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Backcourt standouts galore at Mission Bay Monday night

November 25, 2025 By Frank Burlison 1 Comment

SAN DIEGO – The Francis Parker, Corona Centennial and Santa Margarita boys’ basketball teams – each propelled by a prolifically skilled scorer – bagged  wins Monday night in the Buccaneer Thanksgiving Showcase at Mission Bay High.

San Diego’s Francis Parker improved to 3-1 as 6-foot-3 Tavid Johnson hit his final 11 field-goal attempts – a stretch in which he converted four of five free throws – to finish with an efficient 32 points during the 83-71 win over Rancho Christian.

Johnson (pictured), one of the more heavily recruited juniors in the west, hit a couple of 3s but most of his buckets can after driving at defenders and pulling up for mid-range jumpers.

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Trinity-Mission Challenge closes with a gut-cruncher

November 23, 2025 By Frank Burlison 4 Comments

WESTWOOD – More than 12 hours of terrific boys’ high school basketball Saturday in Pauley Pavilion were capped with a down-to-the-wire clash between CIF Southern Section power programs Harvard-Westlake and St. John Bosco.

And the Braves – toppled in CIF SS Open Division play the past two years and in the State Southern Open regionals in 2023 by David Rebibo’s HW Wolverines – were able to prevail, 57-55, in the last of the seven games played in the first Trinity-Mission League Challenge on UCLA’s campus.

The Trinity teams won four of the six head-up matchups (SJB, Santa Margarita, Orange Lutheran and Servite) with Sierra Canyon and Crespi bagging the victories for the Mission.

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A round-about-path to the Rumble on the Hill finale

November 22, 2025 By Frank Burlison Leave a Comment

FULLERTON – The Damien Spartans and JSerra Lions won Friday night semifinals of the Rumble on the Hill basketball tournament Friday night at Sunny Hills High.

But it will be the  Spartans and Canyon of Anaheim on the floor for Saturday night’s 7:30 championship.

That’s because the Lions – and Orange Lutheran, beaten by the Spartans in Friday first semifinal, 62-50 – are scheduled to represent the Trinity League Saturday at UCLA during the seven-game Trinity-Mission League Showcase in Pauley Pavilion.

But for three quarters in the second semifinal Friday night, Coach Nate Harrison’s Canyon squad looked as if it was going to win its way into the title game without need of the Trinity-Mission commitment of JSerra.

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UCLA host to Trinity-Mission boys hoops Showcase

November 21, 2025 By Frank Burlison Leave a Comment

WESTWOOD – It will be As good as it gets – on the boys high school basketball scene – in UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion Saturday.

The preeminent “traditional high school” (non “prep school”) leagues in the west – at least – hook up in the first Trinity-Mission League Showcase/Presented by UCLA Health.

Nine of the top 11 squads In the BurlisonOnBasketball SoCal preseason Top 30, including six programs that played in last season’s CIF Southern Section Open Division playoffs, are part of the 14-team field.

The seven games are divided into morning/early afternoon (action tipping at 9:30 a.m.,

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Collins, Johnson superb in terrific Tuesday showdown

November 19, 2025 By Frank Burlison Leave a Comment

BELLFLOWER – It took only about 75 minutes into their senior seasons for Christian Collins and Josiah Johnson to remind those in the St. John Bosco Gymnasium Tuesday night why they are two of the best players anywhere in high school basketball.

The 6-foot-9 Collins scored 35 points – 27 of those after intermission – to go with 13 rebounds and two blocks for the host Braves.

And the 6-4 Johnson was every bit as dynamic and productive for the Monsoons, via 25 points (including four consecutive 3-point jumpers in the fourth quarter) with eight assists, six rebounds and two spectacular blocked shots of his own.

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Meet Frank

Frank Burlison

Frank Burlison is a well-regarded basketball writer who was inducted into the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Hall of Fame in 2005. His opinions on the potential of high school and college players are widely respected and sought by college coaches and NBA scouts, personnel directors and general managers from coast to coast. Oh, yes – he can offer plenty of thoughts on movies, television and pop music. Yes, he can rank those, too. Hint: He’s a big The Godfather, Larry Sanders, The Wire and The Beatles loyalist.

To learn more about Frank's scouting services, click here.

Endorsements

Gary McKnight

Frank Burlison is one of the most knowledgeable basketball people in the business! His passion for the game puts him at the top of the list. There are very few people whose evaluation skills I trust like I do Frank’s!

Gary McKnight
Winningest coach (892-81) in California boys’ basketball history during his 29 seasons at Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei

George Raveling

George Raveling

I’ve known Frank for at least 35 years and have the utmost respect for his writing as well as his understanding of, and insight into, basketball. His ability to evaluate basketball prospects is almost impeccable. Most coaches and scouts watch a player and can tell you how good he is NOW. What separates Frank from the others is that he can watch the same player and tell you how good he can be two or three years down the line.

George Raveling
3x Pac-10 Coach of the Year, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer
Director of International Basketball, Nike

Marques Johnson

Marques Johnson

I have been a fan of Frank Burlison’s skills as a talent evaluator for over twenty years. He stands out as one of the absolute best in the business.

Marques Johnson
1977 National Player of the Year, 5x NBA All-Star

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