With fall sports coming to an end, the boys’ basketball league season is getting under way and for many of the Foothill League teams, the expectation is that any one of them can come out on top and chase the league crown.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming boys’ basketball league season and players to watch:
Valencia reloads for another league title
Last season, the Vikings finished league play 9-3 and secured a share of the Foothill League title and will be looking toward the outright championship.
But this season, the Vikings have a young team, with only one senior on the roster according to MaxPreps.
“The hardest part is getting guys to buy in,” Valencia head coach Greg Fontenette said. “If your guys are not locked in the beginning, you’re not going to have the type of success that we had last year. I’m just really excited to see how the team is going to be like this year.”
This year, he’ll have three juniors who he expects to have big seasons: Steven Irons, Issac Michel-Zavala, and Noah Trevino, who all play the guard position.
The Vikings have already begun the year with signature wins in the non-league portion of the season over Heritage Christian and Calabasas with Michel-Zavala dropping 19 points in the win over the Coyotes.
The reigning league champions are looking strong to start and only time will tell how strong their junior class will be as the Foothill League season begins.
The Vikings open Foothill League play at home against Hart on Dec. 5 with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Saugus looking to reclaim league crown
The Centurions earned a share of the Foothill League title last season alongside Valencia, but this year they have the potential to earn the crown outright.
Last season, the Centurions finished 19-10 overall and had their season end in the Division 2AA playoffs
But this year, Saugus head coach Alfredo Manzano expects the core from last season’s team to return and holds higher expectations.
“Everyone has an outside chance, right?” Manzano said “Usually, the favorite always carries the most pressure down the stretch…everyone is fighting and every given night, anybody can beat anyone.”
This year, fans can expect three seniors to lead Saugus: Braydon Harmon, Shane McKelvy, and Geroge Balena. The three guards who were on last season’s Foothill League winning season and are expected to run the team again this season.
Saugus basketball opens Foothill League play against Castaic Tuesday on the road with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Golden Valley back with new coach and new goals
The Grizzlies aren’t letting last season’s coin flip ruin their ambitions for a postseason push this year.
After missing the playoffs, the Grizzlies have a lot to look forward to with a fresh slate and a familiar face at the head coaching position.
Scott Barker, who was on the coaching staff last year as an assistant, takes over as head coach after Chris Printz left the role to become an assistant principal at Golden Valley.
But fans can still expect to see his son, Wyatt Printz, senior forward, alongside junior Donovan Webb and seniors Alaxander Villejo and Zach Christoffersen as players leading Golden Valley basketball.
When asked about the coaching staff shuffle and last season’s coin flip that ended the Grizzlies’ season, Baker stated that it’s all behind the team and that his players were preparing for this season the moment the news broke they missed the playoffs.
“They did not use it as a negative, they used it as a positive,” he said. “They were ready to get back to work the next day and while we [coaching staff] were still worried about the system, they brushed it off and said, ‘We’re working hard,’ which is a testament to their character.”
This season, expect to see a motivated Grizzlies team with a returning class ready for what this season has to offer.
Golden Valley opens Foothill League play against West Ranch on Tuesday with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Canyon looking to embrace being “hunted” after being the hunter
Last season, the Cowboys made history as the team won the Division 2A CIF Southern Section title.
This year, the Cowboys feel like a target is on their back and instead of backing down, Canyon basketball is embracing the pressure with a point to prove.
“We just try to schedule as hard as we can in the fall,” Canyon head coach Ali Monfared said. “Nothing is going to change. I think there is a mental component to be the ‘hunted’ … but our pressure is the same, we put pressure on our rebounding, not turning the ball over, setting good screens, squeezing the floor, so that external and internal pressure doesn’t take over.”
And this season, the Cowboys feel good about their chances with this year’s returning cast.
Alex Lazo, Adam Graham and Isaac Yuhico all return as seniors and are significant players for Canyon this season.
The Cowboys open the Foothill League play against Hart on Tuesday on the road with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
West Ranch eyeing to return to old glory
The Wildcats finished last season 12-15 overall but clinched a berth in the postseason in the CIF Division 2A playoffs.
This year, the expectation around West Ranch basketball is to return to the top and do so with some new faces.
Conner Petersen will be a name to watch and last season’s Foothill League honorable mention, Alessandro Matera, expects to pick up a heavier workload this season alongside first-year varsity player Nyirrel Harrill.
“Each one of these guys brings a different skillset that meshes together,” West Ranch head coach Desmond Carter said. “So, I’m appreciative of their leadership and what they’re going to do to help us be successful.”
The Wildcats open the league play against Golden Valley on Tuesday with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Hart preps for bounce-back season
Last season, the Hawks missed the playoffs after a postseason appearance in the 2023-24 season.
But if there is anyone who can bring Hart basketball back to the top of the Foothill League, it’s veteran head coach Tom Kelly.
This year, Kelly expects two seniors to have big seasons for his team and take that next step: Seniors Easton Wissmath and Andrew Lange, two players who’ve been with the team since their sophomore seasons.
“I think it’s important for other kids to see that Hart kids are going to stay home,” Kelly said. “Younger kids can see if they want to play varsity, here’s the work they need to put in. I think it’s good for younger kids to see in order to jump to varsity, they got to be the better player.”
Now, this team belongs to Lange and Wissmath and Kelly expects those two to provide senior leadership for the team this season.
The Hawks open Foothill League play against Canyon on Tuesday with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Castaic enters new era with new faces
For Castaic head coach Louis Fernando, last season was a year of growth and learning, and this year, he’s expecting his team to be competitive.
“When we think about scheduling, we are fighting for our lives in league,” he said. “This year we want to show up and compete … All the teams are going to be tough, so I have to put a schedule where the boys can go out and compete in a way, we’re gaining from our competition.
Two Castaic players who Fernando expects to be contributing on a nightly basis, guards Dax Gajera and Dylan Barreras, who were on last season’s roster.
There is still work to be done for Fernando and Castaic to get to the top of the Foothill League, but with a season-opening win over Van Nuys, the Coyotes will be a team to watch.
The Coyotes open Foothill League play at home against Saugus on Tuesday with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Trinity eyeing return to playoffs
The Knights went 9-7 last season in the Heritage League, but this year Trinity has high expectations with key returners and a cast of new faces.
“We have high expectations for this season but are still figuring out how good we can be,” Trinity head coach Daniel Hebert said. “With new players in the rotation and new responsibilities for some returners, we are growing exponentially each day. But the bright spots are definitely evident.”
Those bright spots that he speaks of include senior guard Noah Phillips, who averaged around 21 points per game last season and has been the “go-to-player” for Hebert on offense.
Another name to keep an eye on not just this season but years to come is 6-foot-5 freshman James Yumbar, who is taking the Santa Clarita Valley basketball landscape by storm.
Yumbar is averaging 26.5 points per game and 12 rebounds and had a 31-point performance against Canoga Park in the non-league start to the season.
The Knights are already 2-2 this year but will be one of the top teams to watch in the Heritage League as they begin league play on Monday at home against Valley Torah.
SCCS looking for bounce-back season
The Cardinals have a new coach and are looking for a fresh start.
Leroy Thompson takes over the team and as a first-year coach, all he’s looking for in the 2025 season is growth.
Thompson will have some familiar faces on the roster that fans have seen in recent years and are expected to contribute right away.
Forward/center Caleb Shaffer is expected to return and provide much needed senior leadership and will be joined alongside Ethan Ok and Dax Woodward, as players who Thompson expects should have big seasons.
“We are a very young team with only three returning varsity players, so there’s a lot of learning and development ahead,” Thompson said. “My goal is to help this new group of athletes learn to compete together, build chemistry, and establish a strong foundation. If we commit to playing hard, supporting each other, and improving every day, the results will follow.”
Last season, the Cardinals missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season and will be looking to get back on top in the Heritage League.
The Cardinals begin league play on Dec. 8 at home hosting Palmdale Academy Charter with tip-off scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
