SoCal Preseason Top 25: No. 16-20

Southern California high school basketball teams are just about a week away from the official tip-off of the 2025-26 season. 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. 16-20.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">No. 20 Long Beach Poly</h3>   2024-25 Record: 23-7 overall; 12-0 Moore League   Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id='2131798' first='Jonas' last='Oware'] (6-9 | C | Sr. | Committed: Yale); [player_tooltip player_id='2131799' first='Nana' last='Ofoegbu'] (5-10 | PG | Sr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2948288' first='Jakobi' last='Oware'] (6-5 | WF | So.); [player_tooltip player_id='2815195' first='Isaac' last='Hagens'] (6-6 | F | Jr.)   Key Newcomers: Efe Atane (6-4 | WF | Jr.)   2025-26 Outlook: The Jackrabbits bring back a strong core of players from last season's Moore League championship, most notably [player_tooltip player_id='2131798' first='Jonas' last='Oware'], a 6-foot-9 defensive anchor and improved offensive weapon with mobility and athleticism on both ends of the floor. Oware will be flanked by his younger brother, Jakobi, a long, wiry and quick-twitch wing who, at 6-feet-5, is more of a perimeter oriented player whose jump shooting ability off the bounce and off the catch stand out as his calling card. Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2131799' first='Nana' last='Ofoegbu'] will pull all the strings for Poly as a dynamic open court playmaker to go along with his pesky on-ball defensive pressure. The x-factors for the Jackrabbits will be what kind of jump skilled forward [player_tooltip player_id='2815195' first='Isaac' last='Hagens'] can make and if hyper-athletic wing Efe Atane will gain varsity eligibility after transferring in.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">No. 19 San Gabriel Academy</h3>   2024-25 Record: 21-13 overall; 2-4 San Joaquin League (3rd)   Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id='2436298' first='Mahamadou' last='Diop'] (6-10 | C | Jr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2948281' first='Oumar' last='Dabo'] (6-8 | F/C | So.); [player_tooltip player_id='2622346' first='Mamadou' last='Traore'] (6-4 | WF | Sr.); Mohamed Toure (6-8 | F/C | Jr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2866070' first='Sean' last='Palmer'] (5-9 | G | Jr.); Xavier Wang (5-10 | SG | Jr.)   Key Newcomers: Zach Arnold (5-10 | PG | Fr.)   2025-26 Outlook: The Eagles are looking to repeat a CIF State championship run that saw them take the Division III crown and plenty of major pieces are returning from that team. SGA is loaded with front court talent, including Diop, a pogo stick vertical athlete whose ability to protect the rim defensively and finish above it offensive sets the tone for the Eagles on both ends. Diop's running mates - Dabo and Toure - bring their own versatility offensively, giving head coach Danny Piepoli one of the most deep collections of forwards and centers in SoCal. The perimeter will be anchored by Traore, a physical slasher, Wang, a sharpshooting lefty and Arnold, a savvy and talented incoming freshman point guard.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">No. 18 Damien</h3>   2024-25 Record: 21-11 overall; 5-3 Baseline League (3rd)   Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id='1956481' first='Eli' last='Garner'] (6-5 | SG | Sr.); [player_tooltip player_id='1956521' first='Elijah' last='Smith'] (5-9 | PG | Sr.); Zaire Rasshan (6-2 | G | Jr.)   Key Newcomers: JoJo Mariles (6-3 | SG | Fr.); JoJo O'Connor (5-10 | G | Fr.)   2025-26 Outlook: The Spartans and head coach Mike LeDuc seem to always be good for 20-plus wins per season and this year will be no different. Damien brings back a veteran trio of perimeter players in Garner, Smith and Rasshan, all of whom bring different strengths to the table that blend well in LeDuc's offense. Garner is a high level shooter off the catch and on the move, Rasshan can handle and create for himself and others and Smith is a bulldog type point guard who initiates offense, limits turnovers and competes hard on the defensive end. The Spartans have a freshman duo in Mariles and O'Connor who have shown a lot of promise as immediate impact scorers at the guard spots.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">No. 17 Rolling Hills Prep</h3>   2024-25 Record: 22-7 overall; 7-0 Coastal League (1st)   Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id='2436264' first='Nick' last='Welch Jr.'] (6-10 | F/C | Jr.); [player_tooltip player_id='2425677' first='Kawika' last='Suter'] (6-7 | F | Sr.)   Key Newcomers: [player_tooltip player_id='2436285' first='Carter' last='Fulton'] (6-0 | PG | Jr.)   2025-26 Outlook: Welch Jr. has established himself among the top players in the state in the 2027 class and one of its best big men, as well. The 6-foot-10, broad-shouldered forward/center, is an interior scoring threat with back to the basket feel, footwork and touch but has continued to add layers to his offensive game which has led to increased versatility. Welch has also been working hard on his vertical athleticism which has shown in improved rim protection and more explosive finishes around the rim. Suter is a skilled veteran who, at 6-feet-7, has proven to be a consistent floor stretching four-man who can also operate out of the post. Fulton was an addition in the "transfer portal" via Notre Vista in Riverside. The 6-footer is a lightning-in-a-bottle type of player whose explosive speed in transition allows him to put pressure on the rim.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">No. 16 Etiwanda</h3>   2024-25 Record: 17-12 overall; 5-2 Baseline League (2nd)   Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id='2948280' first='Achilles' last='Orji'] (6-7 | F | So.); [player_tooltip player_id='2750216' first='Devin' last='Mitchell'] (6-3 | G | So.); [player_tooltip player_id='2750214' first='Jacob' last='Coleman'] (6-3 | G | So.); [player_tooltip player_id='2439024' first='Jordan' last='Davis'] (6-5 | F | Jr.); Sam Funn (6-0 | G | Sr.)   Key Newcomers: None   2025-26 Outlook: There aren't very many programs that have a group of talented underclass prospects the likes of Etiwanda's Orji, Mitchell and Coleman. Orji is a highly skilled, athletic and wiry wing/forward who improved dramatically over the spring and summer. Mitchell is a big, physical combo guard whose ability to attack the rim and score through contact, combined with his disruptive on-ball defense highlight his two-way impact. Coleman has the ability to fill up the scoring column in a hurry with his smooth jump shooting ability off the bounce. Davis and Funn are experienced upperclass players who will do the dirty work and things that don't show up in the stat sheet.

Southern California high school basketball teams are just about a week away from the official tip-off of the 2025-26 season. 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. 16-20.