MaxPreps Northern California boys basketball Top 30 rankings

Video: Salesian vs Modesto Christian
See two of NorCal's best sqaure off in the 2018 MaxPreps MLK Classic.

League play concludes this week for Northern California teams with league tournaments or section playoff rounds looming. Two teams from the East Bay and three from the Sac-Joaquin Section have been especially strong and head the rankings.

1. Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond), 25-1
Section: North Coast
League: Tri-County Rock
Coach: Bill Mellis
Update: The Pride have not lost to anyone in state. They won the 64th Gridley Invitational and the St. Hope Elite Classic and loom as a favorite in all postseason tournaments. The leader is UConn-bound guard James Akinjo.

2. Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland), 19-5
Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda Foothill
Coach: Lou Richie
Update: The Dragons are tradition-rich and have a 14-game winning streak, and they close out the regular season this week. Top players include Utah-bound Naseem Gaskin and Washington-bound Elijah Hardy, each a four-year starter.

3. Sheldon (Sacramento), 22-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Joey Rollings
Update: The Huskies reached the NorCal Open finals last season and have won 50 consecutive Delta League games, thanks to guards Dale Currie, Dom Johnson, Justin Nguyen and Kaito Williams.

4. Modesto Christian, 23-3
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Modesto Metro
Coach: Brice Fantazia
Update: The Crusaders have been a section power since the 1990s and are aiming for another NorCal Open championship run while running their league winning streak past 150.

5. Capital Christian (Sacramento), 19-7
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Golden Empire
Coach: McCall Wollman
Update: Twice a NorCal Open Division entry, the Cougars expect to make it three behind guards Rick Barros, Zach Chappell and Trey Jones.

6. Folsom, 21-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Mike Wall
Update: The Bulldogs, a power for years, and are led by Harvard-bound center Mason Forbes and guards Martis Johnson, Jayce McCain and Eljay Gallegos.

7. Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose), 19-3
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Schneider
Update: The Bells are closing in on at least a share of another WCAL championship as the regular season concludes this week.

8. Menlo School (Atherton, Calif.), 21-1
Section: Central Coast
League: West Bay
Coach: Keith Larsen
Update: Winners of 15 consecutive games, the Knights have been led by Joe Foley (16.8 points a game), Thomas Brown (13.2) and Riley Woodson (12.8).

9. Palo Alto, 20-2
Section: Central Coast
League: DeAnza
Coach: Peter Diepenbrock
Update: With the regular season coming to a close, Palo Alto aims for a high playoff seed, rolling with an 18-game winning streak, including a 65-57 loss to Salesian.

10. Dublin, 22-3
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Tom Costello
Update: Winners of 19 consecutive games, the Gaels have early losses to ranked powers Salesian and Sheldon and have locked up the league championship.

11. Las Lomas (Walnut Creek), 22-2
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Brian Dietschy
Update: The Knights are closing in on a league title after splitting with ranked Clayton Valley Charter with the Division II playoffs looming.

12. Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 22-2
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Eric Bamberger
Update: Winners of the Warren Morse Memorial Tournament and the Roy Ghiggeri Invitational, the Ugly Eagles hope to add a league title to the mix.

13. Saint Francis (Mountain View), 17-5
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Motil
Update: The WCAL has toughened up everyone, per the norm, with the regular season concluding this week and the CCS playoffs looming.

14. De La Salle (Concord), 19-6
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Justin Argenal
Update: The Spartans have two league losses to higher-ranked Dublin with playoff rematches possible. The Spartans are a decades-long powerhouse.

15. Heritage (Brentwood), 22-2
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Pat Cruickshank
Update: The losses were to ranked Dublin and Serra and the winning streak is 11 with the league championship within grasp.

16. Berkeley, (20-4)
Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda Foothill
Coach: Ralph Fields
Update: One loss was to No. 2 O'Dowd, 64-58, and the teams play in a regular-season finale in Berkeley on Thursday.

17. Sacramento, 21-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metropolitan
Coach: Earl Allen
Update: The Dragons are aiming to finish league play unbeaten under their passionate second-year coach and are a threat in the Division I playoffs.

18. St. Ignatius (San Francisco), 15-7
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Rob Marcaletti
Update: The wild league race has SI in third place behind Bellarmine and Saint Francis, and SI has recent wins over Saint Francis (72-68 in overtime) and Serra (68-40).

19. Serra (San Mateo), 12-8
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Chuck Rapp
Update: The Padres are closing in on a likely Open Division section playoff run, thanks to being battle tested in the WCAL and playing strong defense.

20. University (San Francisco), 24-2
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Counties West
Coach: Randy Bessoio
Update: The Red Devils are Division V in enrollment only and have had a stellar season, including a close loss to Serra and to Menlo School.

The next 10:
Moreau Catholic (Hayward) — 18-5
Alameda — 20-2
Lincoln (Stockton) — 22-4
Pleasant Valley (Chico) — 22-2
James Logan (Union City) — 18-6
Central Catholic (Modesto) —  24-2
Liberty Ranch (Galt) — 23-3
Sequoia (Redwood City) — 18-5
Piedmont Hills (San Jose) — 20-2
Franklin (Elk Grove) — 18-8

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Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and at sacbee.com