Top 25 California boys basketball 2023-24 preseason rankings presented by SBLive Sports/Sports Illustrated

There appears no reason that defending CIF Open Division champion Harvard-Westlake to be removed from perch;

Author:
Mitch Stephens, SBLive Sports and Tarek Fattal, SBLive Sports
Updated:
Nov 16, 2023 4:33 PM EST
Original:
Nov 14, 2023

For basketball purists, it was a thing of beauty watching Harvard-Westlake play the game last season.

Balance. Depth. Shooting. Defense. Ball-sharing.

Skilled players dedicated to the program overcame a setback at the section level — the Wolverines didn't make it out of pool play — but regrouped in a big way to breeze through the Southern California regional. In the SoCal final, they dethroned defending champion Corona Centennial with a masterful 19-point road win, before taking the state title at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento with a 75-65 triumph over St. Joseph-Santa Maria.

Afterward, rather than fly home separately, they gladly took a six-hour bus trip home just to stay together a little longer.

"Win or lose, they want to be together," Harvard-Westlake coach David Rebibo said.

Considering there wasn't a senior on the roster, the same group is back together to start the 2023-24 season. There's not a single solid reason to think they'll be knocked from their perch at No. 1.

There's 24 teams right below them that could rise up and snatch the title from their grasp. But it's going to take a special effort.

The Southern California talent alone — Rebibo called it a "gauntlet" — is a huge challenge for Harvard-Westlake, and the coach of Northern California's top team thinks the top half of the state, "is stronger than it's been in years."

"It's not just at the top, but across the board," said Riordan coach Joey Curtin, whose team is ranked fifth in the state thanks in part to an influx of college-bound transfers to go with some excellent young talent. "There's really good quality teams throughout the region."

Southern California play gets going this week and Northern California teams start the week after.

1. Harvard-Westlake (33-2 last season)

Head coach: David Rebibo

Top players: Trent Perry, G, Sr. (USC); Robert Hinton, G, Sr. (Harvard); Nik Khamenia, F, Jr.

Follow shot: The defending CIF State Open Division champions aren't satisfied, they're back in 2023-24 in search of the treble: section, regional and state crown.

Trent Perry was the SBLive California Player of the Year in 2022-23 when he averaged 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game.
Photo by Dennis Lee

2. St. John Bosco (26-7)

Head coach: Matt Dunn

Top players: Elzie Harrington, G, Jr.; Brandon McCoy, PG, So.; Kade Bonam, F, Jr.

Follow shot: The Braves reached the CIF Southern Section Open Division final with an ultra-young team last year. They're all back. They're all bigger and better. Brandon McCoy has the makings to be the next 'guy' in SoCal.

3. Corona Centennial (30-4)

Head coach: Josh Giles

Top players: Eric Freeny, G, Sr. (UCLA); Carter Bryant, F, Sr. (Arizona); Isaiah Rogers, G, So.

Follow shot: The Huskies are defending CIF Southern Section Open Division champions, but lost three big-time seniors in Jared McCain (Duke), Devin Williams (UCLA) and Aaron McBride (LMU). Transfer Carter Bryant is expected to be eligible immediately.

4. Roosevelt (20-8)

Head coach: Steve Singleton

Top players: Brayden Burries, G, Jr.; Issac Williamson, G, Jr.; Darnez Slater, G, Sr. (Colorado State)

Follow shot: The Mustangs are pegged as an Open Division lock heading into the 2023-24 season. Burries, Williamson and Slater on the perimeter with forward Dominic Copenhagen and center Tochi Anigbogu inside, Roosevelt is a real contender.

5. Riordan (23-7)

Head coach: Joey Curtin

Top players: Jasir Rencher, W, Jr.; Andrew Hilman, G, So.; Zion Sensley, F, Sr. (St. Mary's College); Jory McKenzie, G, Sr. (Colorado State); Nathan Tshamala, W, Sr.

Follow shot: The Crusaders lost one key player to transfer, Alex Kuminga (6-7 F) to Coronado, but received a staggering seven transfers, including 6-9 senior Steve Emeneke from Woodside Priory, Sensley from Prolific Prep and the Tofi brothers, Tommy (6-7) and John (6-3) from Sheldon-Sacramento. Crusaders won't be at full strength until midseason.

Andrew Hilman was one of the top freshman in the state.
Photo: Ralph Thompson

6. Mater Dei (29-7)

Head coach: Gary McKnight

Top players: Brannon Martinsen, G/F, So.; Scotty Belnap, G, Sr.; Luke Barnett, G, So.

Follow shot: The Monarchs are the defending CIF-SS Division 1 champions after missing the Open Division playoffs for the first time in program history since the field was berthed. Coach Gary McKnight is entering his 42nd year at the helm. The addition of Canyon/Anaheim transfer Brandon Benjamin bolsters an already talented group.

