Burlison on Basketball

Frank Burlison | High School Basketball | College Basketball

You want to know a lot about the top boys teams in SoCal? Here you go . . .

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LAGUNA NIGUEL – Finally!

Here’s the complete BurlisonOnBasketball preseason Southern California (CIF Southern and L.A. City Section schools) Top 40 boys’ basketball teams.

A few thoughts to go along with the ratings:

*Until a Southern California-based school’s team knocks off Corona Centennial, the Huskies will be atop my SoCal ratings;

*I can’t recall a real (non “prep school” or “academy” or what-not) high school program ever having the one-season influx of new players like Sierra Canyon gained by way of transfers Isaiah Elohim (Heritage Christian), Kijani Wright (Windward), Mike Price (Ribet Academy) and Jerimiah Nyarko (St. John Bosco).

Damnnnnnnn . . .

Coach Andre Chevalier’s well-established ability to mesh a lot of talented players and keep egos — players’ and parents’ – in check will be put to its ultimate test this season;

*It wouldn’t startle me if all but one of the eight teams that played in the CIF Southern Section’s Open Division playoffs last “season” (what there was of it, anyway) return in 2022. The only one I’m sure will not is Ribet Academy – which no longer fields a program;

*Not all “non-league schedules” are creating equally – or as competitive – among a lot of the teams you seen ranked highly here.

But some first-week games of note include:

No. 7 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (likely) playing No. 12 Heritage Christian (Thursday and (definitely) facing top-ranked Centennial Saturday night – both on the road.

Many props to you, Matt Sargent.

*There are a multitude of opportunities to see many of the teams in The Top 40 (plus 10 honorable mentions) without leaving one campus, notably:

The Dec. 4-11 “Braves’ Winter Classic” (at St. John Bosco); the Dec. 27-30 “ The Classic at Damien”; the Jan. 8 “Take Flight Challenge” (at Fairfax); the Jan. 22 Rolling Hills Prep “State Preview “(held at Colony High) and the Jan. 28 & 29 “Mater Dei Extravaganza”.

Anyway, I’m getting a sore neck being hunched over my laptop for so long.

Here you go:

 

  1. Corona Centennial

Coach: Josh Giles

League: Big VIII (CIF SS D-1)

2021 results: 21-2 (CIF SS Open champion; didn’t play in regional)

Notable: The late-summer transfer of Kylan Boswell (to an Arizona prep school) was a stunner. But the Huskies return four other, high-level starters. Guard Donovan Dent (the SS Open Player of the Year), who signed with the University of New Mexico, leads a squad that also includes terrific juniors in Jared McCain (maybe the best “scorer” in Southern California/PICTURED)) and posts Devin Williams (6-9) and Aaron McBride (6-6). Senior guard Ramsey Huff, who has played his way into being a quality college prospect, will round out the lineup.

  1. Chatsworth Sierra Canyon

Coach: Andre Chevalier

League: Gold Coast (SS D-1)

2021 results: 16-2 (lost to Centennial in SS Open final and Etiwanda in Regional Open second round).

Notable: Injuries shredded the team’s depth and offensive balance down the stretch in June, when Chevalier’s team suffered home losses to Centennial and Etiwanda. If healthy (Amari Bailey, Bronny James and Shy Odom have each been hobbled a big part of the summer and into the fall), and all of its abundance of high-profile transfers in uniform, healthy and eligible, this could be Chevalier’s deepest – and best – team and one that will be very difficult to beat by any team on this list in late February.

  1. Studio City Harvard-Westlake

Coach: David Rebibo

League: Mission (SS D-1)

2021 results: 17-6 (1-2 in SS Open playoffs; lost to St. John Bosco Regional D-1AA semifinals).

Notable: Size, depth and offensive skill aplenty for Rebibo’s team – which has been hobbled by injuries and illness in recent weeks. He’s got two Ivy League-bound seniors in guard Cameron Trotter (out for the past month or so with a broken thumb) and 6-8 Landon Lewis – who has made immense progress since last season. There are very strong sophomore (guards Trent Perry and Robert Hinton) and junior (forward Brady Dunlap and post Jacob Huggins) classes  in place, too. Dunlap and Huggins were key members of the Why Not team that won the Peach Jam in the 16U division in July.

