SoCal Top 25 Rankings: No.’s 6-10

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first week of high school basketball action tips Monday with tournaments spread out across the southland. We've taken the time to watch countless fall ball events and done endless research on the key departures, returners and new additions to SoCal high school programs and below are the teams who come in ranked No.'s 6-10.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">6. Mater Dei</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: </strong>Gary McKnight</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>23-24 Record/Results: </strong>29-6 overall; 9-1 Trinity League; went 0-3 in CIF-SS Open Div. pool play; Lost to St. John Bosco in CIF State SoCal Regional Final</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>24-25 Outlook: </strong>The Monarchs lost two key seniors in Brady Karich and Scotty Belnap and returning starter [player_tooltip player_id='1956471' first='Brannon' last='Martinsen'] who transferred to league rival JSerra in the fall but still maintain a strong core group that should keep them among the ten best teams in the region. Mater Dei boasts two of the best shooters in the state in senior [player_tooltip player_id='1630665' first='Owen' last='Verna'] (St. Joseph's-signee) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1956507' first='Luke' last='Barnett'] who is up there among the best shooters I've seen live. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1630644' first='Blake' last='Davidson'] - a Nevada commit - will be relied on to pick up some of the slack left with Martinsen's departure while sophomores DeMarcus Henry (a 6-foot-6 wing) and [player_tooltip player_id='2435390' first='Ender' last='Berg'] (a 6-foot-10 center) could be impactful pieces with continued development.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">7. JSerra</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach:</strong> Keith Wilkinson </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>23-24 Record/Results:</strong> 25-7 overall; 7-3 Trinity League; went 1-2 in CIF-SS Open Div. pool play; Lost to Rolling Hills Prep in 1st round of CIF State Div. 1 playoffs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>24-25 Outlook: </strong>The Lions' record may look a little funky prior to December 27th when two major pieces of their team become eligible when the mandated CIF Southern Section transfer sit out period ends. [player_tooltip player_id='1956471' first='Brannon' last='Martinsen'] - an All-CIF caliber transfer from Mater Dei and BJ Davis-Ray - a nationally-ranked prospect from Texas who is committed to SMU - will be sidelined until after Christmas and JSerra is already feeling their absence as the Lions have started the season 0-2 in an event in North Carolina but its allowing some returners and newcomers to get some extended minutes. Senior forward Jarne Eyenga is one of the key interior pieces along with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2435391' first='Godschoice' last='Eboigbodin'] and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2750220' first='Ryan' last='Doane']. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2435392' first='Earl' last='Bryson'] and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2404091' first='Grayson' last='Sinek'] - an All-CIF transfer from La Habra - round out JSerra's back-court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">8. Redondo Union</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: </strong>Reggie Morris, Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>23-24 Record/Results:</strong> 25-6 overall; 10-0 Bay League; lost to SO Notre Dame in semifinals of CIF-SS Div. 1 playoffs; lost to Damien in 2nd round of CIF State Div. 1 playoffs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>24-25 Outlook:</strong> The Sea Hawks have a strong contingent of returners from last year led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='1630621' first='Hudson' last='Mayes'], junior [player_tooltip player_id='1956526' first='SJ' last='Madison'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2436266' first='Chris' last='Sanders']. Those three are all 6-foot-3-plus and capable slashers and finishers in transition. Mayes' ability to knock down pull-up jumpers off the bounce and make decisions makes him a difficult cover at the high school level. Senior guard Brayden Minor made a big jump in his development and his knockdown shooting ability opens the floor for Redondo's dribble-drive offense. Look for junior [player_tooltip player_id='2571744' first='Devin' last='Wright'] to impact the game with his spot-shooting from three and sophomore guard Joey Abala to run the show and make all the right decisions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">9. Santa Margarita</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: </strong>Justin Bell</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>23-24 Record/Results:</strong> 19-11 overall; 4-6 Trinity League; lost the SO Notre Dame in CIF-SS Div. 1 quarterfinals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>24-25 Outlook:</strong> The Eagles are again loaded with size on the wing and inside led by senior Long Beach State-signee [player_tooltip player_id='1630630' first='Dallas' last='Washington'], junior Washington State-commit [player_tooltip player_id='1956520' first='Brayden' last='Kyman'] and 6-foot-7 junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2425665' first='Drew' last='Anderson'] who has made big strides in his all-around skill-set. [player_tooltip player_id='1956542' first='Kaiden' last='Bailey'], a high scoring junior guard via Crean Lutheran, was one of the biggest off-season coups on the transfer market and will bring an immediate scoring punch on the perimeter that the Eagles were lacking last season. Santa Margarita also welcomes back quick and steady playmaking junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1703073' first='Rodney' last='Westmoreland'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">10. La Mirada</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>23-24 Record/Results:</strong> 21-8 overall; 8-0 Gateway League; lost to St. Bernard in the 2nd round of the CIF-SS Div. 1 playoffs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>24-25 Outlook: </strong>With very few losses from a loaded squad last season, the Matadores are looking to make a statement this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1630683' first='Julien' last='Gomez'] - a UTRGV commit - is one of the best scoring guards in Southern California and he's joined in the backcourt by 6-foot-5 do-it-all senior [player_tooltip player_id='2323689' first='MJ' last='Smith']. Highly-touted sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2194355' first='Gene' last='Roebuck'] is one of the premier scorers in his class on the west coast and, at 6-feet-5 with a strong frame, he's a difficult cover at the high school level. Keep an eye on point guards [player_tooltip player_id='2131784' first='King-Riley' last='Owens'] and Tristan Partida.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->