MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school basketball rankings

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Hoops is here, in full force, much like the winter rains that have ravaged and soaked the regions. The intrigue early includes a lot of intersectional showdowns, where heavies from the North Coast or Central Coast have met with those from the Sac-Joaquin. It makes sense, as a way to gauge teams and progress, and to offer early playoff atmospheres.

There could be rematches come March. The Northern California and CIF State Championships will again be held at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento.


1. Sacramento (12-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metro
Coach: Derek Swafford
Outlook: Top-ranked by The Sacramento Bee, the longtime regional power returns two four-year starters in guard Christian Terrell and forward Solomon Young and could be an Open Division team, given its strong schedule, its success and a formidable roster. But the Dragons would need to win a section title, and this looks like a heavy favorite to do so in Division II. The Dragons were 28-4 last season and are well on their way to 30-plus wins. Sacramento has won tournaments in Gridley and its own elite St. Hope Classic.

2. De La Salle (Concord) (9-1)
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: A.J. Kuhle
Update: The Spartans, 27-5 a year ago, usher in a new coach and a new era as Frank Allocco joined the University of San Francisco coaching staff. A.J. Kuhle played on De La Salle's 2001 CIF State Division I title team. The Spartans are led by Jordan Ratinho and Nikhil Peters and still play their typical tough, disciplined style of play.

3. Folsom (11-2)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Mike Wall
Update: The Bulldogs won a CIF NorCal D-II title two seasons ago and lost to eventual CIF State Open Division winner Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) last season in Open play in going 28-5 as The Sacramento Bee's top-ranked team. They return two-time Sacramento Bee Player of the Year Jordan Ford, a smooth, deadly efficient guard headed to Saint Mary's. Folsom is guard strong with Alec Andrews, Tre Finch and Jared Wall, son of the coach. The X-factor is sophomore forward/center Mason Forbes, who has already had big games to beat ranked heavies Modesto Christian and Sheldon.

4. Modesto Christian (11-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Modesto Metro
Coach: Richard Midgley
Update: Eight lettermen and three starters return for the Crusaders, a long-time powerhouse that was last a NorCal preseason No. 1 in 2001 until this season in some polls. There is size with Robinson Idehen and quickness and skill with guard Christian Ellis, and a terrific coach in Midgley, one of the best players to come out of the Sac-Joaquin Section. The loss was in the final seconds to Folsom. A rematch could come in the CIF Open Division NorCal playoffs.

5. Moreau Catholic (Hayward) (8-3)
Section: North Coast
League: Mission Valley
Coach: Frank Knight
Update: The Mariners are loaded with experience, headed by wing Oscar Frayer and guards Damari Milstead and Terrell Brown. A stunning first-round NorCal Open loss to Serra (San Mateo) has this group angry and inspired.

6. Sheldon (Sacramento) (5-3)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Joey Rollings
Update: The Huskies returned to form last season after an off year that followed a Sac-Joaquin Section championship four-peat. Sheldon returns its top six players from last season in guards Isaiah Brooks, Elishja Duplechan, Devin Greene and Drew Cobb and front-court players Matthew Manning and Blake Mason. An early win was over ranked Mitty with a close loss to Folsom, too. The Delta League race includes ranked Jesuit.

7. Saint Francis (Mountain View) (7-2)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Motil
Update: The Lancers are experienced and hungry. They lost the Central Coast Section Open Division title to league rival Serra 40-38 before bowing out to O'Dowd in the playoffs after winning the WCAL. The expectations are the same: win. The lone NorCal loss was to Sacramento this season. The top player is Curtis Witt.

8. Granite Bay (10-2)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Jason Sitterud
Update: The Grizzlies could field their greatest team in school history, and they will be tested in the loaded Sierra Foothill League that includes Folsom and Woodcreek. Guard Charlie Tooley and forward/center Darren Nelson make for one of the region's best 1-2 punches. The early schedule has been daunting, and it's paid off.

9. Manteca (11-2)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Brett Lewis
Update: The Buffaloes are off to a fast start, with the lone NorCal loss coming to Modesto Christian, 59-43. The leaders are Anand Hundal, Kenny Wooten Jr. and Dwight Young. The league showdowns will be against ranked Weston Ranch.

10. Freedom (Oakley) (10-2)
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Drew Torres
Update: The Falcons like their chances in the Bay Valley League, and, of course, the North Coast Section Division I championship race. They have a 13-point loss to Granite Bay, a three-point loss to Manteca and an 83-81 triple-overtime win over Folsom as gauge efforts.

11. Monte Vista (Danville) (11-2)
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Nick Jones
Update: Every season, Nick Jones graduates the house, and every year, the team comes charging back. Expect more of the same from one of the best coaches in the state. The Mustangs are two-time defending NCS D-I champions and won the CIF state title in 2014 and are typically active and fun to watch. The East Bay League includes rival De La Salle.

