LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – Monday marks the first day of the real high school basketball season for 2021-22 after the pandemic-impacted hybrid “2021” season that began in the early spring and wrapped up in June.
Yeah, it was crazy, eh?
Here’s the first of a four-part series previewing my choices as the Top 40 teams (in the CIF Southern and L.A. City sections) in Southern California.
Based upon what I’ve seen in summer and fall competition – and a healthy mix of “hunches” on the kind of teams that will, once again, be produced by the elite programs and coaches in the region – here are my teams “31 to 40” in the BurlisonOnBasketball Top 40:
- Eastvale Roosevelt
Coach: Steve Singleton
League: CIF SS Big VIII (Div. 1)
2021 results: 14-4 (second-round Div. 1 playoffs loss to Oak Park)
Notable: The Mustangs lost their two top scorers and don’t have a lot of size. But 6-foot-4 Trevor Manning averaged 10.3 ppg as a junior and sophomores Darnez Slater (6-4) and Jazz Shoker (5-10 and a sizzling jump shooter) should be among the best players Singleton and his program have produced.
- Riverside Hillcrest
Coach: Jackson Wood
League: CIF SS Riverside Valley (Div. 2A)
2021 results: 15-2 (second-round Div. 2A loss to Culver City)
Notable: Coach Wood’s Trojans are, potentially, a year away from being a Top 15 or so team in SoCal. They’re loaded with underclass talent, notably in 7-2 junior Dennis Evans and 6-5 sophomore DeShawn Gory, an often-spectacular transfer from Adelanto.
- Newport Pacifica Christian
Coach: Jeff Berokoff
League: CIF SS San Joaquin (Div. 2A)
2021 results: 7-9 (first-round Div. 1 loss to St. Anthony)
Notable: Berokoff lost Houston Mallette (a starter at Pepperdine) but returns some quality vets and adds some gifted newcomers as the Tritons challenge Fairmont Prep and Capistrano Valley Christian in the most underrated boys’ hoops league in SoCal.
- Anaheim Canyon
Coach: Nate Harrison
League: CIF SS Crestview (Div. 2AA)
2021 results: 17-6 (first-round Div. 1 loss to Loyola)
Notable: Harrison’s squad, led by sophomores Jaden and Joshua Goodall, is among the most underrated in SoCal coming into the season, and seems capable of a deep run in what should be a loaded 2AA playoff field.
- La Canada St. Francis
Coach: Todd Wolfson
League: CIF SS Mission (Div. 2AA)
2021 results: 14-9 (first-round CIF SS Div. 1 loss to Oak Park)
Notable: There isn’t a “better-coached” program in SoCal and, behind seniors Jake Goldberg and Buckley Dejardin, the Golden Knights will be formidable challengers to Open Division candidates Harvard-Westlake and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in the Mission League.
- Santa Monica Crossroads School
Coach: Anthony Davis
League: CIF SS Gold Coast (Div. 1)
2021 results: 10-2 (second-round CIF SS Div. 2AA loss to Laguna Beach)
Notable: A potentially potent frontcourt, paced by 6-10240-pound senior Henri Adiassa (signed with Lehigh) and 6-7 junior Isaiah Chappel, is joined by a deep and gifted freshman class to make up a squad that could makes things at least somewhat mildly interesting for Sierra Canyon when they meet in a Gold Coast League game in Chatsworth on Jan. 4.
- Gardena Serra
Coach: Bernard McCrumby
League: CIF SS Del Rey (Div. 1)
2021 results: 11-10 (second-round CIF SS Div. 2AA loss to Colony)
Notable: Multiple key returners, led by seniors Jeremy Dent-Smith (6-0/PICTURED) and Amir Gipson (6-9), will help the Cavaliers challenge Bishop Montgomery, St. Bernard and St. Anthony in the oh-so-nails Del Rey League.
- SJC/JSerra
Coach: Keith Wilkinson
League: CIF SS Trinity (Div. 1)
2021 results: 14-13 (quarterfinal-round loss to Capistrano Valley in the CIF SS Div. 1)
Notable: Six-seven twins Dane and Austin Persek will team with fellow seniors Rob Diaz (an explosive scorer from the perimeter) and 6-4 Joshua Ragsdale, along with two of the better sophomores in the O.C. (6-7 Branden Byrne and 6-0 Aidan Fowler), to form a club capable of a top-three finish in the oh-so-darn-tough Trinity League.
- Moreno Valley Rancho Verde
Coach: Johnny Dukes
League: CIF SS Ivy (Div. 3AA)
2021 results: 3-7 (didn’t participate in playoffs)
Notable: Dukes, a key member of Jerry DeFabiis’ staff for six successful seasons at Colony, inherited some quality returnees (such as senior guard Khemanni Davis and junior forward JaSyre Robinson). Enhanced with a couple of quality transfers, the Mustangs could challenge Riverside Poly in the Ivy League and make a deep run in the 3AA playoffs.
- Orange Lutheran
Coach: Daniel Dunbar
League: CIF SS Trinity (Div. 1)
2021 results: 12-9 (dropped a quarterfinal, 2AA playoff game to Long Beach Poly)
Notable: Three seniors, guard Nik Flores and forwards Seth Brown and Blake Brewer, are the foundation of a lineup that could also be capable of a top-three finish in one of the more competitive leagues in the west.
Deep consideration for Top 40 was given to, among others: (alpha listing) Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley; West Hills Chaminade; Compton; L.A. King/Drew; Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos; Los Angeles Loyola; Redondo Union; Santa Fe Springs St. Paul; Valencia and Sun City Village Christian.
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