Top boys basketball players to watch in CIF Southern Section semifinals (2/14/2024)
The CIF Southern Section boys basketball playoffs will continue Friday night when the semifinals in each division tip off.
It's also the final game of Open Division pool play.
Here's a quick look at every division and the top players still competing in the semifinals, and how they've performed so far this postseason.
OPEN
Eastvale Roosevelt already punched its ticket to the Open Division final despite one game left in Pool B against Mater Dei Friday night. However, there's is an unofficial semifinal in Pool A between St. John Bosco and Harvard-Westlake.
The winner will advance to the Open finals on Feb. 23 at Cal Baptist University.
The top players for St. John Bosco are No. 1-rated sophomore Brandon McCoy and four-star junior Elzie Harrington. McCoy is averaging 19 points per game this season and had 18 points and five rebounds in Tuesday's win over Corona Centennial.
St. John Bosco’s Brandon McCoy in the Classic at Damien.
Tarek Fattal/SBLive
Harvard-Westlake is led by McDonald's All-American Trent Perry and Nik Khamenia. Perry notched a triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in Tuesday's win over Sierra Canyon.
Khamenia, a highly-touted junior, had 12 points and eight rebounds.
DIVISION 1
Redondo Union at Notre Dame: Notre Dame is led by Houston commit Mercy Miller, who's averaging 30 points per game through three games this post season, including 31 points in Tuesday's quarterfinal win over Santa Margarita. Junior Lino Mark and sophomore Zach White are also high-major college recruits.
Redondo Union is led by standout sophomore SJ Madison and senior Devin Ringer. Freshman Chris Sanders is also a big-time player.
Windward at Damien: Windward's Gavin Hightower hit a game-winner in double overtime against Los Alamitos Tuesday night. He notched a triple-double in the win with 12 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds.
Windward's Gavin Hightower
Tarek Fattal/SBLive
Damien is led by senior guard Xavier Clinton and 7-footer Nate Garcia. Clinton is averaging 25 points per game this postseason.
DIVISION 2AA
St. Anthony at Heritage Christian: Heritage Christian is led by two standout juniors in Tae Simmons and Dillan Shaw. Simmons had 30 points in the team's quarterfinal win over Fountain Valley.
St. Anthony's Quincy Phillips had 20 points in the Saints big win over Campbell Hall.
Rolling Hills Prep at Thousand Oaks: Rolling Hills Prep's most consistent top performers all year long have been junior guard Mateo Trujillo and freshman center Nick Welch Jr.
Thousand Oaks' is led by senior Elias Chin and junior big man Trent MacLean, son of former UCLA star Don MacLean.
DIVISION 2A
San Gabriel Academy at Marina: Senior guard Sam Kossi and freshman center Mahamadou Diop are ones to watch for SGA. Diop is 6-foot-10.
Corona del Mar at Long Beach Poly: Poly junior Jovani Ruff will be the best player on the floor in this matchup. Ruff has offers to UCLA, Kansas and Arizona State.
Long Beach Poly’s Jovani Ruff against Lawndale on Nov. 28, 2023.
Tarek Fattal/SBLive
DIVISION 3AA
St. Bonaventure at Gardena Serra: St. Bonny's Dylan Benner is averaging 18 points and nine rebounds per game. Serra's Maximo Adams and Kayleb Kearse lead a dangerous sophomore tandem. Adams has offers to Kansas and Kansas State.
Hesperia at La Habra: La Habra junior guard Grayson Sinek scored 21 points in the team's quarterfinal win Tuesday night. Brothers Antony and Nolan Newman-Gomez lead Hesperia.
DIVISION 3A
Woodbridge at Alemany: The Warriors of Alemany are led by big man Bourgeois Tshilobo and guard Michael Lindsay.
Santa Barbara at Bosco Tech: Junior Jaden Erami is averaging 22 points per game for Bosco Tech. Santa Barbara's Luke Zuffelato is pouring in 26 points per game.
DIVISION 4AA
Price at Yeshiva: Kam Fontenot notched a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds in Price's quarterfinal win. Junior Alex Gabbay is averaging 21.6 points per game for Yeshiva.
Diamond Ranch at Cerritos: Cerritos' Shay Pema is averaging 14 points per game.
DIVISION 4A
Northview at Hillcrest/Thousand Oaks: Northview is senior-heavy led by Sam Osi, who's averaging 14 points per game. Carter Reid notched 26 points and 10 rebounds in HCS' quarterfinal win.
Estancia at Temecula Valley: Temecula Valley's top player is freshman standout Jeremiah Profit. Profit scored 36 points in TV's win over Long Beach Cabrillo last round.
DIVISION 5AA
Buckley at El Segundo: Senior Gavin McKinnon and junior Darreson Naruse lead El Segundo. Finn White is the top player for Buckley, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Dunn at Castaic: Senior Tashaun Barron is the defensive enforcer for Castaic - the last team standing in the Foothill League. Dunn is led by the Dutch brothers - Seal and Latif Diouf. Latif is headed to Tennessee Chatanooga.
DIVISION 5A
Ontario at Firebaugh: Hard to miss the Gilpen trio: Freshman Geovanni Gilpen, sophomore Geordan Gilpen and senior Teiahjio Gilpen on Firebaugh.
Notre Dame/Riverside at Big Bear: Big Bear's Aidan Brewer (17ppg) and Ryan Dolan (13ppg) are standout juniors.
