SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: FINAL Boys Basketball Rankings for 2022-23 Season
La Mirada, Damien and San Gabriel Academy headline a talented group of teams this year.
Julien Gomez, La Mirada
1. La Mirada (25-10): It's been quite a run for those involved with La Mirada basketball. For the second consecutive year in a row, the Matadores made a sectional final only to come up short. While that might leave a bitter taste in the mouth, just making back-to-back finals is a fantastic achievement. Julien Gomez was sensational all year long and saw his stock rise with each game that La Mirada won. However, when you start taking a peek into the future, this is a team that might be in transition. Sean Cervantes, one of the top guards in the area, is a senior and won't be around in 2023-24 along with three-point specialist Athan Sierra. The great part is that Gomez can start grooming another guard or forward over the summer so that they will be ready to go next season. He'll need to because it's easy to project this team to Division 1 next season.
Nate Garcia, Damien (Damien Basketball)
2. Damien (26-5): It can be argued, with a great amount of evidence, that this was one of the best coaching jobs that Mike LeDuc and his staff did this year with this squad. Many thought that the Spartans would take a step back with the loss of Jimmy Oladukun to Sierra Canyon. Instead of feeling sorry for themselves, they went to work and produced one of the best low-post players in the area in Nate Garcia. The sophomore scored 21 points per game (PPG) and had a remarkable field goal percentage of 68%. Throw in Xavier Clinton, a talented junior along with the freshman duo of Elijah Smith and Eli Garner, and you can see why this team can easily be slotted as the top team before the start of the season. For those that thought they were in the wrong division for The Classic at Damien Tournament, if you would have seen them at the California High School tournament in December, you would have agreed that they were in the right division. Also, keep in mind that they were pushed hard by Bosco Tech. Let's call the Spartans a team with a huge upside in 2023-24.
(Escarcega)
3. San Gabriel Academy (20-15): What a year for the coach Kevin McCloskey and the Eagles. They were awarded a wild card bid and made the most of it by winning a CIF Southern Section title in Division 3A. We had this team slotted third in our preseason rankings, so in many aspects, they reached the potential that we saw in them before the season began. Injuries beset this team throughout the season, which made them dangerous once everyone was healthy by the end of the regular season. Ethan McCloskey was a coach on the court and Jayden Mojica was as good a guard as we've seen in the area all season long. Those inside the program are very excited about the future of the program, so this might not be the last time that we see SGA in an area top-10. One of the best stories of 2023.
Jackson Mosley, St. Francis (Escarcega)
4. St. Francis (20-11): We can use various factors as to why we have the Golden Knights this high – but one factor that can't be disputed, they played in the toughest league in the United States and made it to the league tournament semifinals where they lost a team called Harvard Westlake – and the last I check, I believe they won a state championship in the Open Division. There was not a player that was more fun to watch than guard Jackson Mosley. He may not have been the biggest player on the court, but you would be hard-pressed to find some that played as hard as he did. He represented everything that coach Todd Wolfson is all about. The future looks bright for this program as 6-foot 6-inch junior Kennedy Mitchell-Egbo, Masi Mosley Ethan Childs, Aaron Matthews, and Greg Gazarian make up a nice nucleus that will be returning for the 2023-24 season. It would be very unwise to be sleeping on "Wolfson's Warriors:" in 2023-24.
Maurice Wright Jr., St. Paul (Escarcega)
5. St. Paul (19-12): Another team that was beset by injuries and played in a league that had several Open Division teams. That didn't stop them from making the quarterfinals in Division 1. Maurice Wright Jr established him as one of the top guards in the area. He will be greatly missed in 2023-24. However, this team has all the ingredients to make another deep playoff run in 2023-24. Babacar Gadiaga is a rim protector that you don't normally see in the area. He is a legitimate low-post threat. Tong Mawein, another rim protector at 6-7, was sensational in their win over Los Alamitos in the playoffs. Maciel Osami is one of the top sophomore guards in the area and will only get better with more experience on the court. Kamron Fontenot is a 6-foot-6-inch center that can score and grab rebounds with ease. St. Paul fans should be very excited about next season. We didn't have them in our preseason rankings this season, that won't be the case in 2023-24.
