Full-Time Hoops Preseason Top 50: 11-25

We continue to work our way up to the top 10 with the teams just outside of that group, where you’ll likely find your Division 1 and Division 2 champions.

Just outside of the Top 10, El Camino has a legitimate case to be included in that first grouping, but will have every opportunity to prove it against a quality schedule. Olympian, at No. 12, is my pick to win Division 2, and have the highest starting position of a D2 team in recent memory. A run of North County teams and Francis Parker comprise the next six slots, as Vista, Santa Fe Christian, La Costa Canyon, Sage Creek, Del Norte and Poway all enter the season with the requisite mix of returning talent and newcomers to make noise in their respective leagues. Francis Parker is the second Coastal League team in this mix, and they have arguably the best prospect in San Diego to bolster their chances.

Finally, San Diego, Mission Hills, Lincoln, University City, Mater Dei Catholic and Mira Mesa round out the Top 25. Among this group, you have teams that bring back a lot of continuity (San Diego), teams whose rosters were reshaped by transfers (Lincoln, Mira Mesa and Mater Dei) one squad led by a singular force (University City) and a team who always seems to exceed expectations largely due to coaching (Mission Hills).

11. El Camino

Key Returners: Logan Ardent, 6-2 Sr. G; Devin McGee, 6-0 Sr. G; Justin Johnson, 6-5 So. W; Shawn Sidiqi, 6-5 Sr. W; Isaiah Steward, 6-2 So. G; Damien Moore, 6-4 Sr. F

Key Newcomers: Wyatt Cann, 6-0 Jr. G

Outlook: Head Coach Derrick Jones believes that this Wildcats team can contend for an Open Division berth, and it’s easy to see why. Short of a dominant big, this team has all of the pieces needed to compete: guards who compete on both ends, length on the wings and a squad that plays with a Rodney Dangerfield-esque chip on their shoulder. Ardent looks poised to step into a star role as a senior. Known throughout his career for his defense and game management, he showed during a great run at the vaunted Border League that he’s ready to take over games scoring it as well. McGee, his backcourt mate, brims with confidence and is good for at least one highlight pass or finish a game. Sidiqi, the sharpshooter, will need to step up defensively in his final year. And all eyes are on Johnson, the athletically gifted wing who teased his potential as a freshman. If he takes the next leap, Jones’ predictions could pan out.

12. Olympian

Key Returners: JJ Walker, 5-8 Jr. PG; Tristan Anderson, 5-9 So. G; Sammell Humphries, 6-0 Jr. G; Xaiver King, 6-4 Jr. F; Mathew Huertas, 5-11 Jr. SG; Yaseem Chemsi, 6-4 Jr. WF; Nijil Sherrard, 5-10 Jr. G; Koa Cardeno, 5-9 Jr. G

Key Newcomers: Liam Orozco, 5-11 So. G

Outlook: A year after starting the season 20-0 en route to steamrolling through the Division 3 field, the Eagles look like the team to beat in Division 2. And it’s the guard trio of Walker, Humpries and Anderson (not a law firm) that will lead the way. In that group the Eagles have dynamic scoring, shot making, playmaking and defense that most teams can’t counter. Behind them, the backup guards Sherrard, Cardeno and Huertas are all equally capable and could start for a number of programs. But despite having the reputation of being a “small ball” squad, Marty Ellis has just enough size in the bruiser King and the intriguing Chemsi to provide resistance in the paint and on the glass.

13. Vista

Key Returners: Gavin Guinn, 6-2 Sr. G; CJ Coleman, 6-4 Sr. G; Ashaun Mitchell, 6-2 Sr. G; Cody Myers, 6-4 Sr. W; Romeo Friend, 6-1 Jr. G; Keoki Becerra, 6-4 Jr. F; Kallen Boyett, 5-9 Sr. G

