SoCal Preseason Top 25: Bubble Teams

Southern California high school basketball teams tipped off the 2025-26 season on Nov. 17. We spent the fall watching team and individual events to get the best read on the top teams and players in the region. We completed our countdown and breakdown of the region's Top 25 and below we break down more teams who are on the bubble and will likely break into the rankings at some point this season.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Arcadia</h3>   2024-25 Record: 17-12 overall; 6-2 Pacific League (3rd)   Key Returners: Noa Eteuati-Edwards (6-3 | G | Sr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2750203' first='Owen' last='Eteuati-Edwards'] (6-7 | F | So.); Nick Wallace, Jr. (5-9 | G | So.); [player_tooltip player_id='2622305' first='Mateo' last='Ingersoll'] (6-6 | WF | Sr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2622309' first='Tyrese' last='Butler'] (6-2 | G | Sr.)   Key Newcomers: Ajani Balogun (6-8 | C | So.); Tyler West (5-10 | G | Jr.)   2025-26 Outlook: The Apaches bring back a tight-knit and versatile group including five starters who all produced to a postseason team last year. The Eteuati-Edwards brothers are a strong inside-out offensive and defensive duo. Wallace, Jr. is a savvy playmaking point guard. Ingersoll and Butler are wing slashers and finishers with a good blend of athleticism and skill. Look for Balogun, a 6-foot-8 transfer, to be an impactful addition.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Corona del Mar</h3>   2024-25 Record: 21-9 overall; 6-6 Sunset League (3rd)   Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id='2436275' first='Maxwell' last='Scott'] (6-2 | G | Jr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2364528' first='Luke' last='Mirhashemi'] (6-4 | WF | Sr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2349465' first='Oliver' last='Nakra'] (6-1 | G | Sr.); Aiden Cole (6-0 | G | Jr.)   Key Newcomers: [player_tooltip player_id='2436294' first='Caden' last='Sanchez'] (6-2 | G | Jr.); Deven Hewett (6-4 | WF | So.); Andrew Vogt (5-10 | G | Jr.)   2025-26 Outlook: The Sea Kings' trio of Scott, Mirhashemi and Nakra is one of the more experienced group of returners in Orange County which makes CdM the top public school in Orange County to start this season. Sanchez is a proven scorer who transferred in from league foe Huntington Beach and Hewett, a JV standout last season, adds some athleticism and length on the wing   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Fairmont Prep</h3>   2024-25 Record: 22-10 overall; 5-1 San Joaquin League (2nd)   Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id='2622334' first='David' last='Abisogun'] (6-8 | C | Sr. | Committed: Texas State); Bith Jack (6-9 | C | Sr.); Jacob Hsu (5-11 | G | Sr.)   Key Newcomers: [player_tooltip player_id='2888800' first='Eric' last='Gong'] (6-8 | C | Sr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2948282' first='Jordan' last='Ceballos'] (6-2 | G | So.); [player_tooltip player_id='2647227' first='Langston' last='Ford'] (6-3 | G | Jr.);   2025-26 Outlook: The Huskies were right on the outside of the Top 25 as a handful of the players expected to be major contributors are transfers and yet to be cleared on the CIF Southern Section website at the time of publishing our rankings. Once at full strength, Fairmont Prep will be a formidable opponent with a skilled and physical front-line that includes 6-foot-8 Abisogun, 6-foot-9 Jack and Gong, a 6-foot-8 transfer from Bishop Montgomery. The question for the Huskies will be guard play as two projected starters - Ceballos and Ford - could miss the first month of the season due to sit out period transfer rules.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">La Habra</h3>   2024-25 Record: 20-9 overall; 4-4 Crestview League (3rd)   Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id='2425687' first='Acen' last='Jimenez'] (6-1 | G | Sr. | Committed: Dartmouth); [player_tooltip player_id='2647294' first='Javier' last='Nash'] (6-4 | WF | Jr.); Josh Desatoff (6-1 | G | Sr.); Damien Ceballos (6-0 | G | Sr.)   