SoCal Top 25 Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023-24 high school basketball season is set to kick-off tonight in Southern California. Below is a look at our Top 25 boys basketball rankings heading into the opening week of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. Harvard-Westlake </strong>- Defending state Open Division champions bring back one of the best “Big 3s” in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='1502769' first='Trent' last='Perry'], [player_tooltip player_id='1630618' first='Nik' last='Khamenia'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1188984' first='Robert' last='Hinton'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2. St. John Bosco </strong>- The Braves are another year older and rival Harvard-Westlake with a Big Three of its own: [player_tooltip player_id='1630620' first='Elzie' last='Harrington'], [player_tooltip player_id='2131779' first='Brandon' last='McCoy'], Jr., and [player_tooltip player_id='1630622' first='Kade' last='Bonam'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3. Corona Centennial </strong>- The addition of Arizona signee [player_tooltip player_id='1502766' first='Carter' last='Bryant'] to go along with UCLA-bound guard [player_tooltip player_id='1502773' first='Eric' last='Freeny'] keep the Huskies in the Open Division race.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. Eastvale Roosevelt</strong> - With [player_tooltip player_id='1630617' first='Brayden' last='Burries'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1630629' first='Isaac' last='Williamson'] eligible, Colorado State-signee [player_tooltip player_id='1502796' first='Darnez' last='Slater'] has plenty of back-court help this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5. Mater Dei </strong>- The defending CIF Southern Section Division 1 champs are setting their sights on a return to the Open Division with a host of returners from last year's team and the addition of Orange County Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='1630650' first='Brandon' last='Benjamin'] who transferred in from Anaheim Canyon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6. Sierra Canyon </strong>- Not the star-studded group we're used to but the Trailblazers impressed with their high-octane offense and pressure defense this fall. [player_tooltip player_id='1502811' first='Justin' last='Pippen'] is one of the most improved players in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7. Windward </strong>- The Wildcats have plenty of firepower at the guard position, led by junior [player_tooltip player_id='1630623' first='Gavin' last='Hightower']. Coach DJ Gay should see his team take another leap under his tutelage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8. S.O. Notre Dame </strong>- The Knights have one of the best scorers in the country on their side in Houston-signee [player_tooltip player_id='1502768' first='Mercy' last='Miller']. Will the rest of the tertiary pieces step up?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9. Campbell Hall </strong>- Coach David Grace tested his team early and often this fall. [player_tooltip player_id='1502803' first='Aaron' last='Powell'], [player_tooltip player_id='1896210' first='Isaiah' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1502815' first='Aliaun' last='Iscandari'] and Co. stepped up to the challenges.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10. Damien</strong> - The Spartans may well be one of the more “underrated” teams across the Southland. Six-foot-11 center [player_tooltip player_id='1630667' first='Nate' last='Garcia'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1956481' first='Eli' last='Garner'] should quickly put that to rest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>11. Heritage Christian</strong> - Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1630628' first='Dillan' last='Shaw'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1630627' first='Tae' last='Simmons'] along with freshman guard Josiah Nance form a strong inside-outside trio. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>12. Santa Margarita </strong>- The Eagles are an experienced group with size and a defensive mindset.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>13. St. Pius X/St. Matthias</strong> - [player_tooltip player_id='1502771' first='Tyrone' last='Riley'] and Doug Langford are two of the best players in their respective classes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>14. Crean Lutheran </strong>- Rumors are [player_tooltip player_id='1498372' first='Vyctorius' last='Miller']'s brief check back in to Crean was short-lived. The Saints still have a strong roster including two good sophomores in Kaden Bailey and [player_tooltip player_id='2131785' first='Braeden' last='Davidson']. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2102467' first='Milanas' last='Luksas'] and a couple international transfers will contribute.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>15. JSerra</strong> - The Lions' ceiling will be dependent on the availability of 6-foot-9 forward [player_tooltip player_id='1502779' first='Sebastian' last='Rancik'] who missed most of JSerra's fall games. [player_tooltip player_id='1502809' first='Aidan' last='Fowler'], [player_tooltip player_id='1817910' first='Diego' last='Martinez'] and newcomer Jarne Eyenga will keep this team competitive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16. St. Bernard </strong>- [player_tooltip player_id='1956464' first='Tajh' last='Ariza'], [player_tooltip player_id='1502783' first='Kendyl' last='Sanders'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1630624' first='Caleb' last='Versher'] are a strong trio who can do damage inside and out on offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17. West Ranch </strong>- UNLV signee [player_tooltip player_id='1502770' first='James' last='Evans'] along with returning point guard Darryl Morris will be a difficult duo to stop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18. Mira Costa</strong> - One of the most fundamentally sound groups in the region will win games with their execution.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>19. Redondo Union </strong>- Coach Reggie Morris, Jr. was platooning his lineups during the fall and has plenty of pieces who can help. [player_tooltip player_id='1502868' first='Devin' last='Ringer'] is looking to break out this season while [player_tooltip player_id='1956526' first='SJ' last='Madison'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1630621' first='Hudson' last='Mayes'] are two of the more promising prospects in their classes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>20. La Mirada </strong>- [player_tooltip player_id='1630683' first='Julien' last='Gomez'] anchors the Matadores offensive firepower but highly-touted freshman Gene Roebuck will take some of the scoring responsibility off of Gomez's shoulders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>21. Rancho Christian</strong> - [player_tooltip player_id='2119934' first='Jayden' last='Smoot'], [player_tooltip player_id='2119941' first='Jaiden' last='Agbo'] and Brian Amunkeke are three experienced returners and the additions of [player_tooltip player_id='1502817' first='Santana' last='Huff'] and 6-foot-7 wing Yeshua Kesse-Beda give coach ray Barefield enough to pull off some upsets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>22. Etiwanda</strong> - [player_tooltip player_id='1817907' first='Amare' last='Campbell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1817908' first='Carrington' last='Pierce'] will hold down the back-court on both ends of the floor but the Eagles will need contributions from others to stay in the Top 25 mix.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>23. Los Alamitos</strong> - One of the better public school programs in the state. Coach Nate Berger has his team playing together on offense and swarming defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>24. Crespi </strong>- [player_tooltip player_id='1956504' first='Joe' last='Sterling'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1630640' first='Peyton' last='White'] will lead the charge for the Celts who are led by new head coach Derek Fisher. You've probably heard of him before.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>25. Pacifica Christian/OC</strong> - Coach Jeff Berokoff had his guys fully bought in to playing hard during the fall. It helps to have talented pieces like [player_tooltip player_id='1630632' first='EJ' last='Spillman'], AJ Johnson and Logan and [player_tooltip player_id='1502819' first='Alex' last='Stewart']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->