Key Newcomers: Amari Mitchell, 6-1 Fr. G; Aiden Canales, 6-1 Fr. G

Outlook: The Panthers prospects received a major boost when CIF granted star guard Guinn a waiver to play his final season. With Guinn, the co-Avocado League player of the year, the Panthers have a steady leader and unflappable playmaker who enhances his teammates. Coleman showed last year that he’s ready for his star turn as well, becoming an All League first-team selection. Myers, who brings size and shooting ability, will need to bring more on the defensive end and Mitchell, who has had unsustained stretches of high-level play throughout his career, which started at Oceanside as a freshman, will both need to shore up their inconsistencies for this team to really take the step forward after last season’s disappointing D2 quarterfinals loss to Sage Creek. The fifth starter will likely depend on matchups between Becerra, the team’s de-facto big, or Friend, who has the physical talent to be a star, but must take a big leap in Year 3.

14. Santa Fe Christian

Key Returners: Dax Hall, 6-1 Jr. PG; Drew Konsmo, 6-4 Sr. W; Caden Doucette, 6-0 Jr. G; Carson Gile, 5-7 Jr. G; Tyler Tyszkiewicz, 6-0 Sr. G;

Key Newcomers: Chase Othick, 6-1 Jr. G; Coen Sponsel, 6-2 Jr. G; Ryan Rodrigue, Sr. G; Jairus Bolden, 6-2 Jr. F

Outlook: While some teams in SD had larger transfer groups than the Eagles, Santa Fe Christian’s newcomers might be the most needed and impactful. Othick, who was set to be in Torrey Pines rotation as a freshman, and Sponsel, who started a handful of games with Cathedral Catholic over the summer, both step into starting roles on an Eagles squad that needs them both to be big time contributors around the returning duo of Hall and Konsmo, the former of which burst on the scene during his sophomore year to earn All-League honors. Throughout the fall, the group looked like one of the early surprises in SD, with the ability to put teams away with hot shooting from deep and a free-flowing system that puts Hall’s playmaking ability on full display. The Eagles should still contend for a Coastal League title in Year 2 under Matt Carlino.

15. Poway

Key Returners: Daniel Mariduena, 6-5 Jr. F; Grant Rodriguez, 5-11 Jr. G; Cash Heverly, 6-4 Jr. G; Brody Chapman, 6-1 Jr. G; Gabe Menck, 6-3 Sr. W; Ty Hurst, 6-4 Sr. G; Blake Jones, 6-3 Sr. F; Brendon Mariduena, 6-1 Sr. G; Raul Lopez-Avila, 5-7 Jr. PG

Key Newcomers: Gage Blakemore, 6-2 Jr. G; James Clifford 6-5 Jr. F; Kemfon Ekiko, 6-0 So. G; Bryce Jones, 6-3 So. W, Brandon Sawyer, 6-3 Jr. F; Jake Sawyer, 6-0 Jr. G

Outlook: After a 9-20 season, the Titans are back in a big way with a team that has a great balance of size, guard play, skill and depth to spare. Mariduena came on strong down the stretch of last season, earning all-league honors, and over the summer established himself as one of the region’s fastest rising prospects. Rodriguez, Heverly, Chapman and Lopez-Avila comprise a very underrated back court, that only gets deeper and better with the addition of Tri-City transfer Blakemore and rising sophomore Ekiko, who had some impressive moments during a June run to the championship game of the UCSD tournament. The team’s collection of wings are physical and provide the glue, led by the elder statesman Menck, the elder Mariduena and the Jones brothers. Olympian has gotten most of the offseason headlines in Division 2, but the Titans are right there, and pose a real threat in the division.

16. Sage Creek

Key Returners: Elijah Stephens, 6-5 Sr. F; Kayden Naccarato, 5-10 Sr. G; Elias Samady, 6-0 Sr. G; Jordan Barnhart, 6-4 Jr. SG; Tegan Olson, 6-1 Jr. G; Charlie Balcar, 6-2 Jr. F, Rohan Keswani, 6-1 Jr. G; Vaughn Young, 5-9 Jr. PG; Sam Jahries, 6-5 So. F; Cole Vela, 5-10 Sr. G

