Schools With Most All-State Players

Rex Pflueger (left), who later starred at Notre Dame, is one of nearly 40 players from Mater Dei (Santa Ana) who’ve been named to the all-state elite teams over the past 40 years. At right is Keith Fisher of L.A. Westchester, who not only was all-state but was the 2016 L.A. City Section Player of the Year. Photos: Willie Eashman & Andrew Drennen.

Taking a look at the top 30 players chosen to the Cal-Hi Sports all-state boys basketball teams in the nearly 40 years of the honors being announced, it shouldn’t be a shock to see which school has had the most by a wide margin. It’s the same school that’s been coached for just about all of those years by the winningest head coach in state history both in terms of victories and CIF state titles. There’s also a solid No. 2 school on the list, but a much closer race for the next few spots in the order. We have all of the players listed underneath their school.

Note: The following lists are based on first team overall, second team overall, third team overall (10 each) and also for those seasons in which the all-state teams were done in groups of five down to a sixth team. These do not include any divisional all-state choices or those named to all-state underclass. We hadn’t had our teams from the 1979-1980 and 1980-1981 seasons on this site before today, but we pulled those two teams from our archives and put them on our all-state landing page. The first year of all-state teams by Cal-Hi Sports was for the 1979-80 school year (41 years ago).

Note: We hope you enjoy this free post on CalHiSports.com. To check out the extensive archive with all of these all-state teams, to see the recently added all-time state records for boys basketball updated through the 2020 season and to see our upcoming feature about the 30 greatest teams in state history, you’ll need to become a Gold Club member. To sign up for just pennies per day, CLICK HERE.

Spencer Freedman also was named the CIFSS Division I Player of the Year in 2018. Photo: Andrew Drennan.

MATER DEI (SANTA ANA)
Devin Askew 2019, 2020
Kevin Augustine 1996, 1997
Matt Beeuwsaert 1983, 1984
Cedric Bozeman 2000, 2001
Elijah Brown 2013
Michael Cage Jr. 2014, 2015
Schea Cotton 1994, 1995
LeRon Ellis 1986, 1987
Gary Franklin 2009, 2010
Spencer Freedman 2017, 2018
Mike Hopkins 1988
Reggie Geary 1992
Mike Gerrity 2005
Shaun Jackson 1995
Marcel Jones 2004
Stanley Johnson 2012, 2013, 2014
Xavier Johnson 2011, 2012
Andy Karich 1990
Keala King 2010
Taylor King 2006, 2007
Tyler Lamb 2010
Tom Lewis 1983, 1984, 1985
Clay McKnight 1995
Mike Mitchell 1985
Rex Pflueger 2015
Kaitin Reinhardt 2011, 2012
Kevin Rembert 1987
Dylan Rigdon 1989
Jamal Sampson 2001
Steve Scoggin 1999
Miles Simon 1993, 1994
D.J. Strawberry 2003
Mike Strawberry 2002
Justice Sueing 2017
Stuart Thomas 1986
Mike Vukovich 1997
Wesley Washington 2002, 2003
David Wear 2008, 2009
Travis Wear 2008, 2009
Totals: That’s 39 different players representing 56 all-state selections. The only seasons in which the Monarchs have not had an all-state overall selection are 1991, 1998 and 2016. All players have been mentored by head coach Gary McKnight, who has been the state’s all-time winningest head coach for many years. Gary’s first season was for 1982-83.

Amir Johnson is one of three Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Basketball selections to play for L.A. Westchester coach Ed Azzam. Photo: Tom Hauck

WESTCHESTER (LOS ANGELES)
Hassan Adams 2002
Kaelen Allen 2018
Trevor Ariza 2003
Tony Bland 1998
David Bluthenthal 1998
Jordan Brinson 2019
Sam Crawford 1989
Scott Cutley 2003
Keith Fisher 2016
Kevin Floyd 1984
Brandon Grandville 1998
James Gray 1992
Brandon Heath 2001, 2002
Kareem Jamar 2010
Amir Johnson 2005
Marcus Johnson 2004, 2005
Billy Knight 1997
Zan Mason 1988, 1989
Jordin Mayes 2009, 2010
Gerard Moret 2005
LeRoi O’Brien 1991
Dominque O’Connor 2009
Dwayne Polee Jr. 2010
Gabe Pruitt 2004
Ben Sanders 1995
Elijah Stewart 2014
Dane Suttle 2006
Damion Wilson 1990
Totals: That’s 28 players representing 32 all-state selections. It’s mostly been a seniors-as-leaders approach during the long career of still-current head coach Ed Azzam, which is indicated by the lack of juniors or sophomores from Westchester who’ve been that high on all-state teams. The Comets best teams have also been real deep and the program doesn’t focus on individual stats or one guy, so some really talented college-bound players never made all-state.

