Daily Breeze boys basketball Top 10: Redondo starts season ranked No. 1 in the area

Posted by Admin November 19, 2024 Basketball

DAILY BREEZE BOYS BASKETBALL TOP 10

Hudson Mayes (left) led Redondo with 19 points and SJ Madison added 12 as the Sea Hawks defeated Foothill 76-67 in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 second round. (Photo by Nick Ingram)

1. Redondo: The Sea Hawks advanced to the CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals last season. This year, Redondo starts the season on the list of teams to watch for the Open Division. Redondo returns a strong nucleus, led by Hudson Mayes (Central Michigan). SJ Madison, Chris Sanders and Brayden Miner are key returners, along with Devin Wright. Mayes and Madison were both All-Area selections last season. Redondo will also have sophomore Chace Holley, who is a transfer from Lynwood.

2. Rolling Hills Prep: The Huskies are led by last year’s Daily Breeze Player of the Year, Mateo Trujillo. They also return All-Area big men Kawika Suter and Nick Welch Jr., along with Terrell Hopkins. A player to watch is senior guard Mylo Murphy, who has battled injuries for the last three seasons. RHP advanced to the CIF-SS Division 2AA championship game last season. Coach Harvey Kitani always does a good job of challenging his team with a schedule loaded with tough tournaments and nonleague games.

Head coach Jason Crowe of Lynwood looks on in the second half of a boys CIF State Division V championship game against Sierra at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Friday, March 10, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

3. Inglewood: Inglewood alum Jason Crowe returns home to take over as coach of the Sentinels. Crowe recently coached at Lynwood. Also arriving is his son Jason Crowe Jr. Crowe Jr., one of the top players in the Class of 2026, averaged 36 points a game as a freshman and 37.4 last season as a sophomore. He has scored 2,380 points through two seasons and is on pace to leave an impressive number by the time he graduates. Inglewood has some intriguing transfers: Dwayne Boston (Gardena), David Conerly (Westchester) and 6-9 Parker Jefferson from Texas. The Sentinels are a team to watch this season.

4. Bishop Montgomery: Last year was a tough one for the Knights. They missed the playoffs for the first time since Doug Mitchell took over in 1989. The Knights return all five starters — Christian Hall, Denis Woods, Cameron Brewer and Tarron and Terron Williams — and junior center Eric Cong is expected to be a key contributor. Transfers Josiah James, Jalen Bain and Andre George will be available after the sit-out period ends in December. Keep an eye on freshman Austin Kirksey.

St. Bernard's Tajh Ariza throws down a huge dunk against Serra in Del Rey League boys basketball season opener Wednesday Jan. 3, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer) — St. Bernard’s Tajh Ariza throws down a huge dunk against Serra in Del Rey League boys basketball season opener Wednesday Jan. 3, 2024 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)

5. Westchester: The Comets enter the season as the favorite to win the L.A. City Section Open Division. Tajh Ariza, one of the top players in the Class of 2026, has transferred from St. Bernard to Westchester. Westchester also has incoming transfers Gary Ferguson (St. Bernard), Ty Ingram (Cathedral Catholic) and Jordan Ballard (Notre Dame). Plus, the Comets return All-City players Khaeden Grady-Asher and Dillon Chelsea. Both players were also All-Area selections last season.

6. Mira Costa: The Mustangs return seven seniors and players who provided 75 percent of their scoring last season. The Mustangs are transitioning into an up-tempo, pressing style, which will utilize the team’s depth. All-Area returnees Eneasi Piuleini and Jacob DeArmas lead the way. Seniors Luke Hammerschmidt, Christian Kranz and Bryson Bryker will also be key contributors this season.

7. St. Bernard: Bernard McCrumby returns to coach at his alma mater, replacing Tony Bland. The Vikings have a strong foundation in senior guards Caleb Versher (UC Riverside commit) and Joshua Palmer, who also happen to be second cousins. Preston Ezewiro is a transfer from Mira Costa.

8. Leuzinger: The Olympians have a good mix of returners and newcomers. Coach Arturo Jones likes the team’s depth and skill. All-Area seniors Joshua Garland and Malachi Knight form a dangerous 1-2 punch, and sophomore Tylan Kinsey also returns. Leuzinger has three incoming transfers from Lynwood (Darrell Bagsley, Aiden McIntyre and Dylan Curry) to work into the mix, along with some football players.

9. Palos Verdes: The Sea Kings have a lot of size and coach Greg Clark says all of the “bigs” are “extremely athletic.” The group includes Max Sinfield (6-5), along with 6-7 Telmo Corral and 6-8 Max Cui. Corral was having a strong season as a junior before suffering an ankle injury. Liam Lombard is a transfer from Mira Costa. Cui is a player to watch. Clark calls him “very skilled and very physical.”

Head coach Scott Martin of El Segundo reacts against Castaic in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5AA boys basketball championship game in the Felix Event center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

10. El Segundo: The Eagles made a big jump last season, winning a share of the Pioneer League title and advancing to the CIF-SS Division 5AA championship game. This year, the Eagles return 10 players, led by first All-Area guard Darreson Naruse. Coach Scott Martin thinks the team’s length and size will lead to the Eagles being one of the top defensive teams in the area.

Next: Wiseburn Da Vinci, North Torrance, West Torrance, San Pedro.