Key Newcomers: Jayden Bringas, 6-4 So. F

Outlook: The Bobcats have arguably the most dominant forward outside of Montgomery’s JJ Sanchez in Stephens, an undersized-yet-explosive scorer who can get buckets in a variety of ways. He’s averaged 20+ points and 10+ rebounds for two straight seasons, but hovers below the radar because the team has been unheralded. That changed during the playoffs last year, when they knocked off Vista and nearly clipped Rancho Buena Vista in the Division 2 semifinals, putting the rest of the region on notice that the Bobcats are on an upward trajectory, and earning Stephens his first All-CIF selection. The supporting cast is balanced, with Barnhart, Samady, Naccarato and Young all capable of catching fire from the field (Samady scored 42 points in a game last season). Barnhart’s emergence down the stretch played a big role in the Bobcats ascent, so he’ll need to be dialed in from Day 1 in order for the team to reach its potential.

17. Francis Parker

Key Returners: Tavid Lee Johnson, 6-3 So. G; Amon Andrews, 6-0 Sr. G; Kai Jones, 6-0 So. G; Niccolo Whitchurch, 6-2 So. F; Deven Dubois, 6-7 Jr. F; Minh-vy Nguyen, 6-0 Sr. G; Kayden Antia, 5-9 Jr. G

Key Newcomers: Columbus Palmer, 5-9 Fr. G; Ezekiel Walker, 6-1 Jr. G*

Outlook: After a one-year lull, the Lancers returned to relevance during Year 2 of the Mason Biddle era behind the explosive debut of Johnson and a record-setting shooting campaign by the Cathedral Catholic transfer Andrews. Both return, as well as Jones, who had a solid freshman campaign in his own right, and Palmer, the next freshman to immediately field a significant role in the Lancers rotation. The program is holding out hope that Maranatha Christian transfer Walker can prevail in his appeal of the denial of his transfer (they will move up significantly in the rankings if he does), but in the event he’s unsuccessful, the team will need Whitchurch, Dubois and Nguyen to pick up the slack. But the main attraction here is Johnson, who established himself as one of the nation’s top 2027 prospects. If he can put together a repeat performance in Year 2, the Lancers – who will play in their new state-of-the-art facility – will contend for an Open Division berth.

18. La Costa Canyon

Key Returners: Jasper Buck, 6-2 Sr. G; Mason Jones, 6-7 Jr. F; Charlie Hoier, 6-4 Sr. W; Brady Berlucchi, 6-5 So. W; Rufus Holmes, 6-0 Sr. G; Gage Gottlieb, 5-10 Sr. PG; Oliver Griffin, Sr. F; Jesus Hernandez, Sr. G

Key Newcomers: Thomas Brzezinski, 6-1 Sr. G

Outlook: The Mavs return last year’s second-leading scorer, the potent lefty sharpshooter Buck, who has meticulously added to his arsenal over his career. Surrounding him is a supporting cast that brims with potential, some of it unrealized to this point, particularly with Jones and Berlucchi, both of whom have shown flashes of that potential during their careers. They will need to sustain those efforts the entire season to balance that Mavs production. Hoier, who missed time throughout his career due to various injuries, is poised to have a big senior season, as is the Cathedral Catholic transfer Brzezinski, who brings good size, poise and playmaking ability at the point. Never count out a team coached by Dave Cassaw, who in Year 26 is still one of the region’s best.

19. Del Norte

Key Returners: Joshua Thompson, 6-2 Sr. G; Nate Chou, 5-7 Sr. PG; Riley Farrokhi, 6-3 So. G; Jackson Carpenter, 5-10 So. G; Samuel Sipiano, 6-0 Sr. G; Gabriel Ye, 6-0 Sr. G; Ethan Kolker, 6-0 Sr. G

Key Newcomers: Diesel Taylor, 6-5 Sr. F, Oliver Cooper, 6-4 Jr. F; Noah Keller, 6-6 Sr. F; Grant Goldmann, 5-10 Jr. G

Outlook: The Nighthawks have been a steady bet for a middle of the pack Division 1 team over the past three seasons, including a trip to the CIF State playoffs in 2023. This year’s crew has the pieces to potentially get back to the state playoffs if things break their way. Leading the way is a collection of underrated playmakers, led by Thompson, a physically built combo guard who started his career at Rancho Bernardo. Chou has been a steadying force the past two years, and sophomores Farrokhi and Carpenter are on the come. This team doesn’t have a ton of size, but plays fast on both ends and lives and dies with its perimeter shooting. When they’re locked in - like during their surprising run at the UC San Diego Team Camp in June - they’re dangerous.