Long Beach Poly’s Peyton Watson seems like a lock to be on the all-state team after the upcoming 2021 season. Photo: the562.org.

LONG BEACH POLY
Ricky Anderson 1998
Ryan Anderson 2011
Jordan Bell 2012, 2013
Reggie Butler 2002
Zerrick Campbell 1994
Vincent Camper 1985
Troy Carmon 1981
Damion Dawson 1995
Tyus Edney 1991
K.J. Feagin 2015
Chris Fields 2004
Bobby Jones 2002
Ben McDonald 1980
Willie McGinest 1990
Alexis Moore 2011
Roschon Prince 2012, 2013
Chris Sandle 1983, 1984
Kent Seymour 1981
Terry Stallworth 1984
Wesley Stokes 2000
Peyton Watson 2020
Zafir Williams 2017
Totals: After Mater Dei and Westchester, it’s a tighter group for the next few spots in the order. We at first counted 19 players for Poly representing 22 all-state selections, but then added 1980 and 1981, which upped those totals to 22 players and 25 all-state selections, right there with Crenshaw of Los Angeles. Both Dominguez of Compton and The Shaw have more players with multiple years being selected than the Jackrabbits. If we were to count our retroactive all-state teams in the 1970s and further back, we’d think that Poly might have a total closer to Mater Dei and Westchester. We’ll publish those teams in the near future and they will include many Poly players. All our all-state teams chosen since 1979-80 were done in real time.

Willie West’s teams at L.A. Crenshaw had numerous all-state players in the 1980s. Photo: Cal-Hi Sports archives.

CRENSHAW (LOS ANGELES)
Raynaul Baker 2010
Cornelius Banks 1989
Kevin Bradley 1996, 1997
Dion Brown 1986
Ronald Caldwell 1986
Terry Cannon 1989
Tommie Davis 1994
Alastair Faux 1997
Tremaine Fowlkes 1993, 1994
Darnell Gant 2007
Anthony Garrison 1998
Kevin Hamilton 1982
Cornelius Holden 1988
Kristaan Johnson 1993, 1994
Tommy Johnson 2000
Gary Maloncon 1981
Doug Meekins 1988
Kevin Ollie 1991
John Staggers 1987, 1988
Stephen Thompson 1985, 1986
John Williams 1983, 1984
Marcus Williams 2002
Totals: Despite only having one all-state player (overall top 30) in the last 11 years, the Cougars are still one of the state’s most historically significant basketball schools. That’s of course due to the years when they were winning eight CIF state titles under the guidance of head coach Willie West. We counted 22 players from Crenshaw representing 27 all-state selections. Similar to Poly, if we went back to 1970s The Shaw would have an even larger numbers with players such as Marques Johnson and Michael Johnson (not related).

Wayne Arnold was a four-year standout at Dominguez who graduated in 2018. Photo: Twitter.com.

DOMINGUEZ (COMPTON)
Wayne Arnold 2018
Dijon Bernard 1989
Keith Brooks 2000
Kenny Brunner 1995, 1997
Tyson Chandler 2000, 2001
Ronnie Coleman 1987
Jamie Gillen 1994
Jordan Hamilton 2008
Bryan Harvey 2004, 2005
Bobby Jones 2001
Keith Kincaid 1999
Marcus Moore 1999
Tayshaun Prince 1997, 1998
Thomas Prince 1995
LaMar Roberson 2004
Jeff Rogers 1990
Jason Thomas 1996, 1997
Quinton Watkins 2007
Curtis Williams 1985
Totals: That’s 19 players representing 25 all-state selections for the Dons. This list wouldn’t count late Hall of Famer Dennis Johnson, who went to the school before our all-state teams began and wouldn’t have been selected anyway since he was a late bloomer who never starred for the program.

Fairfax guard Lindsey Drew was the L.A. City Player of the Year in 2015. Photo: VancouverBasketball.com.