  1. La Verne Damien

Coach: Mike LeDuc

League: Baseline (SS D-1)

2021 results: 29-4 (2-1 in SS Open playoffs; lost to Torrey Pines in Regional Open semifinal).

Notable: This squad has all the pieces – minus depth – to return to the SS Open playoffs. Six-four R.J. Smith (who signed with the University of Colorado week) is joined as a returning starters by underrated guard Spivey Word and one of the better “big” juniors in the west in Jimmy Oladokun Jr. Point guard Bradley Xie is a three-year varsity player (often playing “starter’s minutes” as a junior) and the lineup has another 6-8 post to go alongside Oladokun in Kaleb Smith, a deep jump shooter who was ineligible as a junior after transferring from Los Osos (he attended Damien as a freshman).

  1. Etiwanda

Coach: David Kleckner

League: Baseline (SS D-1)

2021 results: 14-2 (2-1 in SS Open playoffs; beat Torrey Pines in Regional Open final).

Notable: The Eagles lost three seniors (including Jahmai Mashack, now at the University of Tennessee) from the team that was 5-1 in the post-season, including consecutive regional wins over Mater Dei, Sierra Canyon and then-unbeaten Torrey Pines, in San Diego. But a lot of the key elements are back from that team, notably University of New Mexico-bound forward Quinton Webb, as well as two of the better juniors anywhere in the west in point guard Jimmy Baker Jr. and 6-6 Curtis Williams. Seniors Jacob Barcelo and Kwinten Crenshaw are two of the prime reasons Kleckner thinks this is one of his better jump-shooting teams in a while.

  1. Valencia West Ranch

Coach: Jeff Bryant

League: Foothill (SS D-1)

2021 results: 12-1 (lost to Agoura in SS 2A quarterfinal).

Notable: The Wildcats are primed to make a big push for their first-ever spot in the SS Open playoffs and no one has a tougher non-league schedule. Six-seven junior Andrew Meadow could be the best rebounder in SoCal and will be joined up front by one of the best sophomores (James Evans Jr.) and freshmen (Bryce Cofield) anywhere on the west coast. The “X” factor could junior guard Jaqari Miles, a terrific scorer and playmaker who was impressive on the fall circuit. Another sophomore, Jaden DePina, could also start. Check out this team when it plays at Harvard-Westlake (Dec. 16).

  1. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame

Coach: Matt Sargent

League: Mission (SS D-2AA)

2021 results: 5-11 (didn’t participate in playoffs).

Notable: Claiming “this will be the most improved D-1 team in the Southern Section” qualifies as my biggest understatement of 2021. Guard Ben Shtolzberg (bound for Creighton) operates in “attack mode”. Six-seven Drew Stromer (after a “home-schooled” sophomore year) returns to the lineup with a rare combination of size, skill and vertical pop. They’ve got a lot of shooters around them, too, including Kendall Hailey (headed to the U.S. Military Academy for hoops, an education and a spiffy uniform to march in) and Luke Rishwain. Six-eight sophomore Jayden Harper (transfer from Aleman) and freshman guard Angelino Mark are names to track.

  1. Playa del Rey St. Bernard

Coach: Tony Bland and Jason Porter

League: Del Rey (SS D-1)

2021 results: 7-4 (lost to Chaminade in SS D-1 quarterfinal).

Notable: The loss of 6-7 J.Q. Strong (signed with UC Davis after transferring to Villa Park) takes away the team’s best post threat from last season. But no one in Southern California is as deep and skilled in the backcourt, with juniors Tyler Rolison and Darius Carr (who returned to St. Bernard after a year at L.A. Cathedral) and Long Beach State-bound senior Jason Hart Jr. leading the pack. Kendyl Sanders, James McCallum and Malachi Roach (each in the 6-4 to 6-6 range) mean it shouldn’t all just be about “guard play” for this team.

  1. Torrance Bishop Montgomery

Coach: Doug Mitchell

League: Del Rey (SS D-1)

2021 results: 8-9 (lost to Chaminade in SS D-1 semifinal; lost to Clovis West in Regional D-1A first round).

