SGV/WHITTIER PREP SPORTS ZONE BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS
Damien, St. Francis and Los Altos retain the top-3 spots, St. Paul and San Marino move into the top-5.
Here are the final SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone regular-season boys basketball rankings for the San Gabriel Valley, and Whittier area.
MaxPreps.com computer ratings
Damien 33.2
St. Francis 28.4
Los Altos 24
St. Paul 19.1
Walnut 18.1
San Marino 17.2
La Canada 15.5
Sonora 15.2
South Pasadena 15.2
Maranatha
Now for our rankings.
Jimmy Oladokun in action against Etiwanda last week. (Photo: Damien Athletics)
1. Damien (25-2, Baseline, Open Div.)
Previous: 1
What a tremendous coaching job turned in my Mike LeDuc and his staff. Finished the season strongly winning 10 out of their last 11 games. Jimmy Oladokun has come a monster in the low post and Spivey Word has been the major revelation for me this year. He comes up with the big shots when the team needs them. Add in R.J. Smith and Kaleb Smith and what you have is a team with a legitimate shot to win the Open Division title.
Jake Goldberg has played a huge role for St. Francis this season. (Escarcega)
2. St. Francis (23-5. Mission, Div.1)
Previous: 2
On the wall in the gym at St. Francis High School is the phrase “Team First,” which best describes the culture within the Golden Knights program. They have bought into coach Todd Wolfson’s mantra and are a legit top-4 seed in the Div. 1 playoffs. Buckley DeJardin has become the scoring force and Jake Goldberg is a legitimate x-factor. Jackson Mosley might be my favorite player, not a big player but he’ll roll up his sleeves and get the job done.
C.J. Bellamy is a player that must watched closely for Los Altos fans in the playoffs. (Photo: Los Altos HS Basketball)
3. Los Altos (21-5, Hacienda, Div. 2A)
Previous: 3
Los Altos is starting to get into that “dynasty” conversation after winning its 50th consecutive Hacienda League basketball game and their seventh straight league title. Jazz Gardner has more than filled up the cup of area basketball fans to the brim and C.J. Bellamy is starting to get hot at the right time of year. John Corina is the x-factor for this team and Aaron Hernandez is another player that opponents must account for. STOCK UP!
Allen Moser has turned in another superb season for first-year coach Patrick Roy. (Photo: St. Paul HS Athletics)
4. St. Paul (20-5, Camino Real, Div. 2AA)
Previous: 5
Tremendous job turned in by first-year coach Patrick Roy in getting the Swordsmen in position for a possible deep playoff run. What must make Roy happy are the players that he was counting on to contribute have responded in a big factor. This is one of the more athletic St. Paul teams I’ve seen in more than a few years and I can assure you, no one wants to see this team in the playoffs.
San Marino’s Michael Azinge will be a player to follow for San Marino in the playoffs. (Photo: HUDL.com)
5. San Marino (20-3, Rio Hondo, Div. 4AA)
Previous: 6
Can’t say enough about the job that Mihail Papadopulos has turned in with the Titans this year. They worked their tails off to get to a 20-win mark and are one of the huge favorites to play on championship weekend in a couple of weeks. Adrian Huang has become the teams’ “Timex” player “Takes a licking and keeps on ticking.” Michael Azinge is a player that will be hard for opponents to match up against because of his athleticism. If you are not on the bandwagon, get on NOW!!!
Tom Hofman will lead an underrated La Canada team into the CIF-SS Div. 3A playoffs. (Photo: La Canada HS)
6. La Canada (19-7, Rio Hondo, Div. 3A)
Previous: 8
Tom Hofman never wavered in his support of his team and the players have responded with a big-league season which culminated on Saturday with a win over San Marino in the Rio Hondo League finale. Now comes the playoffs and it’ll be interesting to see what matchups will be like when the brackets are realized. Brady Ransom plays with a chip on his shoulder, David Garland might be the best low-post player you’ve probably haven’t heard about and if Ty Reynolds starts getting hot from behind the 3-point arc, look out!
Evan Tardiff is among a trio of players that will make Sonora dangerous in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs. (Photo: Sonora HS Athletics)
7. Sonora (18-7, Freeway, Div. 2AA)
Previous: 10
Mike Murphy has done it again! One of the most underrated coaches in Orange County has led the Raiders to a Freeway League and salty look at a sectional title. Nothing like a 9-game winning streak to gain some valuable momentum into the playoffs. Garrett Icenhower, Evan Tardiff, and Samuel Esparza headline an outstanding group of players. STOCK UP!!!
Glendora’s Luke Jacobson has shown marked improvement for the Tartans this season. (Escarcega)
8. Glendora (17-9, Palomares, Div. 2A)
Previous: 7
Must be honest, I don’t know what to make of this team. They crushed Ayala by 14 points several weeks ago and then they get defeated by them on the road last week? What makes this more perplexing is that the Tartans are in the same division as Los Altos, and I can easily see the CIF-SS matching those teams in an early roundup tilt. Everyone knows about Noah Smith and Luke Jacobson – but can Braydon Wooldridge become that “x-factor” that this team for it to become a legitimate playoff threat? Stay tuned!
South Pasadena’s Sage Wayans has been a major force for the Tigers this season. (Photo: Sebastian Moore)
9. South Pasadena (18-8, Rio Hondo, Div. 3A)
Previous: 4
It took a super-human effort from San Marino to push past this team and force them to share the league title with the Titans and La Canada. How does that translate for the playoffs? I think very well. If Sage Wayans can continue to play like the way he has the last two weeks, and if Dillon Akers can continue to show the hot hand from the field, this is a team that can make a big run. Jonathan Guy is developing into that “x-factor” player that teams need to have in the playoffs.
Walnut’s Malik Khouzam has lived up to the billing as one of the top underclass players in the area. (Photo: MaxPreps.com)
10. Walnut (19-8, Hacienda, Div. 3AA)
Previous: 9
This was a tough call because you could insert Diamond Bar, San Dimas, Bishop Amat, and a handful of other teams in here and you wouldn’t have any disagreement. At the end of the day, it’s the resume that keeps this team in the rankings. It took a super-human effort from Malcolm Bell to get Diamond Bar past the Mustangs last Friday night. But I think this team will be a dark horse for the playoffs because many will look at their record and dismiss them. Malik Khouzam will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.
Others: San Dimas, Bishop Amat, La Salle, Alhambra, Muir