Key Newcomers: Aaron Wilson (5-9 | G | Fr.); Derek Soloway (5-11 | G | Fr.)   2025-26 Outlook: Any team with the caliber of point guard that Jimenez is has a chance to be really good. The 6-foot-1 Dartmouth-commit is one of the best scorers and playmakers in the state and runs the show for the Highlanders. Jimenez is joined by Nash, a fast-improving returner at the wing position, and two talented freshmen guards in Wilson and Soloway.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Millikan</h3>   2024-25 Record: 15-13 overall; 8-4 Moore League (2nd)   Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id='2779851' first='Jeremiah' last='Hunt'] (6-2 | G | Sr.); [player_tooltip player_id='1956503' first='Joseph' last='Wicker'] (6-2 | G | Sr.); Parker Snyder (5-11 | G | Sr.)   Key Newcomers: [player_tooltip player_id='2820407' first='Quali' last='Giran'] (6-1 | G | Fr.)   2025-26 Outlook: The Rams will have one of the best back-court trios in the region with Hunt, a high-scoring combo guard, Wicker, a sharpshooter from three, and Giran, perhaps the best freshman prospect in the state. Where Millikan is lacking is in the front-court, but its uptempo style of play will remedy the lack of size against most opponents.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Riverside Poly</h3>   2024-25 Record: 24-11 overall; 8-2 Ivy League (2nd)   Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id='2131782' first='JRob' last='Croy'] (6-5 | G | Sr. | Committed: Saint Mary's); [player_tooltip player_id='2909031' first='Jackson' last='Duffy'] (6-3 | WF | Jr.); Carter Athens (6-7 | F/C | Jr.); Antoine Yarbrough (5-9 | G | Sr.)   Key Newcomers: Tysean Taylor (5-10 | G | So.); [player_tooltip player_id='2857887' first='Rylan' last='Caldwell'] (5-11 | G | So.); Dean Stowe (6-5 | F | Fr.); Jayden Benjamin (5-11 | G | Fr.)   2025-26 Outlook: Croy will be the engine that makes the Bears go and he's a good one to have leading the way. The 6-foot-5 combo guard, who signed with Saint Mary's, is one of the best offensive players in Southern California with his ability to impact the game as a scorer, passer, creator, rebounder and off-ball cutting threat. Look for Duffy and Athens to have breakout junior seasons, as well.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">St. Bernard</h3>   2024-25 Record: 18-11 overall; 7-5 Del Rey League (4th)   Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id='2436269' first='Brandon' last='Granger'] (5-10 | G | Jr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2948300' first='Jeremiah' last='Agbahowe'] (6-7 | F | Jr.); David Fedillis (5-10 | G | Sr.)   Key Newcomers: [player_tooltip player_id='2436268' first='Gary' last='Ferguson'] (6-2 | G | Sr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2131781' first='Jordan' last='Ballard'] (6-5 | WF | Sr.); Jayden Harbin (6-9 | C | Jr.); Chris Rupert (6-10 | C | Jr.); Mehkel Jackson (6-5 | F | Sr.); Garang Macham (6-9 | C | Jr.)   2025-26 Outlook: As you can see above, the majority of the Vikings' roster are transfers and many of those are still filed as "incomplete" on the CIF Southern Section roster. It might be awhile before we see what St. Bernard looks like at full strength, but when we do, it's an impressive group that blends a combination of size, skill and athleticism and all positions. Granger and Agbahowe, two of the main returners, are in for big junior seasons that should raise their recruiting stock.

Southern California high school basketball teams tipped off the 2025-26 season on Nov. 17. We spent the fall watching team and individual events to get the best read on the top teams and players in the region. We completed our countdown and breakdown of the region's Top 25 and below we break down more teams who are on the bubble and will likely break into the rankings at some point this season.