12. Jesuit (Carmichael) (8-2)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Jon Rotz
Update: Rotz slides over from the assistant-coaching seat to replace longtime head coach and friend Greg Harcos, now the school's athletic director. Rotz played for Jesuit in the early 1990s, so he can speak from experience what this program means. It is one of the storied programs in the Sac-Joaquin Section, and it is a serious threat to win titles. Post Malik Duffy and guards Ethan Pangelinan and Armoni Rivers are among the returning vets.

13. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) (6-5)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Coast Athletic
Coach: Tim Kennedy
Outlook: The defending NorCal D-II champions return standout big man Ben Kone but lost standout shooter Sebastian Much to transfer back to Orange County. Still, this is a contender, as always, with coach Tim Kennedy, who is one of the state's best. Losses early included to ranked heavies Sheldon (79-76) and Modesto Christian (57-54).

14. Half Moon Bay (10-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: Peninsula
Coach: Rich Forslund
Update: The Cougars are off to another fast start, a credit to the great program coach Rich Forslund has built. The loss was to Palma, 42-40, a team Half Moon Bay beat seven days earlier, 47-42. Tommy Nuno and Austin Hilton are the key players. A big win was over ranked Bellarmine, 41-35.

15. Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose) (8-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Coast Athletic
Coach: Patrick Schneider
Update: The Bells, a decades-long factor in this and every sport, target league and section crowns. The loss was to ranked Half Moon Bay, 41-35. The league race will be just as fun and taxing.

16. Capital Christian (Sacramento) (7-5)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Golden Empire
Coach: Devon Jones
Update: The Cougars have risen from a small-school power to an all-levels heavyweight, competing in the Open Division in recent years and reaching the CIF state D-IV finals a year ago. Tiegen Jones, son of coach Devon Jones, is the catalyst. He's a standout in baseball, too, headed to Fresno State on scholarship.

17. Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond) (9-4)
Section: North Coast
League: Tri-County Rock
Coach: Bill Mellis
Update: The Pride have been a powerhouse for years, and this is shaping up to be another fun bunch to watch. Losses to NorCal-ranked Capital Christian (70-64) and Modesto Christian (68-56) offered a lot of encouraging signs.

18. Palma (Salinas) (9-2)
Section: Central Coast
League: Monterey Bay
Coach: Kelley Lopez
Update: The Chieftains are an athletic power across the board, and basketball aims to win titles this season. One loss was to ranked Saint Francis and the other was to ranked Half Moon Bay. There's also a nice win against Half Moon Bay, too.

19. Weston Ranch (Stockton) (10-3)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Chris Teevan
Update: The Cougars are proof that there's more to basketball in Stockton than storied St. Mary's. A relatively new school, Weston Ranch has a competitive loss to Capital Christian (68-61) and other setbacks to heavies from Southern California. The league showdowns will be with ranked Manteca.

20. Menlo-Atherton (Atherton) (8-2)
Section: Central Coast
League: Peninsula South
Coach: Mike Molieri
Update: The Bears are heavy favorites to win the Peninsula South title, and they have scheduled tough early, losing only to ranked Bellarmine (58-57) and ranked Half Moon Bay (55-49).

21. Dougherty Valley (San Ramon) (13-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Mike Hansen
Update: The Wildcats have been good before, and now they're really, really good. They have no in-state losses, falling only to Carson of Nevada 62-50. There are shooters, rebounders and play makers.

22. Woodcreek (Roseville) (10-6)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Paul Hayes
Outlook: The Timberwolves are back for more after a terrific showing in 2014-15. They beat De La Salle in a NorCal semifinal and lost in the finals to eventual state champion San Ramon Valley (Danville), but national recruit sophomore Jordan Brown is back, all 6-foot-10 of him. He's joined by guards Jackson Hughes and Tyrell Roberts.

23. Dublin (11-2)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Tom Costello
Update: The Gaels have been a playoff force before and expect more of the same. The losses were to Concord (74-68) and ranked Dougherty Valley (71-63). This is the favorite to win the Diablo Foothill League.

24. Pittsburg (9-6)
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Carson Padon
Update: The Pirates, fresh off a big football season, are rounding into hoops shape amid a brutal early schedule. The biggest win was this week's 76-73 overtime effort over ranked Oakland Tech.

25. Oakland Tech (12-1)
Section: Oakland
League: Oakland
Coach: Karega Hart
Update: The Bulldogs are off to a roaring start, literally, the lone loss coming in overtime to ranked Pittsburg, 76-73. Souley Boum has led the charge early, averaging 20.2 points.

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports in Northern California since 1984, including since 1988 for The Sacramento Bee. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sacbeepreps/

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