20. San Diego

Key Returners: Isaiah Marte, 6-1 Sr. G; Treyshawn Degrate, 5-10 Sr. G; Lamar Smith, 6-4 So W; Isaac Webb, 6-2 Sr. G; Jaden Webb, 6-5 Jr. F; Terry Gant, 6-1 Jr. G; Pierre Anderson, 6-0 Sr. G

Key Newcomers: Chianu “CJ” Masters, 6-3 So. F; Dominic Espalin, 6-0 Jr. G

Outlook: No team has been able to weather attrition over the past three years better than the Cavers, who have seen multiple players from their highly touted 2025 class move on. That’s because the holdovers that remain are still quite good. Marte, a young senior sharpshooter, has evolved into a three-level scorer and gives a much better effort on defense than in his earlier career. His back court mate Degrate, the defensive complement to Marte, has shown marked improvement on offense. And the sophomore Smith, who at just under 6-4 boasts a 6-9 wingspan and major athleticism, is on the rise. Also improved year over year are Webb brothers, Gant (an underrated midrange scorer) and Anderson, who has grown from 5-3 as a freshman into a polished floor general. If Bazz Fontenot can integrate transfers Masters and Espalin into “the Caver Way,” the Cavers should be able to compete for an Eastern League title.

21. Mission Hills

Key Returners: Jake Van der Vorste, 6-1 G; Mykah Simmons, 6-3 Jr. G; Trey Vergenz, 5-11 Jr. G; Josh Robinson, 5-8 Sr. G; Austin Seeman, 6-3 Sr. F; Nick Guajardo, 6-3 Sr. F

Key Newcomers: Oliver Savona, 5-8 Jr. PG; Vincent Giglio, 6-2 Jr. W; Daxton Hyde, 6-2 Fr. W; Michael Goodwyn Jr., 5-10 Jr. G

Outlook: The continuity under Curtis Hofmeister has allowed the Grizzlies to stay afloat during the Open Division era even when his teams sustain heavy losses due to graduation, such as this season, which saw the team graduate a pair of all-CIF guards in Jack Jillson and Jake Bishop. This year’s team will lean heavily on its junior core of Van der Vorste, Simmons, Vergenz, Savona and transfers Giglio and Goodwyn from rival San Marcos. The four returners embody the Grizzlies philosophy of disciplined offense and connected defense. Giglio, an underrated scorer, will need to buy into the team’s defensive principles to have the impact he’s capable of. The other major addition is the freshman Hyde, the younger brother of former Vista standout Cyprian Hyde. He’s a different player than his 6-11 sibling, but is a capable scorer and rebounder who will immediately impact the Grizzlies rotation. Don’t count this squad out.

22. Lincoln

Key Returners: Jair Benjamin, 6-3 Sr. W; Josiah McDowell, 6-0 Jr. G, Kenneth Harvey Jr., 6-3 Sr. F

Key Newcomers: Zechariah Hollingsworth, 6-4 Sr. W; Mason Zennedjian, 6-0 Jr. G; Sawyer Flint, 6-3 Sr. W; Maximus Sevilla, 5-7 Sr. G; Jaden Irasusta, 6-0 Jr. G; Kyle Harper Harris, 6-1 Fr. G

Outlook: The Hornets graduated the heart and soul of last year’s group, Derrion Manson, but the roster got a major infusion of talent by way of transfer during the offseason, adding Hollingsworth, a lengthy wing with solid athleticism, from San Diego; Zennedjian, a sharpshooting combo guard from Victory Christian; Flint, a volume-scoring wing from Scripps Ranch and Irasusta, a crafty playmaker from Morse. Add in Sevilla, who had to play JV last season after transferring from University City and brings toughness and feisty defense, and Coach Jeff Harper-Harris should have enough with holdovers Benjamin – arguably the best defender in the City Conference and brings an enforcer-like mentality to the court – and McDowell (a rapidly improving combo guard who buys into the Hornets defensive philosophy) to again be a contender in Division 1.