7. JSerra Catholic (22-9)

Head coach: Keith Wilkinson

Top players: Sebastian Rancik, F, Sr. (Colorado); Aidan Fowler, PG, Sr.; Diego Martinez, G, Sr.

Follow shot: A talented, veteran group with a lot of depth, according to coach Keith Wilkinson. The roster has five four-year seniors on it. Keep an eye out for two freshmen: guard Earl Bryson and forward Godschoice Eboigbodin.

8. Mitty (21-6)

Head coach: Tim Kennedy

Top players: Gavin Ripp, F, Sr.; Tyler Jones G, Sr. (UC-Riverside), Nathan Noronha, G, Sr.

Follow shot: Every coach in the Bay Area is raving about how well this team has meshed in the offseason. It's helped to get one of the West Catholic Athletic League's top freshmen from last season, 6-3 guard Caden Hutcherson, a transfer from St. Ignatius. Kennedy, a star player at rival Serra before playing at Loyola-Marymount, always gets the most of out of his team.

9. Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks (27-10)

Head coach: Matt Sargeant

Top players: Mercy Miller, G, Sr. (Houston); Lino Mark, PG, Jr.; Zach White, G, So.

Follow shot: The Knights are defending CIF State Division I champions. They lose Caleb Foster (Duke) and Dusty Stromer (Gonzaga), but add 6-foot-7 junior wing Bryce James to the fold.

10. Sierra Canyon (23-11)

Head coach: Andre Chevalier

Top players: Isaiah Elohim, G, Sr. (Arkansas); Justin Pippen, G, Sr.; Noah Williams, F, Sr.

Follow shot: There's a re-vamped energy at Sierra Canyon with a major core of returners, including rising junior Bryce Cofield, along with two transfers Jordan Askew (from Corona Centennial) and Ethan Johnson (from Chaminade).

Noah Williams (11), Sierra Canyon
Photo: Nick Koza

11. Salesian-Richmond (26-9)

Head coach: Bill Mellis

Top players: Aaron Claytor, PG, Sr. (Hawaii), Amani Johnson, G, Sr.; Alvin Loving, G, Jr.;

Follow shot: With six of the top seven players returning from a team that reached the Northern California D1 final, the Pride look like a solid choice to win the North Coast Section Open title. Watch out for sophomore Elias Obenyah (6-3) to emerge as one of top players game-in, game out.

12. Santa Margarita (21-9)

Head coach: Justin Bell

Top players: Cam McNamee, G, Sr. (Dartmouth); Jonathan Moxie, PG, Sr.; Dallas Washington, F/C, Jr.

Follow shot: The Eagles have high expectations, and another Kyman - Brayden Kyman - who is only a sophomore. Bell expects the program to compete for a league title, a section crown and a state championship.

13. Windward (23-8)

Head coach: DJ Gay

Top players: Gavin Hightower, PG, Jr.; Jeremiah Hampton, G, Jr.; Louis Bond, G, Jr.

Follow shot: Second-year coach Gay has a promising, young team anchored by four juniors being recruited by NCAA Division I college programs in Hightower, Hampton, Bond and JJ Harris. Windward's guard play is very good, but its lack of size will be a challenge.

14. Branson (28-4)

Head coach: Demetrius Roquemore

Top players: Jase Butler, G, Sr. (Illinois), Semetri Carr, G, Jr.), Finley Keefe, F, Sr)

Follow shot: A season-opener with Mitty should tell Roquemore just where his team is at. ... The Bulls, out of the Marin County Athletic League, is also playing at The Classic at Damien, The Gridley Invitational and the Tarkanian Classic. The Bulls have won at least 26 games each of the last six seasons (not counting the 2021 COVID season) including three consecutive seasons in 2017 of at least 30 wins.

15. De La Salle (22-9)

Head coach: Marcus Schroeder

Top players: Alec Blair, F, Jr., Leo Ricketts, G, Sr., A.J. Morgan, G, Sr.

Follow shot: The Spartans added two rare transfers in the offseason, a pair of bookend 6-7 forwards in David Balogun and Braddock Kjellesvig, a pair of juniors. Add in very promising 6-foot sophomore point guard Ibrahim Monawar and Schroeder might have his best squad since leaving St. Mary's College in 2021.

Alec Blair (33), De La Salle
Photo: Greg Jungferman

16. Carlsbad (24-7)

Head coach: Clark Allard

Top players: Jake Hall, G, Jr., Tony Duckett, G, Jr., Jael Marin, F, Sr. (Pepperdine)

Follow shot: Hall (26 points per game) and Duckett (18 ppg) were both All-CIF guards last season. The Lancers also brought in several transfers led by forward Martin and guard Euan Davis. They'll open the season against California's top team Harvard-Westlake on Saturday with their eyes set on capturing their first Open Division title.

