Central Section basketball season heats up. Here’s top teams, players and rankings
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Central Section season intensifies as league play begins and rankings update.
- Buchanan boys and Clovis West girls anchor polls with strong early-season records.
- Key standouts include Jace Kellogg, Brayden Harris and Gi’Anna Smith driving offense.
High school boys and girls basketball is in full swing across the Central Section, with league play about to get underway.
Here are the top players to watch this winter — along with the latest top 25 rankings.
Buchanan’s boys are making a statement early under coach Tom Orlich. The Bears are off to a 16-2 start (as of Jan. 2), with impressive wins over Oxnard (11-5) and Windward (12-6).
Clovis West’s girls are, as usual, again proving themselves as an elite squad — even after suffering a loss to Bishop Gorman-Las Vegas. Proof that coach Craig Campbell’s Golden Eagles have not missed a beat.
Most of the league begins Friday.
Here are the latest rankings:
Boys basketball
Records through Jan. 2
1. St. Joseph 15-1
2. Buchanan 16-2
3. Clovis 15-3
4. San Joaquin Memorial 12-3
5. Clovis West 12-6
6. Clovis North 9-8
7. Centennial 8-3
8. Kingsburg 13-3
9. Tulare Union 15-1
10. Bullard 12-7
11. Bakersfield Christian 7-7
12. Atascadero 12-5
13. South 12-5
14. Sanger West 13-2
15. Arroyo Grande 12-6
16. North 12-5
17. Bakersfield 8-6
18. McLane 12-6
19. Fresno Christian 12-1
20. Mission Prep 8-6
21. Clovis 9-8
22. Central Valley Christian 12-3
23. Porterville 10-7
24. Hoover 7-5
25. Coalinga 12-2
Five boys players to watch:
McKae Amundsen, Sr., Clovis North: The Broncos’ leader has followed in his brother Connor’s footsteps (now at Dartmouth). Amundsen is known for his court vision, high basketball IQ, and fearless drives to the basket.
Javance Coleman, Sr., Bullard: The Knights’ offense runs through Coleman, a dynamic playmaker whose return from a previous setback has propelled Bullard back into contention for the County/Metro Athletic Conference title.
Brayden Harris, Sr., Buchanan: At 6-foot-9, Harris is a dominant force inside. He’s earned all-tournament honors at both the Modesto Christian Holiday Hoop Classic and the Jim Harris Invitational, giving Buchanan a matchup nightmare for opponents.
Jace Kellogg, Sr., Clovis West: Kellogg joined the elite 1,000-point club (per section historian Bob Barnett), setting a school record with 52 points at the Clovis Elks Tournament in a win over West-Tracy. He surpassed Cole Anderson’s 51-point mark set in 2021.
Sajjin Sidhu, Sr., San Joaquin Memorial: Sidhu has powered the Panthers with a string of big performances, including 37 points in a victory over Mater Dei and 32 points in an overtime win at the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas.
Girls basketball
Records through Jan. 2
1. Clovis West 16-1
2. Buchanan 16-2
3. Centennial 13-1
4. Frontier 15-2
5. Bakersfield Christian 11-3
6. Monache 11-4
7. Immanuel 13-3
8. Clovis 9-6
9. Clovis North 13-4
10. Caruthers 7-4
11. Central East 8-6
12. Atascadero 12-3
13. Shafter 10-4
14. Morro Bay 9-3
15. Torres 13-2
16. Tulare Union 13-3
17. Bullard 9-5
18. Mt. Whitney 12-4
19. Porterville 10-6
20. Orcutt Academy 10-6
21. Mission Oak 10-4
22. Liberty-Bakersfield 10-6
23. Coalinga 11-4
24. Sanger 10-7
25. Garza 11-3 Five girls players to watch: Ramie Chatman, Jr., Clovis West: Chatman has followed in the footsteps of past Golden Eagles, averaging 15.1 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.2 steals per game as both a scoring and defensive leader. JLynn Mitchell, Sr., Torres: Standing tall at 6 feet, Mitchell has anchored Torres’ success all season, averaging 12.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Ryleigh Schoonover, Sr., Clovis West: Schoonover is a top-scoring option for the Golden Eagles, averaging 18.2 points and 8.4 boards per game. Sadie Sin, Sr., Clovis: Sin led Clovis to a Central Section championship appearance last year. A prolific scorer with sharp instincts, she can take over games when it counts. Gi’Anna Smith, Soph., Buchanan: Smith powers a hot start for the Bears, averaging a team-high 23 points. As league play ramps up, all eyes are on her as Buchanan enters Tri-River Athletic Conference action.
