MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 Boys Basketball Rankings

The Nike Extravaganza is coming up this weekend at Mater Dei High School and that is going to be one of the last chances to see all the best teams in the area go up against each other until the playoffs.

The Fairfax State Preview event shook things up a little bit, but we are also seeing enough league losses to elicit movement.

Be sure to visit the California rankings page, and the metro pages for the Fresno area, Los Angeles area and San Diego area.


1. (1 last week) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 20-0
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 2 state, 3 national, 1 Xcellent 25

The Monarchs won 69-39 over JSerra Catholic in their only game of the week, getting 24 points and 11 rebounds from Stanley Johnson and 10 rebounds from M.J. Cage. They have three challenges this week, going to Santa Margarita Wednesday and then hosting Village Christian (Sun Valley) and national power Whitney Young (Chicago) on Friday and Saturday in their own building.

2. (2) Loyola (Los Angeles), 19-1
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 1 state, 2 national, 16 Xcellent 25

The Cubs are ahead of Mater Dei on the computer now. We beg to differ with the machine in this case, for reasons that are pretty obvious. Loyola won thrice last week, taking out Harvard-Westlake 80-39 Friday before blasting a good El Camino Real team 67-48 at Fairfax. They continued the good vibes Monday with an 86-66 triumph over Alemany in league play. With Chaminade losing they now are in the driver's seat for the league title, and face Notre Dame Wednesday before going to Chaminade Friday.

3. (3) Centennial (Corona), 16-2
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 3 state, 16 national

The Huskies are rolling in Big VIII play, taking out Roosevelt 84-50 and Santiago 78-50. The Huskies led 31-9 after one quarter against Roosevelt, and in the Santiago game, they broke it open in the second half. This week features Corona at home Wednesday and a trip to Norco Friday.

4. (4) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), 17-3
Classification: Southern (2AA)
Ranks: 10 state, 63 national

The Sea Hawks beat West (Torrance) 74-44 and Palos Verdes 61-55 last week, with sophomore Cameron Williams scoring 11 points in the PV win. They also won 61-46 over Leuzinger in a Tuesday night contest. They go to Palos Verdes Peninsula Thursday and then get a huge matchup with Centennial Saturday at the Nike Extravaganza.

5. (5) Etiwanda, 19-3
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 6 state, 27 national

The Eagles are back on a roll, as they dispatched Glendora 66-24 and Upland 55-45. In the Glendora game they allowed 12 points in the first quarter, then 12 more for the final three quarters combined. They will trek to Los Osos for a league contest Thursday before facing St. John Bosco at the Nike Extravaganza on Saturday.

6. (6) Westchester (Los Angeles), 18-4
Classification: Los Angeles City (I)
Ranks: 5 state, 24 national

The Comets had a great week of league play, netting wins over Hamilton (67-27), Fairfax (69-60) and University (68-53). Against Fairfax it was tied at the half. The Comets have now won seven in a row, and go to Los Angeles CES Wednesday before a matchup with DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) Saturday in the Nike Extravaganza.

7. (8) JW North (Riverside), 18-2 (19-0 on court)
Classification: Southern (1A)
Ranks: 23 state, 131 national

The Huskies lost a win and gained a loss because of a technicality from a huge win over Nevada squad Quest Preparatory on Jan. 11. So that means they have two losses this season, each by forfeit due to non-player issues. They beat Vista del Lago 70-40 Tuesday in a game where they didn't allow a point in the second quarter. The Huskies go to Canyon Springs Thursday.

8. (12) Mayfair (Lakewood), 16-5
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 35 state, 289 national

The Monsoons have been taking it easy with not a lot of games. They beat Artesia 67-27 behind 18 points from Kendall Small, the only guy to score in double figures. Dillon Reise pulled in 12 rebounds as well. Next up is a game with Norwalk on Friday.

9. (13) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth), 20-2
Classification: Southern (4A)
Ranks: 12 state, 76 national

The Trailblazers are certainly Open Division contenders, as they won three times in the past week. They held off a furious fourth-quarter rally to beat Brentwood School 55-54, then took down Harvard-Westlake 74-64 before winning Tuesday over Windward, 69-54 with Cody Riley pulling down 12 rebounds to go with 17 points. They go to Paraclete Thursday.

10. (14) St. Augustine (San Diego), 20-2
Classification: San Diego (Open)
Ranks: 9 state, 62 national

The Saints stretched their winning streak to 10 games and stayed atop the San Diego Section. They beat Cathedral Catholic 60-48, Mission Bay 59-51 and University City 66-45. They yielded only 19 points in the first three quarters against University City. They go to Scripps Ranch Tuesday.

11. (15) Chino Hills, 17-4
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 8 state, 42 national

The Huskies had a great week. There was a game with El Camino Real that was added to the schedule and it was a great 63-57 win. They beat Ayala 79-49 and Claremont 89-41 in league play, then demolished Windward 67-42 at the Fairfax State Preview. The Huskies have won seven in a row and will go to dangerous Damien Wednesday before hosting South Hills Friday.

