times top 10 socal

SoCal High School & Prep Report

More "Official" Rankings: LA Times Top
10 For All Of SoCal--(January 14, 1998)

People keep asking us to reproduce the mythical "rankings" for high school and prep teams in SoCal. Some want the LA Times, some the San Diego Tribune, some want the Santa Barbara-Ventura rankings, and still others want the Inland Empire or the San Fernando Valley.

Since these seem to be in such high demand, here's last weeks Los Angeles Times Top 10. Note that this is more than just the Northern LA County (i.e., SFV and Ventura-Pasadena) area. This is for all of Southern California. Well, almost all of SoCal. At least it's for Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

Again, we wouldn't place too much credence in this stuff, but some of the selections, based upon what we've seen this year are pretty obvious. All of these teams are very good, and most if not all, have one or more players who will take their games to D-1 schools next year or in years to come. So here's the Times' Top 10 from January 8:

1. WESTCHESTER: 11-2 * Comets won Best in the West tournament by defeating Artesia.

2. COMPTON DOMINGUEZ: 8-3 * Dons placed third in the City of Palms tournament in Florida.

3. LAKEWOOD ARTESIA: 14-1 * Lost to Westchester in final of Best in the West tournament.

4. CRENSHAW: 5-2 * Defending state champions lost twice in Nike Classic.

5. LONG BEACH POLY: 11-4 * Lost to Westchester in semifinals of Best in the West tournament.

6. COMPTON: 12-3 * Tartar Lions were impressive in national tournament in Las Vegas.

7. SANTA MARGARITA: 11-0 * Experienced Eagles defeated perennial power Mater Dei.

8. SIMI VALLEY: 13-2 * Pioneers rolled to victory in Simi Valley and Hart tournaments.

9. ETIWANDA: 10-2 * Eagles showed they belong with elite by defeating Glendora.

10. FREMONT: 12-4 * Pathfinders impressive in finishing third in Nike Classic.

Others receiving consideration: Glendora, Harvard-Westlake, Brea Olinda.

* * * * * * *

The interesting thing about this list is the number of teams on it who will be at the MLK Challenge this Monday, January 19, 1998 at Pauley Pavilion. The first six teams, Westchester, Dominguez, Artesia, Crenshaw, LB Poly, and Compton, will be there, as will No. 9 Etiwanda, and "Honorable Mention" team Glendora. And it's not just a media conspiracy to hype only certain teams. If you don't believe us, then go on over to Pauley Pavilion Monday and check it out for yourself. These teams truly are the cream of SoCal high school hoops. We'll be there. You should be too.