Top basketball guards in CIF Southern Section, LA City Section

The CIF Southern Section and City Section's top basketball guards to watch this 2023-24 season

Some of the NBA's best guards prepped in Southern California. 

Jrue Holiday (went to Campbell Hall), Russell Westbrook (Leuzinger), Klay Thompson (Santa Margarita) and James Harden (Artesia) come to mind pretty quickly. However, many more that spent countless hours in high school gyms in the Southland have gone on to grace the NBA hardwood.

In fact, a number of college freshman are already making an impact at the college level this 2023-24 campaign. Former Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks standouts Dusty Stromer (Gonzaga) and Caleb Foster (Duke) are transitioning seamlessly, along with Corona Centennial's Jared McCain (Duke), Harvard-Westlake's Brady Dunlap (St. John's) and Taft's Keyon Kensie (San Diego), to name a few.

Here are the top guards to watch in the CIF Southern Section and LA City Section this 2023-24 high school basketball season, many of which we could see in the NBA one day.

TOP SENIOR GUARDS

Trent Perry, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.

Trent Perry is the reigning Mission League MVP :: Tarek Fattal/SBLive

Perry is a USC commit with size at the point guard position. He can create a shot for himself and create for others. Perry is the reigning Mission League MVP after averaging 16 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists per game last season en route to a CIF State Open Division crown.

Eric Freeny, Corona Centennial, Sr.

Freeny is committed to play for Mick Cronin at UCLA and when you watch him play, it's obvious to see why. He's a tough-nosed guard with a simple and powerful game. He scored 31 points in the team's season opener against West Ranch.

Mercy Miller, Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks, Sr.

Miller is one of the best rebounding guards in the country. The Houston-bound scorer averaged 17.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game last year to help the Knights win a CIF State Division I title. Miller dropped 33 points in Notre Dame's season opener.

Isaiah Elohim, Sierra Canyon, Sr.

Elohim has been touted a top prospect since he was a freshman at Heritage Christian. Now a senior at Sierra Canyon, he feels like he has a lot to prove this season, a sentiment he shared at the team's media day on Nov. 1. Elohim is committed to Arkansas.

James Evans, West Ranch, Sr.

Evans is a perimeter player that has improved each year in high school. The UNLV-signee is leaned out and improved his shot from range significantly. At 6-foot-5, he's more of a wing-type, than a traditional guard, per se.

SBLive's Top 25 preseason CIF Southern Section rankings

TOP JUNIOR GUARDS

Brayden Burries, Eastvale Roosevelt, Jr.

Burries is a 4-star rated prospect now, but could be a 5-star recruit by the time he's a senior. He didn't play high school basketball last season due to a CIF ruling that placed him ineligible, but is cleared to play this season. The 6-foot-5 guard has offers to Arizona, Duke, Kansas and UCLA.

Elzie Harrington, St. John Bosco, Jr.

St. John Bosco's Elzie Harrington is a top junior in California :: Tarek Fattal/SBLive

Harrington is a long, lean point guard with offers to UCLA, USC and Arizona State. The do-it-all junior is a 5-star prospect, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. Harrington has been at the controls for coach Matt Dunn's Braves since he was a freshman.

Jovani Ruff, Long Beach Poly, Jr.

Ruff has grown into a 6-foot-5 nightmare. When Ruff was a freshman, the ongoing debate was who was the best freshman in the state, Ruff or Harrington? Ruff's recruitment does seem to have more appeal, considering he has offers from Kansas and Oregon.

Gavin Hightower, Windward, Jr.

Hightower is an athletic, strong point guard with floor general skills. However, he's capable of creating his own shot and fearless when attacking the rim. One of his best skills is jumping into the bodies of opposing rim protectors. Under the tutelage of coach DJ Gay, Hightower will only get better at the position.

5. Bryce Cofield, Sierra Canyon, Jr.

Sierra Canyon's Bryce Cofield (middle) is expected to have a breakout year :: Tarek Fattal/SBLive

Cofield if expected to have a breakout year for the Trailblazers. Coach Andre Chevalier anticipates Cofield being a premier defensive stopper with his 6-foot-6, long and athletic frame. Cofield's recruitment could take off with a strong junior campaign.

