The Lists: 11 All-SoCal Forwards and Centers

<p>The high school basketball season in Southern California has come to a close and now it's time to recognize the region's top players with our series of positional lists. We've already taken a close look at the All-Southern California guards and wings and now we turn our attention to the forwards and centers. Selections were based on individual production and team success in non-league, league and playoff games.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1956471' first='Brannon' last='Martinsen'] | 2026 | Sierra Canyon</h4>   <p>Martinsen's combination of skill and versatility made him one of the most effective four-men in the state this season. Offensively, the 6-foot-7 lefty was a perimeter shooting threat off the catch from mid and three-point range and used his ball skills and touch to attack the rim off the bounce and score at the rim. Martinsen is one of Southern California's top unsigned prospects and helped lead the Trailblazers to a 30-1 overall record, a Mission League title and Southern Section and State Open Division championships.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1956520' first='Brayden' last='Kyman'] | 2026 | Santa Margarita</h4>   <p>Kyman was a key cog in the Eagles memorable season as an offensive hub who did a little bit of everything on that end of the floor. The Washington State-bound forward is best known for his off-catch three-point shooting ability but it was his passing IQ and ability to make decisions and reads out of the post and as a dribble hand-off initiator that made Santa Margarita so good. Kyman averaged 16.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 42 percent from three. His efforts helped the Eagles to 28 wins, a berth in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs and a trip to the State Open Regional Semifinals.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2888673' first='Chadrack' last='Mpoyi'] | 2026 | Crean Lutheran</h4>   <p>Mpoyi was one of the most dominant interior forces on the west coast this season as his combination of size, strength, mobility and athleticism was often too much for opposing defenses to handle. The 6-foot-10, 250-pound center, who is signed with Minnesota, was a dunk machine when he got a post touch and showed plenty of back to the basket feel and touch on the block. Mpoyi anchored the paint on both ends for the Saints and helped lead them to a Southern Section Division 1 title and State Division 1 Regional Semifinal appearance.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2878517' first='Cherif' last='Millogo'] | 2027 | St. Francis</h4>   <p>Millogo might've been the biggest matchup nightmare in the state with his uncanny size, length, fluid athleticism and skill. The 7-foot-4 junior averaged 24.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 5.1 blocks per game while leading the Golden Knights to 21 wins. Millogo's interior presence, finishing ability and shot blocking can be likened to a "create-a-player" with the video game numbers he put up.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2436266' first='Chris' last='Sanders'] | 2027 | Redondo Union</h4>   <p>Sanders was Redondo's de-facto "big man" at 6-feet-4 due to the Sea Hawks playing a guard and wing-heavy lineup. The junior forward was responsible for guarding the opposing team's tallest, most physical player and his 200-plus pound frame allowed him to compete inside on the glass and when leveraging defensive position against those four and fives he had to match up to. Offensively, Sanders was an effective face-up driver and transition finisher at the rim.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2425665' first='Drew' last='Anderson'] | 2026 | Santa Margarita</h4>   <p>Anderson was one of the biggest stock-rising recruits in the country this year and he backed up that recognition with his play and production. The 6-foot-9 forward as an efficient scorer inside and out this season with his soft touch at the rim and to the three-point line. Anderson was a double-double threat in every game he played in with averages of 19.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. The Trinity League Co-MVP, who was originally committed to Oregon State, reopened his recruitment after the firing of former coach Wayne Tinkle and recently committed to Stanford. Anderson led Santa Margarita to 28 wins, a Southern Section Open Division playoff berth and a trip to the CIF State Open Division Regional semifinals.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2425656' first='Jaidyn' last='Smith'] | 2026 | Corona Centennial</h4>   <p>Smith's development on both ends of the floor was a big reason why the Huskies had the bounce-back season they had. The 6-foot-7 forward/center was a rim protecting and rebounding presence on the defensive end and impacted the game offensively as a rim-runner, screener and roller and offensive rebounder. The left-handed senior is an upside prospect to keep an eye on.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='3341226' first='Maximo' last='Adams'] | 2026 | Sierra Canyon</h4>   <p>Adams was one of Southern California's most productive forwards and it had a lot to do with how hard he played on every possession. The 6-foot-8 North Carolina-bound senior was an absolute menace around the basket as a scorer and rebounder as his quick twitch athleticism, physical brand of finishing and fearlessness when attacking the rim made him one of the toughest guys to stop. Adams averaged better than 18 points and seven rebounds on the season while leading Sierra Canyon to historic marks at 30-1 overall and CIF Southern Section and State Open Division titles.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Nick Welch, Jr. | 2027 | Rolling Hills Prep</h4>   <p>Welch is among the most fundamental big men in the state and his ability to score with his back to the basket and step out and knock down open threes led to his 16.3 points per game averages this season. The 6-foot-9 center is also a high-rate rebounder who pulled down 10.4 boards per game while leading the Huskies to 23 wins, an undefeated league title and a CIF Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinal appearance. </p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2750220' first='Ryan' last='Doane'] | 2028 | JSerra</h4>   <p>Doane has always been an offensive talent with his combination of inside-out skill and touch but the 6-foot-8 sophomore earned his way onto this list with the improvements he made to his defense and rebounding. Doane just missed averaging a double-double on the season as he finished with 11.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game while helping the Lions to 24 wins and an appearance in the Southern Section Division 1 championship game. Doane's increased toughness, effort and physicality on the glass was a big reason to JSerra's success.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1956483' first='Zachary' last='White'] | 2026 | Notre Dame</h4>   <p>White is the ultimate glue guy at the high school level and will be much of the same at San Diego State as a freshman in the Mountain West Conference. The 6-foot-5 forward is a versatile defender who guards multiple positions, rebounds in and out of his area and uses his athleticism and anticipation to apply pressure to ball handlers and contain them off the bounce. White averaged 14.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game as Notre Dame won 22 games, finished second in the Mission League and reached the Southern Section and State Open Division postseason.</p>

The high school basketball season in Southern California has come to a close and now it's time to recognize the region's top players with our series of positional lists. We've already taken a close look at the All-Southern California guards and wings and now we turn our attention to the forwards and centers. Selections were based on individual production and team success in non-league, league and playoff games.