California’s top high school boys basketball players: Meet the state’s best shooting guards
The most dominant and talented shooting guards throughout California high school boys basketball are rounding into form as teams across the state play their finals regular season games before postseason play begins. From Sierra Canyon's Amari Bailey to Stockton Lincoln's Miles Byrd, California is loaded with talented shooting guards.
The main criteria for SBLive’s top shooting guards are 2021-22 statistics, film review, discussions with coaches and college interest. The list was compiled by SBLive reporter Bodie DeSilva.
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TOP SHOOTING GUARDS IN CALIFORNIA BOYS BASKETBALL
(Players are listed in alphabetical order)
Amari Bailey – Sierra Canyon – Senior
Bailey is closing in on 100 wins during his time with the Trailblazers and is a consensus five-star recruit. The UCLA-signee was named SBLive's California State Player of the Year in 2021 after averaging 29 points, nine rebounds, and seven rebounds per game. He has Sierra Canyon sitting as the top team in California this year as they eye another state championship.
Troy Barbarin Jr. – Arlington – Senior
Barbarin has been one of the Southern Section's top scorers over the past two seasons. After averaging 18 per game last season, he's increased that to nearly 22 points per game including a 38-point performances against Oakwood in December.
JV Brown – Rolling Hills Prep – Junior
Brown has provided strong outside shooting for a Huskies team that sits at 19-1. He led Rolling Hills Prep with 24 points in their lone loss to Crean Lutheran in December.
Seth Brown – Orange Lutheran – Senior
Brown has been the Lancers' top scorer, leading the team to 15 wins for the first time since 2018. He had 40 points and seven made threes in a January win over Fairmont Prep.
Miles Byrd – Lincoln (Stockton) – Senior
Byrd is averaging 17 points and six rebounds per game for the 20-3 Trojans. He signed with San Diego State in November, choosing the Aztecs over Washington and Minnesota.
Darius Carr – St. Bernard – Junior
Carr was named MVP of the Westchester Tournament after scoring 30 points in the championship against Bishop Montgomery. He's one of the states most explosive scorers and continues to reel in offers from schools up and down the west coast.
Gabriel Cummings – Long Beach Poly – Senior
Cummings has been a sniper from long range for the Jackrabbits during his senior season, connecting on over 40 percent of his three-point attempts. He's helped Poly cruise to an undefeated Moore League championship.
Buckley Dejardin – St. Francis – Senior
DeJardin has come up big for the Knights throughout his senior season including a 28-point performance in a big win over Long Beach Poly last month. He's headed to Carnegie Mellon.
Rob Diaz – JSerra – Senior
Diaz has taken a big step forward in his second season with the Lions, leading them to a 15-9 regular season. He recently had 27 points in a win over Marina and followed it up with 30 points in a one-point win over Orange Lutheran.
Joseph Hunter Jr. – San Joaquin Memorial – Senior
Hunter has been posting huge numbers all season for the 17-6 Panthers. He recently surpassed the 2,000-career point mark and scored a school record 54 points on Thursday's win over Madera South. He's signed with Fresno State.
Bronny James – Sierra Canyon – Junior
No player in the country has the spotlight on them quite like James, the son of LeBron. Now in his third season with the Trailblazers, James continues to show improvement in his game while playing with a loaded Sierra Canyon squad.
Luis Marin - Santa Maria St. Joseph - Junior
Marin is averaging over 12 points per game while stuffing the stat sheet in other categories with seven rebounds and six assists per game. He's shooting 40 percent from three-point range and has helped the Knights get out to a 22-2 start.
Isaac Martinez - Clovis West - Junior
Martinez and the Golden Eagles have been one of the state's best surprises so far this season, sitting at 25-1 as they close out the regular season. Martinez exploded for 31 points in a triple overtime win over Clovis North back in December.
Jared McCain – Corona Centennial – Junior
McCain was named to SBLive's California All-Sophomore team last season after averaging 15 points per game. He's proven to be one of the best shooters in the country, with Duke, Gonzaga, and UCLA among his many offers.
