MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school boys basketball rankings

The beauty of these heavyweight rankings is that the heavies at some point face off, or have already met.

Yes, there is sound argument to have No. 3 Sheldon (Sacramento) ranked ahead of Salesian (Richmond) as Sheldon beat two teams that earlier defeated the Pride, downing state-ranked St. Augustine (San Diego) in the finals of a national tournament in Torrey Pines and state-ranked Bullard (Fresno) in nonleague play last Saturday.

We'll keep it status quo here as Salesian and Sheldon face off on Feb. 2 at Albany High. Also consider that No. 3 Mitty fell to Salesian and beat Sheldon.

MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 Boys Basketball Rankings

1. Salesian (Richmond) 13-3, 3-0
Division: North Coast Section Division IV
Freeman Rankings: 15 state, 82 national

Bound for the Open division — the best vs. the best — come playoff time, the Pride have lost to two California teams in Bullard (Fresno) 60-54 and St. Augustine (San Diego) 56-42, with a win over Mitty (72-51). Salesian belted Pinole Valley 74-42 behind Jabari Bird and then beat El Cerrito 61-50 on Monday in Tri-County League showdown. Games also loom against St. Mary's (Albany) and De La Salle in the Martin Luther King showcase at Haas Pavilion at Cal.

2. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 12-3, 5-0
Division: Central Coast Section Division II
Freeman Rankings: 7 state, 50 national

The defending state Division II champion Monarchs bound for the Open rallied to beat two fellow West Catholic Athletic League foes in extending their season winning streak to seven in beating Riordon (San Francisco) 57-52 and Serra (San Mateo) 60-50. Against Serra, national recruit Aaron Gordon scored 17 points with 14 rebounds. Brandon Abajelo and Matt McAndrews had 14 each for Mitty, which heads to the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. next week.

3. Sheldon (Sacramento) 12-4, 2-0
Division: Sac-Joaquin Section Division I
Freeman Rankings: 10 state, 60 national

The Huskies have just one state loss, to Mitty in a nonleague game when they played without floor leader D'Erryl Williams and Washington-bound 6-5 bruising scorer Darin Johnson. Sheldon last week blasted Jesuit (Carmichael) in Delta River League play and beat 13-1 Bullard (Fresno) 85-74 in a nonleague encounter the next night with Ryan Manning scoring a lifetime-best 29 points. Sheldon's next big test is against visiting Deer Valley (Antioch) on Saturday.

4. Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) 11-3, 3-0
Division: North Coast Section Division III
Freeman Rankings: 17 state, 126 national

The Dragons beat Berkeley 76-73 with Juwan Anderson scoring 21 and Ivan Rabb scoring 23 points with 24 rebounds and four blocked shots. It was the first league meeting between the programs since 1995, this one in West Alameda County play. Bishop O'Dowd also beat 12-2 Mt. Eden (Hayward) 79-64. The Dragons own wins over Pacific Hills (Los Angeles) and Deer Valley (Antioch) with a strong showing in the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas. These Dragons take on the Sacramento Dragons on Monday in the Martin Luther King showcase at Haas Pavilion at Cal.

5. Deer Valley (Antioch) 12-3, 1-0
Division: North Coast Section Division I
Freeman Rankings: 30 state, 219 national

Have you heard of this fellow Marcus Lee? The Kentucky-bound standout senior big man produced his third triple-double of the season in beating Pittsburg 69-51, going for 10 points, 22 rebounds and 12 blocked shots. Kendall Smith chipped in 21 for the Wolverines, who play at Sheldon on Saturday. Other wins include De La Salle (Concord) (55-38) and Sacramento (97-96).

6. Modesto Christian 12-2, 2-0
Division: Sac-Joaquin Section Division III
Freeman Rankings: 29 state, 207 national

The Crusaders did not play last week with a big nonleague game looming Saturday at El Cerriot. Veteran coach Gary Porter has early wins over St. Joseph (Alameda) (61-48) and Campolindo (68-58).

