SBLive’s leading candidates for 2021-22 CIF San Diego Section boys basketball player of the year

Here are 10 players from the San Diego Section who have separated themselves from the pack during the first two months of the season.

League play is heating up in the San Diego Section as high school boys basketball teams begin to make their move up the rankings in preparation for the postseason.

The top stars from every part of the Section have begun making their cases on the court for both Section Player of the Year honors and SBLive’s California High School Boys Basketball Player of the Year award, presented annually to the most outstanding player in the state.

Here are 10 players from the San Diego Section who have separated themselves from the pack during the first two months of the season.

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Players are listed in alphabetical order.

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TOP CANDIDATES FOR CIFSDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Devon Arlington – San Marcos – Guard – Senior

Nobody in the San Diego Section is as experienced as Arlington. The four-year starter recently surpassed the 1,700 career points mark and will play his 100th game for the Knights later in the month. Arlington averaged 20 points, six assists, and five rebounds per game while leading the Knights to a 25-0 start last season. Arlington has put up nearly identical numbers this season while helping the Knights to a 10-3 start and the top spot in the Open Division playoffs as league play gets started.

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Christian Brown – La Costa Canyon – Guard – Junior

Brown showed promise as a sophomore for the Mavericks and has taken a big step forward during his junior campaign. He's proven himself as one of San Diego's best shooters and is an excellent rebounder. Brown went for 29 points in last week's win over San Dieguito and has helped the Mavericks win 10 of 11 after their 1-3 start as they look to get back in the Open Division playoffs after a five-year absence.

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Jurian Dixon – St. Augustine – Guard – Junior

Dixon burst onto the scene as a freshman with San Ysidro, finishing with a 32-point, 21-rebound performance in the Division 3 Championship game. He's settled in as the go-to guy now in his second season with St. Augustine and was key during the Holiday Classic when the Saints were down four starters. Dixon has started 2022 fast, averaging 26 points per game in the Saints' two games during the new year.

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Angelo Gil – Mission Bay – Guard – Junior

Gil has taken a lead role for the Buccaneers this season and has quickly shown his scoring prowess and ability to distribute. Gil was named to The Holiday Classic All-Tournament team after several big performances during the tournament. He's helped lead Mission Bay to a 13-4 start that has them sitting right on the edge of the Open Division playoffs.

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Jake Hall – Carlsbad – Guard – Freshman

Hall has adjusted to the high school game in a hurry, averaging 24 points per game during his first 17 games. He's helped the Lancers to wins in six of their past seven games and has shown no signs of hitting a freshman wall. Hall is coming off a 44-point performance against Vista in his last game and will be tested with six games coming over the next two weeks.

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Otto Landrum – Torrey Pines – Forward – Senior

The Falcons’ lone returning starter from last season’s 30-1 season has started the season on a tear. Landrum plays with an incredible motor and has cemented his spot as San Diego's best big man this season. He's led the Falcons to a 10-4 start while averaging a double double with 23 points and 11 rebounds. He's surpassed the 30-point mark three times and posted a triple double in December's loss to San Ysidro.

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Alexis Marmolejos – Army Navy – Guard – Senior

Marmolejos has been making plays for the Warriors since he first stepped on the court in 2018. He stepped up as a junior, averaging over 26 points per game while nearly leading the Warriors to a first-round playoff upset over eventual champion Coronado. Now in his final season, Marmolejos is up to 28 points per game and has only been held under 20 points twice. Prior to the holiday break, he went for 48 and 44 in back-to-back games against University City and Sage Creek.

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Camden McCormick – Francis Parker – Guard – Senior

McCormick got off to a quick start in the spring before an injury against Army-Navy shut him down for two weeks and resulted in four straight losses for the Lancers. Parker recovered, winning seven of ten once McCormick recovered before losing to Bonita Vista in both the section and state playoffs. McCormick is off to a strong start once again, averaging 18 points per game and recorded his fifth double double of the season in Wednesday's win over La Jolla Country Day.

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Sebastian Medina – San Ysidro – Guard – Senior

Medina is averaging over 19 points per game for the second consecutive season and continues to raise his stock. He went for 38 points to lead the Cougars to a win over St. Mary's (Arizona) on day three of The Holiday Classic at Torrey Pines and followed it up with 60 points in the following game against Bonita Vista. Medina's play alongside fellow seniors Miguel Figueroa and Martin Flores has boosted the Cougars up to No. 3 in this week's SBLive San Diego Section Top 10.

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Justin White – Mission Hills – Forward – Senior

White has been on a mission all season long, dominating in the paint and on the boards. He averaged 20 points per game across four games at The Holiday Classic while leading the Grizzlies to the American Division Championship. White was in cruise control against Del Norte this week, scoring 29 points, and has the Grizzlies sitting at 12-5 as they dive into the league portion of their schedule.