Boys basketball competition for the local high schools is underway and there have already been some noteworthy games and news to kick off the 2025-26 campaign.

Here is a group of teams to keep a close eye on this season and a list of players that are poised to make big impacts this year.

*Teams and players are listed in alphabetical order.

Campbell Hall: Head coach David Grace, who had been with Vikings for the past two seasons, was unexpectedly let go just a few weeks before the start of the season. New coach Vonn Webb takes over a team that is loaded with young talent including sophomores Chris Paul II and Kyle Sanders, a transfer from Bishop Montgomery. Veteran players who were on varsity last year, Nikita Kochnev, Deuce Newt and Christian Rogers, return to help lead Campbell Hall.

Cleveland: The Cavaliers, led by veteran coach Dagem Asfaw, boast a talented and deep roster that should contend for a City Section Open Division title. Sergine Deme, a 6-foot-8 center, leads Cleveland in the middle, with a bevy of talented impact players including transfers TJ Wansa, Charlie Adams, Chasen Pejoro and Emmitt Claiborne.

Crespi: The Celts launched their 2025-26 campaign with a bang, defeating Cleveland 81-44 last Monday. Five players scored in double figures, providing a small snippet of how well-rounded this Crespi team is. The Barnes twins, Carter and Isaiah, have gotten noticeably bigger and stronger, and lead a tenacious Celts defense. Christian Tshina-Nzambi, Cayman Martin, Phoenix Smith, Nickon Daei will all be regular contributors, plus the addition of transfer Jasiah Williams will add an extra punch to an already deep roster.

Golden Valley: The Grizzlies missed out on the playoffs last year because of a coin flip and their returning team is motivated to make sure their postseason hopes don’t lie in the hands of chance again. Coaches in the Foothill League said junior Donovan Webb could be the best player in the league and seniors Wyatt Printz, Zach Christoffersen and Alex Villejo round out a well-balanced team. Villejo, who just committed to Rose-Hulman University, was second in California in made 3-pointers last year.

Harvard-Westlake: Texas commit Joe Sterling didn’t have to wait long to display his crunchtime clutch ability, hitting a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer to defeat San Gabriel Academy in the season opener. Along with Sterling, the Wolverines are loaded with seniors Amir Jones, Dominique Bentho and Barron Linnekens. Juniors Pierce Thompson and Cole Holden have been on varsity since they were freshmen, and both will look to make big leaps forward this year.

Notre Dame: The loss of the No. 1 recruit in the nation Tyran Stokes dominated the headlines, but it shouldn’t take away from the fact that the Knights still have one of the most talented teams in the state. San Diego State commit Zach White is one of the most versatile players in the Mission League and NaVorro Bowman Jr. and Josiah Nance are two of the most skilled juniors in the area.

Sierra Canyon: The Trailblazers are coming off a CIF State Division 1 title last year and have their eyes set on an Open Division championship this season. Returners Maxi Adams and Jordan Askew have already made an immediate impact, with the latter hitting a buzzer-beating layup to lead Sierra Canyon to a 67-65 win over Millikan in the season opener. Sierra Canyon also brought in a ton of talent via transfers Brandon McCoy, Brannon Martinsen and Delan Grant.

St. Francis: The Golden Knights went winless in the Mission League last year, but things can change quickly. St. Francis, led by one of the most respected coaches in the area,is Todd Wolfson, is poised to make a leap this year and contend in league. Sophomore point guard Luke Paulus got a lot of playing time last year as a freshman, which will only help his progress. Cherif Millogo, a 7-foot-3 newcomer to the team, is already proving to be a force.

Thousand Oaks: The Lancers had a down year last season according to their standards (13-15, 3-7 in Marmonte League) but just two years ago they made the Division 2AA finals. Gabriel Chin, the only player who remains from that 2023-24 team, is a senior captain this year. He’s joined by seniors Dylan McCord and Kaden Glover (a transfer from St. Bonaventure), on a team poised to make a run for the Marmonte League title.

Village Christian: This might be the deepest team head coach Julian Andrade has had at Village Christian, and that is saying something because he’s coached incredibly talented teams in the past. Deion Lewis leads the Crusaders at the point guard position and will get a ton of help from Aaro Salo, Pedro Villanueva, Ryan Girgis and others. Freshmen Will Conroy Jr. and Myles Mobley are two of the best young up-and-comers in the area. The Olympic League title is Village Christian’s to lose and a path to the Open Division is in sight.

Charlie Adams, Cleveland, So.: Adams, a transfer from St. Bonaventure, led the Seraphs to the Division 2A final last year as a freshman. He averaged 19.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. All CIF-SS Division 2A selection.

Maxi Adams, Sierra Canyon, Sr.: The man in the middle for Sierra Canyon, Adams anchors the defense and powers the post game. He has range, too. Adams committed to North Carolina.

Carter and Isaiah Barnes, Crespi, Jrs.: The Barnes twins can fill up the box score – both averaged more than 10 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game last year. All-Mission League selections last year.

NaVorro Bowman Jr., Notre Dame, Jr.: An All-Mission League first-teamer last year, Bowman Jr. averaged nearly 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

Deion Lewis, Village Christian, Jr.: Lewis has been a varsity impact player since he was a freshman. He averaged 13.7 points, 4.2 assists and 2.8 steals per game last year.

Dylan McCord, Thousand Oaks, Sr.: McCord can score with the best of them, putting up 20 points in his team’s opening win to start the season. All-Marmonte League first teamer last year.

Cherif Millogo, St. Francis, Jr.: A 7-foot-3 center from Burkina Faso in West Africa, Millogo had 30 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in his first game as a Golden Knight.

Joe Sterling, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.: Sterling picked up where he left off last year, already hitting a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the first game of the season. Texas commit and All-Mission League.

Donovan Webb, Golden Valley, Jr: Webb averaged 10.4 points, 5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.6 steals last year. Stat stuffer who has his eye on the Foothill League MVP and a league title for his Grizzlies.

Isaac Yuhico, Canyon, Sr.: A versatile guard who can score and distribute. Helped lead Canyon to the CIF-SS Division 2A title last year. Averaging 22 points per game through three games so far this season.