7. Sacramento 12-4, 4-0
Division: Sac-Joaquin Section Division II
Freeman Rankings: 39 state, 265 national

The Dragons aim to win another Metro Conference title and are off to a 3-0 start against fellow Sacramento City Unified School District rivals. Big game against Bishop O'Dowd in a Martin Luther King showcase on Monday looms. Sacramento lost its first two games of the season to Deer Valley and Dublin and own wins over 13-3 Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove), 12-3 West Ranch (Valencia) and 13-4 Chaminade (West Hills).

8. De La Salle (Concord) 12-2, 3-1
Division: North Coast Section Division I
Freeman Rankings: 84 state, 725 national

Playing their typical muscle and deny game, the Spartans bruised San Ramon Valley 39-29 in allowing just three fourth-quarter points in East Bay League action in recovering from the 49-40 loss to Monte Vista (Danville). Livermore and Granada loom before taking on top-ranked Salesian on Monday at the Martin Luther King showcase at Haas Pavilion at De La Salle.

9. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 15-3, 2-0
Division: Sac-Joaquin Section Division I
Freeman Rankings: 25 state, 190 national

The Eagles are 2-0 in Delta River League with a showdown against Sheldon next week. Wins include Newark Memorial and the losses are close — 71-65 to 17-1 state power Centennial (Corona), 66-60 to 12-4 West Ranch of Valencia and 67-60 to Sacramento.

10. St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 12-3, 3-2
Division: Central Coast Section Division III
Freeman Rankings: 59 state, 439 national

There are no easy roads in the WCAL, clearly. The Wildcats fell to St. Francis (Mountain View) 52-48 and recovered with a 60-51 effort over Valley Christian (San Jose). WCAL wins include Riordon (San Francisco) 54-49, the very team it plays next week. This week, it's Serra (San Mateo). Other loss was to one-loss Westmoor (Daly City) 75-74.

11. San Leandro 12-3, 2-1
Division: North Coast Section Division I
Freeman Rankings: 31 state, 225 national

The Pirates of the West Alameda County League beat Mt. Eden (Hayward) 47-45 and now prepare for Bishop O'Dowd. San Leandro has won eight of nine games. Losses include Sheldon (77-72), Monte Vista (61-60) and Deer Valley (67-62).

12. Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 11-4, 3-1
Division: Central Coast Section Division III
Freeman Rankings: 51 state, 368 national

The Fightin' Irish beat Valley Christian (San Jose) 54-33 and St. Francis (Mountain View) in WCAL action. Other WCAL wins are over Serra (58-52) and Bellarmine (San Jose) 46-40) with a 56-46 loss to rival St. Ignatius (San Francisco).

13. Bellarmine (San Jose) 12-3, 2-3
Division: Central Coast Section Division I
Freeman Rankings: 34 state, 239 national

The Bells hail from the WCAL and like their chances after downing Riordon (San Francisco) 56-55. Also encouraging was the WCAL loss by a hair to Mitty.

14. Serra (San Mateo) 12-3, 3-2
Division: Central Coast Section Division II
Freeman Rankings: 23 state, 179 national

Every victory is treasured in the WCAL, with the Padres downing Bellarmine (San Jose) 71-50 before falling to Mitty 60-50. Henry Caruso had 16 in the loss to Mitty. Nonleague losses include Deer Valley (53-48) with nonleague wins over Monte Vista (Danville), which last week beat De La Salle.

15. Monte Vista (Danville) 12-3, 3-1
Division: North Coast Section Division I
Freeman Rankings: 43 state, 310 national

The Mustangs had a spirited week, downing De La Salle 49-40 and Amador Valley (Pleasanton) 56-35 in East Bay League action. Close losses were to Freedom (Oakley), Bellarmine (San Jose) and California (San Ramon).

16. Capital Christian (Sacramento) 14-2, 2-0
Division: Sac-Joaquin Section Division V
Freeman Rankings: 65 state, 517 national

The defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division V champions have wins over Sacramento Bee-ranked teams in Bella Vista (Fair Oaks) 63-47, Del Oro (Loomis) 60-49, Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (53-37) and Granite Bay (47-43). This is your overwhelming Golden Empire League favorite.

