If you think Trinity League football is the best in the country, then the Mission League could be its equivalent in men's basketball this season.
“It's off the charts,” Harvard-Western coach David Rebibault said, describing the talent of the Mission League's eight teams.
“It’s just ridiculous,” Chaminade coach Brian Cantwell said. “We could potentially have all eight teams in the top 30 in Southern California.”
Transfers, promising freshmen and the development of young players have set the stage for the league's January schedule, which will give fans a glimpse of players who may soon be on weekend television on college basketball teams or NBA rosters.
Harvard-Westlake has won seven straight league titles and remains on the title list. The coaching staff in the league is so good and the talent so plentiful that it wouldn't be surprising to see multiple teams win Southern Section titles depending on what division they're in.
That's not to say there wasn't talent in the league before this season, but Cantwell noted, “There's just more of it on every team.”
Every team except Harvard-Westlake added transfer students this season. The biggest were St. John Bosco senior Brandon McCoy, who committed to Sierra Canyon, 7-foot-3 Sherif Millogo, who arrived at St. Francis from Boston, and 6-9 Sam Mbingazo, who returned to Bishop Alemany after playing for Iowa last season.
One big loss, however, came at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, where the Knights will be without 6-7 Tyrann Stokes, who by many estimates is ranked No. 1 in the 2026 class. Last week he left school. There are others willing to help replace him.
Zachary White transferred to San Diego State, and NaVorro Bowman became so good that he became one of the top prospects in the 2027 class.
Sierra Canyon could start a roster entirely through transfers, with Maximo Adams in his second season with the Trailblazers and one of the top players in the 2026 class. Brannon Martinsen, a 6-6 senior, arrived from Jay-Serra.
Sierra Canyon's Maximo Adams hugs coach Andre Chevalier.
(Steve Galluzzo/For The Times)
Harvard-Westlake isn't going anywhere with the return of standout senior guard Joe Sterling, a Texas commit, senior center Dominic Bento and guards Pierce Thompson, Amir Jones and Cole Holden. Crespi brings back the Barnes twins, Isaiah and Carter.
“Each team has three to five Division I players with D1 potential, between sophomores and juniors,” Rebibo said. “The top class in this league is unreal. It makes the league as competitive as it has been for a very long time.”
As if talent wasn't enough, there's coaching. Former Lakers star Derek Fisher, who formerly coached the New York Knicks, is in his third season at Crespi, and no one is afraid to coach against him. Chaminade's Brian Cantwell, St. Francis' Todd Wolfson and Sierra Canyon's Andre Chevalier are veteran coaches who have all won section championships. Loyola has a first-year coach Cam Joyceof Ohio, and Mike DuLaney led Bishop Alemany to the 2024 Division III state title.
“It’s going to be a really competitive and fun event,” Cantwell said.
There are many elite player prospects throughout Southern California. There's Jason Crow Jr. of Inglewood, heading to Missouri; Luke Barnett of Mater Dei, bound for Kansas; productive junior guard Gene Roebuck of La Mirada; Georgia Tech committed Kayden Bailey of Santa Margarita; top sophomore transfers Evan Willis and Shalene Sheppard of Crossroads; heavily recruited Christian Collins from St. John Bosco; dynamic senior guard Josiah Johnson of Mayfair; senior defensive standout Isaiah Rogers of Corona Centennial; 6-11 Josh Irving of Pasadena, committed to Texas A&M; Rising 6-6 junior Kevin Keshishian is from Los Altos.
As for the teams, Sierra Canyon, Santa Margarita, St. John Bosco, Redondo Union, Rolling Hills Prep, Harvard-Westlake, Corona Centennial and Damien all appear to be heading toward top team status.
Unfortunately, in the city section, most of the best players have transferred or graduated. Palisades emerged as a preseason favorite with the addition of the 6-6 Popool twins, Elijah and Olujimi, juniors from Las Vegas.
