Column: King/Drew's Open Division crown could spark new, parity-filled era in LA City Section

This year's landscape is different from what the City has seen in the mirror for as long as it can remember; King/Drew is the first one through the door of a parity-filled era

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – City Section basketball has been unrecognizable this season.

That's not a knock. It's the truth.

After a quick rub of the eyes, maybe a foggy breath and wipe of the glasses, a second glance at the City Section unveiled a brand-new face Saturday night after King/Drew defeated LACES 51-45 in the Open Division final.

King/Drew won its first Open Division title in program history by way of conquering an eight-team field with four first timers: Cleveland, Chatsworth, Grant and LACES.

It means a new era of parity is coming to the City Section and King/Drew is the first one through the door.

That's not a knock. It's just different.

"Yeah, we could be here for a while," King/Drew coach Lloyd Webster said. "But you know, the one thing about City Section basketball is we gotta give more credit to the players, man."

King/Drew coach Lloyd Webster celebrates with his team after beating LACES in the LA City Section Open Division final at Pasadena City College on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 :: Tarek Fattal/SBLive

King/Drew graduates just one senior and will return sophomores Jayshawn Kibble (video above) and Josahn Webster along with junior Donald Thompson. Kibble had 20 points and Webster added 18 in the championship game.

LACES became the first No. 8 seed to reach an Open Division final,. Another indication that a new era of parity is ahead in the City.

"Just a few years ago, LACES was just a small, little school you'd get ready to beat by 40," Webster said. "Now, if you mess around, LACES can beat you by 20. (Donovan) Cornelius and (Ryan) Conner are phenomenal players. Hats off to LACES."

Longtime City Section coach Bort Escoto doesn't quite see it that way.

"Talent-wise, this is the worst the City Section has ever been," said Escoto, who's been at Sylmar High for 30 years. "But on the flip side, we're getting neighborhood teams again."

Tarek Fattal/SBLive

This year's landscape is different from what the City has seen in the mirror for as long as it can remember, which is why so many have coined the section 'down'.

"Some of the best high school basketball players to ever come from Southern California came from the City Section," Escoto said before reeling off names. 

"John Williams, Gail Goodrich, Dwayne Polee, Stevie Thompson, Eldridge Hudson, Marques Johnson, Gilbert Arenas, Jordan Farmar."

It's hard to believe any section isn't 'down' when comparing its current pool of players to Escoto's list. But point taken.

The traditional power programs like Taft, Westchester and Fairfax are gone, especially with the rise of private-schools. After Fairfax and Taft won the last two Open titles in 2022 and 2023, respectively, the programs combined for 12-46 this season. 

Taft went 3-25 and Westchester got knocked out in the first round of the Open Division playoffs. Since 2000, only five schools have won top-division titles: Westchester, Fairfax, Taft, Birmingham and El Camino Real.

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TOP TEAMS RETURNING TALENT

No. 1-seeded Cleveland returns point guard Kamari King, wing Roman Finney and star freshman TJ Wansa for the 2024-25 season.

Chatsworth is home to one of the top sophomores in the country in Alijah Arenas, but rumors are swirling that he could transfer to a private school this summer. Even so, the Chancellors would return center Taj Unuakhalu and freshman guard TJ Phillips.

Birmingham returns point guard Mandell Anthony for his senior season. Palisades returns Muhammed Butler and Washington Prep, the Division I champions, will get the services of Dareon Scott next year after averaging 20 points per game as a junior this season.