17. Antelope 11-6, 1-0
Division: Sac-Joaquin Section Division II
Freeman Rankings: 92 state, 864 national

The Titans are the favorite to win another Capital Athletic League championship with competition from El Camino (Sacramento), Cordova (Rancho Cordova) and Rio Americano (Sacramento). Nonleague game looms Saturday against Bella Vista (Fair Oaks) in the 6th Common Good Classic. Wins include McClymonds (57-40) with close losses to Sacramento (59-48) and Bullard (Fresno) 65-60).

18. Newark Memorial (Newark) 8-6, 3-0
Division: North Coast Section Division II
Freeman Rankings: 93 state, 867 national

The Cougars are 3-0 in the Mission Valley League after shooting 69 percent and clubbing Mission (San Jose) 74-37. Newark owns two wins over Dublin with a 55-54 loss to Salesian and a 64-57 setback to Pleasant Grove.

19. Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) 10-5, 1-4
Division: Central Coast Section Division IV
Freeman Rankings: 70 state, 569 national

The Crusaders found out in a hurry that losing streaks are unforgiving in holding any ground in the WCAL after losses to Serra (59-48), Mitty (57-52) and Bellarmine (56-55). Riordon beat 12-2 Westmoor (Daly City).

20. Westmoor (Daly City) 12-2, 1-1
Division: Central Coast Section Division II
Freeman Rankings: 229 state, 2743 national

The Rams of the Peninsula North League fell to rival Half Moon Bay 51-33. The other loss was to Riordon (San Francisco) 64-58 with nonleague win over over St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 75-74.

21. Dublin 12-4, 3-0
Division: North Coast Section Division II
Freeman Rankings: 63 state, 501 national

The Gaels are off to a 3-0 start in the Diablo Foothill League after downing Las Lomas (Walnut Creek) 83-70 and Alhambra (Martinez) 85-65. Nonleague losses include Serra (San Mateo) 71-63. Other wins include Freedom (Oakley) (75-63) and Sacramento (74-61). Looming games include Campolindo (Moraga) and Monte Vista (Danville).

22. McClymonds (Oakland) 11-6, 2-0
Division: Oakland Section Division I
Freeman Rankings: 82 state, 696 national

Mack is 2-0 in league play and has competitive losses to Antelope, Bellarmine, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Monte Vista and Deer Valley with nice wins over Berkeley (62-45), Jesuit (Sacramento) (64-61) and El Cerrito (72-54).

23. El Cerrito 12-6, 2-1
Division: North Coast Section Division III
Freeman Rankings: 54 state, 389 national

It's a two-team race for the Tri-County crown with top-ranked Salesian after downing St. Joseph (Notre Dame) 56-53 and St. Patrick/St. Vincent (Vallejo) 74-58 before Monday's showdown with the Pride. Salesian won that showdown 61-50 after it was a one-point game earlier in the fourth quarter. Earlier big win included Newark Memorial (53-47) with Modesto Christian looming on Saturday.

24. Palo Alto 13-1, 4-0
Division: Central Coast Section Division I
Freeman Rankings: 78 state, 640 national

The Vikings of the De Anza League have won 11 consecutive games since losing to St. Francis (Mountain View) with a 4-0 league start with 6-4 guard Aubrey Dawkins averaging 19 points and seven rebounds.

(TIE) 25. Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) 14-2, 4-0
Division: North Coast Section Division IV
Freeman Rankings: 73 state, 603 national

The Cardinals are off to a fast 4-0 start in the North Bay League, thanks to defense after beating Casa Grande (Petaluma) 71-45, Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park) 70-33 and Maria Carrillo (Santa Rosa) 61-32. Nonleague wins include a 50-46 effort over Campolindo (Moraga) and a 59-41 decision over St. Mary's (Albany) with a 57-51 loss to Monte Vista (Danville).

(TIE) 25. Campolindo (Moraga) 11-4, 2-0
Division: North Coast Section Division III
Freeman Rankings: 74 state, 611 national

The Cougars of the Diablo Valley League beat Dougherty Valley (San Ramon) 59-37 and Miramonte (Orinda) 66-54 in winning five in a row. Losses include Cardinal Newman (50-46) and Modesto Christian (68-58). Play Dublin this week.