12. (7) Chaminade (West Hills), 16-3
Classification: Southern (3A)
Ranks: 7 state, 30 national

The Eagles once again suffered a loss in Mission League play, this time falling to St. Francis 54-46. It appears their meteoric rise was premature, as that is two weeks in a row with a loss to a nonranked team. They did beat Notre Dame 51-41 and edged Alemany 63-60. Coming up, they have Loyola Friday in a massive game and Harvard-Westlake Monday.

13. (16) Long Beach Poly, 15-6
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 21 state, 113 national

The Jackrabbits had little trouble with Lakewood (76-48) and Woodrow Wilson (62-39) in Moore League play. Things will become a little tougher Wednesday at Millikan - which almost beat Poly earlier this year - and then a Friday home date with Jordan. They host Cabrillo Monday as well.

14. (17) Compton, 17-4
Classification: Southern (2A)
Ranks: 13 state, 77 national

The Tarbabes had a great week with a 99-65 triumph over Cabrillo and a 92-57 whacking of Jordan. Then came the best win, a 73-55 beatdown of Bishop Montgomery at the Fairfax State Preview. They host Lakewood Friday and go to Millikan Monday.

15. (9) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance), 18-4
Classification: Southern (4AA)
Ranks: 14 state, 78 national

The Knights have hit the skids lately, but it has been against great competition. They lost to JW North in the previous rankings, then lost 71-70 to Serra in a league game last week before also losing to Compton Saturday by a 73-55 count. They did beat La Salle in league play 80-52 in the middle of it all, but this team is definitely have a bit of a tough go against tough teams.

16. (10) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 13-7
Classification: Southern (2AA)
Ranks: 16 state, 84 national

The Braves have barely spent any time battling California teams and that makes them tough to rank. However, they did lose to Orange Lutheran by a 62-55 count and then barely beat Santa Margarita 77-74 last week. Consistency has been tough to find, but then again for a team that has crisscrossed the nation, that's tough to ask for. This week the Braves face Servite Wednesday and Etiwanda Saturday in the Nike Extravaganza.

17. (NR) Serra (Gardena), 15-6
Classification: Southern (4AA)
Ranks: 22 state, 116 national

The Cavaliers are back in the rankings after they picked up a 71-70 triumph over Bishop Montgomery. That makes it seven wins in a row, and when you look at the big picture, this team's losses are to great squads like Westchester, Loyola and Chaminade, plus wins over Cantwell-Sacred Heart and El Camino Real. Next up for Serra is Bishop Amat Wednesday and Upland at the Nike Extravaganza.

18. (18) El Toro (Lake Forest), 19-2
Classification: Southern (1A)
Ranks: 25 state, 156 national

The Chargers are definitely rolling this season, as they added wins over Aliso Niguel (56-45) and Capistrano Valley (67-41). They go to Laguna Hills on Friday, looking to move their winning streak to eight games.

19. (19) Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista), 18-2
Classification: San Diego (II)
Ranks: 38 state, 308 national

The Crusaders are another team that is on a roll. They earned a quality 51-44 triumph over Eastlake, then kept it going with wins over Bonita Vista (68-40) and Serra of San Diego (68-45). They have won 11 in a row and will battle Otay Ranch Wednesday and go to Olympian Friday.

20. (21) Rancho Cucamonga, 19-3
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 31 state, 225 national

The Cougars took down Alta Loma 80-50 and Glendora 82-73. They will host Upland Friday with an eye towards a matchup with Etiwanda looming in the future.

21. (11) El Camino Real (Woodland Hills), 14-6
Classification: Los Angeles City (I)
Ranks: 24 state, 154 national

The Conquistadors

22. (22) Cathedral (Los Angeles),15-1
Classification: Southern (3A)
Ranks: 23 state, 145 national

The Phantoms had no trouble with St. Paul in a 60-38 victory, and Rancho Dominguez is their latest victim, 58-40. We're still unsure about this squad's long-term viability as a title contender, but the record is nearly impossible to argue with.

23. (23) La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad), 18-3
Classification: San Diego (Open)
Ranks: 27 state, 201 national

The Mavericks hit the road in league play and beat Vista (70-59) and Rancho Buena Vista (83-68). It doesn't appear that the pecking order will change in the SDS, but the playoffs should be great.

24. (24) Sonora (La Habra), 18-3
Classification: Southern (2A)
Ranks: 43 state, 319 national

The Raiders slipped past Buena Park 56-52 and then blew out La Habra 57-35, both in league play. The next three for Sonora will be on the road, starting Wednesday at Sunny Hills and Friday at Troy.

25. (25) Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Montebello), 16-5
Classification: Southern (4A)
Ranks: 19 state, 104 national

Kudos to the Cardinals for fighting back after their three-game skid. They got back on the winning side in a big way by punishing league foes Mary Star of the Sea 97-38 and Bosco Tech 74-36. Things should stay peachy with St. Monica Wednesday and St. Paul Friday. A rematch with Cathedral awaits the next week.

Dropped out: No. 20 Central (Fresno)