40 players to watch in California (CIF) State Open Division boys basketball playoffs
The 2022 California (CIF) State boys basketball playoffs are underway and we're taking a closer look at the best players in each Division.
The Open Division features some of the top players in the country. Here's a closer look at the top 40 players competing in the Open Division state playoffs.
TOP 40 PLAYERS IN CIF STATE OPEN DIVISION PLAYOFFS
(The players are listed in alphabetical order by region.)
SOUTHERN REGION
Amari Bailey – Sierra Canyon – Senior shooting guard
Bailey won SBLive California's Player of the Season award last year. He's a UCLA signee and McDonald's All-American.
Tee Bartlett - Mater Dei - Freshman center
Bartlett is one of the top bigs in California high school basketball regardless of class.
Zack Davidson - Mater Dei - Junior small forward
Davidson received a scholarship offer from San Jose State last month.
Donovan Dent – Corona Centennial – Senior point guard
Dent scored 12 points in Corona Centennial's 68-48 Southern Section Open Division championship win over Harvard-Westlake. He's one of the favorites for SBLive's 2021-22 Player of the Year honor.
Jurian Dixon - St. Augustine - Junior small forward
Dixon scored 21 points to lead St. Augustine to an 81-76 San Diego Section Open Division championship win over San Ysidro.
Brady Dunlap - Harvard-Westlake - Junior small forward
Dunlap has put together an impressive junior season. He scored 10 fourth quarter points and finished with 17 in Harvard-Westlake's 63-60 Southern Section Open Division playoff win over Sierra Canyon.
Xavier Edmonds - Bishop Montgomery - Junior power forward
Edmonds has received scholarship offers from New Mexico and Portland State.
Isaiah Elohim - Sierra Canyon - Sophomore small forward
Elohim is arguably the top prospect nationally in the 2024 class. He's received scholarship offers from Kansas, UCLA and Oregon, among other programs.
Trentyn Flowers - Sierra Canyon - Sophomore small forward
Flowers transferred to Sierra Canyon halfway through the season and has just started playing with the Trailblazers. He's received scholarship offers from Alabama, Auburn and Florida.
Jacob Huggins - Harvard-Westlake - Junior power forward
Huggins recorded a double-double in a win over Grant earlier this season. He's received a scholarship offer from Yale.
Bronny James – Sierra Canyon – Junior combo guard
James has shown impressive improvement from his sophomore to junior year. His jump shot is more consistent and overall he's been one of the Trailblazers best players this season.
Landon Lewis - Harvard-Westlake - Senior center
Lewis scored 13 points in Harvard-Westlake's 67-45 Southern Section Open Division playoff win over Mater Dei. Two of his baskets came in the form of vicious slam dunks. Lewis is committed to Brown.
Luis Marin - St. Joseph (Santa Maria) - Junior shooting guard
Marin scored 19 points in St. Joseph's overtime Central Section Open Division championship defeat to Clovis West.
Aaron McBride - Corona Centennial - Junior power forward
McBride has had a fantastic junior year for the Huskies. He shoots 3's, plays well around the basket and is a strong defender.
Jared McCain – Corona Centennial – Junior shooting guard
McCain scored 20 points to lead Corona Centennial to their 68-48 Southern Section Open Division championship win over Harvard-Westlake last week.
Jack McCloskey - Mater Dei - Senior small forward
McCloskey had one of his best games in a Mater Dei uniform when the Monarchs lost a tight 60-53 game on the road to Sierra Canyon in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs. He scored 19 points in the defeat.
Jeremiah Nyarko - Sierra Canyon - Senior center
Nyarko has received scholarship offers from Cal Poly, New Mexico and San Jose State.
Shy Odom - Sierra Canyon - Sierra Canyon power forward
Odom is committed to Howard.
Trent Perry - Harvard-Westlake - Sophomore shooting guard
Perry hit two free throws with only seconds remaining to give Harvard-Westlake a 63-60 win over Sierra Canyon in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs two weeks ago. The sophomore has a bright future.
Kelcy Phipps – Bishop Montgomery – Junior shooting guard
Phipps scored 12 points to help Bishop Montgomery take down Crean Lutheran 62-59 in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs on Feb. 15.
Dre Roman – St. Joseph (Santa Maria) – Senior point guard
Roman scored his 1,000th point for St. Joseph on Feb. 21 in a 69-64 Open Division Central Section win over Clovis North.
Will Smith - Bishop Montgomery - Junior shooting guard
Smith scored 16 points to lead Bishop Montgomery to a 62-59 win over Crean Lutheran in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs on Feb. 15.
Cameron Thrower - Harvard-Westlake - Senior point guard
Thrower led Harvard-Westlake with 18 points in the Wolverines' 63-60 Southern Section Open Division playoff win over Sierra Canyon two weeks ago.
Devin Williams - Corona Centennial - Junior center
Williams' stock has risen exponentially this season. He's an explosive athlete who defends well for the Huskies. The junior received a scholarship offer from Texas Tech last month.
Kijani Wright - Sierra Canyon - Senior center
Wright is committed to USC and was named a McDonald's All-American this season.
Tounde Yessoufou - St. Joseph (Santa Maria) - Freshman small forward
Yessoufou scored 15 points and had 15 rebounds in St. Joseph's overtime Central Section Open Division championship defeat to Clovis West.
NORTHERN REGION
Cade Bennett - Campolindo - Senior shooting guard
Bennett scored 13 points in Campolindo's 51-50 North Coast Section Open Division championship win over De La Salle.
Alec Blair - De La Salle - Freshman shooting guard
Blair scored 21 points in De La Salle's 51-50 loss to Campolindo in the North Coast Section Open Division championship game.
Rashaud Bradley - Sheldon - Senior small forward
Bradley leads Sheldon in points per game (13.9), rebounds (7), steals (2.1) and blocks (.8).
Aidan Burke - Archbishop Mitty - Senior shooting guard
Burke averages 17.8 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game for Archbishop Mitty.
BJ Davis – Modesto Christian – Junior point guard
Davis averages 17 points per game for Modesto Christian.
Manasse Itete - Modesto Christian - Sophomore power forward
Itete leads Modesto Christian in rebounding averaging 7 per game.
Aidan Mahaney – Campolindo – Senior point guard
Mahaney scored 18 points to lift Campolindo past De La Salle 51-50 in the CIF North Coast Section Open Division boys championship game.
Isaac Martinez - Clovis West - Junior shooting guard
Martinez scored 18 second half points to lead Clovis West back from a 20 point deficit to beat St. Joseph 72-63 in overtime in the Central Section Open Division championship game.
Prince Oseya - Modesto Christian - Junior center
Oseya is one of the top bigs in California high school basketball. He's a talented rim protector.
Tyus Parrish-Tillman - Clovis West - Senior small forward
Parrish-Tillman scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Clovis West's 83-69 Central Section Open Division playoff win over San Joaquin Memorial.
Jamari Phillips – Modesto Christian – Sophomore shooting guard
Phillips scored a game-high 22 points to guide Modesto Christian over Sheldon 52-42 in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 boys basketball championship game at the Golden 1 Center last week.
Derek Sangster - Archbishop Mitty - Junior small forward
Sangster averages 16.2 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per game for Archbishop Mitty.
John Semany - De La Salle - Senior point guard
Semany was named a first team EBAL All-League Selection this week.
King-Njhsanni Wilhite - Archbishop Riordan - Junior point guard
Wilhite scored 29 points to lead Archbishop Riordan to a 69-51 victory over Archbishop Mitty in the CIF Central Coast Section Open Division boys basketball championship.
