SBLive’s LA City Section Top 10 Boys Basketball Rankings: Taft remains No. 1

Here’s a look at the top teams in the LA City Section five weeks into the year.

The winter 2021-22 LA City Section high school boys basketball season started on November 12th. Here’s a look at the top teams in the LA City Section five weeks into the year. SBLive’s LA City Section high school boys basketball rankings are compiled by SBLive California reporter Connor Morrissette and will be released every Monday throughout the spring 2021 season.

Editor’s note: Next Monday (Dec. 27th), SBLive California won’t release LA City Section rankings due to Holiday Tournaments beginning that morning across the state. Our next set of rankings will come out on Monday, Jan. 3rd.

SBLIVE LA CITY SECTION TOP 10 BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

December 20th, 2021

1. Taft (9-1)

Last week: 1

The Toreadors are 9-1 with their best win coming against Windward. Earlier this season they were upset by Alemany 74-65.

2. Fairfax (3-2)

Last week: 2

Fairfax has won two games in a row thanks to beating No. 6 Westchester 61-45 and No. 9 Hamilton 85-45.

3. El Camino Real (4-5)

Last week: 3

El Camino Real scored an impressive upset win in their first game of the regular season beating Santa Clarita Christian 56-55. Clark Holden had 23 points in the victory. Since then, the Royals have beaten Providence, Alemany and St. Monica and lost to South Pasadena, West Ranch, San Diego, Culver City and Oak Park.

4. Birmingham (4-4)

Last week: 4

Birmingham lost their first game of the season to No. 10 Palisades 68-64 in overtime, but the Patriots picked up a nice City win over Crenshaw last week 74-71. Birmingham won the Open Division in the LA City Section last season.

5. Granada Hills (3-4)

Last week: 5

Senior captain Khalil Forrester has had a strong start to the year for the Highlanders. He scored 18 points in Granada Hills' 56-53 loss to Westlake last week.

6. Westchester (4-3)

Last week: 6

Westchester made a move up the rankings last week after falling to No. 2 Fairfax 61-45, but beating No. 10 Palisades 51-48 in overtime.

7. Venice (7-5)

Last week: 7

Venice has beaten No. 9 Hamilton who has beaten No. 10 Palisades, so the Gondoliers are No. 3 in the Western League at the moment on paper. In the actual league standings, Venice is No. 2 behind only Fairfax.

8. Grant (3-0)

Last week: 8

Grant has recorded three blowout wins over Verdugo Hills, Chavez and Reseda. In the 75-49 victory over Reseda, Jeremiah Windham scored 22 points, had seven steals, six rebounds and four assists.

9. Hamilton (6-8)

Last week: 9

Hamilton debuted last week after beating No. 9 Palisades 53-48. As things currently stand, an argument could be made for Crenshaw to be ranked over Hamilton because Crenshaw beat Price and Hamilton lost to Price, but the Yankees stay in this week because they have a better marquee City win (Palisades) than Crenshaw does.

10. Palisades (3-4)

Last week: 10

Palisades beat No. 4 Birmingham in overtime earlier this season, but dropping games to No. 6 Westchester and No. 9 Hamilton two weeks ago keeps the Dolphins at No. 10 this week.

In the mix: King/Drew, Gardena, Narbonne, Crenshaw, Poly, Chatsworth