Top 25 California High School boys basketball rankings (1/22/2024)

Mater Dei is third top-ranked team in three weeks after previous No. 1 Harvard-Westlake loses twice; Riordan, Branson make big moves into the Top 25

Another week, another new No. 1 in the carousel of California high school boys basketball rankings.

Mater Dei jumps up a spot to No. 1 to take the top spot for the first time in numerous years after last week's No. 1 Harvard-Westlake dropped two games, albeit tight games to powerhouses unbeaten Notre Dame Sherman Oaks (59-54) and one-loss Sierra Canyon (74-68).

Harvard-Westlake dropped three spots to No. 4 with the loss.

Notre Dame jumped four positions to No. 2 with the win and two more victories last week, while No. 3 Salesian-Richmond remained planted thanks to a tough 69-68 win over Arizona powerhouse Millennium at the Clash in the Valley Showcase.

Mater Dei, winners of 15 straight, joins Harvard-Westlake, Eastvale Roosevelt and St. John Bosco as previous state top-ranked teams. The Monarchs have more boys state titles (11) than anyone, three more than Crenshaw (eight). Mater Dei's last state crown, however, is 2014. 

Two-time state champion Sierra Canyon moved up four spots to No. 4 after its impressive win over Harvard-Westlake thanks in part to 24 points from Justin Pippen, son of NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippin.

Justin Pippen ‘grew up’ in Sierra Canyon’s victory over Harvard-Westlake

The biggest riser in this week’s rankings is Riordan (12-4) which vaulted all the way from honor mention to No. 6 following a 69-58 victory Saturday over previous No. 4 Corona Centennial at the Crush in the Valley (see below).

Prolific Prep goes 'Zoom-Zoom,' pulls out wild win; Riordan finishes, Salesian steals win: Crush of the Valley Basketball Showcase live update summary (1-20-2024)

Riordan has picked up steam since recovering fully from injuries and adding eligibility of three rotational players, the last of whom is 6-10 Nes Emeneke, who gives the Crusaders some much needed length down low to compliment 6-8 Zion Sensley, who was dominant again Saturday with 24 points.

Another addition to the rankings is No. 24 Branson-Ross, which also impressed at the Crush with a wire-to-wire 20-point win over previous No. 23 Monterey Trail (86-66). Despite six losses, the Bulls were an easy choice considering they’ve played one of the toughest schedules in the state and feature the brilliant backcourt of Illinois-signee Jase Butler and Semitri Carr, who combined for 41 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists and seven steals against Monterey Trail.

Branson junior guard Semitri Carr had a game-high 26 points in a 86-66 win over Monterey Trail on Saturday / Photo: Greg Jungferman

There were multiple big showdowns at the State Preview Classic, highlighted by No. 8 Roosevelt’s 59-54 win over No. 12 St. Pius X, Notre Dame’s 63-51 win over Crean Lutheran and Mater Dei’s 91-80 victory over Campbell Hall. See roundup below: 

Roosevelt beats St. Pius at State Preview Classic: Live updates, scores recap

One final Southern California showcase before the playoffs is Friday and Saturday at Mater Dei in the Nike Extravaganza. SEE SCHEDULE

The only game pitting two ranked teams is San Diego Section power and No. 18 St. Augustine vs. No. 14 JSerra Catholic at 5 p.m. Other ranked teams playing Saturday are No. 1 Mater Dei, No. 5 Harvard-Westlake and No. 8 Roosevelt. 

Top 25 California boys basketball rankings

1. Mater Dei (22-1) 

Last week rank: 2

Last week wins: Santa Margarita 57-52, Orange Lutheran 82,39, Campbell Hall 91-80

Next: Wednesday at JSerra Catholic, Friday vs. Servite, Saturday vs. Los Alamitos

2. Notre Dame (23-0)

Last week rank: 6

Last week wins: Harvard-Westlake 59-54, Chaminade 94-80, Crean Lutheran 63-51

Next: Wednesday vs. Crespi, Friday at Sierra Canyon, Saturday vs. Bishop Gorman at Nike Extravaganza 

3. Salesian (21-1)

Last week rank: 3

Last week wins: De Anza 89-49, Vallejo 83-23, Millennium 69-68

Next: Tuesday vs. Pinole Valley, Friday at St. Mary's

4. Sierra Canyon (22-1)

Last week rank: 8

Last week wins: St. Francis 65-42, Harvard-Westlake 74-68, Valenci 77-37

Next: Wednesday at Alemany, Friday vs. Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks

5. Harvard-Westlake (20-3)

Last week rank: 1

Last week wins: McEachern 60-59

Last week losses: Notre Dame Sherman Oaks 59-54, Sierra Canyon 74-68

Next: Wednesday at Chaminade, Friday vs. St. Francis, Saturday vs. Foothill at Nike Extravaganza

6. Riordan (12-4)

Last week rank: NR

Last week wins: Mitty 51-48, Bellarmine 51-40, Corona Centennial 69-58

Next: Tuesday at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Thursday at St. Ignatius, Saturday vs. St. Francis