17. Mira Costa (28-4)

Head coach: Neal Perlmutter

Top players: James Reach, G, Sr.; Preston Ezewiro, F, Jr.; Jacob De Armas, F, Jr.

Follow shot: It's a well-oiled machine run by coach Neal Perlmutter, who claims his junior class is the best in SoCal in Ezewiro, De Armas, Eneasi Piuleini and Christian Kranz.

18. Damien (26-5)

Head coach: Mike LeDuc

Top players: Nate Garcia, C, Jr.; Xavier Clinton, G, Sr.; Zaire Rasshan, G, Fr.

Follow shot: LeDuc is entering his 44th season as a head coach with the big fella, Nate Garcia, leading the way. The Spartans will be an Open Division fringe team all season long. Look for Jedidiah Wilfred to be an impact transfer from Etiwanda.

19. St. Pius X/St. Matthias (30-5)

Head coach: Donte Archie

Top players: Tyrone Riley, G, Sr.; Douglas Langford, F, Jr.; Tariq Bridges, G, Jr.

Follow shot: St. Pius has a schedule that could put it in the Open Division conversation, depending on how they get through the slate. Newcomer David Mack from Fairfax and standout freshman Omari Cuffe will make the defending 3AA champions a team on the rise.

20. San Ramon Valley (26-8)

Head coach: Brian Botteen

Top players: Seamus Neely, F, Sr.; Luke Isaak, G, Jr.; Will Ambidge, F, Sr.

Follow shot: The Wolves have loads of depth and experience for Botteen, who led the team to a state Division I championship in his first season in 2015. San Ramon Valley also is blessed with great shooting. Neely will play at Cal after this season but not in basketball, but rugby.

21. St. Joseph-Santa Maria (28-7)

Head coach: Tom Mott

Top players: Tounde Yessoufou, F, Jr., Julius Price, G, So.; Abdoul Bare, C, So.

Follow shot: Yessoufou led the Knights of the Central Section to a Northern California Open Division title last season by averaging 27.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.7 steals per game. The 6-6 standout is a load on the glass and the open court. Price set records with his pin-point 3-point shooting as a freshman. His younger brother Malcolm, a 6-foot freshman guard, should also make an impact.

Tounde Yessoufou, St. Joseph
Photo: Dennis Lee

22. Clovis West (30-4)

Head coach: Vance Walberg

Top players: Jackson Young, G, Jr.; Chris Baudreau, F, Jr.; D.J. Stickman, G, Jr.

Follow shot: Baudreau, a 6-9 standout, is a transfer from Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) and should fill the void left by sharpshooter Isaac Martinez. Add in one of the section's best all-around athletes, Fresno State-bound football player Marshel Sanders, and the Golden Eagles should improve on their 188-30 record since Walberg took over in 2016.

23. Heritage Christian (20-12)

Head coach: Paul Tait

Top players: Dillan Shaw, F, Jr.; Tae Simmons, F, Jr.; Roman Fisher, G, Jr.

Follow shot: The Warriors are young and talented. Tait is expected to have three freshman on roster, starring Josiah Nance, with Max Hackney and Djordan Hall.

24. West Ranch (29-3)

Head coach: Jeff Bryant III

Top players: James Evans, F, Sr. (UNLV); Darrell Morris, PG, Sr.; Bishop Brooks, G, Sr.

Follow shot: The Wildcats are coming off a historical season, earning an Open Division playoff berth last season. However, they lost Andrew Meadow (Boise State), Jazz Gardner (Nevada), Jaqari Miles (Montana State) and Isaiah Fields (Cal State LA). Tracy Bryden is a 6-foot-10 transfer from Faith Baptist that will have to adjust to a much higher level of play.

25. Clovis North (23-8)

Head coach: Tony Amundsen

Top players: Connor Amundsen, G., Sr.; Jordan Espinoza, G, Sr.; Loukas Jones, G, Sr.

Follow shot: The 2021 North California Division 1 champions might have repeated had not for a season-ending injury Connor Amundsen before the Broncos tipped off a game. With him and TRAC Player of the Year Espinoza shooting the ball with regularity, Clovis North should be an explosive offensive unit.

On the bubble: Crean Lutheran (23-8), Etiwanda (26-6), Granada (26-11), La Mirada (25-10), Lincoln-Stockton (25-5), Mission Bay (24-10), Modesto Christian (27-7), Montgomery-San Diego (25-7), Pacifica Christian (27-10), Rancho Cucamonga (23-8), Redondo Union (20-10), St. Augustine-San Diego (28-5), St. Bernard (23-7), Torrey Pines (18-12), Weston Ranch (19-11).

Christian Horry (left) and Trent Perry of Harvard-Westlake.

St. Augustine vs. Montgomery 2:25:23 - Justin Fine-2-25

Harvard-Westlake St. Joseph-Santa Maria CIF 2023 Open championship by Dennis Lee 3-11-23031120233162