Camden McCormick – Francis Parker – Senior
McCormick has put up big scoring numbers this season for the Lancers on top of being one of the best rebounding guards in Southern California. He posted a 19-point, ten rebound, ten assist triple double against Bishop's last month and is less than ten points away from 1,000 for his career.
Jaqari Miles – West Ranch – Junior
Miles is averaging 17 points per game for a West Ranch team full of talented underclassmen. In last week's game against Modesto Christian, Miles had 29 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Vyctorious Miller – Crean Lutheran – Sophomore
Miller has formed an excellent duo with UCSB-signee Koat Keat this season, pushing the Saints up to No. 5 in SBLive's California boys basketball rankings. Miller's impressive play has earned him offers from Kansas, USC, UCLA and many others.
Darrell Morris – Crean Lutheran – Sophomore
Morris has been a sharpshooter this season for the Saints who sit at 21-3 entering their final regular season game. He had 19 points for Crean Lutheran in their game against Corona Centennial
Gavin Murphy – Calabasas – Junior
Murphy is an excellent shooter and has posted big numbers for the Coyotes all season in addition to showcasing his skills as a distributor.
Kollen Murphy – Colony – Junior
Murphy is one of several players that have had a breakout season, finishing the regular season with a 23-2 mark. Murphy has done whatever the Titans have needed inlcuding an eight-point, seven rebound, seven assist, and seven steal performance against Bonita.
Luke Olmstead – Coastal Christian – Senior
Olmstead has posted ridiculous scoring numbers for the Conquerors this season, averaging 32 points per contest. He's scored 45 points or more five times and most recently scored 51 in a win over Cuyama Valley.
Nico Ponce – Alemany – Senior
Ponce put opponents after knocking down 111 three-pointers during his sophomore season on 53 percent shooting. He's continued that shooting prowess now his final season for the Warriors.
Kelcy Phipps – Bishop Montgomery – Junior
Phipps has the Knights sitting at 16-2 as they play their final two regular season games this weekend. Phipps is averaging 14 points per game and was named to the all-tournament team at the Ryse Williams Pacific Shores Tournament.
Mikey Price – Sierra Canyon - Junior
Price transferred in from Ribet Academy prior to the season and has only added to the Trailblazers stable of scoring guards. He had 16 points in last month's win over Campbell Hall.
Tyrone Riley – St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy – Sophomore
Riley has been on a scoring roll lately, helping the Warriors stay unbeaten in league play. He had 40 points and ten rebounds in a win over Bosco Tech and followed it up with 26 points in a win over St. Genevieve.
Damian Ruiz – Linfield Christian – Senior
Ruiz has been getting buckets all season for the Lions. He scored in double digits in all 27 games, averaging 27 points per game and has scored 40 points ore more twice this season while shooting 39 percent from long range.
Chance Stephens – Riverside Poly – Senior
Stephens has been committed to Rhode Island for over a year. He's one of the top shooters in the Southern Section and is one of only two seniors on this year's team that finished the season with a third straight Ivy League title.
Dusty Stromer – Sherman Oaks Notre Dame – Junior
Stromer pairs with Creighton-bound Ben Shtolzberg to form one of California's best back courts. Stromer has averaged 22 points and seven rebounds per game while shooting 42 percent from three. UCLA, Arizona, and Illinois are among the many schools that have extended scholarship offers.
Jack Turner – St. John Bosco – Sophomore
Turner is averaging 15 points per game this season for the Braves and has proven himself as a sharpshooter, connecting on just under 50 percent of his three-point attempts on the year.
Mac West – Capistrano Valley Christian – Senior
West has averaged double digits each of the last three seasons, steadily increasing his total each year. Now in his final season, West is averaging 18 points per game for the 17-7 Eagles while shooting 39 percent from deep.
Makaih Williams – Capistrano Valley Christian – Senior
Williams has been a force for the Eagles since making his senior season debut in late December. He's averaging 20 points per game to go along with five rebounds and five assists.
