The Full-Time Hoops Top 50: 26-50
We start our annual dive into the San Diego preseason outlook with our 26-50th ranked squads. There's not a lot that separates the first group of teams from the bottom of the Top 25, as Bishop's, Madison, Christian, Scripps Ranch, Steele Canyon and Helix have solid credentials and returning performers, which makes this yearly exercise in futility as tough as ever.
In the bottom of the Top 50 you'll likely find your eventual D3 and D4 champions, as well as most of the prime contenders to Olympian in Division 2. Several leagues are well represented here: the new-look Avocado League, the reconfigured City League and the much-improved Pacific League comprise much of the group.
Bishop's
Key Players: 5-11 Jacob Tsai, 6-0 Owen Turner, 6-5 Lucas Myer, 6-6 Romeo Wright, 5-8 Tristan Vuong, 6-0 Jojo Bryant, 6-1 Declan O'Donovan, 6-3 Zach Chen
Outlook: The Knights starting five should keep them in the game against any team in the Coastal League, where they're a certified dark horse.
Madison
Key Players: 6-3 Runnar "RJ" Miller, 6-0 Eli Stevens, 6-3 Jorge Luque, 6-3 Tristen Moore, 6-1 Caleb Gleason, 6-3 Ryan Jackson, 6-1 Adein Lea'e, 5-6 Brody Lacson, 6-0 Jereil Jones
Outlook: Miller's return, coupled with the dramatic improvement of the supporting cast, sets the Warhawks up for a really good two-year run.
Steele Canyon
Key Players: 6-0 Caleb Thach, 6-9 Jacob Allen, 6-2 Salim Underwood, 6-2 Tyree Zakarian, 6-4 Derek Chuisano, 6-1 Chris Alexander, 5-9 Alex Andrews, 5-9 Tyler Starr, 6-2 Houston Adair, 6-4 Chayse Miles, 6-4 Jack Masterson
Outlook: Thach is as underrated a playmaker as there is in San Diego, but he will need Underwood and Allen, both role players as sophomores, to take a big step forward. Allen at 6-9 has gained a ton of confidence since last year and Underwood appears to be coming into his own on offense after being primarily a defensive ace his first two seasons. Miles, a transfer from Helix, should figure prominently after the sit-out period.
Christian
Key Players: 6-5 Juju Lebel, 6-2 Ronnie Scott, 6-0 Alex Williams, 6-5 Gannon Pisapia, 6-3 Dwight McDonald, 5-11 Connor Kiti, 6-1 Peyton Price, 5-10 Anthony Lee, 6-1 William Conway, 5-11 Roman Martinez, 5-6 Logan Wilkins
Outlook: This team should start to move up the standings after the sit-out period, when the Steele Canyon transfer Scott becomes eligible. Lebel should become a household name in SD this season, and he, Pisapia and Williams - who also transferred from Steele Canyon - should lead the way until the team becomes whole. If the sophomore trio of Price, McDonald and Kiti and continue their progression, this team should be a top contender in Division 2.
Bonita Vista
Key Players: 6-3 Aaron Owens, 5-9 Jerry Stokes, 5-9 Isaiah Diaz, 6-5 Adam Mitchell, 6-1 Treyvon Davis, Gian Monroy, 5-10 Brandon Rosales, 5-8 Estevan Flores, 6-3 Giovanni De Lone,
Outlook: The Barons have one of the best one-two punches in San Diego in Owens - one of the region's most unheralded scorers - and Stokes, who at 5-9 might be pound-for-pound the best athlete in SD. The supporting cast is underrated as well - watch out for Mitchell, who is improving with each game.
Scripps Ranch
Key Players: 6-6 Charlie Barajas, 6-4 Dominic Stevens, 6-2 Dominic Procopio, 6-7 Alex Gerhant, 6-6 EJ Newman, 6-4 Gavin Hallock, 6-2 Jagger Johnson, 6-0 Cody York, 6-0 Kihei Blas, 6-0 Drew Corso
Outlook: The Falcons have as much size as any team in the SD Section and can start as many as four players 6-4 or taller. The question is the back court play a year after losing do-it-all guard Kai Brown to graduation.
Otay Ranch
Key Players: 6-5 Jordyn Webster, 6-2 Jamal Kendrick, 5-10 Manuel Franke, 5-9 Johann Onmae, 5-10 Nyno Lopez 5-11 Chase Taylor, 6-0 Matt Talob, 5-9 Eddyson Ferreras, 5-10 Quincy Washington
Outlook: Much of the Mustangs outlook replies on the durability and health of its two key transfers, Webster - an ultra-talented but oft-injured wing - and Kendrick, who led Olympian in scoring as a sophomore before tearing his ACL last year. If they are healthy, it's a powerful duo that can move up the standings. Also watch for underrated guard Onmae, Franke and Lopez, who transferred last year from Victory Christian.
