SBLive’s California Boys Basketball Top 25: Rolling Hills Prep up to No. 17 in statewide rankings

The winter 2021-2022 California high school boys basketball season began Nov. 15. Here’s a look at the top teams in the state two weeks into the year.

The winter 2021-2022 California high school boys basketball season began Nov. 15. Here’s a look at the top teams in the state two weeks into the year. SBLive’s statewide high school boys basketball rankings are compiled by SBLive California reporter Connor Morrissette and are released every Monday throughout the spring 2021 season.

SBLIVE CALIFORNIA TOP 25 BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

November 29, 2021

1. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) (4-1)

Last week: 1

Without their top two players (Amari Bailey and Isaiah Elohim), Sierra Canyon dropped their first game of the season to Texas power Duncanville 80-73 at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest showcase at Dickie's Arena in Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday. A day prior, No. 2 Corona Centennial lost to Duncanville as well, so the Trailblazers stay at No. 1 this week.

2. Corona Centennial (Corona, Calif.) (4-1)

Last week: 2

Donovan Dent scored 30 points in an 85-59 win over No. 14 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame two weeks ago, but the Huskies lost to Texas power Duncanville 75-70 at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest showcase at Dickie's Arena in Fort Worth, Texas on Friday, which keeps them at No. 2.

3. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) (4-0)

Last week: 3

The Wolverines beat No. 25 Crossroads 61-53 two weeks ago. Landon Lewis, one of the top big men in the state, scored 14 points in the victory.

4. Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) (1-0)

Last week: 4

Etiwanda beat Santiago 64-36 in the first game of their season. Junior Curtis Williams scored 19 points.

5. Modesto Christian (Modesto, Calif.) (1-0)

Last week: 5

Modesto Christian beat No. 18 San Joaquin Memorial 87-71 in their first game of the season thanks to 29 points from sophomore Jamari Phillips and 27 points junior B.J. Davis.

6. Campolindo (Moraga, Calif.) (1-0)

Last week: 6

Campolindo won their first game of the year 50-42 over Dublin. Junior Shane O’Reilly scored 18 points to lead the Cougars to the win.

7. Damien (La Verne, Calif.) (6-0)

Last week: 7

Damien beat No. 23 Riverside Poly 55-52 to win the Rumble for Rosecrans two weeks ago. Kaleb Smith scored 15 points to lead the Spartans.

8. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (2-0)

Last week: 8

Mater Dei is off to a 2-0 start with two blowout wins. Junior Zack Davidson is averaging 19.5 points per game in the two victories.

9. St. Augustine (San Diego, Calif.) (5-1)

Last week: 9

St. Augustine was San Diego’s preseason No. 1. team and so far the Saints are playing like it. Their lone loss came against No. 1 Sierra Canyon 51-46.

10. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) (2-0)

Last week: 10

The Braves dropped their first game of the season on the road against Lanphier (Springfield, Ill.) 55-50, but St. John Bosco is undefeated against California opposition.

11. St. Bernard (Playa Del Rey, Calif.) (4-0)

Last week: 11

Tyler Rolison and Darius Carr are two excellent guards. They’ve led the Vikings to a 4-0 start. Rolison scored 37 points in St. Bernard’s 83-75 win over Fairmont Prep on Nov. 19.

12. Crean Lutheran (Irvine, Calif.) (1-0)

Last week: 12

Crean Lutheran showed why they're going to be considered for the Southern Section Open Division playoffs this year in their 69-63 season-opening win over Eastvale Roosevelt. Sophomore Vyctorius Miller scored 28 points in the victory. Koat Keat added 18 points.

13. West Ranch (Santa Clarita, Calif.) (0-0)

Last week: 13

West Ranch will go as far as junior Andrew Meadow and sophomore James Evans take them. The Wildcats play No. 1 Sierra Canyon on Wednesday.

14. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) (7-1)

Last week: 14

Star junior Dusty Stromer is back for Notre Dame after playing as a freshman. He joins senior Creighton commit Ben Shtolzberg to make up a Knights team with Southern Section Open Division aspirations. The duo led the Knights to a 61-53 win over No. 15 Heritage Christian last week, but then lost on the road 85-59 to No. 2 Corona Centennial. Since the Corona Centennial defeat, the Knights have won five games in a row.

15. Heritage Christian (Northridge, Calif.) (2-1)

Last week: 15

In their first marquee game of the season, Heritage Christian fell to No. 14 Notre Dame 61-53 two weeks ago. Senior Barrington Hargress scored 20 points in the loss. The Warriors followed up the defeat with a nice win over San Diego’s No. 2 team, San Marcos, 61-40.

16. St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.) (0-0)

Last week: 16

St. Joseph lost a lot of talent to graduation, but star senior guard Dre Roman returns for a team that went 27-3 a year ago.

17. Rolling Hills Prep (San Pedro, Calif.) (3-0)

Last week: 19

Senior guard Benny Gealer, a Stanford commit, and junior forward Kenny Manzi make up one of the state’s best duos. The Huskies won the 2AA Southern Section title last season and have picked up right from where they left off a year ago.

18. San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.) (1-1)

Last week: 17

The Panthers opened their season with an 86-61 win over Bakersfield Centennial, but then fell to No. 5 Modesto Christian 87-71, which drops the Panthers down a spot.

19. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) (0-0)

Last week: 18

Mitty had a senior heavy team in the spring, but this winter a young Monarchs squad should still emerge as one of the state’s best.

20. Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.) (1-1)

Last week: 20

Sheldon beat Fairfax 59-50 and lost to No. 2 Corona Centennial 72-51 two weeks ago. Devon Hayes scored 12 points in the win over Fairfax.

21. Salesian (Richmond, Calif.) (0-0)

Last week: 21

Sophomore Amani Johnson is a player to watch for Salesian.

22. Fountain Valley (Fountain Valley, Calif.) (0-0)

Last week: 22

Senior guard Roddie Anderson and sophomore Carter Bryant are special talents.

23. Riverside Poly (Riverside, Calif.) (4-1)

Last week: 23

Poly narrowly lost to No. 7 Damien 55-52 two weeks ago. If a 50/50 call had gone their way, they could have won.

24. Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) (4-0)

Last week: 24

Bishop Montgomery rolled to the Ryse Williams Pac Shores title at Redondo Union High School with four big wins.

25. Crossroads (Santa Monica, Calif.) (2-1)

Last week: 25

Crossroads beat a good St. Anthony team 69-57 and then fell to No. 3 Harvard-Westlake 61-53 two weeks ago.