SoCal HS Preview: Open Division Frontrunners
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Fall League high school events in Southern California are in full swing and it has given us an early look at some of the top teams in the region. With the official high school season about a month and a…
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Continue ReadingFall League high school events in Southern California are in full swing and it has given us an early look at some of the top teams in the region. With the official high school season about a month and a half away, it’s time to start taking a closer look at which teams will battle it out for one of the eight coveted spots in the CIF Southern Section Open Division playoff field. Here’s a look at our early frontrunners in alphabetical order
The Near Locks
Corona Centennial
Centennial has become a perennial Open Division contender under coach Josh Giles and his staff and this season is no different. The Huskies are younger than usual but still have the veteran presences of Arizona-commit Carter Bryant Carter Bryant 6'8" | SF Corona Centennial (CA) | 2024 State #12 Nation CA-S – a 6-foot-8 transfer from Sage Hill – and 6-foot-4 UCLA-bound guard/wing Eric Freeny Eric Freeny 6'5" | SG Corona Centennial | 2024 State #73 Nation CA-S . Alongside those two seniors is a talented group of sophomores led by 6-foot-2 combo guard Isaiah Rogers Isaiah Rogers 6'2" | PG Corona Centennial | 2026 State CA-S and 6-foot guard Justice Griffith Justice Griffith 6'0" | CG St. Monica | 2026 State CA-S . From what we’ve seen this fall, Centennial may run into some growing pains due to a lack of depth. Sophomore forward Markee White, Jr. will play a big role – likely as a starter – but guys like Tariq Iscandari and CJ Richardson will have to grow up quickly.
Eastvale Roosevelt
Roosevelt has one of the most talented “Big Three” in all of Southern California in 2025’s Brayden Burries Brayden Burries 6'4" | SF Roosevelt | 2025 State #13 Nation CA-S and Isaac Williamson Isaac Williamson 6'1" | SG Riverside Poly | 2025 State #351 Nation CA-S alongside Colorado State commit Darnez Slater Darnez Slater 6'1" | PG Roosevelt | 2024 State #216 Nation CA-S . Those three will carry much of the offensive load for the Mustangs but coach Steve Singleton has plenty more role-type players who will contribute. The addition, and subsequent improvement, of 6-foot-10 center Tochi Anigbogu Tochi Anigbogu 6'10" | C Roosevelt | 2024 State CA-S will provide Roosevelt with a rim protecting and rebounding presence while sophomore Jackson Haggins Jackson Haggins 5'10" | SG Roosevelt | 2026 State CA-S and senior Jazz Shoker Jazz Shoker 5'8" | PG Roosevelt | 2024 State CA-S provide much-needed perimeter shooting without being ball dominant.
Harvard-Westlake
The Wolverines are looking to repeat as Open Division State Champions and have a good chance of doing just that with the experience and talent they return. Trent Perry Trent Perry 6'4" | PG Harvard-Westlake | 2024 State #70 Nation CA-S , Robert Hinton Robert Hinton 6'4" | CG Harvard-Westlake | 2024 State #147 Nation CA-S and Nik Khamenia Nik Khamenia 6'7" | SF Harvard-Westlake | 2025 State #18 Nation CA-S are three of SoCal’s best players in their respective classes and were starters on last year’s Harvard-Westlake team that went 33-2, including a Mission League championship. Christian Horry Christian Horry 6'4" | SF Harvard-Westlake | 2024 State CA-S is also a reliable senior contributor as a “three-and-D” type player but the Wolverines must replace the inside presence of Jacob Huggins who graduated last season and is now at Princeton. Look for any combination of Dominique Bentho Dominique Bentho 6'8" | C Harvard-Westlake | 2026 State CA-S , Bryce Williams Bryce Williams 6'9" | PF Harvard-Westlake | 2026 State CA-S and Barron Linnekens Barron Linnekens 6'8" | C Harvard-Westlake | 2026 State CA-S to see major time at the five. The two X-factors off the bench for Havard-Westlake will be wing Isaiah Carroll Isaiah Carroll 6'7" | PF Harvard-Westlake | 2025 State CA-S and point guard Amir Jones Amir Jones 5'5" | PG American Canyon | 2027 CA-N .
Mater Dei
Last season presented a rare occurrence in the Open Division era where Mater Dei wasn’t among the eight team field. The Monarchs finished second in the Trinity League behind St. John Bosco and lost seven games which by most program’s account would be a great season but Mater Dei is used to being in that top echelon of teams. The Monarchs went on to win the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship and fell to eventual state champion Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in the state tournament. Mater Dei brings back almost all of its major contributors from last season and added Orange County Player of the Year Brandon Benjamin Brandon Benjamin 6'4" | PF Anaheim Canyon | 2025 State CA-S who transferred in from Anaheim Canyon. Benjamin is added to a group that includes seniors Brady Karich Brady Karich 6'1" | PG Mater Dei | 2024 State CA-S and Scotty Belnap Scotty Belnap 6'5" | SG Mater Dei | 2024 State CA-S , fellow juniors Blake Davidson Blake Davidson 6'8" | PF Mater Dei | 2025 State CA-S and Owen Verna Owen Verna 6'2" | SG Mater Dei | 2025 State CA-S , and talented sophomores Brannon Martinsen Brannon Martinsen 6'7" | SF Mater Dei | 2026 State CA-S and Luke Barnett Luke Barnett 6'3" | SG Mater Dei | 2026 State CA-S .
St. John Bosco
On paper, Bosco might be the most talented roster in Southern California. The Braves feature four sure-fire Division 1 recruits in juniors Elize Harrington and Kade Bonam Kade Bonam 6'6" | PF St. John Bosco | 2025 State #110 Nation CA-S , sophomore Brandon McCoy Brandon McCoy 6'4" | CG St. John Bosco | 2026 State CA-S and Illinois-Chicago commit Jack Turner Jack Turner 6'3" | SG St. John Bosco | 2024 State #253 Nation CA-S . McCoy is the top-ranked non-prep school 2026 in the state and is considered a top five prospect in the entire country among the major ranking services. Those four are joined by a handful of solid glue-type players the likes of 6-foot-7 junior forward Jaison Joyce Jaison Joyce 6'5" | SF St. John Bosco | 2025 State CA-S and 5-foot-10 senior point guard Amiri Meadows Amiri Meadows 5'9" | PG St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA-S to form a group that is not only highly talented but also deep, long and experienced.