LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – The countdown continues, with No.’s 21-30 of the BurlisonOnBasketball preseason boys Southern California Top 40 teams (and 10 “honorable mentions”).
And, trust me: I’m doing my best to get the final Top 20 on the website before games “officially” tip off for the 2021-22 season Monday evening:
- Lake Balboa Birmingham
Coach: Nicholas Halic
League: West Valley (L.A. City Section Div. 1).
2021 results: 12-4 (CIF L.A. City Section Open champion; lost to Sierra Canyon in first round of Regional Open championships).
Notable: The Patriots lost City POY David Elliott and James Nobles (now at Loyola Marymount) but have five returnees, led by 6-8 Larry Olayinka, and a quality transfer from El Camino Real, Brooklyn Caldwell, who becomes eligible for the team’s Dec. 27 Classic at Damien Platinum Division opener.
- Hacienda Heights Los Altos
Coach: Jeff Lucas
League: Hacienda (CIF SS 2AA)
2021 results: 17-3 (lost to Rolling Hills Prep in SS Div. 2AA final; lost to Crean Lutheran in Regional D-2AA semifinal).
Notable: Coach Lucas’ squad is led by 7-footer junior Jazz Gardner (pictured/twice an all-Southern Section choice), who is joined by his 6-1 freshman sibling Jaiyon. Eastvale Roosevelt transfer C.J. Bellamy strengthens the backcourt but the loss of 6-5 sophomore Seven Bahati (to one of the latest of the celebrity pop-up “academies”) forces some adjustment.
- Ontario Colony
Coach: Jerry DeFabiis
League: Palomares (SS D-1)
2021 results: 19-2 (lost to Los Altos in SS 2AA quarterfinal).
Notable: Four-year starter Brenton Knapper is a freshman at Santa Clara but there is an underrated senior (6-5 Jaden Henley) and a strong and deep junior class led by 6-3 left-handed point guard Kollen Murphy.
- Fairfax
Coach: Reggie Morris Jr.
League: Western (L.A. City Div. 1).
2021 results: 8-4 (lost to Birmingham in L.A. City Open semifinal and to Capistrano Valley in the Regional D1 first round).
Notable: The Lions lost a couple of all-City guards (to graduation and transfer). But they picked up a skilled, 6-8 transfer (Tyler Bey), who will be surrounded by the likes of much-improved junior (Kevin Lewis) and a couple of quality guards from the Class of 2024 (David Mack and Jaden Hubbard).
- Temecula Rancho Christian
Coach: Ray Barfield
League: Free Lance (SS D-1)
2021 results: 7-4 (lost to Capistrano Valley in SS D-1 playoffs second round).
Notable: Two years removed from having a Mobley Brother in the lineup, the Eagles have a potent Class of 2023, including 6-5 point-guard Rodney Brown and 6-11 Martin Gumwel, a transfer from Calvin Christian in Escondido.
- Fountain Valley
Coach: D’Cean Bryant
League: Wave (SS D-1).
2021 results: 14-3 (loss to Rolling Hills Prep in SS D-1 quarterfinal).
Notable: The Barons have a lot of quality veterans, including UC San Diego-bound and all-Southern Section guard Roddie Anderson. Look for Coach Bryant’s 6-8 son Carter Bryant (sidelined all of last season while recovering from knee surgery) to have a breakout sophomore campaign.
- Oak Park
Coach: Aaron Shaw
League: Coast Canyon (SS D-1).
2021 results: 15-5 (lost to Bishop Montgomery in SS D-1 quarterfinal).
Notable: Looking for a sleeper team in the Southern Section’s D-1 division in 2022? Here’s what you’re looking forward via a lineup that includes under-appreciated college prospects in the class of 2023 (6-7 Isaiah Sherrard) and ’24 (point guard Seshsha Henderson).
- Saugus
Coach: Al Manzano
League: Foothill (SS 2AA).
2021 results: 7-4 (lost to Palos Verdes in first round of SS 2AA playoffs).
Notable: College-bound seniors Brandon and Nathan Perez (not related, FYI) are a dynamic pair of offensive threats. But look for 6-6 junior Davis White to be a key element in the team’s push for a deep run in the high-powered Southern Section 2AA playoff division this spring.
- Westchester
Coach: DeWitt Cotton
League: Western (L.A. City Div. 1).
2021 results: 11-2 (lost to Birmingham in L.A. City Open final and to Ribet Academy in second round of Regional D1AA playoffs).
Notable: Long-time key Ed Azzam assistant DeWitt Cotton gets the task – many would say unenviable – of replacing one of the greatest-ever high school coaches anywhere upon his retirement last June. The Comets lost a lot of quality players but many are still in place, including juniors Angelo Corona (6-8) and Jonathan Choyce (6-4).
- Long Beach Poly
Coach: Shelton Diggs
League: Moore (SS 2AA)
2021 results: 14-5 (lost to Los Altos in SS Div. 2AA semifinal; lost to Narbonne in first round of Regional 2A playoffs).
Notable: The Jackrabbits after (IMO) over-achieving a bit last season, have a deep and experienced senior class, led by 6-4 guard Christian Watson. And 6-5 Jovani Ruff should be one of the more productive freshmen in Southern California.
No.’s 31-40: 31. Eastvale Roosevelt; 32. Riverside Hillcrest; 33. Newport Pacifica Christian; 34. Anaheim Canyon; 35. La Canada St. Francis; 36. Santa Monica Crossroads School; 37. Gardena Serra; 38. San Juan Capistrano JSerra; 39. Moreno Valley Rancho Verde and 40. Orange Lutheran.
Honorable Mention (alpha order): Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley; West Hills Chaminade; L.A. King/Drew; Compton; Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos; Los Angeles Loyola; Redondo Union; Santa Fe Springs St. Paul; Valencia and Sun City Village Christian.
Leave a Reply