Notable: The sophomore- and junior class-laden Knights started wobbly but improved immensely to share the Del Rey title and then knocking off Riverside Poly (hell of a game that I attended), Fairmont Prep and Oak Park in the D-1 playoffs. Juniors Xavier Edmonds and Will Brenner (a transfer from Santa Monica) are 6-8ish and quite physical. Juniors Will Smith III, Christian Jones and Kelcy Phipps are quality athletes, scorers and defenders. Jalen Vazquez and Kristopher Krause are senior guards and quintessential “Doug Mitchell” players with toughness and leadership to the nth degree.

  1. Santa Ana Mater Dei

Coach: Gary McKnight

League: Trinity (SS D-1)

2021 results: 29-3 (1-2 in SS Open playoffs; lost to Etiwanda in Regional Open first round).

Notable: Late-season injuries (notably to now-Nebraska freshman Wilhelm Breidenbach) derailed serious hopes of a deep post-season run. Nick Davidson (Nevada-Reno) and Harry Hornery (USC) are also college freshmen, so that means the Monarchs will be more perimeter oriented by way of the likes of seniors Kaden Minter (6-7), 6-5 Santa Margarita transfer Jack McCloskey (he becomes eligible Dec. 27) and 6-5 Gabriel Quiette (the best defender in the program. Minter – one of the most improved players in SoCal, from his freshmen year until now – or 6-8 junior Zack Davidson could be the OC Player of the Year.

  1. Bellflower St. John Bosco

Coach: Matt Dunn

League: Trinity (CIF SS D-1)

2021 results: 23-4 (1-2 in SS Open playoffs; won Regional D-1AA championship)

Notable: There were heavy losses but enough pieces return for another run at Mater Dei in the Trinity League and an Open Division bid. Seniors Christian Estrada (6-7 and awfully strong and skilled along the baseline and in the lane) and Marco Kenz (6-5, cut like a SJB defensive end and much-improved jump shot) and D.J. Henry (team’s quickest guard) will get much support from guards Mateo Duran (a slick-shooting junior) and Jack Turner (sophomore transfer from Santa Margarita). Elzie Harrington (6-4) and Kade Bonham (6-7) are scintillating freshmen.

  1. Northridge Heritage Christian

Coach: Paul Tait

League: Olympic (SS D-1)

2021 results: 20-8 (lost to Capistrano Valley in SS D-1 semifinals and Santa Fe Christian in Regional D-1 first round).

Notable: The state’s best freshman last season (Isaiah Elohim) is now at Sierra Canyon. But senior Malik Moore (who signed with Pepperdine last week) has no shortage of support. That comes in the form of Ribet Academy transfers in point guard Barrington Hargress (all-Open Division last season) and 6-10 Pierre Geneste , as well as a hellacious freshmen class that includes terrific playmaking and scoring guards in Roman Fisher and DeMarco Johnson.

  1. Riverside Poly

Coach: Yancy Dodson

League: Ivy (SS D-1)

2021 results: 10-2 (lost to Bishop Montgomery in first round of SS Div. 1 playoffs).

Notable: The Bears seem to be a bit under the radar (not mine) but have a solid foundation back from a team that came oh-so-close to beating Bishop Montgomery last June in the playoffs. Six-three Chance Stephens (a standout on a 27-7 team as a sophomore) signed with Rhode Island last week and 6-5 Payden White was a starter at Corona Centennial as a sophomore two seasons ago. Davion Johnson is a quality jump shooter and Coach Dodson has a deep and gifted class of 2025.

  1. San Pedro Rolling Hills Prep

Coach: Harvey Kitani

League: Coastal (SS D-1)

2021 results: 13-3 (won SS D-2AA championship; lost to Santa Margarita in Regional D-2AA semifinals).

Notable: Coach Kitani’s program has been elevated to D-1 status in the Southern Section this fall but it’s been playing at that level for a while, anyway. The bulk of the squad that split a pair of post-season games with Santa Margarita returns, led by Stanford-bound guard Benny Gealer, forwards Kenny Manzi and Seydi Thiombane and junior guards JV Brown and Blake Yamada. Mylo Murphy has a chance to be one of the better freshmen Kitani has coached.

