Top seeds in 2024 NCAA Tournament led by former California high school basketball stars

Four Duke Blue Devils, three Kansas players are former California standouts

Four Duke Blue Devils, including 2022-23 Southern Section prep stars Jared McCain (Corona Centennial) and Caleb Foster (Notre Dame), have the best shots among California products to reach the Final 4. 

McCain and Foster, both freshmen guards, are among 16 players who attended high schools in the Golden State and are on rosters of Top 4 seeds heading into March Madness. 

McCain, a 5-star recruit native of Sacramento who attended high school at Corona Centennial, is third on Duke at 13.4 points points per game to go along with 4.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game. McCain led Centennial to a CIF Open Division title as a junior and was a McDonald's All-American. 

Jared McCain during his senior season at Corona Centennial / Photo: Ralph Thompson

Foster, who led Notre Dame to a CIF Division 1 title as a senior, is sixth on the team with a 7.7 scoring average while averaging 2.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. 

Two other California products — senior 5-8 guard Spencer Hubbard (Harvard-Westlake) and 6-9 forward Neal Begovich (St. Ignatius) — also are on the roster for Duke, the fourth seed in the South. The Blue Devils open with 13th seed Vermont on Friday. 

Notre Dame's Caleb Foster (3) in a 2023 state-championship win over Granada at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento / Photo: Dennis Lee

More California products on Top 4 seeds: 

Arizona (25-8)

(2nd seed in West. Thursday vs. 15th seed Long Beach State)

• Keshad Johnson (San Leandro), 6-7 senior forward, San Leandro. A transfer from San Diego State, is fourth on the team at 11.6 points per game, and second in rebounds (5.7 pg).

• Will Kuykendall (St. Joseph-Santa Maria), 6-3 freshman guard. 

Auburn (27-7)

(4th seed in the East; Friday vs. 13th-seed Yale)

• Aden Holloway (Prolific Prep), 6-1 freshman guard: A McDonald's All-American, Holloway has started 25 of 34 games and averages 7.6 points, 2.8 assists and 1.5 rebounds. He has 94 assists compared to just 30 turnovers. 

Aden Holloway last season as a senior at Prolific Prep / Photo courtesy of Rick Manahan

Baylor (23-10)

(3rd seed in the West. Friday vs. 14th seed Colgate)

• Austin Sacks (Oakwood), 6-7 senior forward: A transfer from Santa Clara.

• Yves Missi (Prolific Prep), 7-0 freshman center

Houston (30-4)

(1st seed in South: Friday vs. Longwood)

• Jacob McFarland (Rancho Verde), 6-10 freshman center

Illinois (26-8)

(3rd seed in the East; Thursday vs. 14th seed Morehead State)

• Coleman Hawkins (Prolific Prep), 6-10 senior forward. Ranks third on the team with 12.4 points per game, second in rebounds (6.2) and first in steals (1.5) and blocks (1.1). Has season highs of 30 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, four blocks and six steals. 

Kansas (22-10)

(4th seed in the Midwest. Opens Thursday vs. 13th seed Samford)

• Dillion Wilhite (Cathedral Catholic), 6-9 sophomore forward 

• Chris Carter (Shadow Hills-Indio), 6-4 freshman guard: A transfer from Cal State Northridge. 

• Charlie McCarthy (Shadow Hills), 6-2 sophomore guard 

Marquette (25-9)

(2nd seed in the South; Friday vs. No. 15 Western Kentucky)

• Caedin Hamilton (St. Joseph-Santa Maria), 6-9 freshman center

Caedin Hamilton (35) with a block from behind for St. Joseph in 2023.  / Photo: Dennis Lee

Tennessee (24-8)

(2nd see in Midwest; Thursday vs. No. 15 Saint Peter's)

• Jahmai Mashack (Etiwanda), 6-4 junior guard: Started six of 32 games and averages 4.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, with 42 assists and 27 steals. Made 13 of 34 3-points.