California's top high school boys basketball players: Meet the state's best power forwards
The most dominant and talented power forwards throughout California high school boys basketball are hitting their strides as teams across the state look to lock up postseason berths in the coming weeks. From St. John Bosco's Kade Bonam to Serra San Mateo's Garret Keyhani, California is loaded with talented power forwards.
The main criteria for SBLive’s top power forwards are 2021-22 statistics, film review, discussions with coaches and college interest. The list was compiled by SBLive reporter Connor Morrissette.
We will continue to release lists of the top players in California at every position in the coming weeks. Since there is so much crossover between centers, power forwards and small forwards, our power forward list is made up of players over 6-foot-6 who don't predominantly play center for their teams. Of course, there are some players at 6-foot-6 or taller who play small forward or shooting guard and those players will be listed at their natural positions in the future.
TOP POWER FORWARDS IN CALIFORNIA BOYS BASKETBALL
(Players are listed in alphabetical order)
Jacob Bannarbie - Valley Christian - Junior
Bannarbie has received a handful of Division 1 offers. He's been nominated for multiple Northern California Athlete of the Week honors so far this season in year one at Valley Christian. He was formerly at Torrey Pines.
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Jordan Bobo - Sacramento Grant - Junior
Bobo has been a consistent double-double (points and rebounds) playmaker this season for Grant. In a November win over Archbishop Riordan, Bobo scored 11 points and snagged 10 rebounds.
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Aaron Bliss - Ponderosa - Senior
Ponderosa is 21-0 and Bliss has played a huge role. The senior scored 11 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had seven blocks and four assists in Ponderosa's 74-50 Foothill Valley League win over Placer on Jan. 20.
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Kade Bonam - St. John Bosco - Freshman
Bonam has started multiple St. John Bosco games as a freshman. He scored 14 points to help give the Braves a key 59-54 Trinity League win over JSerra last week.
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Mike Davis - San Joaquin Memorial - Junior
At the Classic at Damien, San Joaquin Memorial fell to Long Beach Poly 64-63, but Davis scored 18 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the defeat.
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Noah Deitch - Marin Catholic - Senior
Deitch is a senior captain and consistent double digit scorer for 15-6 Marin Catholic this season.
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Kyle Evans - Santa Margarita - Senior
Evans scored 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a Santa Margarita victory over JSerra earlier this year. The Eagles are 17-1 this season.
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John Flannigan - De La Salle - Senior
Flannigan is one of the best bigs in Northern California. He scored a game-high 16 points in De La Salle's 65-54 victory over Capital Christian on Jan. 17.
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Martin Flores - San Ysidro - Senior
Flores is a terrific scorer. He put in 26 points in a victory over Montgomery earlier this season and 25 in a defeat to Nevada Coronado.
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Asher Gardiner - San Clemente - Senior
Gardiner scored a team high 15 points in a 60-58 South Coast League win over Capistrano Valley on Jan. 19. He scored 20 points with eight rebounds in the Tritons’ 69-43 win over Portola in December.
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Jacob Huggins - Harvard-Westlake - Junior
Huggins score and rebounds very well. He put in 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a loss to Mountain Pointe in December.
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Denzel Hines - Colony - Junior
Hines scored 12 points in a 53-52 loss to Etiwanda in the State Preview Classic. He's a very good athlete.
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Manasse Itete - Modesto Christian - Sophomore
Cal-Hi sports ranks Itete as the No. 22 California High School boys basketball player in the 2024 class.
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Cole Jacobs - West Torrance - Junior
Jacobs scored 10 points and had 10 rebounds in a 47-42 win over South earlier this month. He followed that game with a 20-point, nine-rebound, seven-block stat line in a 68-49 win over Torrance. Jacobs also had 10 points and nine rebounds in a loss to St. Paul on Jan. 17.
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Koat Keat - Crean Lutheran - Senior
Keat, a UC Santa Barbara signee, is arguably the top player on this list. He's a strong ball-handler who can play multiple positions, but mainly plays power forward. He moved to the US from Uganda in 2019.
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Garret Keyhani - Serra San Mateo - Senior
Keyhani is another one of Northern California's top players. He scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in an overtime loss to Archbishop Riordan last week.
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Dajon Lott - Elk Grove - Senior
Lott blocks multiple shots per game for 16-4 Elk Grove and he can also score. The senior put in 27 points in a win over Gregori earlier this year.
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Jac Mani - Beverly Hills - Senior
Mani is committed to UC Davis. He scored 19 points in a win over Palisades earlier this season.
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Kenny Manzi - Rolling Hills Prep - Junior
Manzi is averaging 13 points per game for Rolling Hills Prep in addition to leading the team in rebounds. He helped the Huskies win a Division 2AA Southern Section championship as a sophomore last year.
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Aaron McBride - Corona Centennial - Junior
McBride starts for a loaded Corona Centennial team. He's a solid scorer and terrific rebounder who also plays great defense. He scored 19 points in Corona Centennial's 70-57 win over Crean Lutheran at the State Preview Classic.
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Shy Odom - Sierra Canyon - Sierra Canyon
Odom is committed to Howard. He scored 20 points in a win over Paraclete earlier this year.
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Elijah Price - St. Anthony - Senior
Price has a couple of Big West scholarship offers. He scored a game high 22 points in a 60-59 St. Anthony win over Capistrano Valley Christian at the State Preview Classic.
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Rockwell Reynolds - Santa Margarita - Junior
Reynolds drained a game tying three point shot that led to a win over St. John Bosco earlier this season. He also scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a 69-59 victory over Servite on Jan. 17.
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Tae Simmons - Heritage Christian - Freshman
Simmons has a lot of potential as a rim protector low post scorer for Heritage Christian. He's a 6-foot-6 freshman who can already throw down impressive dunks. Simmons scored 11 points in a 55-54 loss to Village Christian last week.
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Isaiah Sherrard - Oak Park - Junior
Sherrard shoots threes like a shooting guard and rebounds like a power forward. He scored 31 points in a win over St. Bonaventure on Jan. 14. Expect the junior to sign with a Pac-12 school in his senior year.
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Joaquin Strong - Villa Park - Senior
Strong is a UC Davis signee.
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David Vidor - St. Joseph - Senior
Vidor can score at all three levels. He was named to the Las Vegas Prep Championship All-Tournament team in December.
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Quinton Webb - Etiwanda - Senior
Webb is a New Mexico signee and one of the top basketball players in the state. He's an exceptional athlete who's also developed a consistent jump shot. Expect him to excel in the Mountain West.
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Justin White - Mission Hills - Senior
Few players on this list are producing at White's level this season. He's averaging 18 points and seven rebounds per game.
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Anthony Williams - Inderkum - Senior
Williams has been a big factor for 16-1 Inderkum in his senior year. He scored ten points and grabbed eight rebounds in a win over Oakland Tech on Dec. 29.
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Nygle Williams - Woodbridge - Senior
Williams consistently finishes games with double digit point and rebound totals. He scored 15 points in a loss to Capistrano Valley earlier this season.
