SoCal Preseason Top 25: No. 1-5

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southern California high school basketball teams will tip 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 continue our SoCal Top 25 reveal with a breakdown of the teams ranked No. 1-5.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">5. Notre Dame (SO)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024-25 Record:</strong> 28-8 overall; 5-2 Mission League (3rd)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2646501' first='NaVorro' last='Bowman'] (6-2 | G | Jr.); [player_tooltip player_id='1956483' first='Zachary' last='White'] (6-5 | WF | Sr. | Committed: San Diego State); [player_tooltip player_id='2435372' first='Josiah' last='Nance'] (6-3 | G | Jr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2131810' first='Caleb' last='Ogbu'] (6-0 | G | Sr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2646656' first='Dylan' last='Northcutt'] (6-1 | G | Jr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2948287' first='Zion' last='Lanier'] (6-3 | G | So.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Newcomers:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1965274' first='Ilan' last='Nikolov'] (6-4 | G | Jr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025-26 Outlook:</strong> The Knights were slated to be our No. 1 team in the region to open the season before the big news broke that five-star, No. 1 player in the 2026 class, Tyran Stokes, was on his way out. The loss of Stokes, who reportedly transferred to Rainier Beach in Seattle, is a big one as the 6-foot-8, multi-positional scorer and creator was one of the toughest covers in all of high school basketball, but it only knocked Notre Dame about four spots in the rankings. The main reason for Notre Dame remaining in the top five is the return of a solid "Big Three" in Bowman, White and Nance. That trio can stack up to any other group of talented players in the area with Bowman being the go-to guy on the offensive end now. White, a San Diego State pledge, is one of the state's best defenders and transition finishers. Nance is a smooth left-handed combo guard with good positional size and feel for the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">4. Santa Margarita</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024-25 Record: </strong>23-9 overall; 8-2 Trinity League (2nd)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1956542' first='Kaiden' last='Bailey'] (6-3 | G | Sr. | Committed: Georgia Tech); [player_tooltip player_id='1956520' first='Brayden' last='Kyman'] (6-8 | F | Sr. | Committed: Washington State); [player_tooltip player_id='2425665' first='Drew' last='Anderson'] (6-8 | F | Sr. | Committed: Oregon State); [player_tooltip player_id='1703073' first='Rodney' last='Westmoreland'] (6-0 | PG | Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Newcomers:</strong> Markee White, Jr. (6-6 | F | Sr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2815168' first='Lucas' last='Gaspar'] (6-4 | SG | Jr.); Krawford Bailey (6-4 | G | Fr.); Todd Mihm (6-9 | C | So.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025-26 Outlook: </strong>The Eagles are one of the biggest and most versatile offensive teams in the state. Bailey, a Georgia Tech commit, is one of the state's best scorers as he falls into that new-age "three level" tag with his ability to knock down deep three-point shots, pull-up for mid-range jumpers off the bounce and get to the rim for high percentage finishes. The twin towers of Kyman and Anderson are as interchangeable as it comes at the high school level. Both can score inside and out and and smart, tough defenders. Westmoreland, one of four returning starters, is a tempo-pushing point guard with dynamic open court speed. Look for Markee White, Jr. to make an immediate impact with his combination of physicality and skill on the offensive and defensive ends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">No. 3 Redondo Union</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024-25 Record: </strong>28-6 overall; 7-1 Bay League (2nd)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1956526' first='SJ' last='Madison'] (6-4 | WF | Sr. | Committed: Nevada); [player_tooltip player_id='2436266' first='Chris' last='Sanders'] (6-3 | F | Jr.); [player_tooltip player_id='1956470' first='Chace' last='Holley'] (6-1 | G | Sr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2425679' first='Devin' last='Wright'] (6-3 | G | Sr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2436290' first='Joey' last='Albala'] (5-4 | PG | Jr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2888811' first='Zach' last='Khatib'] (6-4 | G | Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Newcomers:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2375392' first='Kaiden' last='Wilson'] (6-5 | F | Jr.); Chris Davis (6-5 | F | So.