Canyon Crest
Key Players: 6-2 Jacques Godard, 5-10 Manny Aquino, 5-11 Ethan Park, 6-0 Musa Chowdry, Dylan Brown, Max Navarro
Outlook: The Ravens have one of the more underrated scorers in San Diego in Godard, a very young 2025 prospect who can score it efficiently from three levels. With a solid core around him - including the very underrated Aquino - Coach Ben Baum should have enough to push for a league title behind Sage Creek.
Rancho Bernardo
Key Players: 6-2 Luke Sanchez, 5-11 Evan Woodland, 5-8 Noah Santa Ana, 5-8 Joaquin Padilla, Brady Savage, 6-3 Cyrus Sadri-Ahwazi, 6-3 Aryasb Kont, 6-3 Ethan Palmer, 6-5 Lucas Winkler, Brady Savage, Andy Shipman James Ramm
Outlook: The Broncos, looking to rebound from their 5-23 nadir, have the pieces to do it, and win a D3 title. Sanchez and Woodland are steady senior leaders, while Kont and Sadri-Ahwazi are talented, upside-laden wings. Winkler, a transfer from Ramona, provides toughness and a commanding interior presence that will make the Broncos a tough out.
Helix
Key Players: 6-4 Kristian Giordano, 6-1 Jason Black, 6-1 Sergio Vasquez, 6-0 Trey Cavazos, 6-3 Brian Hammerstrand, 6-1 Rahfeal Alomar, 6-3 Glenn Payne, 5-9 G Ziggy Robinson, Deron Sayles
Outlook: The Highlanders play fast and and shoot a ton of threes. When they're connecting on them, they're dangerous. Giordano is a sleeper prospect and Cavazos has a chance to be one of the region's most productive freshmen and one of the region's best shooters.
Patrick Henry
Key Players: 6-3 Isaac Weatherred, 6-8 Alex Newlands, 6-2 Sami Lynch, 6-4 Deshawn Jones, 5-0 Ali Ghafouri, 5-6 Tyki King, 6-4 Abi Tedros, 6-1 Roman Campisi, 5-9 Jacob Baker
Outlook: The Patriots are one of the more phyisical teams in San Diego, capable of grinding games to a halt with a smash mouth brand of defense. Weatherred, a strapping wing with a streaky three-point shot, is on the come.
Hoover
Key Players: 5-10 PG Ajani Jones, 5-10 G Tico Kirkpatrick, 6-1 G Braylon Lucas, 6-6 W Mustafa Abdi, 6-2 W Hayven Fuentes, 5-8 G AJ Ojeda, 6-1 G Darnell Brown, 6-0 G Moustapha Arabab, 5-11 G Kymani Joseph, 5-9 G Nate Rodriguez, Anthony Pasos
Outlook: Hoover graduated a ton off of last year's squad, but the building blocks are there. Kirkpatrick, a high scoring guard from neighborhood rival Crawford, will supplement the Cardinals underrated core of Jones, Lucas, Abdi and Fuentes.
Eastlake
Key Players: 6-2 AJ Reavis, 6-2 Ruben Del Busto, 6-3 Cameron Clarke, 5-7 Izzy Fejeran, 5-9 Brayden Coladilla, 6-0 Sean Stone, 6-1 Brandon Shipwash, Tristan De Leon
Outlook: The Ryan Gardocki era begins in Eastlake, and he's got a solid core of returners to get it underway. Reavis and Del Busto were all League-level players a year ago and Clarke has emerged as a potent shooting and scoring threat. They will need more offensive output from the lightning quick Fejeran and there are questions about the depth, but the core should keep them in games.
Army Navy
Key Players: 6-3 Yanler Ramos, 6-9 Brody Koch, 6-7 Ivan Marchenko, 6-4 Ricardo Senkomane, 6-6 Kevin Sun, 5-11 Nehemiah Brunson, 5-11 Ricky Luo, 5-10 Skyler Dawson, 6-1 Rommel Nelson
Outlook: Last season was a tale of two Warriors teams: the team that started 3-5 and the team that finished the season winning 9 of 12 and narrowly missed the playoffs. The major change was the addition of Koch, who at 6-9 provided the team with an imposing, albeit raw paint presence. The team has only gotten bigger, adding the 6-7 Marchenko from Ukraine to give them one of San DIego's tallest teams. But the catalyst is Ramos, who has one of the best motors in San Diego and is rapidly improving his ball skills. If the guard play improves, this is your favorite in D4.
