Top 50 Southern California high school boys basketball teams countdown: Nos. 10-6
With the 2019-20 high school basketball season tipping off this week, Scorebook Live California is previewing the Top 50 boys basketball teams in Southern California. Our Top 50 list spans the Southern, L.A. City and San Diego Sections.
Here are numbers 10 to six in our team rankings.
- More preseason rankings: California Top 25 | SoCal Top 25 | San Diego Top 20
- SoCal Top 50 Preview: Nos. 50-46 | Nos. 45-41 | Nos. 40-36 | Nos. 35-31 | Nos. 30-26 | Nos. 25-21 | Nos. 20-16 | Nos. 15-11
10. Damien Spartans | 2019-20 schedule
Head coach: Mike LeDuc
Last year’s record: 25-6
Division: Southern Section Division 1
Top player: Malik Thomas
Outlook: Damien has three great guards in senior Austin Cook, junior Malik Thomas and sophomore RJ Smith. Damien's on the Open Division-Division 1 bubble in the Southern Section. If the Spartans can get consistent post play, they'll have a shot to make the Open Division.
Smith
9. Mayfair Monsoons | 2019-20 schedule
Head coach: Tony Davis
Last year’s record: 26-7
Division: Southern Section Division 1
Top player: Joshua Christopher
Outlook: Senior shooting guard Joshua Christopher is rated as the eleventh best 2020 recruit in the nation, per 247Sports.com. Sophomore guard Dior Johnson is one of the top players in his class as well; he transferred in after his old school cut basketball. In terms of star power and hype, Mayfair has the best backcourt duo in Southern California. Christopher and Johnson haven't played too much together and Johnson still hasn't been ruled eligible by the Southern Section yet, but when these two really get rolling they'll put on a show every night.
Senior guard Amir Kirkwood will be another contributor as well. Similarly to Damien, what Mayfair gets on the interior this season will determine their ceiling.
8. Fairfax Lions | 2019-20 schedule
Head coach: Reggie Morris Jr.
Last year’s record: 27-2
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Division: LA City Section Division 1
Top player: Keith Dinwiddie
Outlook: Like the two teams above, Fairfax is a guard dominated team. Senior shooting guard Keith Dinwiddie is committed to San Diego State. Senior point guard Justyn Hunter is one of the most underrated players at his position in the region. He'll have a breakout season. Senior guard Justin Gladney and junior guard Barry Wilds Jr. are solid too.
Hunter
Sophomore forward Verrell Joseph will be the Lions' x-factor in 2019-2020. The Lions need him for interior scoring and rebounding. He showed this offseason that he is a strong defender.
7. St. John Bosco Braves | 2019-20 schedule
Head coach: Matt Dunn
Last year’s record: 22-10
Division: Southern Section Division 1
Top player: TBD
Outlook: St. John Bosco doesn’t have a standout player that teams will specifically look to stop like a few of the teams above. Instead, the Braves have strong depth and a roster filled with reliable players who know their roles and execute them well. Senior forward Wynton Brown signed with Northern Arizona Wednesday and senior center Isaiah Holm signed with Chico State. Senior Josh Camper is another point guard who doesn't get the respect he deserves. Junior forward Lamaj Lewis may end up being the best player of the group. Bosco has size and they're a team that no one will want to play.
Brown
6. Harvard-Westlake | 2019-20 schedule
Head coach: David Rebibo
Last year’s record: 21-9
Division: Southern Section Division 1
Top player: Mason Hooks
Outlook: Yes, Harvard-Westlake lost Johnny Juzang to Kentucky, but they will still be very good in 2019-2020. Last season's team had a few players getting major minutes at the varsity level for the first time. With that year of experience under their belt, senior forwards Holden McRae and Brase Dottin as well as senior guard Spencer Hubbard and junior big Trumann Gettings will all hit the ground running when the regular season begins. Add them in with Princeton commit and center Mason Hooks and you get one of the top starting fives in the region.
Gettings
Similarly to St. John Bosco, Harvard-Westlake may not have a true star (like they did last year with Juzang), but they're a well-coached group other teams will fear. Expect the Wolverines to win another Mission League title this year.
