Bronny James, Jared McCain headline 20 Southern Section boys basketball players to watch heading into the Friday's semifinals
It's getting down to the nitty gritty.
And as coaches often say: "Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games."
The following list of 20 are simply big time. (See six of them in the video above when Centennial defeated Notre Dame 83-63 Tuesday in Pool A play).
The Southern Section semifinals take place 7 p.m. Friday in nine divisions and in the top class — the Open — it is the day of pool play, which will determine who reaches the Feb. 25 finals at the Honda Center.
Here are Friday's Open pool play games with Centennial and West Ranch in the driver's seats.
POOL A: Bishop Montgomery (1-1) at Corona Centennial (2-0); Sierra Canyon (0-2) at Notre Dame (1-1).
POOL B: West Ranch (2-0) at Harvard-Westlake (1-1); St. Bernard (0-2) at St. John Bosco (1-1).
20 SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH
OPEN DIVISION
Class of 2023
Brady Dunlap (Harvard Westlake) – With size and athleticism, the 6-foot-7 wing, is one of the best shooters in Southern California and scores in bunches which allows his teammates to feast on open looks when defenses swarm Dunlap. A good defender, he signed with Notre Dame but asked for and was granted a release when Fighting Irish coach Mike Brey announced his retirement. Has interest in San Diego State, Arkansas, Illinois, Colorado and Kansas.
Xavier Edmonds (Bishop Montgomery) – A mature 6-8, 225-pound power forward, Edwards loves to mix it up inside. He plays tough defense, scores in the paint and rebounds with ferocity. He leads the surprising Knights in scoring (21 ppg) and rebounding (9.5 rpg). Edwards has 10 scholarship offers including Washington State, East Tennessee State, New Mexico, San Jose State and San Francisco. He had a game-high 24 points in a 51-49 win over Sierra Canyon on Tuesday.
Caleb Foster (Notre Dame) – A 6-5 combo guard, he signed with Duke. A sturdy 190-pounds, Foster plays under control with good strength and versatility. He’s an offensive threat from 3-point range, but his mid-range game sets him apart as does his ability to get to the rim and play through contact.
Jazz Gardner (West Ranch) – A wiry, athlete that is nearing 7-foot, Gardner plays hard and is an excellent shot blocking threat. He alters even more allowing his teammates to sell out on defense which helps the offense get easy buckets in transition. Has 14 high-major offers, could be leaning toward Texas Tech.
Bronny James (Sierra Canyon) — The 6-3 senior is a McDonald's All-American and the son of LeBron James. Athletic, excellent 3-point shooter and strong defender and passer. When he's in lineup — he's missed time with ankle issue — Sierra Canyon can play with the best. As much attention as he demands athletically, he's also a glue guy.
When Bronny James takes flight, people marvel.
Nick Koza, SBLive Sports
Aaron McBride (Centennial) — The quintessential blue-collar player. McBride does all the little things for the Huskies, getting tough rebounds, diving for loose balls, guarding top post players. Still, the burly 6-7 forward is skilled around the basket using his strength to outduel defenders. Signed with Loyola Marymount.
Jared McCain (Centennial) – A heady 6-2, 195 point guard, McCain will play at Duke next season. He plays with a high basketball IQ, understands spacing and values the ball. On defense, anticipates well and plays with high energy. An excellent spot-up shooter, he’s also proficient at finding open teammates.
Dusty Stromer (Notre Dame) – A talented player on the wing, Stromer uses his 6-6 size against smaller opponents and can draw bigger defenders outside where he can take advantage with his soft-shooting touch. Has an array of moves around the basket and is a willing defender. Signed with Gonzaga.
Devin Williams (Centennial) – A willowy post, Williams is excellent around the basket. He’s best at put backs and turning offensive rebounds into dunks. With under 200 pounds on his 6-10 frame, Williams is not a banger, but is athletic and springy allowing him to rebound against bigger, stronger players. He signed with UCLA.
Class of 2024
Isaiah Elohim (Sierra Canyon) – A smooth playmaker, the 6-5 shooting guard can score and defend equally well. The highest rated player among the Trailblazers bevy of standouts. Elohim plays hard and sustains that intensity throughout the game. He has been hobbled by an ankle injury which has coincided with the teams three-game loss streak. Elohim has more than a dozen scholarship offers including UCLA, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan and Texas.
