Compiled by Ronnie Flores, CalHiSports.com Managing Editor

Contributing: Mark Tennis, CalHiSports.com Executive Editor 

(We are in the midst of our 30th year of releasing state rankings every week for California high schools) 

(Last year's final state rating in parentheses)
(Teams written up for top  20; next 15 ranked in order; plus more teams to watch)
(Go to ESPNRISE.com for national and regional preseason rankings)

1. (3) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 35-1
An underclass-dominated lineup from last year that won CIF Division II state title is a top five team nationally in the ESPN RISE FAB 50 preseason rankings, especially with the addition of Colony of Ontario transfer Tyler Lamb (6-5). With him and the four starters returning -- PG Gary Franklin (6-0) SF Andy Brown (6-7), and the Wear twins David (6-10) and Travis (6-10)  Mater Dei is a definite threat to win City of Palms tourney in Florida like it did two seasons ago. The Monarchs were better than anticipated last season, but they will have a bulls-eye on their chest this year. Also look for head coach Gary McKnight to earn his 800th milestone win early in the season.   

2. (8) Fairfax (Los Angeles) 27-6
Everyone knows about Renardo Sidney (6-10), but the player that makes this team go is 6-6 Solomon Hill. He had an outstanding summer and is a legit top 75 national prospect. With Lance Bailey (6-2) coming back as well as a thee-year letter winner and he continues to step up his game, this team, which absolutely routed San Diego last season, could be very good if Sidney stays focused. The Lions beat Westchester two out of three times last season and are always well-coached under L.A. City veteran Harvey Kitani.     

3. (2) Dominguez (Compton) 31-3
Coach Russell Otis is being investigated for criminal conduct. If he's back and Jordan Hamilton (6-7) is eligible, they are a top 7-10 team nationally. If Hamilton is eligible and Otis doesn't come back, they are still a top 20 team. No Otis and no Hamilton and they are still perhaps a top 25 team. Even if Hamilton doesn't play at all, the Dons will have 11 letterwinners returning. Interim coach Duane Cooper (the former USC and NBA player) should help smooth things over as well.

4. (12) De La Salle (Concord) 28-4
Two of the Spartans' losses last year were to undefeated McClymonds of Oakland, including a two-point loss. They have a strong nucleus coming back, led by 6-1 point guard Brandon Smith (signed with Cal) and only one senior played last season. They were already going to be stronger this season than last and when you throw in transfer Hollis Thompson (6-5) from Loyola of Los Angeles, you have the makings of a real juggernaut. Thompson, headed to Georgetown, was projected to be one of the top players in Southern California this season. De La Salle was badly beaten by Westchester at the NIKE Extravaganza so there is still some concern how well the Spartans might fare against national-level teams with a ton of athleticism.
 
5. (7) Taft (Woodland Hills) 27-4
The Toreadors had a fine 2007-08 season led by L.A. City Section Player of the Year Larry Drew Jr., whose ball-handling and leadership were key in victories over Fairfax and two routs of Dominguez. He will be missed, but the roster is loaded with talent. Though head coach Derrick Taylor lacks a true big man, the key veterans include stellar defender Justin Hawkins (6-2) and no-nonsense rebounder Terran Carter (6-5). Taylor's team should also benefit when his young players, such as freshman Landon Drew (5-7), gain experience.        

6. (9) Westchester (Los Angeles) 28-5
The Comets will remain perimeter-oriented and could have trouble with national teams with size and bulk. Junior Dwayne Polee (6-8) will be counted on for more than just rebounding and dunking with the graduation of veteran guards Oscar Bellfield and Jarred Dubois. PG Dominique O'Connor (5-10) really emerged late last season and is a returning All-City pick while Jordin Mays (6-2) gained valuable experience last season. Another player to watch is junior Kareem Jamar (6-4), who greatly improved over the summer. Coach Ed Azzam always restocks his roster but Fairfax has gotten the best of the Comets lately.   

7. (1) McClymonds (Oakland) 32-0
Mack was indeed all the way back last year as it won the CIF Div. I state title win a 73-54 victory over Dominguez and capped an unbeaten season. Two of the top three players on the team are back, but the inside strength of graduated Frank Otis will be missed. Coach Dwight Nathaniel also has retired but a undefeated state champ deserves some recognition. PG Will Cherry (6-0) and leaper Damon Powell (6-6) lead a group of five returning letterwinners. The Warriors may not be quite as good as last year, but still definitely should be among the state's top teams.

8. (15) San Diego 23-5
Coach Brandon Roy has been raving about his club all off-season and the roster is stacked with talent. It all starts with junior Jeremy Tyler (6-11), last season's state sophomore of the year by CalHiSports.com. Xavier Roy (6-2) is the coach's son and a talented sophomore. Well-traveled Terrance Boyd (6-5) also is quite a talent who played at Oak Hill Academy two years ago. To compliment Tyler inside, Zach Smith (6-11) is supposed to make a huge impact and the team has also added steady guard LaBradford Franklin (6-1). Still, Fairfax beat San Diego fairly comfortably last season, so we are reluctant to put the Cavers too high until they start winning some of these big games against strong competition. Three of their losses last year were to out-of-state foes and they again play a national schedule. The possibility for a quick rise up these rankings toward the top five is not far-fetched.

9. (11) Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga) 31-3
Coach Dave Kleckner has done a great job with this program although the Eagles have traditionally not won the big games against inner city Los Angeles schools such as Dominguez and Fairfax. A group of 10 letterwinners return, led by all-state level talents Jordan Finn (6-4) and Rome Draper (6-6). The development of guard Tim Pendergraph (6-1) will be key to Etiwanda's fortunes as well. Last season, the Eagles defeated Sacramento and Modesto Christian to win the Modesto Christian holiday tourney and are a year older and better.  

10. (12) Sacramento 30-4
Returning Sacramento Bee Player of the Year Chase Tapley (6-3) has this team gunning for a return trip to the CIF Div. III state title game. Tapley scored 37 points in a losing cause against Santa Margarita. The Dragons also lost to El Camino of Sacramento in the section title game and by just two points to Reno and Etiwanda. Veteran coach Derrick Swafford welcomes back 10 letterwinners plus talented newcomer Josiah Turner (6-1). With Sac High grad Kevin Johnson now in mayor's office, good things could just be in the air for this program.         

11. (6) M.L. King (Riverside) 32-3
Coach Tim Sweeney has done a great job with this program and the Wolves are starting to attract the best players in the Riverside area of the Inland Empire. The Wolves will miss all-state standout Eric Wise but welcome back wing Kahwi Leonard (6-7), a fast-rising top 100 national recruit. King lost to Dominguez twice last year, including the SoCal Div. I Regional final, and with Leonard back and Sweeney's coaching they should have another fine season.    

12. (10) Campbell Hall (North Hollywood) 31-5
This team played a national level schedule and with Mr. Basketball Jrue Holiday it had a chance against everyone except Dominguez, which beat them 76-53. The Vikings routed St. Mary's of Berkeley to win their second consecutive CIF Div. IV state title and third in four years. They won't have Holiday but in the state title game freshman Austin McBroom (5-11) stepped up big-time, has grown a few inches and is getting better every time we see him. Eight other letterwinners return, including junior forward James Johnson (6-7) and the team's glue, Keegan Hornbuckle (6-6).

13. (23) Modesto Christian 29-5
The Crusaders advanced to the CIF Division IV Northern Regional championship game where they lost to St. Mary's of Berkeley after winning 20 consecutive games. UCLA-bound Reeves Nelson (6-7) is the top player and is complimented by his younger brother, sophomore Raymond (6-5). Even with Nelson and Cal-bound guard D.J. Seeley, this team somewhat underachieved last season after starting off the season as a bubble FAB 50 national team. Nelson is clearly one of the state's top talents and could lead the team to a higher ranking, but he also could start slowly due to an injury from his participation in football.

14. (21) Rocklin 30-3
The Thunder should have quite a team after winning their second CIF Sac Joaquin Section Div. II title last season, the first coming in 2001. Coach Steve Taylor's team will build around senior Brendan Lane (6-10), who averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds per game and just signed with UCLA. The program loses two seniors that provided near double-digit scoring, but Taylor only had three seniors on his roster, so another gaudy record is definitely possible against the moderate schedule Rocklin will face. Another stellar athlete to watch is junior point guard Jackson Cummings, one of the top three-sport athletes in the Sacramento region. If we were picking teams for CIF state finals in the preseason, this looks like the most likely foe that Mater Dei would face in Division II.   

15. (29) West Valley (Hemet) 25-4
The Mustangs won the CIFSS Div. III-A title game last year, 90-80 in overtime, over Sunbelt League rival Perris. Coach Chuck Peebles' squad avenged two earlier losses to the Panthers during the regular season. Peebles counts back seven letterwinners, including Oregon State recruit Joe Burton (6-8), who scored 23 points and 17 rebounds in that title game and is finally living up to the acclaim bestowed upon him entering high school. The top player on the perimeter is Eric Lawton (6-1), the returning CIFSS Div. III-A co-Player of the Year, while Dakota Downs (6-5) is another talented returnee for a team that fell in the first round of the SoCal Div. I regional playoffs to San Diego.

16. (nr) Windward (Los Angeles) 24-5
With the right combination of talent, size and coaching, the Wildcats look like legitimate state title contenders in Division IV. They have a great one-two punch with Michigan-bound Darrius Morris (6-3) and UCLA-bound Anthony Stover (6-10). Last season, Stover helped Renaissance Academy advance to the Div. V state title game and he is the defensive presence this team needs. The one concern for coach Miguel Villegas is depth, so that is why we would start off Windward behind league rival Campbell Hall in the state ratings until the Wildcats actually beat the Vikings on the court.    

17. (14) St. Mary's (Berkeley) 33-2
The Panthers won 33 of their first 34 games last year with the lone loss to Sacramento by just two points. The reason they start off behind Windward in these ratings is due to the fact the Wildcats played Campbell Hall pretty tough in league while St. Mary's was beaten much worse in the Div. IV state title game, 83-61, even after Campbell Hall called off the dogs and was outscored 25-18 in the final period. The good news for St. Mary's is the return of 10 letterwinners, including Dominque Lee (6-4), who led St. Mary's with 15 points in that state title game loss. The Panthers lose standout guard Will Brew to UC Santa Barbara, but welcome back younger brother Chris (6-4), who is expected to shine this season.     

18. (37) Perris 25-7
Yes, we've got two teams from the Inland Empire's Sunbelt League in the preseason state top 20, which is just another example of the shifting tides of power in the state out towards the suburbs and away from the cities. The Panthers beat West Valley twice in three tries last season, but fell in overtime when it counted most in the post-season. The Sunbelt League champions were a balanced club led by Kevin Young (16.1 ppg), Robert Smith (15.5 ppg), Myron Samuel (15.4 ppg) and Jeremy West (14.4 ppg) with CIFSS Div. III-A co-Player of the Year Smith (6-0) and Samuel (6-2) returning to the fold. They start off three spots behind West Valley and have to show they can effectively slow down the Joe Burton-Eric Lawton combo.      

19. (39) Hoover (San Diego) 27-7
The Cardinals overcame an 11-point second-quarter deficit against Mission Hills of San Marcos to win the CIF San Diego Section Division II title. Coach Ollie Goulston loses grid-hooper Corey Trisby off a team that advanced to the SoCal Div. II regional semifinals, but does welcome back a whopping 10 letterwinners including six that were either freshman or sophomores last season. One of those players is sophomore Angelo Chol (6-9), a talented shot-blocker that should have a bigger offensive role this season.  

20. (nr) Sacred Heart Cathedral (SF) 21-13
Don't let the losses from last year fool you since most were in the rugged West Catholic Athletic League. The Irish did play in the CIF Div. III Northern Regional final and this year will be led by two four-year starters in 6-8 Jerry Brown (just signed with Fresno State) and rugged 6-5 muscle-man Kevin Greene. With league champ Archbishop Mitty turning over its roster and with a new head coach, SHC should be tough to beat in the WCAL this season.

Next 15 On The Bubble:
(Last year's final rating in parenthesis)

21. (nr) Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley) 23-7
22. (46) Hanford 31-4
23. (40) Serra (Gardena) 23-5
24. (25) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance) 26-7
25. (26) Newark Memorial (Newark) 24-7
26. (nr) Ocean View (Huntington Beach) 20-7
27. (nr) Los Alamitos 20-9
28. (nr) Garces (Bakersfield) 23-9
29. (47) Price (Los Angeles) 28-4
30. (44) Fremont (Los Angeles) 21-8
31. (5) Santa Margarita (Rancho SM) 30-5
32. (24) Oakland 23-9
33. (nr) Poly (Long Beach) 19-9
34. (nr) Sheldon (Sacramento) 19-11
35. (nr) Centennial (Corona) 27-5

Others to watch (listed alphabetically with last year final rating):

(4) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 31-2
(15) Branson (Ross) 31-3
(nr) Cabrillo (Long Beach) 6-20
(33) Castro Valley 24-4
(nr) Clovis West (Fresno) 21-7
(45) Colony (Ontario) 22-11
(18) Compton 24-6
(31) Eisenhower (Rialto) 27-4
(38) El Toro 26-2
(20) Fairfield 28-6
(32) Gahr (Cerritos) 21-10
(19) JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) 19-11
(nr) Jordan (Long Beach) 14-13
(41) Kennedy (Richmond) 27-6
(48) Mayfair (Lakewood) 24-5
(22) Simi Valley 25-2
(34) Wilson (Long Beach) 20-10

Comments or corrections? Email mark@studentsports.com or ronnie@studentsports.com and be sure to leave a comment so others can check out what you have to say.