23. University City

Key Returners: Dylan Griffin, 6-4 Sr. W; TyShaun Harris, 6-1 Sr. G; Jabril Abdullah, 6-5 Sr. F; Matthias Baluyot, 6-1 So. G; Andre Gatlabayan, Sr. G

Key Newcomers: Isaac Hudson, 6-4 Fr. G; Jeein Kim, 6-0 So. G; Stefan O’Neill, 5-11 So. G, Tay Lockett, 5-11 Jr. G

Outlook: Last year’s Division 2 champions graduated a ton of production, but return All-CIF selection Griffin, who has blossomed into a bona fide star over the past year. The former baseball player has transformed into a serious basketball player, blessed with elite athleticism, length and a motor that runs nonstop. Both Harris and Abdullah played solid roles during the team’s title run, and Harris’ motor equals Griffin’s and allows him to play much bigger than his listed height. The team isn’t very deep, and will need the sophomore Baluyot to become a major contributor in Year 2, as well as get immediate production from Hudson, who looks like the heir-apparent to the departed Ben Gavani, with his combination of size and versatile skill set. Griffin has proven that he can put his team on his back and single-handedly carry them to wins. He might have to do that on a regular basis.

24. Mater Dei Catholic

Key Returners: Donovan Bryant, 5-8 So. G; Jonathan Hawthorne, 6-0 Jr. G; Tyler Williams, 6-4 Jr. F

Key Newcomers: Davaugh Hueitt, 6-9 Sr. F; Darius Hueitt, 6-1 Sr. G; Darnell Wyatt, 6-4 Sr. W; Desmond Aniagyei, 6-7 Fr. F; Tre Rush, 5-10 Fr. G; Jonathan Okhueleigbe, 6-3 Fr. W; Ari Krasniqi, 6-0 Jr. G

Outlook: No team was bitten - and benefited - more from high-school transfer movement than the Crusaders, who had almost their entire roster wiped out in a mass exodus this spring and summer, and when the dust settled, only Bryant and Hawthorne were left standing as major contributors from last season. This fall, however, the Crusaders hopes were buoyed by a wave of newcomers, headlined by the Hueitt twins, who returned to San Diego after playing the last two seasons in Florida and Texas, and Aniagyei, a raw talent who gives the Crusaders a potential “twin towers” look that should be formidable when the team gels. The team will need its returning back court starters Bryant - son of head coach Jason Bryant - and Hawthorne to take the next step from being role players on last year’s team to leaders both in production and intangibles. If they do, combined with the addition of Wyatt from Sweetwater and Krasniqi from Torrey Pines and the development of Williams, who enters his second year with the Crusaders from High Tech High Chula Vista, Mater Dei should be able to give Mesa League favorite Montgomery some resistance.

25. Mira Mesa

Key Returners: Diego Ortiz, 5-9 Jr. G; Jeremiah McCaleb, 5-10 Jr. G; Connor Shea, 6-1 Sr. G, Gabe Gustillo, 5-11 Sr. G; Che Lesperance, 5-10 G; Roan Kangleon, 6-3 Sr. F

Key Newcomers: Tim Dorn, 6-7 Jr. F; Shea Ferguson, 5-8 Fr. G

Outlook: The Marauders won a competitive City League race last season, then made a deep run in the D3 playoffs before running into the buzzsaw that was Olympian. The team returned most of its contributors, and was set to be a solid, but likely middle-of-the-pack Division 2 team this year, but their fortunes changed with the addition of Dorn, who fell into the Marauders lap after his family moved to San Diego from Hawaii via military transfer. The athletic menace impacts the game on both ends with his length, agility and bounce, and gives the Marauders the size they lacked during last year’s playoff run. Needless to say, Dorn’s addition elevates them into D2 contention.