SBLive's 2022-23 California preseason Top 25 high school boys basketball rankings

The high school basketball season in California tips off in November. In the CIF Southern Section, games can begin on November 14th. 

Here are SBLive's preseason statewide boys high school basketball rankings. Corona Centennial, last year's Open Division state champion, begins the season at No. 1. Rankings will be released every Monday after the season starts. 

1. Corona Centennial (33-1 last season)

Head coach: Josh Giles

Season opener: Nov. 18 at No. 8 San Ysidro

The Huskies, ranked No. 10 nationally in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25, bring back three All-State players in senior Duke commit Jared McCain, senior UCLA commit Devin Williams and senior big man Aaron McBride. Corona Centennial has won the last two Southern Section Open Division championships. Heading into the season, they’re the team to beat. 

2. Harvard-Westlake-Studio City (25-4)

Head coach: David Rebibo

Season opener: Nov. 14 vs. TBD at St. Monica - Westside Tip Off Classic

On paper, this is the best team David Rebibo's ever had at Harvard-Westlake. All-State senior Notre Dame commit Brady Dunlap returns after averaging 17 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game a year ago. Beyond Dunlap, the Wolverines have impressive depth. Junior guard Trent Perry, junior guard Robert Hinton, sophomore wing Nikolas Khamenia and senior forward Jacob Huggins all return after playing significant minutes a year ago. Harvard-Westlake is ranked No. 12 nationally in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated preseason Power 25.

3. Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth (26-5)

Head coach: Andre Chevalier

Season opener: Nov. 16 vs. King/Drew

The Trailblazers are ranked No. 15 nationally in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated preseason Power 25. The team is deep, but has a lot of new faces. Senior guards Bronny James and Dylan Metoyer return along with junior small forward Isaiah Elohim. Elohim isn't 100% healthy to begin the season. He's potentially the team's best player so his injury status will be something to monitor. Transfers Osiris Nalls Jr., Jimmy Oladokun, Ashton Hardaway, Noah Williams and Bryce Cofield are all talented players, but how long will it take this team to gel? Mission League games against No. 2 Harvard-Westlake and No. 4 Notre Dame will be epic encounters this season.

4. Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks (21-8)

Head coach: Matt Sargeant

Season opener: Nov. 14 vs. Saugus

All-State wing Dusty Stromer, a Gonzaga commit, is back for Notre Dame. The Knights have added two impact transfers as well in senior point guard Caleb Foster (Duke) and junior shooting guard Mercy Miller (Houston). Pair that trio with senior forward Dante Ogbu and junior forward Jayden Harper and it adds up to one of the best starting fives in the country. Notre Dame is ranked No. 17 nationally in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated preseason Power 25.

5. Modesto Christian (30-6)

Head coach: Brice Fantazia

Season opener: Nov. 26 vs. No. 4 Notre Dame

Coming off a Northern California Open Division title, the Crusaders return one of the nation’s top junior guards in Jamari Phillips, who averaged 23.0 points per game as a sophomore. He has 15 college offers and is ranked the No. 6 shooting guard in the country by 247Sports. The Crusaders have much more in San Diego State-bound guard BJ Davis (17.0 ppg) and two other college-bound players in 6-10 Prince Oseya, Darius Smith and 6-6 Manasse Itete (10.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg). Modesto Christian gave Centennial all it could handle in the state Open title game lost season, before losing, 59-50.

6. Bishop Montgomery-Torrance (21-4)

Head coach: Doug Mitchell

Season opener: Nov. 28 at Orange Lutheran

Big man Xavier Edmonds and guard Kelcy Phipps are back for the Knights. Head coach Doug Mitchell won his 750th career game a year ago. His teams are routinely among the state's best. 

7. Mater Dei-Santa Ana (26-5)

Head coach: Gary McKnight

Season opener: Nov. 18 at Dos Pueblos

The Monarchs are young, but very good. Senior forward Zack Davidson will lead a talented group of underclassmen. Expect sophomore guard Owen Verna and junior guard Brady Karich to have big seasons for the reigning Trinity League champions. Also remember the names of freshmen Che Brogan, Brannen Martinsen and Luke Barnett. 