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025-26 Outlook:</strong> Redondo is always one of the toughest teams to play against with its uptempo, high pressure offensive and defensive attacks that put opposing teams on their heels from the jump. The Sea Hawks' main offensive threat is Madison, an athletic, physical slashing wing who is best as a transition finisher but has also improved on his shot-making and creating in half-court offense. Sanders is a beastly interior presence on both ends of the floor whose effort, energy and defensive versatility are the perfect fit for coach Reggie Morris' style of play. Holley is a pace-pushing downhill attacker in transition and Wright can light it up from three-point range off the catch. Look for Wilson, a transfer from Washington, and Davis, a junior varsity call-up, to be major x-factors for Redondo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">No. 2 Harvard-Westlake</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024-25 Record: </strong>31-3 overall; 7-1 Mission League</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1956504' first='Joe' last='Sterling'] (6-3 | G | Sr. | Committed: Texas); [player_tooltip player_id='2136707' first='Amir' last='Jones'] (6-3 | G | Sr. | Committed: Georgia State); [player_tooltip player_id='2435366' first='Cole' last='Holden'] (6-2 | G | Jr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2435370' first='Pierce' last='Thompson'] (6-3 | G | Jr.); [player_tooltip player_id='1956502' first='Dominique' last='Bentho'] (6-8 | C | Sr.); [player_tooltip player_id='1956486' first='Barron' last='Linnekens'] (6-9 | C | Sr. | Committed: Washington University); [player_tooltip player_id='1956485' first='Bryce' last='Williams'] (6-9 | C | Sr.); Tre McNeely (6-2 | G | Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Newcomers: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2916727' first='Alex' last='Floyd'] (6-3 | G | Jr.); Dominic Fontenette (6-7 | F | Jr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025-26 Outlook:</strong> The Wolverines return a strong core of players from last year's 31-win team but do have to make up for the loss of McDonald's All-American and Duke freshman Nik Khamenia. We know what we will get from Sterling and that's a lot of buckets. The Texas-bound guard is one of the best shot makers in the state who can take over and win a game as a scorer or playmaker. Look for junior guards - Holden and Thompson - to comfortably step into bigger offensive roles with Thompson coming into the season with a lot of buzz after big performances at the Border League in Las Vegas. Jones and Bentho, both seniors and four-year guys, play their roles perfectly for the well-oiled Harvard-Westlake machine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">No. 1 Sierra Canyon</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024-25 Record:</strong> 27-7 overall; 6-1 Mission League (2nd)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1956480' first='Maximo' last='Adams'] (6-7 | F | Sr. | Committed: North Carolina); [player_tooltip player_id='1956506' first='Stephen' last='Kankole'] (6-5 | WF | Sr.); [player_tooltip player_id='1956525' first='Jordan' last='Askew'] (6-0 | PG | Sr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2194462' first='Jordan' last='Mize'] (6-5 | WF | So.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Newcomers:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2131779' first='Brandon' last='McCoy'], Jr. (6-5 | WF | Sr.); [player_tooltip player_id='1956471' first='Brannon' last='Martinsen'] (6-6 | F | Sr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2948286' first='JJ' last='Sati-Grier'] (5-11 | PG | So.); [player_tooltip player_id='1956509' first='DeLan' last='Grant'] (6-2 | G | Sr. | Committed: New Mexico State); [player_tooltip player_id='2746607' first='Josh' last='Lowery'] (6-4 | G | So.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025-26 Outlook: </strong>From the lens of pure talent, athleticism and size, no team in the region compares to Sierra Canyon. The Trailblazers brought in five of the best transfers in the state - some of their eligibility still pending at the time this story was published - but, once at full strength, the combination of McCoy, Jr., Martinsen, Sati-Grier, Grant, Lowery along with returners Adams and Mize is a heck of a seven player rotation. Adams, the 6-foot-7 forward who committed to North Carolina, is the engine for Sierra Canyon with his elite motor, power finishing at the rim and ability to stretch the floor adding another layer of offense for opposing defenses to worry about. McCoy and Martinsen are both transition and half-court scoring threats with positional size. Sati-Grier's transfer slots him among the best point guards in the state in the 2028 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->