jr. and Colin Weems. There’s not a post presence on the roster.
- Fairfax
2019-20: 26-6 (L.A. City Open runner-up)
2021: 0-0
Outlook: The Lions’ key returnees are senior guard Barry Wilds III and 6-3 junior D.J. Dudley, possibly the best college prospect in the L.A. City ranks this season. Reggie Morris Jr. has a deep and talented group of freshmen, including 6-6 Noah Williams.
- St, Anthony
2019-20: 26-6 (SS Open)
2021: 3-0
Outlook: The Saints have a much-improving 6-7 junior manning the middle at both ends of the floor in Elijah Price (who had 14 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots in a Friday night win against Bishop Montgomery) and two quality handling, passing and scoring 2022 guards in Kaih Williams and Jaayden Bush around him.
- Capistrano Valley
2019-20: 26-4 (SS 2AA second round)
2021: 5-0
Outlook: The Cougars were operating under the radar going into the delay season but that isn’t the case any longer after an impressive win over Fairmont Prep (which bounced them from the playoffs last spring) on Saturday. Six-three guard Langston Redfield is among the most underrated players in California and Saddleback Valley Christian twins Gavin and Aidan O’Neill are skilled scorers who could kick a lot of ass in a 2-on-2 game involving players 6-3 or shorter.
- West Ranch
2019-20: 14-13 (no SS playoffs)
2021: 0-0
Outlook: This program could take a quantum leap, once it begins playing games of course. A high-powered frontcourt will be on hand for new Coach Jeff Bryant. Six-six, 220-pound James Evans is a forceful freshman, 6-6 sophomore Andrew Meadow a strong rebounder and finisher and 6-5 Cory Cofield (a transfer from Birmingham) is a multi-faceted scorer.
- Eastvale Roosevelt
2019-20: 27-9 (SS 2AA semifinals and State Regional DII final)
2021: 3-0
Outlook: There may not be a deeper group of quality jump shooters on any Southern California roster. Coach Steve Singleton has got several experienced guards, notably senior G Little and junior CJ Bellamy, along with a promising freshman in Darnez Slater.
- Santa Margarita
2019-20: 13-14 (no SS playoffs)
2021: 5-0
Outlook: For the time being, at least, I project the Eagles as the third-best team in the Trinity League (behind St. John Bosco and Mater Dei and just in front of Orange Lutheran). Second-year Coach Justin Bell has a tall and deep roster, veteran quality guards in Jake Blazona and Jack McCloskey, and exceptional transfers in Luke Turner (6-7, Rancho Christian) and Coby Barnes (6-3, Clovis Buchannan).
- Fountain Valley
2019-20: 21-10 (SS and State Regional semifinals)
2021:2-0
Outlook: Coach D’Cean Bryant (a standout at Long Beach State under Seth Greenberg) returned a plethora of standouts from the squad that made deep runs in both sets of post-season playoffs, including co-captains Jeremiah Davis and Preston Camarillo and guards Roddie Anderson (one of the better juniors in the County) and standout sophomore Elijah Nelson. Bryant’s son, 6-7 Carter Bryant, has the potential to be one of the Top Five freshmen in California this season.
- Colony
2019-20: 20-9 (SS D1 second round)
2021: 6-1
Outlook: Coach Jerry DeFabiis (who just bagged career win No. 400 last week) has a whole lot of quality sophomores and juniors surrounding one of the best senior guards anywhere in Santa Clara-bound Brenton Knapper. Keep any eye on sophomores Kellen Murphy and Jayden Simpson and 6-5 junior Jaden Henley.
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