8. San Ysidro-San Diego (26-5)

Head coach: Terry Tucker

Season opener: Nov. 18 vs. No. 1 Corona Centennial

The Cougars graduated their top five scorers from last season’s team including All-CIF selections Martin Flores and Sebastian Medina. Five-star guard Mikey Williams returns to San Ysidro for his senior season after two years away in North Carolina. Also transferring in are seniors JJ Taylor, a top-100 player in the class of 2023, and point guard Angelo Gil, who played his first three seasons at Mission Bay. Freshman Ty Ingram, San Diego’s top player in the class of 2026, will also make an impact for the Cougars. San Ysidro has loaded up their schedule with games against No. 1 Corona Centennial, No. 4 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Bishop Gorman (Nevada) throughout the season.

9. West Ranch-Valencia (21-8)

Head coach: Jeff Bryant

Season opener: Nov. 16 vs. Palisades

West Ranch should make the Open Division playoffs in the Southern Section this season. Seven-foot senior Jazz Gardner has transferred in from Los Altos along with junior sharpshooter Darrel Morris from Crean Lutheran. They join senior forward Andrew Meadow, a Boise State commit, junior forward James Evans and senior guard Jaqari Miles to make up an elite starting five. 

10. Rancho Christian-Temecula (26-5)

Head coach: Ray Barefield

Season opener: Nov. 18 vs. Great Oak

This will be Rancho Christian's best team since Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley played for the Eagles. Martin Gumwel (Pepperdine), Rodney Brown (national recruit), Bailey Chambers and transfers Kollen Murphy, Kevin Patton and Titus Davis make up a formidable squad. 

11. Clovis West (31-2)

Head coach: Vance Walberg

Season opener: Dec. 13 vs. Independence

The Golden Eagles lost only one player off last year’s team due to graduation after rolling to a Central Section Open Division championship. After a 63-55 win over Sheldon-Sacramento, they took Modesto Christian to the wall, before losing 48-44 in the NorCal quarterfinals. Among the top returners are Isaac Martinez, Marshel Sanders — also a top football recruit — and Jackson Young, a 6-1 junior guard.

12. Rancho Verde-Moreno Valley (22-8)

Head coach: Johnny Dukes

Season opener: Nov. 18 at Hillcrest

Senior center Jacob McFarland is committed to the University of Houston. He's a team captain along with junior point guard Jermaine Washington Jr. and senior guard Anthony Smith Jr. Expect the Mustangs to be much improved from a year ago when they won 22 games. This team will be tough to beat.  

13. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (23-6)

Head coach: Tim Kennedy

Season opener: Nov. 26 vs. Clovis North at NorCal Tip-off Classic at Dublin HS

Led by first-team All-WCAL standout, Princeton-bound guard Derek Sangster, Kennedy lost just two seniors off last year’s league champion. Impeccably coached, strong defended, the Monarchs are always in the thick of the Northern California scene. They also return all-WCAL performers Jaiden Paran and Tyler Jones. 

14. Granada-Livermore (17-9)

Head coach: Quaran Johnson

Season opener: Nov. 26 vs. Vanden at the NorCal Tip-off Classic at Dublin HS

Johnson has helped turn the Matadors into a Bay Area power. With the addition of former Salesian-Richmond standout Tyler Harris, a 6-7 wing and three-star recruit, to join 7-foot center Andrew McKeever, a strong set of guards and 6-5 all-EBAL small forward Jonathan Mitchell, the Matadors will be a force. McKeever is committed to St. Mary’s College.

15. St. John Bosco-Bellflower (22-10)

Head coach: Matt Dunn

Season opener: Nov. 15 at Long Beach Jordan

Could the Braves win the Trinity League this season? It's possible. Super sophomores Elzie Harrington and Kade Bonam will lead the charge for St. John Bosco this season along with junior guard Jack Turner (Loyola Chicago commit), sharpshooter Mateo Duran and senior big man transfer Xinyi Li. 

16. St. Bernard-Playa del Rey (24-8)

Head coach: Tony Bland

Season opener: Nov. 15 vs. Lawndale

Last year's Division 1 Southern Section champions bring back senior guard Tyler Rolison — he'll be the Vikings go to guy this season. Tony Bland's team has two talented underclassmen in the mix in freshman wing Tahj Ariza (son of Trevor Ariza) and junior forward Kendyl Sanders. 