Top freshmen (2027) in CIF Southern Section, LA City Section

TOP SOPHOMORE GUARDS

Brandon McCoy, St. John Bosco, So.

McCoy has already been stamped a 5-star recruit according to multiple recruiting sites. He was named to USA basketball's U16 team this past summer. He's already touted the second-best prospect in the country for the 2026 class/..

Alijah Arenas, Chatsworth, So.

The son of former NBA standout Gilbert Arenas. Alijah has grown to 6-foot-5 and can score from anywhere on the floor. The biggest leap he's taken from his freshman year is his athletic ability. This past fall he's shown superior above-the-rim play. He alone makes Chatsworth a City Section contender for the Open Division playoffs.

Jason Crowe Jr., Lynwood, So.

Crowe is already a prolific scorer. He showed that ability as a freshman, scoring 36 points per game with a 51-point and 60-point performance. He notched 30 or more points 29 times last season and hit 40 or more 11 times.

Joe Sterling, Crespi, So.

Crespi's Joe Sterling averaged 19 points per game as a freshman :: Tarek Fattal/SBLive

Sterling's freshman campaign was impressive, considering the competition he was doing it against in the Mission League, which placed three teams into the Open Division playoffs last season. Sterling averaged 19 points and 5 rebounds per game to earn All-Mission League (2nd Team) honors - the only freshman to do so.

Maximo Adams, Gardena Serra, So.

Adams is a 6-foot-6 guard/wing that has already garnered offers to Kansas, Kansas State, Oregon and Syracuse. As a freshman at Harbor City Narbonne, he averaged just under 11 points per game. Look for Adams to have a breakout year.

OTHER NOTABLE GUARDS TO WATCH

SENIORS

Darnez Slater, Eastvale Roosevelt (Colorado State)

Jack Turner, St. John Bosco (Loyola-Chicago)

Tyrone Riley, St. Pius X

Scotty Belnap, Mater Dei

Aaron Powell, Campbell Hall (Cal Poly SLO)

Robert Hinton, Harvard-Westlake (Harvard)

Cam McNamee, Santa Margarita (Dartmouth)

Darrell Morris, West Ranch

Aidan Fowler, JSerra

Justin Pippen, Sierra Canyon

James Reach, Mira Costa

Amare Campbell, Etiwanda

Devin Ringer, Redondo Union

Quincy Phillips, St. Anthony

Jared Mims, Alemany

Chase Kardosh, Burroughs/Burbank

Tanner Jones, Campbell Hall

Bryce Goldman, Chaminade

Stevie Prudholme, Oaks Christian

She Henderson, Oak Park

Peyton Slaughter, Oakwood

Jaden Karuletwa, Village Christian

Donovan Cornelius, LACES

JUNIORS

Kamari King Jr., Reseda Cleveland

Joe Wyatt Jr., Sun Valley Poly

Coco Britt, Crossroads

EJ Spillman, Pacifica Chrisitan/OC

Julien Gomez, La Mirada

Mazi Mosley, St. Francis

Lino Mark, Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks

Issac Williamson, Eastvale Roosevelt

JJ Harris, Windward

Aaron Glass, Rancho Cucamonga

Anto Balian, Pilibos

Solo Bailey, Crossroads

Elias Chin, Thousand Oaks

Isaiah Johnson, Campbell Hall

Marcos Ramirez, Oxnard

Mateo Trujillo, Rolling Hills Prep

Aiden Bitran, Shalhevet

Aeneas Grullon, Viewpoint

SOPHOMORES

Quincy Watson, Loyola

Kaden Bailey, Crean Lutheran

SJ Madison, Redondo Union

Zach White, Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks

Isaiah Rodgers, Corona Centennial

Luke Barnett, Mate Dei

Jojo Wicker, St. Anthony

DeLan Grant, St. Francis

Joseph Riggins, Colony

Josahn Webster, King/Drew

FRESHMEN

Top freshmen in CIF Southern Section, LA City Section