LAGUNA NIGUEL – When Coach Jason Crowe and his uber-gifted son, Jason Crowe, Jr., moved from Lynwood High to Inglewood in the early summer, the fallout into the 2024-25 season figured to be significant.
And that it was.
The Sentinels (Coach Crowe’s alma mater) open the season at No. 23 in the BurlisonOnBasketball SoCal ratings and – with the left-handed, two-time All-CIF SS selection and junior guard leading the way – could be a threat for a deep playoff run in February.
Other notes on teams No. 21-30:
*Alijah Arenas, the son of former University of Arizona and NBA standout guard Gilbert Arenas, joins Crowe (pictured) as another consensus Top 10 prospects in the National Class of 2026 in this portion of the Preseason Top 70.
Arenas and his Chatsworth teammates come in at No. 28.
*Chatsworth and No. 24 Long Beach Poly are the only programs in this group of 10 to play in the State Southern Regional playoffs last spring.
*Rancho Cucamonga, Inglewood, Crean Lutheran, Etiwanda, Campbell Hall, Chatsworth, Village Christian and Rancho Christian – eight of the teams in this portion of the Top 70 – are scheduled to play in the Dec. 26-30 Classic at Damien.
They join 20 of the No’s 31-50 and honorable mention selections in the Damien field.
SoCal Preseason Top 70
No.’s 21-30
- San Clemente
Coach: Landon Pluimer.
’23-24: 24-6/CIF SS 3A 2nd rd.
Briefly: With seniors Porter Hansen and Christian Hernandez leading four returning starters, the Tritons are one of three public school programs that could challenge the Trinity League contingent as best in Orange County this season.
- Rancho Cucamonga
Coach: Bill Burke.
’23-24: 18-11/CIF SS D-1 1st rd.
Briefly: With two-time all-CIF SS selection Aaron Glass leading the way, and supported by Chu Chu Osuji, Izaiah Fiallos and Hillcrest (Riverside) transfer McKel Shedrick, few in the state can match the Cougars’ backcourt skill and depth.
- Inglewood
Coach: Jason Crowe.
’23-24: 13-12/CIF SS 3AA 1st rd.
Briefly: Jason Crowe, Jr. isn’t the only key transfer. Six-ten Parker Jefferson (Waxahachie, TX) and 6-5 Dwayne Boston (Gardena) are starting seniors, and 6-5 David Conerly (Westchester) is a quality sophomore.
- Long Beach Poly
Coach: Shelton Diggs.
’23-24: 24-11/CIF SS 2A semis/Regional D-II 1st rd.
Briefly: With University of California/Berkeley-bound Jovani Ruff leading the way, the Jackrabbits return every key player from a team that ended its season with consecutive post-season “upset” losses to Marina and Bakersfield Christian.
- Crean Lutheran
Coach: Nate Klitzing.
’23-24: 16-13/CIF SS D-1 1st rd.
Briefly: Kaiden Bailey has relocated to Santa Margarita. But transfer sophomore guard Hunter Caplan (Brentwood) rivals Luke Barnett (Mater Dei) as the best jump shooter in Orange County. And the Saints average 6-9 plus across the frontline.
- Etiwanda
Coach: Daniel Ryan.
’23-24: 25-6/CIF SS D-1 quarterfinals.
Briefly: Returning frontcourt seniors Zion Booker, A.J. Orji and Ayden Hamilton are supported by a gifted group of underclass guards, including sophomore Sloane Harris.
- Campbell Hall
Coach: David Grace.
’23-24: 13-17/CIF SS 2A quarterfinals.
Briefly: The Vikings have co-anchors in college-bound seniors James Bass (6-9/Tennessee-Martin) and Isaiah Johnson (6-0/University of Colorado). Johnson was the Silver Division Most Outstanding Player for the 2022 Classic at Damien championship team.
- Chatsworth
Coach: Sam Harris.
’23-24: 20-15/L.A. City Open semifinals/State D-IV runner-up.
Briefly: Alijah Arenas isn’t the lone returnee of note, as 6-8 volleyball standout Taj Unuakhalu and 6-3 Tekeio Phillips (a sophomore) were also key contributors on the run to Sacramento.
- Village Christian
Coach: Julian Andrade.
’23-24: 19-10/CIF SS D-1 1st rd.
Briefly: The Crusaders have a batch of key returnees, including guards Andy Porcayo and Sydney Blatche, who combined to score nearly 27 points per game as juniors.
- Rancho Christian
Coach: Jalen Lake.
’23-24: 18-10/CIF SS D-1 1st rd.
Briefly: Led by gifted backcourt returnees Jayden Smoot and Jaiden Agbo, the Eagles had a terrific fall. They’ve got a trio of 6-9ish transfers likely to become eligible on Dec. 27.
Next up: No.’s 11-20.
Previous:
No.’s 31-50: 31. La Habra; 32. St. Anthony; 33. Riverside Poly; 34. Mira Costa; 35. Oak Hills; 36. Washington Prep; 37. Newport Pacifica Christian; 38. Foothill; 39. Fairmont Prep; 40. San Juan Hills; 41. Bishop Montgomery; 42. Corona del Mar; 43. St. Bernard; 44. Crossroads; 45. Rancho Verde; 46. Murrieta Valley; 47. San Gabriel Academy; 48. Pasadena; 49. Temecula Valley; 50. Arcadia.
Honorable Mention: (alpha) Brentwood; Culver City; Cypress; Gahr; Great Oak; King/Drew; Knight; Leuzinger; Loyola; Marina; Mayfair; Millikan; Orange Lutheran; Palos Verdes; Sage Hill; Santa Barbara; St. Francis; St. Paul; St. Monica and Vista Murietta.
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