Some of the NBA’s best guards prepped in Southern California.Â
Jrue Holiday (went to Campbell Hall), Russell Westbrook (Leuzinger), Klay Thompson (Santa Margarita) and James Harden (Artesia) come to mind pretty quickly. However, many more that spent countless hours in high school gyms in the Southland have gone on to grace the NBA hardwood.
In fact, a number of college freshman are already making an impact at the college level this 2023-24 campaign. Former Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks standouts Dusty Stromer (Gonzaga) and Caleb Foster (Duke) are transitioning seamlessly, along with Corona Centennial‘s Jared McCain (Duke), Harvard-Westlake‘s Brady Dunlap (St. John’s) and Taft’s Keyon Kensie (San Diego), to name a few.
Here are the top guards to watch in the CIF Southern Section and LA City Section this 2023-24 high school basketball season, many of which we could see in the NBA one day.
Trent Perry, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.
Perry is a USC commit with size at the point guard position. He can create a shot for himself and create for others. Perry is the reigning Mission League MVP after averaging 16 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists per game last season en route to a CIF State Open Division crown.
Eric Freeny, Corona Centennial, Sr.
Freeny is committed to play for Mick Cronin at UCLA and when you watch him play, it’s obvious to see why. He’s a tough-nosed guard with a simple and powerful game. He scored 31 points in the team’s season opener against West Ranch.
Mercy Miller, Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks, Sr.
Miller is one of the best rebounding guards in the country. The Houston-bound scorer averaged 17.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game last year to help the Knights win a CIF State Division I title. Miller dropped 33 points in Notre Dame’s season opener.
Isaiah Elohim, Sierra Canyon, Sr.
Elohim has been touted a top prospect since he was a freshman at Heritage Christian. Now a senior at Sierra Canyon, he feels like he has a lot to prove this season, a sentiment he shared at the team’s media day on Nov. 1. Elohim is committed to Arkansas.
James Evans, West Ranch, Sr.
Evans is a perimeter player that has improved each year in high school. The UNLV-signee is leaned out and improved his shot from range significantly. At 6-foot-5, he’s more of a wing-type, than a traditional guard, per se.
SBLive’s Top 25 preseason CIF Southern Section rankings
Brayden Burries, Eastvale Roosevelt, Jr.
Burries is a 4-star rated prospect now, but could be a 5-star recruit by the time he’s a senior. He didn’t play high school basketball last season due to a CIF ruling that placed him ineligible, but is cleared to play this season. The 6-foot-5 guard has offers to Arizona, Duke, Kansas and UCLA.
Elzie Harrington, St. John Bosco, Jr.
Harrington is a long, lean point guard with offers to UCLA, USC and Arizona State. The do-it-all junior is a 5-star prospect, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. Harrington has been at the controls for coach Matt Dunn’s Braves since he was a freshman.
Jovani Ruff, Long Beach Poly, Jr.
Ruff has grown into a 6-foot-5 nightmare. When Ruff was a freshman, the ongoing debate was who was the best freshman in the state, Ruff or Harrington? Ruff’s recruitment does seem to have more appeal, considering he has offers from Kansas and Oregon.
Gavin Hightower, Windward, Jr.
Hightower is an athletic, strong point guard with floor general skills. However, he’s capable of creating his own shot and fearless when attacking the rim. One of his best skills is jumping into the bodies of opposing rim protectors. Under the tutelage of coach DJ Gay, Hightower will only get better at the position.
5. Bryce Cofield, Sierra Canyon, Jr.
Cofield if expected to have a breakout year for the Trailblazers. Coach Andre Chevalier anticipates Cofield being a premier defensive stopper with his 6-foot-6, long and athletic frame. Cofield’s recruitment could take off with a strong junior campaign.
Top freshmen (2027) in CIF Southern Section, LA City Section
Brandon McCoy, St. John Bosco, So.
McCoy has already been stamped a 5-star recruit according to multiple recruiting sites. He was named to USA basketball’s U16 team this past summer. He’s already touted the second-best prospect in the country for the 2026 class/..
Alijah Arenas, Chatsworth, So.
The son of former NBA standout Gilbert Arenas. Alijah has grown to 6-foot-5 and can score from anywhere on the floor. The biggest leap he’s taken from his freshman year is his athletic ability. This past fall he’s shown superior above-the-rim play. He alone makes Chatsworth a City Section contender for the Open Division playoffs.
Jason Crowe Jr., Lynwood, So.
Crowe is already a prolific scorer. He showed that ability as a freshman, scoring 36 points per game with a 51-point and 60-point performance. He notched 30 or more points 29 times last season and hit 40 or more 11 times.
Joe Sterling, Crespi, So.
Sterling’s freshman campaign was impressive, considering the competition he was doing it against in the Mission League, which placed three teams into the Open Division playoffs last season. Sterling averaged 19 points and 5 rebounds per game to earn All-Mission League (2nd Team) honors – the only freshman to do so.
Maximo Adams, Gardena Serra, So.
Adams is a 6-foot-6 guard/wing that has already garnered offers to Kansas, Kansas State, Oregon and Syracuse. As a freshman at Harbor City Narbonne, he averaged just under 11 points per game. Look for Adams to have a breakout year.
SENIORS
Darnez Slater, Eastvale Roosevelt (Colorado State)
Jack Turner, St. John Bosco (Loyola-Chicago)
Tyrone Riley, St. Pius X
Scotty Belnap, Mater Dei
Aaron Powell, Campbell Hall (Cal Poly SLO)
Robert Hinton, Harvard-Westlake (Harvard)
Cam McNamee, Santa Margarita (Dartmouth)
Darrell Morris, West Ranch
Aidan Fowler, JSerra
Justin Pippen, Sierra Canyon
James Reach, Mira Costa
Amare Campbell, Etiwanda
Devin Ringer, Redondo Union
Quincy Phillips, St. Anthony
Jared Mims, Alemany
Chase Kardosh, Burroughs/Burbank
Tanner Jones, Campbell Hall
Bryce Goldman, Chaminade
Stevie Prudholme, Oaks Christian
She Henderson, Oak Park
Peyton Slaughter, Oakwood
Jaden Karuletwa, Village Christian
Donovan Cornelius, LACES
JUNIORS
Kamari King Jr., Reseda Cleveland
Joe Wyatt Jr., Sun Valley Poly
Coco Britt, Crossroads
EJ Spillman, Pacifica Chrisitan/OC
Julien Gomez, La Mirada
Mazi Mosley, St. Francis
Lino Mark, Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks
Issac Williamson, Eastvale Roosevelt
JJ Harris, Windward
Aaron Glass, Rancho Cucamonga
Anto Balian, Pilibos
Solo Bailey, Crossroads
Elias Chin, Thousand Oaks
Isaiah Johnson, Campbell Hall
Marcos Ramirez, Oxnard
Mateo Trujillo, Rolling Hills Prep
Aiden Bitran, Shalhevet
Aeneas Grullon, Viewpoint
SOPHOMORES
Quincy Watson, Loyola
Kaden Bailey, Crean Lutheran
SJ Madison, Redondo Union
Zach White, Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks
Isaiah Rodgers, Corona Centennial
Luke Barnett, Mate Dei
Jojo Wicker, St. Anthony
DeLan Grant, St. Francis
Joseph Riggins, Colony
Josahn Webster, King/Drew
FRESHMEN