17. St. Augustine-San Diego (23-8)

Head coach: Mike Haupt

Season opener: Nov. 17 at Montgomery

St. Augustine beat No. 8 San Ysidro in the San Diego Section Open Division championship game last season and the Saints return the top six players from that team led by seniors Jurian Dixon and Jaden Matingou. Also back for the Saints are juniors Lolo Rudolph and Ian de la Rosa and seniors Derrius Carter-Hollinger and Vincent Ricchiuti, giving St. Augustine the most experienced group in the San Diego Section.

18. JSerra-San Juan Capistrano (20-11)

Head coach: Keith Wilkinson

Season opener: Nov. 14 at Montwood

Junior wing Sebastian Rancik is primed for a breakout season for the Lions. As is the case in most years, JSerra is big and very good defensively. Capistrano Valley Christian transfer Athian Athian, another wing, will help JSerra on offense. 

19. Riverside Poly (26-3)

Head coach: Travis Showalter

Season opener: Nov. 14 at Troy

A lot of talent returns from a Poly squad that lost only three games a season ago. Kory Dodson, Brayden Burries and Issac Williamson are all very talented sophomores. Burries is one of the nation's best in the 2025 class. 

20. Archbishop Riordan-San Francisco (21-9)

Head coach: Joey Curtin

Season opener: Nov. 26 vs. Weston Ranch at NorCal Tip-off Classic at Dublin HS

The defending Central Coast Section Open champions return the San Francisco Chronicle reigning Player of the Year in dynamic scorer King-Njhsanni Wilhite, a 6-2 shooting guard. There will be four new starters other than Wilhite, though reserves Jasir Rencher, a 6-5 wing with eight D1 offers, and 6-6 Christian Wise have made significant strides. Nathan Tshamala, one of three junior transfers, and Alexander Kuminga, the 6-7 younger brother of Golden State Warrior Jonathan Kuminga, who should make significant contributions. Tshamala is Kuminga’s cousin.

21. Etiwanda (21-7)

Head coach: Dave Kleckner

Season opener: Nov. 19 vs. No. 25 Narbonne

Point guard Jimmy Baker and wing Curtis Williams are now both seniors. The pair has extensive varsity experience — they'll set the tone for Dave Kleckner's team this season. Etiwanda will go as those two take them. 

22. Santa Margarita- Rancho Santa Margarita (20-4)

Head coach: Justin Bell

Season opener: Nov. 14 vs. TBA (Orangewood Academy Tournament)

Senior power forward Rockwell Reynolds has developed into one of the top bigs in California high school basketball. Look for freshman sharpshooter Brayden Kyman to make an immediate impact for the Eagles. 

23. Heritage Christian-Northridge (22-5)

Head coach: Paul Tait

Season opener: Nov. 15 vs. Granada Hills

Paul Tait has a very intriguing squad this season. Junior guard Seven Bahati and senior guard Giovanni Goree, two transfers, make up a strong backcourt for the Warriors. Tae Simmons, a 6-foot-6 sophomore, is an incredible athlete who defends at a high level. The Warriors have the potential for a special season. 

24. Pacifica Christian-Newport Beach (17-13)

Head coach: Jeff Berokoff

Season opener: Nov. 17 vs. Valley Christian

Don't overlook Pacifica Christian this season. The Tritons have multiple players who will go on to the Division 1 level following their high school careers. Senior point guard Parker Strauss is committed to Northwestern and sophomore combo guard EJ Spillman has received scholarship offers from Pepperdine, the University of Portland and Fordham. The team bring back other impact returners from last year as well in Tanner “Sarge” Deal and Salim Semaan. 

25. Narbonne-Harbor City (22-5)

Head coach: Anthony Hilliard

Season opener: Nov. 19 vs. No. 21 Etiwanda

The Gauchos are the top team in the LA City Section heading into the season thanks to Marcus Adams transferring in and his brother Maximo playing as a freshman. Both Marcus and Maximo are wings with high ceilings as next level prospects. EJ Andrews and Christian Gill, integral parts of last season's Open Division team, return for the Gauchos as well.