  1. RSM Santa Margarita

Coach: Justin Bell

League: Trinity (SS D-1)

2021 results: 17-6 (lost to Rolling Hills Prep in SS 2-AA semifinals; beat Crean Lutheran in Regional D-2AA title game).

Notable: Like its post-season “partner”, this program has a lot of key elements returning, including a couple of skilled 6-9 fellows (junior Rockwell Reynolds and senior Kyle Evans), and one of Orange County’s most underrated players in 6-4 Jake Heberle. Cameron Mercadel is a 6-footer who had a strong freshman season at Orangewood Academy.

  1. Irvine Crean Lutheran

Coach: Nate Klitzing

League: Empire (SS D-1)

2021 results: 20-3 (beat Agoura in SS 2A championship game; lost to Santa Margarita in Regional D-2AA title game).

Notable: The Saints go 6-10 (Koat Keat, the 2A POY last June and the best player in the O.C.) and 7-0 (James Agany/much improved) up front and also return a terrific, multi-sport athlete in Jack Fairchild. But just how good this team is in February will depend heavily upon the contribution that transfers Harry Han (a senior who played a lot for Damien) and Darrell Morris and Vyctorius Miller (sophomore guards, at 5-11 and 6-5, who were at AOSS in Corona as freshmen) can make. Miller and Keat had nagging injuries in the fall, while Fairchild was snagging TD catches when the hoopers were in fall ball.

  1. Anaheim Fairmont Prep

Coach: Joedy Gardner

League: San Joaquin (SS D-1)

2021 results: 12-4 (lost to Bishop Montgomery in second round of SS D-1 playoffs).

Notable: Myles Che and Kris Jimerson make up a skilled senior backcourt. Che is on a short list of the best PGs in Orange County following a quality junior season (after a transfer from Diamond Bar) and often-sizzling group of fall performances. Six-nine junior Collins Archampong could be a dominant force down low. Six-five senior Chol Deng gives Coach Gardner an “outside-inside” (or vice versa) scoring threat.

  1. Woodland Hills Taft

Coach: Derrick Taylor

League: West Valley (L.A. City D-1)

2021 results: 3-8 (lost to Venice in second round of L.A. City D-1 playoffs).

Notable: The “most improved team” in the L.A. City Section and “favorite to win the 2022 City Open title” are, in this case, located on the same Woodland Hills campus. Coach Taylor returns three quality guards in seniors Isaiah Lewis (18.6 ppg) and Jordan Collins (45 percent on 3s), and 6-4 junior A.J. Johnson. But two transfer juniors, Keyon Kensie (a 6-7 junior from Lynwood with a lot of skill) and Nick Ramos (6-6 from New Jersey), are the key to pulling away from the rest of the City challengers.

  1. SJC Capistrano Valley Christian

Coach: Chris Childress

League: San Joaquin (SS D-2AA)

2021 results: 12-7 (lost to Murrieta Valley in SS D-2A quarterfinals).

Notable: The Eagles were 26-8 and SS D-3A three seasons ago. Childress has the kind of elements on hand that could make this team even better than that one was. They’ve got size, skill and experience across the board. Six-four junior Ariik Mawien is one of the five-best players in the O.C., regardless of class standing.  Early fall transfer Makiah Williams (St. Anthony) will have multiple 20-plus scoring performances.

  1. Long Beach St. Anthony

Coach: Alan Mitchell

League: Del Rey (SS D-1)

2021 results: 10-4 (lost to Windward in SS D-1).

Notable: Mitchell moved over one spot on the bench when Allen Caveness left the program early last summer to join Dan Monson’s LBSU staff. There was no obvious slippage in the summer and fall action, though, as three-year starters Elijah Price (6-9) and Jayden Bush (6-3) showed they’re on the path to terrific senior seasons. Quick-jumping, 6-5 Trevon Morris falls neatly into that category as well.

No.’s 21-40: 21. Lake Balboa Birmingham; 22. Hacienda Heights Los Altos; 23. Ontario Colony; 24. L.A. Fairfax; 25. Temecula Rancho Christian; 26. Fountain Valley; 27. Oak Park; 28. Saugus; 29. L.A. Westchester; 30. Long Beach Poly; 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.

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