Westview
Key Players: 6-6 Lawrence Lam, 6-1 Mason Walsh, 6-0 Connor Reardon, 6-1 Shervin Kamsi, 6-1 Ari Koza, 5-10 Branden Luo, 6-3 Caleb Hardy,
Outlook: The Wolverines proved over the fall they could compete with anyone, and did it without Lam, one of the region's most underrated players, who missed time with injury. With him back in the folder, this unheralded collection of scrappy and tough players are a D2 dark horse.
Granite Hills
Key Players: 6-0 Andre Dankha, 6-5 Lathan Fry, 6-4 Jasen Hughes Jr., 6-2 Zac Benitez, 5-10 AJ Dufeal, 5-8 Kris Mays, 6-0 Esteban Chavez, 5-9 Christian Sanchez, 5-10 Sivan Shores, 5-11 Zedahn Smith
Outlook: The Eagles have one of the best returning one-two punches in the region in the high-scoring Dankha and the rebounding machine Fry, who recently committed to play D1 volleyball at UC San Diego. Adding Hughes, who was a solid contributor on last year's D4 champions Mt. Miguel, gives them a formidable core that should put them in the driver's seat for the Grossmont Valley League title and firmly in contention for a Division 4 title.
Mt Carmel
Key Players: 6-2 Blaine Raagas, 5-10 Makai Orje, 6-4 Tyler Humphrey, 6-0 Jaylon Boyd, 6-0 F Kyle Bolas, 5-9 Vahid Hashemi, 6-4 Matt Muttoni, 6-0 Tommy Burian
Outlook: The Sundevils will have to tread water for a bit until Raagas - a physical two-way presence at point, returns from a forearm injury he sustained during football, but the rising sophomore Humphrey and junior guard Orje are talented and good enough to hold down the fort.
Tri-City Christian
Key Players: 6-2 Jeramiah Turner, 5-11 David Turner, 6-3 Dre Cleaves, 5-9 Garry Dillard, 6-1 Caleb Williams, 6-0 Josh Patten, 6-3 Zane Kilmer, 5-9 Donovan Cronkhite, 5-10 Joel Valverde, 6-3 Jack Bush, 5-8 Ian Johnson,
Outlook: A year after blitzing the lowly Sunset League and winning a D5AA championship, the Eagles return with a ton of confidence and a team with guard play in spades. The junior Turner had a breakout summer and is one of the region's most unheralded guard prospects. They'll have to offset the loss of Gage Blakemore, who transferred to Poway this summer, but adding Williams and Patten goes a long way in doing so once the sit-out period ends.
Ramona
Key Players: 6-1 Daniel Penner, 6-3 Colin Dillon, 6-5 Jack Schaefer, 6-7 Eric Diaz, 6-1 G Matthew Parker, 6-2 Bryce Corbin, 6-6 Aiden Bestul, 6-0 Tayden Bryant
Outlook: The Bulldogs lost 2,000-point career scorer Chase Newman to graduation, but Steve Jones has a group that has size (three players over 6-5), shooting (Dillon is one of the best shooters you've never heard of) and good coaching. They will need a point guard to emerge between Corbin and Bryant, a transfer from Otay Ranch who has gelled quickly with his teammates.
Mt. Miguel
Key Players: 6-4 Jamell Wiley, 6-3 Hamad ElHamad, 6-3 Juan Corona, 6-0 Jahvion Miller, 5-9 Jerome Radcliff, 6-3 Trae Williams, 6-2 Braylon Cardwell
Outlook: The Matadors are another team that lost a ton - four of five starters - but should still be kept afloat by the returners and an infusion of talent via transfer. The biggest addition came in the last two weeks when Wiley, a talented offensive wing, transferred from Lincoln. The three key returners from last year - Cardwell, an SDSU football commit, ElHamad and Corona - will all need to take the next step and grow into bigger roles, as well youngsters Radcliff, Baudler and Williams -- all sophomores -- who are solid.
Maranatha Christian
Key Players: 6-3 Adrian Ownbey, 6-1 Dash Ekeroth, 6-2 Will Ralston, 6-5 Jeronimo Martinez, 5-7 Cole Niguidula, 6-3 Shane Piester
Outlook: If there's a coach that gets the most out of his players, it's Brooks Barnhard, and this team has just enough to get things done. Ownbey, Ekeroth and Ralston are seasoned veterans at this point in their career, and Martinez, a transfer from Montverde Academy's developmental team, gives them size and toughness. Ekeroth and Niguidula will have to improve as playmakers to give this team the requisite ball handling when they face teams that will pressure them.
