Top-end talent, experience make Trailblazers our preseason pick for national No. 1.
Video: Sierra Canyon photo shootTrailblazers are 81-13 over the past three seasons.Preseason High School Top 25 presented by the Army National Guard
Head coach: Ty Nichols (98-24 in four seasons at Sierra Canyon)
2015-16 record: 26-5
State Association: California Interscholastic Federation
Enrollment: 1,000 (K-12)
Perhaps no team in America has experienced the highs and lows of high school basketball more intensely over the past two seasons than Sierra Canyon.
The Trailblazers have knocked off teams from 11 states outside of California during that time, including signature wins over Jayson Tatum and Chaminade (St. Louis, Mo.), Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.), DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) and Lone Peak (Highland, Utah).
Forward Marvin Bagley III
Photo by Heston Quan
There was a Division V state title in 2014-15 and big playoff win over Bishop Montgomery (Torrance) last February.
But nearly ever big win has been offset by disappointing – and often heartbreaking from a Sierra Canyon perspective – losses.
Etiwanda knocked the Trailblazers out of the Open Division playoff proceedings two years ago, bouncing them into the Division V bracket – a bit of a consolation prize.
Eventual national champ Chino Hills and Cathedral Catholic of San Diego handed Sierra Canyon back-to-back postseason losses last season, sending the championship hopefuls home without any state hardware.
There have been two gut-wrenching losses to Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) – including a 3-pointer at the buzzer last January in the final of the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions.
All of those experiences should only serve to sharpen the resolve of the 2016-17 team.
Six of Sierra Canyon's top seven scorers from last year are back, including three seniors committed to big time Division I programs.
There's also a pretty high-profile addition. Some basketball fans may have heard of him –
Marvin Bagley III, the nation's No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2018 according to 247Sports.
The 6-foot-10 junior became the first freshman ever to earn MaxPreps All-American honors during the 2014-15 season, averaging 19.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game while leading aforementioned Corona del Sol to a state title in Arizona.
Gallery: Sierra Canyon preseason photo shoot
Bagley sat out the 2015-16 after transferring to Sierra Canyon from an academy program in the Grand Canyon State.
MORE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Guard Remy Martin
Photo by Heston Quan
(6-6, Fr., G/F) … Younger brother of Marvin Bagley and highly-touted 2020 prospect
Michael Feinberg (6-4, Jr., G/F) … Averaged 7.3 points, 4.5 rebounds as sophomore
Stefan Kljajic (6-8, Sr., F) … Native of Montenegro sat out last season
Forward Cody Riley
Photo by Heston Quan
(5-11, Sr., G) … Committed to Arizona State
Terrance McBride (6-3, Sr., G) … Averaged 8.6 points, 3.4 rebounds per game in 2015-16
Cody Riley (6-8, Sr., F) … Committed to UCLA
Adam Seiko (6-3, Sr., G) … Committed to San Diego State
KEY DATESDec. 15 – vs.
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) @ ESPN Tip-Off
Dec. 17 – vs.
Centennial (Las Vegas) @ Tarkanian Classic Showcase
Dec. 27-30 – Les Schwab Invitational
Jan. 12-14 – Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions
Jan. 16 – vs.
La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) @ Spalding Hoophall Classic
Feb. 4 – vs.
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
2016-17 Sierra Canyon Trailblazers coaching staff and players.
Photo by Heston Quan