James Evans (West Ranch) – A powerfully built 6-5 small forward that weighs about 205 pounds, Evans is a force inside for the Wildcats. Adept at turning offensive rebounds into points and playing tough defense. He has offers from Southern Utah and Washington.
Eric Freeny (Centennial) – A 6-4 combo guard, Freeny gets lost sometimes behind his teammates with bigger resumes, but Freeny is integral to the Huskies success. He provides plenty of offense with a knack for finishing around the hoop. A pest on defense, he makes life miserable for opponents’ top scorers. Has several offers including Nevada, Hawaii, Pepperdine and other mid-majors.
Mercy Miller (Notre Dame) – A 6-4 guard, Miller has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Can guard the one through the three and excels at putting the ball in the basket. Excellent at taking the ball from the wing and finishing in traffic. Committed to Houston.
Trent Perry (Harvard Westlake) – A 6-4 combo guard, Perry doesn’t excel in any one area, but is a nice, solid all-around player, with excellent instincts. He sees the floor well, passes well, defends with enthusiasm and gets his teammates involved. An impressive student, Perry has a dozen offers including UCLA, USC, Cal, Stanford and Vanderbilt.
Trent Perry (0) might just be Harvard-Westlake's Player of the Year in 2022-23. Photo: Nick Koza
Class of 2025
Bryce Cofield (Sierra Canyon) — A wing with superb scoring ability, Cofield plays his support role capably for the Trailblazers, but should be a focal point on offense next season. A top 60-player nationally, Cofield has shown glimpses of his offensive ability and his ball-hawking skill on defense.
Elzie Harrington (St. John Bosco) – A big point guard at 6-3, Harrington can score like a shooting guard and has greatly improved his strength, quickness and is more explosive. A competent ball handler with a good outside shot, he has the athleticism to guard both guard spots and is rated as a top-15 player nationally. Averages almost six assists per game. He has offers from UCLA and USC.
Elzie Harrington (3), St. John Bosco. Photo: Leon Neuschwander
Nikolas Khamenia (Harvard Westlake) – A thin inside player, the 6-7, 175-pound Khamenia makes up for his lack of bulk with tremendous footwork and advanced basketball acumen. He’s not the Wolverines first scoring option but is capable of scoring in bunches with a soft, accurate outside shot. He has scholarship offers from Nebraska, Stanford and Southern Utah. A list that will surely grow in the coming seasons.
Class of 2026
Tajh Ariza (St. Bernard) – The son of 18-year NBA veteran Trevor Ariza, the younger Ariza plays a similar game. The 6-5, 175-pound wing plays with a great motor on defense, has an advanced skill set on offense with great length, quickness and toughness. He’s an excellent ball-handler and shines when pulling up for a 3-pointer or taking it to the rim. Already has offers from UCLA, USC and Washington.
NON-OPEN DIVISION
Class of 2024
Carter Bryant (Sage Hill) – A force on the wing and inside, Bryant is a 6-8, 225-pound forward, who can guard all over the court and score in a variety of ways. He is considered a top-10 player nationally and has continued to improve each year. He has offers from more than 20 programs. He’s most interested in Arizona, Gonzaga and Louisville. Schools as varied as UCLA, USC, Florida LSU, Missouri and Xavier are also trying.
Class of 2026
Jason Crowe Jr. (Lynwood) – The epitome of instant offense, Crowe, a 6-2, 155-pound left-handed shooting guard averages 37 points a game, but still involves his teammates with 5.2 assists per game. He also chips in 3.3 steals and three rebounds a game. A prolific scorer with a dizzying ability to score from long distance. Also has advanced talent to pull up off the dribble or take it to the basket. Still growing, Crowe is only 14. He might be the top talent in Southern California’s stacked class of 2026. He has offers from UCLA and Weber State. As first reported by Ronnie Flores of Cal-Hi Sports, Crowe broke the state freshman single-season record for points in a season with 1,065, breaking the mark of 1,036 set by Marcus Lovett Jr. of Providence (Burbank) in 2011-12. Lynwood (21-10) hosts Whitney (21-8) in a 5AA semifinal game on Friday. Crowe has scored 42, 47 and 33 points in three playoff games.
