Posted by Truth Social on October 01, 2025 at 12:51:22:
In Reply to: Top 13 OC Boys Basketball posted by Bob MacDonald on September 29, 2025 at 17:09:15:
: While this board seems to have less traffic these days, here are my top 15 for OC (both public and private schools). What do you think?
: 1) Santa Margarita- Loads of returners from a high quality team and good coaching from Justin Bell and his staff. The Trinity League is there for the taking. D1 talent is all over this roster with Kaiden Bailey, Drew Anderson, Brayden Kyman leading the way. Its Open Division or bust for this squad.
: 2) JSerra- the international destination for basketball in OC the last couple of years has spread its recruitment efforts south to San Diego, getting one of the best guards in California in Jaiden Bailes from St. Augustine's. They are the best team money can buy in OC high school basketball, but they have some holes to fill after Brannen Martinsen left for $ierra Canyon, and they lost multiple high level contributors to graduation.
: 3) Crean Lutheran- another team with billionaire donors with bottomless pockets, this team has absolutely loads of talent from D1 players PG Hunter Caplan, F Jacob Majok (loads of room to develop even more) and 7 footer Chadrack Mpoyi (who is an intimidating force inside- duh), Crean also added the top player from Oaks Christian in Nick Giarrusso. If the new (fairly unproven) coach can find a way to manage the many mouths to feed, this team can make a deep run possibly even into the open division.
: 4) Mater Dei- MD has seemingly lost some of its historic allure as several players of note have left over the last few years (Martinsen, Demarcus Henry who was coaxed away by Arizona's Compass Prep, and Evan Willis who left for Crossroads??? Wha?) chasing promises from other schools, but this team still has top shooter in Californa 4 Star prospect Luke Barnett, high level pg Ritchie Ramirez, & Malloy Smith (who has taken his game to another level the last 2 years and earned himself multiple D1 offers). But Coach McKnight and staff are going to have to really do a great job to get back to their normal position atop the Trinity League.
: 5) Fairmont Prep- Projected to return at least 8 players from their D2AA CIF Championship team, including D1 player David Abisogun (who is a player you just root for if you ever meet him- few more positive and good vibes players exist at this level). Coach Joely Gardner is a good coach and has a staff that can make this team a repeat champ.
: 6) Corona Del Mar- What should be the top Public high school team in OC, CDM has so many high quality returning players (like last year's Los Alamitos) that coach Jason Simco and staff will be pinching themselves to make sure they aren't dreaming. Look for Luke Mirashemi, Oliver Nakra, and national prospect Maxwell Scott to lead the way. A great team to watch!
: 7) La Habra- Great Point Guards make great teams. Acen Jimenez might be the best PG in OC. Coach Riekenberg has 10 dogs (including Jimenez) returning to this season's squad and even with a very tough league, this team could be another 20 win and title contending squad in 25-26.
: 8) Tesoro- Steve Garrett and staff have a deep and experienced team that thrives on bulldogged defense and timely shooting. This will be the best team they've fielded since they won a CIF title in 22-23. Look for outstanding performances from the Hatch brothers ('26 Carson, and '28 Owen are both tough and skilled), and Dean Mika a '27 with a great shot and feisty demeanor. Defensive star Anish Pagidyala will likely draw the opponents best player and can make it difficult for them.
: 9) Orange Lutheran- OLu alum Nate Kiltzing (and former Crean Lutheran coach) returns home to lead the Lancers back from mediocrity, and has the chops to do so (both on the recruiting side as well as the X's and O's). He inherits a roster with as many questions as returners, but the Dzabatou brothers will be a strong base to build from.
: 10) San Clemente- What is in the water down there? Oh never mind, its just the pipeline of super physically developed hold backs that is pushing this school into the higher levels of OC basketball. Most of their players are big, strong, and spend a lot of time in the weight room and in the kitchen. Losing great players like Christian Fernandez and Christian Porter and a deep roster of contributors to graduation will be a really big deal, but this team has potential to be a problem in OC
: 11) Canyon- Nate Harrison has found a pipeline of fast aggressive players and keeps bringing them in come hell or high water. This is supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Comanches after losing OC Player of the Year Brandon Benjamin to graduation, but they will play fast, aggressive defense, and have some very high upside youngsters on the roster.
: 12) Servite- OGP Ceo and Grassroots visionary and Servite alum Matt Canne has people talking about Servite basketball for the first time in quite a while. Coming off of 6 consecutive winless seasons in the Trinity League sets the bar pretty low for this program, but they have some talent, and only 5 games vs the other trinity league schools on the schedule this season. Having the CEO of OCs biggest AAU/Grassroots program definitely won't hurt.
: 13) Pacifica Christian- The tiny (but well funded) school in Newport Beach has a strong group of players coming back from a CIFSS 2AA finals appearance. While stars like Senior captains EJ Spillman, Logan Stewart and Owen Connell have graduated, Coach Berokoff has a group of high IQ players who can shoot the ball well and some size to boot.
Mike Moore, you have multiple personalities, just list you are doing this instead of your imaginary friends