7. Corona Centennial (17-9)

Last week rank: 4

Last week wins: Riverside Poly 68-59, Norco 89-49

Last week losses: Riordan 69-58

Next: Wednesday at Corona, Friday vs. King

8. Roosevelt (22-2)

Last week rank:5

Last week wins: Santiago 74-40, St. Pius 59-54

Next: Monday vs. Corona, Wednesday vs. Norco, Saturday vs. Coronado at Nike Extravaganza

9. St. Joseph (19-2)

Last week rank: 9

Last week wins: Bartlett (Alaska) 93-54, Nazareth (Alaska) 67-59), Bettye Davis East Anchorage (Alaska) 74-47 

Next: Tuesday vs. Arroyo Grande, Friday vs. Mission College Prep

10. Carlsbad (19-2)

Last week rank: 10

Last week wins: San Dieguito Academy 81-43, El Camino 58-54

Next: Tuesday at Sage Creek, Friday at Torrey Pines, Saturday vs. West Ranch at the Nike Extravaganza

11. St. John Bosco (20-4)

Last week rank: 7

Last week wins: Orange Lutheran 66-41, JSerra Catholic 65-58

Next: Wednesday at Servite, Friday vs. Santa Margarita

12. San Ramon Valley (18-3)

Last week rank: 13

Last week wins: Livermore 88-44, Amador Valley 68-50

Next: Tuesday at Dublin, Thursday at Granada, Saturday vs. Foothill

13. St. Pius X (18-5)

Last week rank: 14

Last week wins: Serra 77-55, St. Anthony 61-46

Last week losses: Roosevelt 59-54

Next: Wednesday at St. Paul, Friday at St. Bernard

14. Windward (21-3)

Last week rank: 12

Last week wins: Price 71-49, Oak Park 75-34

Next: Tuesday vs. Viewpoint, Thursday at Crossroads

15. JSerra Catholic (19-4)

Last week rank: 15

Last week wins: Servite 83-56, Verbum Dei Jesuit 78-42

Last week losses: St. John Bosco 65-58

Next: Wednesday vs. Mater Dei, Friday at Orange Lutheran, Saturday vs. St. Augustine at Nike Extravaganza

16. Montgomery-SD (19-2)

Last week rank: 16

Last week wins: Mater Dei Catholic 66-51

Next: Wednesday at San Ysidro, Friday at Otay Ranch

17. Etiwanda (20-3)

Last week rank: 22

Last week wins: Los Osos 70-37, Damien 49-39, Rolling Hills Prep 63-46

Next: Monday at Chino Hills, Wednesday vs. Rancho Cucamonga, Friday vs. Upland

18. St. Augustine (19-3)

Last week rank: 18

Last week wins: Mission Bay 81-62, San Diego 70-42

Next: Wednesday vs. Steele Canyon, Friday vs. Madison, Saturday vs. JSerra Catholic at Nike Extravaganza

19. West Ranch (14-10)

Last week rank: 21

Last week wins: Canyon 69-42, Saugus 96-70, Rancho Cucamonga 72-60

Next: Tuesday at Valencia, Saturday at Carlsbad 

20. De La Salle (18-3)

Last week rank: 20

Last week wins: Dougherty Valley 66-56, Dublin 46-43

Next: Tuesday vs. Granada, Thursday vs. Foothill, Friday at Livermore

21. Damien (19-4)

Last week rank:11

Last week wins: Lynwood 75-66

Last week losses: Etiwanda 49-39

Next: Monday at Upland, Wednesday vs. Chino Hills, Friday vs. Los Osos, 

22. Redondo Union (18-4)

Last week rank: 19

Last week wins: Mira Costa 60-45, Palos Verdes 74-58

Next: Tuesday at Culver City, Thursday at Santa Monica

23. Santa Margarita (16-7)

Last week rank: 17

Last week wins: Servite 67-43

Last week losses: Mater Dei 57-52

Next: Wednesday at Orange Lutheran, Friday at St. John Bosco 

24. Branson (16-6)

Last week rank: HM

Last week wins: Tamalpais 72-32, San Rafael 68-45, Monterey Trail 86-66

Next: Wednesday vs. Marin Catholic, Friday at Novato

25. La Mirada (18-7)

Last week rank: HM

Last week wins: Downey 78-41, Lynwood 85-77

Next: Wednesday vs. Mayfair, Friday at Dominguez

Honorable mention: Canyon-Anaheim (18-5), Clovis North (18-5), Clovis West (Crespi (20-5), Foothill (16-7), Granada (18-1), Heritage Christian (17-8), Long Beach Poly (14-8), Los Alamitos (19-4), Modesto Christian (15-3), Monterey Trail (18-2), Pacifica Christian (15-10), Rancho Cucamonga (14-9), Rocklin (23-0), Torrey Pines (16-5), Weston Ranch (17-3).