FAIRFAX (LOS ANGELES)
Ethan Anderson 2019
Alex Bausley 2003
Jamal Boykin 2004, 2005
Evan Burns 2002
Lorne Currie 2015
Duane Davis 1995
Keith Dinwiddie 2020
Lindsey Drew 2015
J.D. Green 1987
Burt Harris 1992
Jamal Hartwell 2018
Sean Higgins 1985, 1986, 1987
Solomon Hill 2009
Chris Mills 1987, 1988
Joe Shipp 1999
Josh Shipp 2004
Renardo Sidney 2008, 2009
Chase Stanback 2007
Totals: We counted the Lions with totals just a shade under Dominguez (18 players & 24 all-state selections). It’s close and those two particular programs have both been strong at the same time. Other than the last few years, all of the Fairfax players came up during the reign of former head coach Harvey Kitani (now at Rolling Hills Prep). Will the L.A. City Section produce strong teams after COVID-19 and after Ed Azzam retires?

TAFT (WOODLAND HILLS)
C.J. Blackwell 2011
Larry Drew 2007, 2008
DeAndre Daniels 2010
Spencer Dinwiddie 2011
Jordan Farmar 2003, 2004
Kevin Franklin 1987
Justin Hawkins 2009
Calvin Haynes 2005, 2006
Anthony January Jr. 2012
Bryce Jones 2010
Eugene Phelps 2008
Dedan Thomas 1989
Michael Williams 2009
Kris Yanku 2013
Totals: That’s 14 players representing 17 all-state selections for the Toreadors (just a notch above De La Salle). For Taft, its high total was more surprising, but it just goes to show you how deep and strong the L.A. City Section has been in the many years of the Crenshaw/Westchester/Fairfax era.

Concord De La Salle’s Jordan Ratinho tries for the reverse layup during 2016 CIF state final vs. Chino Hills. Photo: Willie Eashman.

DE LA SALLE (CONCORD)
Drew Barry 1991
Lincoln Gunn 2006
John McArthur 2010
Joe McLean 1992
Travis Pacos 2011
Brandon Payton 1997
Elliott Pitts 2013
Jordan Ratinho 2016
Kyle Roemer 2004
Joe See 2000, 2001
Chris Schlatter 2000
Brandon Smith 2009
Amadi Udenyi 2012
Totals: We came up with 13 players representing 14 all-state selections for the Spartans. It doesn’t count NBA player Brent Barry, probably the most famous hoops player from the school, who wasn’t on the overall all-state teams although maybe he should have been. The total for DLS probably is surprising to some because there hasn’t been overwhelming talent on teams that went far in the CIF state playoffs. There has always been really good players and those teams did so well that they deserved to have leading players recognized.

BISHOP O’DOWD (OAKLAND)
Brandon Ashley 2010, 2011
Paris Austin 2015
Johnny Bryant 2003
Elijah Hardy 2018
Eric Holloway 1983
Kason Jackson 1988
Tony Jackson 1981, 1982
Shawn Lewis 2007
Mark McCathrion 1985
Matt Muehlebach 1986
Ivan Rabb 2014, 2015
Marsalis Roberson 2020
Totals: That’s 12 players representing 14 all-state selections for the Dragons. It’s pretty close at the top of NorCal with O’Dowd and De La Salle. They’d be tied for all-state selections, but DLS has one more player. O’Dowd does have some great young players coming up and may pass DLS soon.

ST. JOHN BOSCO (BELLFLOWER)
Wynton Brown 2020
Steve Carfino 1980
James Cotton 1993
Tyler Dorsey 2014
Jelani Gardner 1994
Cezar Guerrero 2011
Daniel Hamilton 2014
Isaac Hamilton 2012, 2013
Vance Jackson 2015
Christian James 2019
Gio St. Amant 2002
Michael Tait 1983
Totals: That’s also 12 players representing 13 all-state selections for the Braves. They’re known now mostly for football, but the boys basketball program has had all-state elite players in 2020, 2019, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 under Derrick Taylor (who produced most of Taft’s all-staters) and current coach Matt Dunn.

Notes: Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth had its first all-state top 30 selection just six years ago with Cody Riley (2015). Since then, the Trailblazers have had nine players representing 12 slots. We didn’t go deep into the various CIF section leaders, but Sacramento High of the Sac-Joaquin was counted with nine players and 11 selections while in the Central Section it may be Clovis West of Fresno (eight players). We did not count two players selected from Artesia of Lakewood in the 1990s who were later ruled to have been too old for high school competition.

Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports