Preseason Boys BB Ranks (1-15)

Brandon Burries from preseason No. 1 Roosevelt of Eastvale (left) is guarded closely in a game last season by Elzie Harrington of preseason No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower). At right, Nik Khamenia of preseason No. 3 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) takes a shot during CIF state final. Photos: BallisLife.com & YouTube.com.

It’s time to launch our winter basketball content on CalHiSports.com and we’ll do it with our preseason boys basketball state rankings. There are three big questions heading into the 2024-25 season regarding the use of computer rankings by the CIF Southern Section, the placement of St. Joseph of Santa Maria for the regionals and whether or not a team from NorCal has a realistic shot to win the CIF open title game. Of course, it was another hectic off-season of player movement that greatly impacts these rankings. After all the dust has settled, SoCal open finalist Roosevelt of Eastvale is No. 1 for the first time in school history. Can the Mustangs win both the CIFSS and CIF state open titles?

Note: We hope you enjoy this free post. During the season, all of our writeups, analysis and predictions of what’s coming next will be content for our Gold Club VIPs only. To become a member of our Gold Club so you can check out all of our boys basketball content, including player rankings in each class, and updated state records please CLICK HERE.

For a look at the teams we’ve ranked from No. 16 to No. 40, plus 15 more on the bubble, CLICK HERE.

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To see where California teams landed in the preseason FAB 50 National Team Rankings, CLICK HERE.

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To see a list of our all-time preseason No. 1 teams (since 1979-80), CLICK HERE.

It’s more of the same in the world of high school basketball around the country. What happens in NCAA basketball usually trickles down to the high school ranks, especially at the elite level. It now costs real money to secure one of the very best high school players. Families of those players may not know all the details of the NCAA’s Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies and bylaws or NIL state laws, but they surely know money is being exchanged.

It benefits the very elite, but the fringe D1 high school prospect is now often left in the cold. The robust NCAA transfer portal has caused athletes to switch schools at the drop of a hat when things are not going right or when they feel promises have not been kept and it has trickled down to the high school level. Not only are players transferring more than ever (check out our state transfer list HERE) but they are now leaving during the season or transferring more than once during the off-season. We’ve seen that in college football and even in California high school football this year.

In the off-season, all-state candidate Mazi Mosley left St. Francis of La Canada for FAB 50 National power Montverde Academy of Florida. He then realized the situation wasn’t ideal for him and has already left. As of publish time, there is no official word if he’s at another academy-type program or a CIF program. These types of situations affect preseason national, regional and our statewide rankings more each passing season.

As these preseason rankings were being done, it wasn’t known where Mazi Mosley (who starred last season at St. Francis of La Canada) was going to be playing this season. Photo: X.com.

Players leaving for academy-type programs at the drop of a hat has caused the rich to get richer in high school basketball and it definitely influences the CIF landscape. An on-court change that went into effect last season also helps the stronger teams. The NFHS’ recommended rule change that began for 2023-24 eliminated the one-and-one free throw situation in the boys high school game (to mirror the college women’s game) caused less comebacks in high school games last season. Well-coached teams took advantage and smart teams learned when to be aggressive and back off from fouling. The bonus situation is now two guaranteed free throws that occur on the fifth foul per quarter, instead of seven fouls per half (high school hoops consists of four, 8-minute quarters). The fouls reset after each quarter and the opposition is shooting two on the fifth foul.

Talking to high school coaches from around the state, it seems the adjustment to the new rule was better than anticipated.

Regardless of the rules, the top teams in our preseason 2024-25 Cal-Hi Sports State Boys Basketball Rankings will be tough to beat as their rosters are dotted with a majority of the elite talent that didn’t move on to academy-type programs. By now, most fans and parents know that attaining a college scholarship is harder than ever, but there is still something great about the traditional high school basketball landscape that we’ll be covering for the 45th consecutive year.

The passion, fan interest and long-standing rivalries are second to none.

For the 10th consecutive year, a team from the CIF Southern Section will open as preseason No. 1 in the state. Its top teams dominate the state landscape. The talent level and competitive nature of those teams is the reason why the CIFSS Open Division playoffs are highly-anticipated and its results highly anticipate which teams will capture CIF state crowns a few weeks later.

After losing in both the CIFSS open championship game and the SoCal open title game to 2023-24 preseason No. 1 Harvard-Westlake of Studio City, Roosevelt of Eastvale gets the nod as Cal-Hi Sports’ preseason No. 1 in the state for the first time in school history. The Mustangs’ selection this year means 20 programs have had the talent, tradition and sustained success to begin preseason No. 1 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports since we started our weekly rankings 45 years ago (thanks to the efforts of our founder, the late Nelson Tennis).

The programs able to reach the lofty expectations that come with being the No. 1 ranked team are Artesia of Lakewood, Bishop Montgomery of Torrance, Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland, Corona Centennial, Chino Hills, L.A. Crenshaw (four times), Dominguez of Compton (three times), L.A. Fairfax (twice), Harvard-Westlake, Inglewood, Long Beach Poly (three times), L.A. Manual Arts, Mater Dei of Santa Ana (11 times), Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth (four consecutive times), St. Joseph of Alameda (twice), St. Monica of Santa Monica, St. Bernard of Playa del Rey (twice) and L.A. Westchester (five times).

The CIFSS open runner-ups from the Inland Empire have three college-bound returning backcourt players and just edged out ultra-talented St. John Bosco of Bellflower, the 2023 CIF D1 state champ, for the top spot. The Mustangs open up at No. 1 in the state and No. 10 in the preseason FAB 50 national rankings. Coach Steve Singleton’s club has the talent and motivation to equal what Harvard-Westlake accomplished last season: start off at No. 1 and win both section and regional open titles and finish as Cal-Hi Sports State Team of the Year.

There are three big questions heading into the season, starting with first, can any NorCal club realistically take down the SoCal open champ in the state’s big championship game? NorCal is 1-9 vs. its SoCal counterparts since 2013 (remember there were no CIF state finals in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19) and that victory came courtesy of 2014-15 preseason No. 1 Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland in a memorable game vs. Mater Dei. Unlike football, the north team has been close and competitive in these Open Division title games, including last year with Salesian of Richmond battling Harvard-Westlake.

The second big question is will No. 4 St. Joseph of Santa Maria, the heavy favorite to capture the CIF Central Section D1 title, be placed North or South for the regional? St. Joseph obviously has a better chance to make it to the state final by going north, which it did in 2023. In 2022 and 2024, the Knights were placed in the SoCal regional. Before O’Dowd, you have to go all the way back to 1997-98 with St. Joseph of Alameda to find a NorCal team that opened as preseason No. 1. The CIF San Diego Section has never had one and the once-powerful L.A. City Section hasn’t had one of its teams in that position since L.A. Westchester in 2009-10. If St. Joseph is still No. 4 coming out of the section finals, the Knights probably will have won some big games during the overall season and putting them No. 1 in the north does make the most sense.

The third big question is how the CIF Southern Section’s use of computer rankings and the elimination of pre-set playoff divisions for its teams (similar to what we now see in football) will affect the regional brackets. If all the best teams are in one bracket after the open division, that could cause plenty of good teams to be eliminated prior to the regional as we used to see during the L.A. City Section’s heyday when it consistently had four to five teams in our weekly top 20. Some got eliminated in the section quarterfinals or semifinals and were not selected for the regional. According to CIFSS assistant commissioner Thom Simmons and CIFSS open committee chairman Frank Burlison, there will still be two pools of four teams each and a championship game from the winner of each pool, but that could change down the line. The bigger impact probably will be in divisions below the top one as most of the teams that have been in the CIFSS Open Division pool play games all would have been in them using the new model.

The use of computer rankings don’t take into account injury or circumstances caused by humans, but our rankings will for the 45th consecutive season, so make sure to check out our award-winning analysis of the state’s top hoop teams each Monday during the season. In all the sports we do (football, girls hoops, baseball and softball) it’s always been as much about breaking down everything for the ranked teams and not just producing lists.

The CIF is scheduled to crown its 2024-25 state champions on March 14-15, 2025 at Golden One Center in Sacramento.

2024-25 CAL-HI SPORTS PRESEASON
BOYS BASKETBALL STATE RANKINGS

(This is the 45th consecutive season that CalHiSports.com will provide state rankings; Last year’s final rating in parentheses with 2023-24 won-loss record)
(Cal-Hi Sports co-founder and editor Mark Tennis contributed to these rankings)

Steve Singleton points to the crowd after his team at Roosevelt won CIF SoCal Division I title in 2017 and earned a trip to the state finals in Sacramento. Photo: Mark Tennis / Cal-Hi Sports.

1. (2) Roosevelt (Eastvale) 31-4

The Mustangs started the 2023-24 preseason FAB 50 ranked for the first time ever and this season they are preseason No. 1 in the state for the first time in program history. Since we began our state rankings in 1979-80, Roosevelt is the 20th overall program to start at No. 1 and the second from Riverside County in three years, joining Big VIII League rival Corona Centennial. It was a close call over St. John Bosco, last year’s D1 state champion who won that title basically because it faltered in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section open division playoffs, while Roosevelt lost in the section and region open championship game to preseason No. 1 and eventual state open champ Harvard-Westlake. We not only like Roosevelt because of its experience, but who its personnel is, as the Mustangs are cohesive and play good team defense.

It starts with Brayden Burries (6-5, Sr.) a returning All-American and last year’s State Junior of the Year after averaging 24.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 3.5 apg and 2.7 spg. New Mexico-bound Issac Williamson (6-1, Sr.) is a clutch spot-up shooter, can handle and is a terrific defender. He averaged 12.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.9 apg and 1.6 spg and those numbers will climb as a senior. Myles Walker (5-9, Sr.) also is a crafty point guard with big play-making ability who controls the pace of many games and returns with norms of 9.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 6.4 apg and 2.7 spg. It’s conceivable Roosevelt has California’s best player, best on-ball defender and its best true high school point guard on the roster. Roosevelt has six other lettermen returning, although the scoring and steady play of Darnez Slater (Colorado State) will be missed. Dominic Copenhagen (6-4, Sr.) is a slasher and team-first player who will need to step up and the toughness and fearlessness of Cameron Anderson (6-3, Fr.) has already made a difference in fall league play. The Mustangs, who are looking for their second CIF state crown under Stephen Singleton, are not interior-oriented, so the play of Christian Benjamin (6-7, Jr.) will be key so Burries doesn’t have to play inside so much defensively. Burries is a terrific rebounder and Singleton does have some versatility at his disposal to navigate a national schedule.

Roosevelt takes on regionally-ranked Sunnyslope of Arizona at the Battlezone (Nov. 23), plays regionally-ranked Bellaire of Texas and FAB 50 ranked Brennan of San Antonio at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest in Dallas (Nov. 29-30) and is the early favorite to win the Tarkanian Classic (Dec. 18-21). That tournament includes No. 5 Notre Dame. After Christmas, the Mustangs will play at The Classic at Damien (Dec. 26-30) where it could meet No. 2 St. John Bosco in the title game. After New Year’s, the Mustangs will play at the Nike Tournament of Champions (Jan. 2-4) in Arizona and play FAB 50 title contender Gonzaga of Washington, D.C. at the Spalding Hoophall Classic on MLK Monday (Jan. 20).

2. (3) St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 28-7

It was a close call, but the Braves come in No. 2 in the state for the second consecutive season. Considering Roosevelt is No. 10 in the preseason FAB 50 and the Braves come in No. 13 shows you just how close the decision here was. The two teams could meet on Dec. 30 in the Platinum Division final of The Classic at Damien, in the CIFSS open division playoffs and the SoCal open regional, but there will be tons of results pouring in and there is no guarantee they will be No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the state on that date. If these two teams are as good as advertised, it is a good possibility they will meet more than once in 2024-25. Head coach Matt Dunn (475-191), last season’s State Coach of the Year who joined Roosevelt’s Steve Singleton (and two others in state history) as state title-winning coaches with two different programs, has his most talented team on paper. He returns four starters, has solid depth and a talented newcomer.

The starters are led by two returning all-state talents in Princeton-bound Elzie Harrington (6-5, Sr.), the 2023 Trinity League Player of the Year, and Brandon McCoy (6-4, Jr.), last season’s co-Player of the Year in one of the state’s best leagues. Harrington (14.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 6.1 apg, 1.9 spg) was a steady force in a lineup that changed many times from the fall of 2023 through the 2024 playoffs and makes big plays even when he isn’t scoring. McCoy averaged 18.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.5 spg and 1.5 bpg and can turn around a game with an athletic play as only a few others in the country can. He’s certainly the most explosive wing guard in school history and might be the most explosive one in the region since Compton’s DeMar DeRozan over 15 years ago. Pt. Loma-bound Chris Komin (6-1, Sr.) is a dead-eye shooter with good instincts who averaged 5.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, and 1.4 spg, while Gavin Dean-Moss (6-0, Jr.) provides a spark off the bench with his speed and quickness. Dunn is obviously looking for more continuity in the lineup this season, but with Dominic Perfetti (6-7, Jr.), Max Ellis (6-5, Jr.) and Howie Wu (7-0, Jr.) he can play fast or go big and try to hurt teams inside. That’s because Wu is much improved and the addition of Christian Collins (6-8, Jr.) gives this team a dimension no other team in the state possesses. Even though he was a reserve at St. Bernard of Playa Del Rey last season, we touted his ability long before national scouts put him in their national top 10. If Collins meshes with the veterans, this team could win back-to-back state titles with the second one coming in the open division.

Before playing in The Classic at Damien, Bosco will participate in the Kevin Brown Memorial TOC in Peoria, Ill. (Nov. 26-30) and faces No. 22 St. Pius X-St. Matthias on Dec. 7. After Damien, the Braves will play at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona (Jan. 2-4) and meet FAB 50 ranked Paul VI of Virginia at the Spalding Hoophall Classic (Jan. 18). The Trinity League is as tough as ever and Dunn’s club must be ready for No. 7 JSerra on MLK Monday after playing Paul VI in Massachusetts on Saturday.

3. (1) Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood) 33-3

Since the 2019-20 season, the Wolverines have started no lower than No. 11 in the preseason state rankings and have really lived up to expectations the past three seasons. In 2022, they began No. 3 and finished No. 3 as SoCal open semifinalists, in 2023 the Wolverines started No. 2 and won the CIF open state title and last season was the first club since Sierra Canyon in 2019-20 to start at No. 1 and finish No. 1 as they repeated as CIF open champs while capturing the coveted CIFSS open title. This season, Roosevelt (the team Harvard-Westlake defeated in the section and regional final) is in the pole position, but the Wolverines have a terrific core and have to feel good about their chances to become the first team ever to win three consecutive CIF state open crowns. Coach Dave Rebibo (230-57 at the school) and his staff will miss its backcourt of 2024 Mr. Basketball Trent Perry (UCLA) and Robert Hinton (Harvard) and have to start a notch or two below because of their graduation, but still have the horses to make CIF playoff history.

Duke-bound Nikolas Khamenia (6-8, Sr.) is the go-to player and the returning third team all-state choice is one of the most versatile star players in the country. Khamenia (14.2 ppg, 6 rpg, 4 apg, 1.4 spg) is a good shooter, goes after rebounds and is known for his defensive work on No. 1 scoring options, and was lauded for his work on Roosevelt’s Brayden Burries in two big playoff games last season. Isaiah Carroll (6-7, Sr.) is a returning second team all-Mission League choice who will be counted on for increased scoring at the rim while keeping defenses honest with his improved range on his jump shot. Amir Jones (6-2, Jr.) can hit the mid-range shot, has speed with the ball and has a nice pace to his game. Joe Sterling (6-4, Jr.), a transfer from Mission League foe Crespi of Encino, is an all-state level player who is one of the best knock down shooters in the West Region. When he gets it going, this team will be tough to beat. Dominique Bentho (6-8, Jr.) and Barron Linnekens (6-9, Jr.) are space eaters inside, while JV move-ups Cole Holden (6-2, So.) and Pierce Thompson (6-4, So.) will be counted on to provide a spark when the regulars get a breather.

The Wolverines face highly-regarded Bartlett of Tennessee and Timpview of Utah at the Salt Lake Hoopfest (Dec. 13-14), participate in The Desert Holiday Classic (Dec. 26-30) in the Coachella Valley, and will play in the top bracket at the Nike Tournament of Champions (Jan. 2-4) in Arizona. That eight-team bracket also includes No. 9 De La Salle along with FAB 50 title contenders Gonzaga of Washington, D.C. and Perry of Arizona. The Wolverines and Perry meet in a monster opening-round game with the winner likely facing Gonzaga.

Harvard-Westlake has won two straight CIF Open Division state titles & will be looking to make history with three in a row this year. Photo: The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle.

4. (6) St. Joseph (Santa Maria) 31-4

The Knights cracked the FAB 50 national rankings for the first time in school history and for the fourth straight year should qualify for the CIF regional playoffs in the open division. There are some unique thresholds to the Knights’ season. Not only is St. Joe’s the highest ever preseason ranked team from Santa Barbara County, but also from California’s Central Coast region. As CIF Central Section members, the Knights have been placed in both the North and South regional playoffs the past three years and have a better chance to win the CIF open crown when placed in the NorCal playoffs. In 2023, they were one game away as the NorCal open champions and have gone South in the even numbered years.

The constant in this run has been Baylor-bound Tounde Yessoufou (6-5, Sr.), one of the nation’s elite talents and a bonafide Mr. Basketball candidate. As a junior, Yessoufou averaged 32.3 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2.6 spg and 1.3 bpg while earning first team all-state honors for the second straight year. He will be going for Mountain League MVP for the fourth time in a row and by the end of the season could be the state’s all-time career scoring leader. Julius Price (6-3, Jr.) is one of the nation’s best junior point guards and averaged 19.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 7.0 apg last season. With that duo, St. Joe’s will be a threat in each game it plays on a national schedule. Gunner Morinini (6-0, Jr.), who averaged 5.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, started every game as a tenth-grader and will be pushed by the newcomers and Malcolm Price (6-1, So.), Julius’ brother, who will be hard to keep off the floor with his play-making ability. Head coach Tom Mott (486-204) is a bit concerned about keeping sharp in league play and only having two double-digit scorers last season, but what could take this team to the next level is the off-season improvement of Abdoul Bare (6-9, Jr.) and Godson Eyita (6-9, So.). Eyita is rapidly developing into one of the better players’ in the state’s 2027 class and depth is provided by Mantas Rimkus (6-2, 2025), Matas Siskauskas (6-6, 2025) and Elijah Ormond (6-5, 2027). Rimkus averaged 25 ppg on last year’s JV team.

St. Joseph will play in the Philippines over Thanksgiving week, will play Kimball of Texas at the Take Flight Challenge (Dec. 7) in SoCal, and then it will be the Sunshine Series at the City of Palms Tournament in Florida (Dec. 19-21), The Classic in Bristol, Tenn. (Dec. 26-31), the De La Salle MLK Classic (Jan. 20) and facing No. 6 Salesian at the Crush in the Valley in Napa (Jan. 25).

5. (8) Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 31-4

Since COVID-19 wiped out a normal 2020-21 season, the Golden Knights have been one of California’s elite teams. Under head coach Matt Sargeant (217-123), Notre Dame has started out no lower than No. 14 in the preseason and are in this position for the second time in three seasons. Last year, Notre Dame spent a week at No. 1 in the state after starting out No. 3 in the rugged Mission League and this season are No. 2 behind Harvard-Westlake. Both teams, plus Sierra Canyon, all rose to No. 1, but staying there is the task for the fifth CIF team to crack the preseason FAB 50.

Mercy Miller (Houston) will be missed, but there is plenty of returning firepower, plus one of the nation’s best players transferred in. Rutgers-bound Angelino Mark (6-3, Sr.) is one of California’s best guards and returns with averages of 16.5 ppg and 4.5 apg. Zach White (6-6, Jr.), who averaged 11 ppg, 5 rpg and 3 apg, is one of the best defenders in the state and an indispensable cog. Caleb Ogbu (6-2, Jr.) is the third returning starter and capable of big scoring outings. He will improve on his 5.3 ppg average from last season. The player that could take this team to the next level and make it a viable CIF open contender on the section and statewide level is Tyran Stokes (6-7, Jr.). He comes over from Prolific Prep in Napa (an academy-type program not part of the CIF). If St. John Bosco’s Brandon McCoy is not the best junior in the country, then Stokes is. The Knights’ talent level is on par with Harvard-Westlake, but we give the defending section and state champs the nod to begin the season. Stokes is currently in a cast with a hand injury, so Notre Dame hopes to avoid a slow start and that role players step up until he returns in December or January. Mark Lewis (6-8, Sr.) has starting experience and will be key when Stokes is out and when Notre Dame plays national level teams.

Notre Dame will play in the Tarkanian Classic (Dec. 18-21), where it could potentially meet Roosevelt in the title game. In addition to the Tark Classic, Notre Dame will play at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona (Jan. 2-4) and at the brand new Intuit Dome (home of the L.A. Clippers) vs. No. 15 Sierra Canyon on national television (Jan. 10). Notre Dame also has a huge opportunity vs FAB 50 No. 1 Columbus of Miami at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts (Jan. 18).

All-State first team sophomore Elias Obenyah looks to drive against tough defense of Archbishop Riordan during last January’s MLK Classic at De La Salle. Photo: Willie Eashman / Cal-Hi Sports.

6. (4) Salesian (Richmond) 31-2

The Pride was hanging with Harvard-Westlake in last year’s CIF open division title game before two late turnovers sealed their fate in their first appearance in the state championship game in the CIF open era (2013 to present). Last season, in a close decision, we decided to begin Salesian one spot behind Riordan, mainly because The Pride entered the 2023-24 season 0-5 all-time in the NorCal open playoffs. Salesian got the monkey off its back last season and starts over Riordan this time around as both NorCal clubs have talented rosters. Technically, No. 4 St. Joseph is the region’s top team (we always consider the CIF Central Section North for regional purposes), but since that team can technically be slotted South, The Pride are the early favorites to once again represent the north in the state final.

Seniors such as Aaron Hunkin-Claytor (Hawaii), Deundrae Perteete and Amani Johnson will be missed, but head coach Bill Mellis has another deep group that impressed at Cali Live ’24. Elias Obenyah (6-5, Jr.) showed to a statewide audience vs. Harvard-Westlake that he’s a big-time player and he’ll be the go-to offensive player. Alvin Loving IV (6-4, Sr.) hit many clutch shots in big games as a junior and can handle the ball, shoot the three of take his defender inside. He’s already been all-state underclass twice, while Carlton Perrilliat (6-6, Jr.) is another honors candidate who flashed great potential last season. Perrilliat led Salesian with 12 points in the NorCal semifinal win over No. 17 Modesto Christian to help get the Monkey off Mellis’ back, and with 11 points in the season’s second win over Riordan. Isaiah Davis (5-11, Jr.) had a few big scoring outbursts and is a capable ball-hander and defender. Leon Powe Jr. (6-5, Jr.), the son of 2003 NorCal Player of the Year Leon Powe (Oakland Tech), played a small role last year but is much improved. Newcomer Ron Selleaze Jr. (6-3, So.) moves in from Mexico after his father enjoyed a long pro career and will help make Salesian what it has developed into in recent years: a team with interchangeable quality defenders and a tough out when it matters down the stretch. Last season in an incredible display of balance for a top-tier club, six players averaged between 6.3 and 9.0 ppg per game and it could be a similar output in 2024-25. Even though Salesian started behind Riordan last season, they ended up beating that club twice with its only other loss to No. 2 St. John Bosco in overtime. The Pride will take on No. 4 St. Joseph at the Crush in the Valley in Napa on Jan. 25 and when considering the race for the NorCal open crown it’s pretty incredible a team from the CIF Central Section has never been named Cal-Hi Sports State Team of the Year dating back to 1903.

7. (19) JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) 25-7

For the past four seasons, the Lions have steadily raised their statewide profile starting at No. 40 in 2021-22 to cracking the top 10 and coming in No. 2 among Trinity League teams and fifth among CIFSS clubs. Head coach Keith Wilkinson (129-56) only has one retuning starter, but has a talented group bolstered by transfers at his disposal. Godschoice Eboigbodin (6-6, So.) was the Trinity League Freshman of the Year in 2023-24 and Dominic Bolton (6-3, Sr.) is a terrific scorer who came over from Laguna Hills at the semester break last season. Ryan Doane (6-8, Fr.) has a chance to be this year’s top freshman in the ultra-competitive league, Earl Bryson (6-3, So.) is back, as is grid-hooper Simone Katoanga (6-6, Jr.), while Grayson Sinek (6-2, Sr.), the CIFSS Div. 3AA Player of the Year at La Habra, shores up the backcourt for the graduated Aidan Fowler. The two players that can take this club to the next level are B.J. Davis-Ray (6-7, Sr.) and Brannon Martinsen (6-7, Jr.). Davis-Ray comes in from Duncanville (Texas) and is a big-time scorer who is a prime all-state candidate. Martinsen was the co-Trinity League Player of the Year and a third team all-stater as a sophomore at Mater Dei. JSerra beat Mater Dei two out of three games, including once in the CIFSS open playoffs, and will look to avoid a playoff let down after losing to No. 15 seed Rolling Hills Prep in the first round of the SoCal D1 playoffs. Even with the loss, JSerra finished in the range expected of it, but this season the expectations are much higher for a team that should once again earn a CIFSS open berth.

8. (9) Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) 25-5

Head coach Joey Curtin’s squad opened as the early favorites last season to represent NorCal in the CIF open championship game, didn’t quite make it and come in at almost the exact same rankings position to start 2024-25. This time, however, Riordan is below Salesian (the team it lost to in the NorCal open final) and rate as the region’s No. 2 or No. 3 team, depending on the placement of No. 4 St. Joseph. We almost placed Riordan in front of Salesian once again, but Cal-bound Semetri Carr is at Redwood of Larkspur after playing well for the Crusaders during the June Scholastic Live period. He was a standout last season at Branson of Ross. Curtin (141-51) did receive some good news when Steve Emeneke (6-9, Sr.) was granted another year of eligibility and his presence shores up the front court for a talented team. Riordan has six other lettermen retuning, led by Texas A & M-bound wing Jasir Rencher (6-5, Sr.), a terrific perimeter threat who is primed for an all-state campaign. Also returning is Andrew Hilman (6-4, Jr.), one of the most explosive players in NorCal who was an all-state underclass choice last season after averaging 14.9 ppg. Ryder Bush (6-2, Sr.) is a veteran who is fearless with the ball while John Tofi (6-3, Sr.) will add backcourt depth after the conclusion of the football season. What makes Riordan potentially as dangerous as last year is the newcomers, which include J.P. Phitvos (6-9, Jr.) a bouncy forward with a 7-3 wingspan who hails from Latvia. Jorge Chacon (6-0. Jr.) is another import (from Spain) who should make an impact as a knockdown shooter. Kirby Seals ( 6-2, Sr.) comes over from Santa Cruz and D.J. Armstrong (6-3, Jr.) from Branson of Ross and both will push for playing time and make practice that much more intense. Riordan will participate at the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic (Dec. 26-30) along with No. 7 JSerra, No. 16 Montgomery, No. 21 Carlsbad and national level teams such as Georgetown Prep of Maryland and Father Judge of Philadelphia.

Alec Blair of De La Salle gets off a shot against Crean Lutheran during MLK event last January. He plans to play baseball and basketball in college at Oklahoma. Photo: Willie Eashman / Cal-Hi Sports.

9. (16) De La Salle (Concord) 22-9

The Spartans are similar to No. 7 JSerra in that expectations have risen each season post COVID-19. Sparta began No. 20 in 2022-23, No. 13 last season and now cracks the Top 10 with a veteran-heavy team. Head coach Marcus Schroeder (69-21) has three returning starters, including one of the best players in the state. Alec Blair (6-6, Sr.) was game-planned for all season long as a junior, but still averaged 19 ppg while shooting 54 percent from the field, to go along with 6 rpg and 4 apg. Not only can he handle the ball, he can go inside, is unselfish and takes on the task of guarding the opposition’s best offensive threat. He will be a four-time all-East Bay Athletic League choice and should be all-state for the third time. David Balogun (6-7, Sr.) and Braddock Kjellesvig (6-7, Sr.) return and are drawing some D1 and high D2 recruiting interest. Ibrahim Monawar (6-2, Jr.) will be counted on in the backcourt and should have a breakout year, according to Schroeder. The Spartans will meet No. 38 Crespi at the NorCal Tip-Off Classic and are also in the top division of the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona (Jan. 2-4). That eight-team bracket will feature No. 3 Harvard-Westlake and the Spartans will face FAB 50 ranked Duncanville (Texas) in the opening round. Should it win, De La Salle would face the winner of Chaminade of Missouri and Christ the King of New York in the semifinals, but believe us when we tell you Harvard-Westlake has a tougher road to the final.

10. (14) Damien (La Verne) 28-6

It was a close call to place the Spartans or Redondo Union in this spot as both teams return their personnel en masse, but then we recalled Damien beat Redondo Union, 74-54, in the SoCal D1 playoffs so we’ll place the victor higher and let it play out. Head coach Mike LeDuc (now 1,072-272 since 1979-80 including many years at Glendora) returns four starters and eight of his top nine off a club that advanced to the SoCal D1 semifinals. It begins with Cal Baptist-bound Nate Garcia (7-0, Sr.), already a two-time Baseline League MVP who averaged 19.5 ppg and 12 rpg last season. He is simply a load to handle at this level and sets up teammates with timely passes or monster screens. Eli Garner (6-5, Jr.) is also being pursued by Cal Baptist and is a returning all-league performer. The third returning all-league player is point guard Elijah Smith (5-11, Jr.). Also playing a key role for the Spartans is Jedidah Winfred (6-7, Sr.) and the future is bright for Zaire Rasshan (6-0, So.). Damien will participate in the Braves Winter Varsity Classic (Dec. 9-14) where it could meet No. 2 St. John Bosco or No. 19 La Mirada in the championship final, and hosts the always competitive Classic at Damien (Dec. 26-30). This year’s field includes No. 1 Roosevelt, No. 2 St. John Bosco, No. 11 Redondo Union, No. 13 Santa Margarita, No. 14 Los Alamitos, No. 25 La Mirada, No. 20 San Ramon Valley, No. 26 Clovis North, and No. 31 Corona Centennial.

11. (22) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach) 25-6

The Sea Hawks are serious contenders for a CIFSS open berth, which would be the program’s first since 2017-18 under interim coach Vic Martin back when there was a championship and consolation bracket. Redondo Union is our No. 8 team from the CIF Southern Section, which is scheduled to once again employ two pools of four teams each for the state’s most competitive section playoff, but could reportedly alter the format. Current head coach Reggie Morris Jr. (151-45 in two stints at Redondo) is returning an all-state underclass choice in each grade level. Central Michigan-bound Hudson Mayes (6-5, Sr.) successfully returned from an ACL injury to earn first team all-CIFSS D1 honors. Sean “S.J” Madison (6-5, Jr.) can score and handle, while Chris Sanders (6-4, So.) is a physical specimen who is rapidly improving his all-around game. Chase Holley (6-0, Jr.) comes over from Lynwood and has plenty of big-game experience, while Devin Wright (6-4, Jr.) will see an increased role. The player who could take Morris’ crew to the next level, however, is Brayden Miner (6-3, Sr.), a late bloomer who showed great improvement in summer and fall leagues. He’s the son of former Inglewood and USC legend Harold Miner. The Sea Hawks will play No. 31 Corona Centennial when they host the Take Flight Challenge (Dec. 7) and will look to make noise in the top divisions at both The Tarkanian Classic (Dec. 18-21) and The Classic at Damien (Dec. 26-30). Both fields include No. 1 Roosevelt.

Both Bill Mellis of Salesian and Gary McKnight of Mater Dei have been State Coach of the Year. McKnight also of course is on top of the state record list for all-time coaching wins. Photo: Mark Tennis / Cal-Hi Sports.

12. (5) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 29-6

It does seem strange not to have the Monarchs even in the top 10 and not No. 1 in Orange County, but it isn’t because they are in a “down” year. They should have a fine team, but it could be an uphill battle to the Trinity League crown. After all, under veteran head coach Gary McKnight (all-time state best 1,272-140 since 1982-83), Mater Dei won its league crown for the 40th time in 42 seasons in 2023-24, but this season projects as the No. 3 team in the Trinity League. It’s the first time in McKnight’s tenure Mater Dei is not projected to finish in first or second place. Mater Dei is still a dangerous team that can win with a nice combination of outside shooting and size. The shooting comes from St. Joseph (PA)-bound Owen Verna (6-3, Sr.) and Luke Barnett (6-2, Jr.). The latter is the best shooter McKnight has ever coached and the duo helped Mater Dei make a run to the 2024 SoCal D1 final after going 0-3 in CIFSS open pool play. Nevada-bound Blake Davidson (6-8. Sr.) is a cagy veteran and inside depth is provided by Marko Kovac (6-11, Sr.) and Ender Berg (6-10, So.). Malloy Smith (6-5, Jr.) is much improved, Evan Willis (6-6, Fr.) is one of the best freshmen in the state and as DeMarcus Henry (6-6, So.) continues to mature and evolve he’ll be a shot in the arm for a team that lost plenty of firepower. Right after the season, Brandon Benjamin returned to Canyon of Anaheim and all-stater Brannon Martinsen left for No. 7 JSerra. Mater Dei also has to replace its starting point guard and the coaching staff wouldn’t mind seeing the front-line players getting a bit more nasty on the boards. Mater Dei has its work cut out for it if three Trinity League teams are going to make the CIFSS open division playoffs. Keep in mind, however, it is the defending Trinity League champs after beating St. John Bosco twice in the regular season before losing to the Braves in overtime in the SoCal D1 final. Mater Dei will play regionally-ranked DePaul College Prep at the Chicago Elite Classic (Dec. 7) and in the Sunshine Series at the City of Palms Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla. (Dec. 19-21). After Christmas, it will play in the Desert Holiday Classic (Dec. 26-30) and faces No. 2 St. John Bosco at the Intuit Dome as part of the Coastal Catholic Classic (Jan. 10).

