In the event you assume Trinity League soccer is the most effective within the nation, then the Mission League could be its equal in boys’ basketball this season.
“It’s off the charts,” Harvard-Wesltake coach David Rebibo mentioned in describing the expertise of the eight Mission League groups.
“It’s completely ridiculous,” Chaminade coach Bryan Cantwell mentioned. “We may have all eight groups probably within the high 30 in Southern California.”
Transfers, promising freshmen and the event of younger gamers has set the stage for a league schedule in January that can permit followers to see gamers who could be quickly showing on weekend TV for school basketball groups or on NBA rosters.
Harvard-Westlake has received seven consecutive league titles and stays within the title combine. The teaching is so good within the league and the expertise so plentiful that it might be no shock if a number of groups win Southern Part titles relying on what divisions wherein they’re positioned.
It’s not as if the league didn’t have expertise earlier than this season, however Cantwell identified, “There’s simply extra on all the groups.”
Each crew besides Harvard-Westlake added switch college students this season. The largest have been St. John Bosco senior Brandon McCoy going to Sierra Canyon, 7-foot-3 Cherif Millogo arriving at St. Francis from Boston and 6-9 Sam Mbingazo returning to Bishop Alemany after enjoying at Iowa Prep final season.
One large loss, although, has been suffered at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, the place 6-7 Tyran Stokes, ranked No. 1 by many within the class of 2026, received’t be enjoying for the Knights. He withdrew from college final week. There are others prepared to assist substitute him.
Zachary White has dedicated to San Diego State and NaVorro Bowman has gotten so good that he’s turn out to be among the best prospects from the category of 2027.
Sierra Canyon may begin a lineup solely of transfers, with Maximo Adams in his second season with the Trailblazers and among the best gamers within the class of 2026. Brannon Martinsen, a 6-6 senior, arrived from JSerra.
Sierra Canyon’s Maximo Adams hugs coach Andre Chevalier.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Occasions)
Harvard-Westlake isn’t going anyplace, with the return of standout senior guard Joe Sterling, a Texas commit, senior heart Dominique Bentho and guards Pierce Thompson, Amir Jones and Cole Holden. Crespi returns the Barnes twins, Isaiah and Carter.
“There are anyplace between three and 5 Division 1 gamers on each crew with D1 potential between the sophomores and juniors,” Rebibo mentioned. “The senior class on this league is unreal. It makes the league as aggressive because it’s been in a really very long time.”
As if expertise weren’t sufficient of a draw, there’s the teaching. Former Lakers star Derek Fisher, who used to educate the New York Knicks, is in his third season at Crespi and nobody is intimidated teaching towards him. Chaminade’s Bryan Cantwell, St. Francis’ Todd Wolfson and Sierra Canyon’s Andre Chevalier are veteran coaches who’ve all received part championships. Loyola has a first-year coach, Cam Joyce, from Ohio, and Mike DuLaney guided Bishop Alemany to a Division III state title in 2024.
“It’s going to be actually aggressive and actually enjoyable,” Cantwell mentioned.
All through Southern California, there are many elite prospects. There’s Missouri-bound Jason Crowe Jr. of Inglewood; Kansas-bound Luke Barnett of Mater Dei; high-scoring junior guard Gene Roebuck of La Mirada; Georgia Tech commit Kaiden Bailey of Santa Margarita; high sophomore transfers Evan Willis and Shalen Sheppard of Crossroads; closely recruited Christian Collins of St. John Bosco; dynamic senior guard Josiah Johnson of Mayfair; standout senior guard Isaiah Rogers of Corona Centennial; 6-11 Josh Irving of Pasadena, who has dedicated to Texas A&M; 6-6 rising junior Kevin Keshishyan of Los Altos.
So far as groups, Sierra Canyon, Santa Margarita, St. John Bosco, Redondo Union, Rolling Hills Prep, Harvard-Westlake, Corona Centennial and Damien all seem headed to high groups standing.
Sadly, the Metropolis Part has seen most of its high gamers switch or graduate. Palisades is the preseason favourite with the arrival of the 6-6 Popoola twins, Elijah and Olujimi, juniors from Las Vegas.