Xavier Ortiz, La Serna (Escarcega)
6. La Serna (27-7): Coach Marino Angulo has more than earned the right the considered one of the premier coaches in the Whittier area. He knows how to work his magic to make his team a formidable foe in Del Rio League play and in the playoffs. I have to confess, I didn't see a deep playoff run for this team – just for the fact that they were small, compared to some of the teams in their division. That didn't stop them from making a sectional finals appearance. The best thing for Lancer fans is that guard Gabriel Lewis returns next year. This means he'll get another offseason with Angulo, which should help his game out. This was a senior-heavy squad, which means some work will have to be done before they can even think about making another run at a Del Rio League title. However, you will not find a classier coach or group of parents.
Malik Khouzam, Walnut (Escarcega)
7. Walnut (28-3): Words can't be expressed how awesome it was to see the Mustangs perform under the guidance of Joe Khouzam, who had his own set of personal setbacks that had to overcome. He is a true stud in every sense of the word. His son Malik more than earned the right to be called the league's Most Valuable Player. I believe he clinched the award on the night that the Mustangs defeated Diamond Bar at home which propelled them to share the league crown with the Brahams. His performance will be talked about for decades. And you can make a case for Joby Barnes being the best shooting guard in the area. He was that special. Next year could be a bit dicey as this squad was extraordinarily senior-heavy. We'll talk about 2023-24 after the summer. For now, Mustang fans can sit back and cherish a season that was chock full of memories that filled the cup of fans to the brim.
Yoda Oke, Sonora (Sonora Athletics)
8. Sonora (26-5): You can also count on a Mike Murphy-coached team to record 20 wins on the season and capture a Freeway League title. "Yoda" Oke is one the best low-lost players you probably have never heard of. He was sensational all season long. Not only could he score in the low post, but he could also stroke it from behind the three-point arc. Troy Jenkins is one of the reasons why Raiders fans are excited about next season. The junior is one of the better perimeter shooters in North Orange County. Look for Michael Shimizu to also make a huge impact in 2023-24. They are the early favorites to win the Freeway League next year… but it won't be easy.
Malcolm Bell, Diamond Bar (Diamond Bar Athletics)
9. Diamond Bar (24-6): Another east SGV region team that was fun to watch throughout the season. When fully healthy, there was no more exciting player than forward Malcolm Bell. The way that he control of the game when the Brahmas defeated Walnut in their first matchup, was the stuff that legends are made of. He was not fully healthy for the second part of the season, which can explain why he was a bit quiet in their rematch. But make no mistake about it, Bell will have a very good collegiate career. The great news for Diamond Bar fans is that many of the players that played a huge role in 2023 will be back next year. They include Ethan Alfonso and Max Gao. Some pieces will have to be replaced, but coach Henry Frierson will have his team ready and poised to win another elusive Hacienda League title.
Ryan Osborne, Bosco Tech (Escarcega)
10. Bosco Tech (27-7): They were dancing in the streets in Rosemead all season long. The list of teams that the Tigers beat is pretty impressive: Norco, Cathedral, Lynwood, and North Torrance. They were more than competitive in losses to Bishop Amat, Damien and Leuzinger and Arcadia. The job that Michael Romo has put in was nothing more than awe-inspiring. The great news is that guards Jaden Erami and Ryan Osborne (who were remarkable all season long) return for another season in 2023. The Tigers will most likely move up a division, but if they play as they did in 2023, there is no reason why they can't win another sectional title. Lots to be excited about in 2024.
The Next Ten
11. Maranatha (17-13)
12. Blair (24-11)
13. La Habra (20-8)
14. Bonita (19-14)
15. San Dimas (25-7)
16. Pasadena (19-9)
17. La Canada (21-9)
18. Schurr (21-8)
19. Glendora (21-8)
20. South Pasadena (19-10)
Note: This author saw 19 of the 20 teams on this list live in 2022-23 season. The only team that was missed was Blair HS.