Frank Burlison

DUBLIN, Ca. – The 14^th NorCal Classic Tip-Off Classic gets its eight-game scheduled off to a 9:30 start Saturday morning in what promises – as usual – to be the top boys’ high school event during the regular season in the region.

Acton gets underway with a clash between Dougherty Valley and Woodside Priory.

And the final two games on the slate figure to be whoppers, with potential sectional and regional champions in Modesto Christian-San Joaquin Memorial and Campolindo-Dublin clashes.

Admission is $15 for adults; $10 for students and seniors and $5 for children 5 years old or younger.

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LAGUNA NIGUEL – The top 15 spots in the BurlisonOnBasketball boys’ SoCal Top 40 (plus 10) changed as little as possible after the first week of the 2021-22 season.

The only change?

Riverside Poly and Hillcrest swapped the No.’s 12 and 13 slots, after the Bears went 4-1 during the “Rumble on Rosecrans” – losing only to No. 4 Damien in the final, 55-52 – while the Warriors went 2-1, losing a tight one with No. 7 Notre Dame by eight points at home before smacking a decent San Diego County team, San Marcos, by 21 points.

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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.

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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:

 

21. 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).

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LONG BEACH – The Pangos Best of the West Middle School Showcase had a distinct NBA flavor Saturday at McBride High.

The sons of three former NBA players – Gilbert Arenas, Matt Barnes and Kenny Smith – were among the 100 or players on hand for the Dinos Trigonis-fronted event that showcased a lot of quality sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders from the west coast.

But it was a kid without any NBA bloodlines – although I’m sure, like all hoopers who’ve reached this stage, he aspires to carving his own niche in the league someday – that bagged Most Valuable Player honors for his performance in the Top 30 Cream of the Crop all-star clash that wrapped the camp up Saturday evening.

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