13. (35) Santa Margarita (Rancho SM) 19-11

The Eagles begin two spots higher than they did in 2023-24, but will be eyeing a stronger finish in league play and in the CIFSS playoffs. Head coach Justin Bell (90-44) has a solid core and newcomers to help the club navigate through the rugged league. Long Beach State-bound Dallas Washington (6-9, Sr.) feasts in transition and has improved his consistency after averaging 11 ppg and 4.2 rpg. Brayden Kyman (6-8, Jr.) is one of the best shooters in the loaded California 2026 class who averaged 13.5 ppg and Drew Anderson (6-8, Jr.) is a terrific all-around talent who can handle the ball in a big lineup. Rodney Westmoreland (6-0, Jr.) is a smooth ball-handler and a crafty guard who should make strides this season after coming off the bench as a sophomore. Kaiden Bailey (6-3, Jr.) is one of the best scoring guards in SoCal and his transition after coming over from Crean Lutheran of Irvine where he averaged 23.9 ppg as a sophomore was seamless during the fall. After tying for third place in league play two years ago at 5-5, Santa Margarita came in 4th last year at 4-6, but won’t be satisfied with anything close to that league mark this time around. The Eagles will have to do better in order to hold off No. 14 Los Alamitos in the Orange County pecking order. Santa Margarita plays in the Chris Vontoure Spartan Classic (Dec. 12-14) and in the top division of The Classic at Damien (Dec. 26-30).

14. (24) Los Alamitos 24-6

The Orange County parade continues with the Griffins coming in just behind Mater Dei and Santa Margarita (with JSerra starting at the top). They were on the preseason bubble last season, but their all-underclass team turned out to be a formidable squad. Head coach Nate Berger’s (103-42) club bombed Canyon of Anaheim before losing to Windward in two overtimes, 77-75, in the second round of the CIFSS D1 playoffs. With four returning starters and 10 lettermen, Los Al will challenge for a CIFSS open berth behind the play of Colorado of the Mines-bound Trent Minter (6-6, Sr.), the Surf League co-MVP and a first team all-CIFSS D1 choice who averaged 15.6 ppg, 10.2 rpg and 2.0 spg while recording 14 double-doubles. Oberlin College-bound Liam Gray (6-0, Sr.) shared league MVP honors after averaging 15.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 5.8 apg and 3.2 spg, while Cal-State Dominguez Hills-bound Wes Trevino (6-3, Sr.) was a second team all-Orange County choice who netted 14.3 ppg and hit double digits scoring in all but three contests. Samori Guyness (6-1, Sr.), the son of the late Los Al wide receiver Stan Guyness who played at USC, was the team’s leading scorer (15.9 ppg). Berger expects a big season from Tyler Lopez (6-5, Jr.) and Jordan Taylor (6-4, Sr.) is the team’s knock down shooter who will burn teams when they focus on Minter and Gray. Berger loves his team’s cohesiveness, but is a bit concerned about the size and athleticism when compared to other teams competing for a CIFSS berth. We’ll get in idea of how Los Al matches up when it competes in the top division of The Classic at Damien.

15. (7) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 26-4

The Trailblazers began at No. 5 last season and amazingly they were ranked higher than that in the preseason in each of the nine seasons prior. This year’s preseason positioning represents the lowest Sierra Canyon has been ranked to start the season since 2013-14, when the school’s first crop of great talent (Cody Riley, Remy Martin, Ira Lee, Adam Seiko) were freshmen. Make no mistake, Sierra Canyon does have some talent, but it was not a cohesive unit and had trouble scoring in the fall while breaking in the new talent while some were out with injury. Bryce Cofield (6-5, Sr.) was third team all-state underclass last year and is a tenacious defender and slasher. Maximo Adams (6-7, Jr.) was an all-state sophomore at Serra of Gardena, but didn’t get much action in during the fall while St. John Bosco transfer Kade Bonam (6-8, Sr.) is out with an ACL injury. The most highly-honored player is Gavin Hightower (6-1, Sr.), who was the Gold Coast League MVP at L.A. Windward after making huge plays and averaging 16 ppg, but must carve out his role on this team. Another highly-regarded newcomer is Chris Nwuli (6-8, Sr.), a well traveled talent headed to Rutgers. The veterans include returning starter Jayden Alexander (6-2, Sr.), Bryce James (6-5, Sr.), the younger brother of the L.A. Lakers’ Bronny James (who now plays with father LeBron), Mike Baba (6-6, Sr.) and Stephen Kankole (6-4, Jr.). This is a team that did rise to No. 1 in the state last year, but Justin Pippen (now at Michigan) was the glue that held the band together. Should this team find its footing, it will be very dangerous come playoff time.

For a look at the teams we’ve ranked from No. 16 to No. 40, plus 20 more on the bubble, CLICK HERE.

Ronnie Flores is the managing editor of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at ronlocc1977@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores