California boys high school basketball rankings
From the roaring crowd to squeaking sneakers on the hardwood, high school boys basketball is a beloved American pastime.
The sport's school roots date back to its 19th-century beginnings. After all, James Naismith invented basketball as a physical education activity. The concept of a state championship for high school basketball soon followed. Illinois, for example, held a state championship as early as 1908. Other states with early high school basketball championships include Indiana (first championship in 1911) and Wisconsin (1916).
Now, the sport is etched into the ethos of the American high school. Over half a million boys play on their high school basketball team, according to 2021-22 school year data compiled by the National Federation of State High School Associations. That figure represents over 18,000 teams competing across all 50 states, grinding out games in high school gyms on dark winter nights.
But when not every team plays one another, how do you separate the wheat from the chaff? Luckily, the data-driven nature of sports means there are plenty of avenues for rating and ranking basketball teams.
Stacker compiled boys high school basketball rankings in California using MaxPreps. MaxPreps' rankings factor in win-loss record, win quality, and strength of schedule. Read on through to find out the best boys basketball schools in California.
Division 1
1. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City): 33-2 (7-0 in Mission), 43.8 rating, 4 straight wins, #7 national rank
2. Centennial (Corona): 30-4 (10-0 in Big VIII), 41.9 rating, #11 national rank
3. Notre Dame (SO) (Sherman Oaks): 27-10 (6-1 in Mission), 39.2 rating, 6 straight wins
4. West Ranch (Valencia): 29-3 (12-0 in Foothill), 37.7 rating, 2 straight losses
5. Mater Dei (Santa Ana): 29-7 (6-4 in Trinity), 37.6 rating
6. St. John Bosco (Bellflower): 26-7 (9-1 in Trinity), 36.2 rating, 2 straight losses
7. St. Augustine (San Diego): 28-5 (10-0 in Western), 35.7 rating
8. Bishop Montgomery (Torrance): 28-5 (7-1 in Del Rey), 34.6 rating
9. Dougherty Valley (San Ramon): 27-4 (8-1 in East Bay), 34.1 rating
10. Etiwanda: 26-6 (10-0 in Baseline), 34.1 rating
11. Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach): 28-4 (9-1 in Bay), 34.0 rating
12. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth): 23-11 (5-2 in Mission), 33.4 rating
13. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano): 22-9 (5-5 in Trinity), 31.9 rating
14. Folsom: 26-4 (10-0 in League), 31.8 rating, 2 straight losses
15. Clovis West (Fresno): 30-4 (9-1 in Tri-Rivers), 31.2 rating
16. Modesto Christian (Modesto): 27-7 (12-0 in League), 31.2 rating
17. Inderkum (Sacramento): 28-4 (12-0 in League), 31.1 rating
18. St. Bernard (Playa del Rey): 22-9 (7-1 in Del Rey), 30.4 rating
19. Granada (Livermore): 26-11 (5-4 in East Bay), 30.2 rating
20. De La Salle (Concord): 22-9 (7-2 in East Bay), 29.7 rating
Division 2
1. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose): 22-6 (12-2 in West Catholic), 31.9 rating, 2 straight losses
2. Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond): 26-9 (10-0 in Tri-County - Rock), 30.6 rating
3. Pacifica Christian/Orange County (Newport Beach): 27-10 (7-1 in San Joaquin), 30.3 rating
4. La Mirada: 25-10 (6-2 in Gateway), 30.1 rating
5. Rancho Christian (Temecula): 24-11 (7-1 in Ivy), 29.9 rating
6. San Ramon Valley (Danville): 26-8 (5-4 in East Bay), 29.6 rating
7. Campolindo (Moraga): 23-8 (10-2 in Diablo - Foothill), 28.4 rating
8. Jesuit (Carmichael): 26-6 (12-0 in Delta League), 27.8 rating, 2 straight losses
9. Walnut: 28-3 (9-1 in Hacienda), 27.4 rating
10. Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa): 27-4 (10-2 in North Bay - Oak), 27.1 rating
11. Downey: 26-4 (6-2 in Gateway), 27.0 rating
12. Diamond Bar: 24-6 (9-1 in Hacienda), 26.1 rating
13. Rio Americano (Sacramento): 27-6 (11-1 in League), 25.4 rating
14. Sonora (La Habra): 26-5 (10-0 in Freeway), 24.8 rating
15. Redondo Union (Redondo Beach): 20-10 (8-2 in Bay), 24.6 rating
16. Redwood (Larkspur): 23-7 (15-1 in Marin County), 24.2 rating
17. Centennial (Bakersfield): 23-6 (8-0 in League), 23.5 rating, 2 straight losses
18. Whitney (Rocklin): 23-11 (5-5 in League), 23.2 rating
19. Serra (San Mateo): 17-12 (7-7 in West Catholic), 23.1 rating, 2 straight losses
20. Aquinas (San Bernardino): 23-8 (8-0 in Ambassador), 23.0 rating
Division 3
1. Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita): 31-5 (7-1 in South Coast), 31.9 rating
2. St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy (Downey): 30-5 (10-0 in Camino Real), 30.7 rating
3. Oxnard: 31-4 (14-0 in Channel), 30.5 rating
4. Orange Lutheran (Orange): 23-12 (5-5 in Trinity), 30.2 rating
5. Branson (Ross): 27-4 (15-1 in Marin County), 29.2 rating
6. Windward (Los Angeles): 23-8 (6-2 in Gold Coast), 28.6 rating
7. Rancho Cucamonga: 23-8 (6-4 in Baseline), 26.6 rating
8. Buena (Ventura): 31-6 (11-3 in Channel), 25.7 rating
9. Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley): 19-12 (6-2 in Ivy), 25.0 rating
10. Pleasant Valley (Chico): 27-5 (10-0 in Eastern), 23.9 rating
11. Sacramento: 25-8 (9-3 in League), 23.9 rating
12. Vanden (Fairfield): 25-11 (8-2 in League), 23.8 rating
13. Culver City: 19-13 (5-5 in Bay), 23.4 rating
14. Orangewood Academy (Garden Grove): 23-7 (5-3 in San Joaquin), 23.2 rating
15. Oakwood (North Hollywood): 22-10 (8-0 in Liberty), 22.8 rating
16. Edison (Huntington Beach): 20-10 (5-1 in Surf), 22.6 rating
17. La Serna (Whittier): 27-7 (8-0 in Del Rio), 22.4 rating, 2 straight losses
18. Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo): 20-8 (6-2 in South Coast), 22.1 rating
19. Simi Valley: 20-9 (7-1 in Coastal Canyon), 21.9 rating
20. Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory (San Francisco): 16-13 (7-7 in West Catholic), 21.7 rating
Division 4
1. Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco): 23-7 (12-2 in West Catholic), 30.9 rating
2. University (San Francisco): 29-4 (10-0 in Bay Counties - West), 30.2 rating
3. Valencia: 27-10 (9-3 in Foothill), 26.8 rating, 14 straight wins
4. Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton): 20-8 (8-2 in West Bay), 24.3 rating
5. Justin-Siena (Napa): 28-6 (12-0 in Vine Valley), 23.4 rating
6. King's Academy (Sunnyvale): 24-4 (6-3 in West Bay), 23.3 rating
7. Jordan (Long Beach): 23-13 (10-2 in Moore), 21.4 rating
8. St. Bonaventure (Ventura): 26-10 (7-1 in Tri-Valley), 19.2 rating
9. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village): 20-9 (5-6 in Marmonte), 19.0 rating
10. Flintridge Prep (La Canada): 20-8 (7-1 in Prep), 17.3 rating
11. Pacifica Christian/Santa Monica (Santa Monica): 28-7 (8-0 in Independence), 17.2 rating
12. Leuzinger (Lawndale): 22-9 (9-1 in Ocean), 17.1 rating
13. Half Moon Bay: 21-11 (11-1 in Peninsula - North), 16.9 rating
14. Upland: 14-13 (2-8 in Baseline), 16.6 rating
15. Beaumont: 24-10 (9-1 in Citrus Belt), 16.1 rating
16. Woodrow Wilson (Long Beach): 21-12 (8-4 in Moore), 15.7 rating, 2 straight losses
17. Ygnacio Valley (Concord): 21-7 (8-2 in Diablo - Valley), 15.4 rating, 2 straight losses
18. St. Monica (Santa Monica): 15-14 (9-1 in Santa Fe), 14.5 rating
19. St. Margaret's (San Juan Capistrano): 21-8 (10-2 in Orange Coast), 14.4 rating, 2 straight losses
20. Troy (Fullerton): 20-10 (6-4 in Freeway), 14.2 rating
Division 5
1. Priory (Portola Valley): 24-4 (8-2 in West Bay), 24.7 rating
2. Lynwood: 27-11 (10-0 in San Gabriel Valley), 19.7 rating, 5 straight wins
3. Urban (San Francisco): 22-9 (7-3 in Bay Counties - West), 19.3 rating
4. North (Torrance): 26-7 (10-2 in Pioneer), 16.6 rating
5. Head-Royce (Oakland): 28-5 (9-1 in Bay Counties - East), 16.3 rating
6. Bosco Tech (Rosemead): 27-7 (9-1 in Santa Fe), 15.2 rating
7. Blair (Pasadena): 24-11 (8-2 in Rio Hondo), 14.0 rating
8. Ripon Christian (Ripon): 26-8 (12-0 in Trans Valley League), 13.4 rating
9. Oakwood (Morgan Hill): 23-6 (12-0 in PCAL - Mission), 13.4 rating, 2 straight losses
10. San Domenico (San Anselmo): 22-9 (6-4 in Bay Counties - West), 12.9 rating, 2 straight losses
Division 6
1. San Francisco Waldorf (San Francisco): 25-5 (9-1 in League), 12.9 rating, 17 straight wins
2. Cornerstone Christian (Antioch): 24-7 (10-0 in Small School Bridge), 7.1 rating
3. South Fork (Miranda): 19-6 (5-1 in League), 3.8 rating
4. Napa Christian (Napa): 19-5 (8-2 in Small School Bridge), 2.1 rating
5. Desert (Edwards AFB): 18-7 (10-3 in High Desert), 1.9 rating