Del Lago Academy
Key Players: 5-10 Jose Galvan, 6-3 Kiernan Ramirez, 6-3 Will Dunbar, 6-6 Kyeler Burns, 6-5 Max Johnson, 6-4 Dawere Tut
Outlook: The Firebirds return all but one starter from last year's D5 title team, and added a significant transfer in Tut, who was among Orange Glen's leaders in almost every statistic as a freshman. The team has great size for a lower Division squads with five players in the rotation 6-3 or taller, headlined by the rapidly developing Burns. Galvan is the straw that stirs the drink, and will rack up video-game assists numbers.
Point Loma
Key Players: 6-3 Gabe Stewart, 5-11 Trevor Dorris, 6-4 Na'Sean Hardy, 6-0 Jax Marple, 6-1 Miles Caldwell, 5-9 Parker Pactanac
Outlook: The Pointers will lean heavily on their "Big Four" of Stewart, Dorris, Hardy and the San Diego transfer Marple, which gives them a very good stable of guards. If Josh Aros team can get rebounding a toughness from Caldwell, who Aros said reminds him of last year's all-leaguer Nick Freeman, this team will might be too low.
La Jolla
Key Players: 6-0 Leo Hawkinson, 6-2 Brody Sessa, 6-6 Lance Braga, 6-2 Jake Riney. 5-11 Cole Hein, 5-10 Eyal Amsalem, 5-11 Conlan Rute,
Outlook: The addition of Hawkinson gives the Vikings a major lift and give them a nice trio along with Sessa and Braga, both varsity veterans. The team graduated its two leading scorers from last season, including 20-ppg scorer Michael Contreras, but this version of the Vikings should have more balance.
Coronado
Key Players: 5-8 Austin Brown, 5-11 Loxly Johnson, 5-6 Kannon Seals, 6-2 Ah'Mahn Oliver 5-10 Trey Stallworth, 5-4 Kamarquis Davis, 6-1 RJ Sanchez, 6-3 Aiden Roberts
Outlook: The Islanders are diminutive, but have three very good guard in Brown, Johnson and Seals and a quality freshman in Oliver, who will be asked to start from Day 1. Rebounding will be a concern, but if the guard trio is hitting shots, the Islanders should contend in D3.
Canyon Hills
Key Players: 6-5 Trevor Krugh, 6-5 Quentin Goff, 5-10 Gabe Orila, 6-2 Dillon Sommese, 6-1 Cooper Penwell, 6-0 Slade Stevens, 5-10 Howie Pham, 6-1 Trey Goodlow, 5-11 Mahamadou Diawara, Reece Fogg, Torian Sutton
Outlook: The Rattlers bookend bigs of Krugh and Goff will give teams fits in the paint with their size and complementary skillet. Orila is seasoned, but the rest of the back court players must take the next step forward.
Escondido Charter
Key Players: 5-11 Boldyn Rimmer, 6-3 Max Mowrey-Pagano, 6-2 Joe Scates, 6-1 Christian Nguyen, 5-9 Izaak Elias de la Fuente, 5-9 Willy Santos, 6-0 Blake Jurges, 6-5 Liam Riccardi, 6-0 Omar Elias de la Fuente, 6-1 Sam Stehly
Outlook: The White Tigers boast their most talented guard collection of David Vidosic's tenure, with Rimmer on the verge of becoming a star. Mowrey-Pagano has evolved into a more physical scorer from his earlier days, and Scates is the constant with his physicality and motor as an undersized forward. The team's death should help them absorb the blow of losing 2027 Alejandro Gonzalez to transfer.
El Capitan
Key Players: 6-1 Jason Wilson, 5-9 Kayden McMahon, 6-1 Chance Smith, 5-11 Kale Curo, 6-8 Andy Novelo, 6-6 Brandt Barker, 6-3 Ricardo Silva, 6-1 Ethan Adams
Outlook: The Vaqueros outlook took a huge hit this week after senior post Novelo suffered a medical emergency that will keep him out of the lineup indefinitely. But what the team loses in size and rebounding they may gain in inspiration, as the community has rallied around the team. In his absence, they'll lean heavily on their guard quartet of Wilson, McMahon and the rapidly improving Smith and Curo, both of whom impressed this summer and fall.
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