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The best high school boys basketball in California – and arguably the country – will be played in the Mission League this winter.
The league placed Notre Dame and Harvard-Westlake into the CIF Southern Section Open Division last season; an eight-team playoff field comprised of the best in the section. Sierra Canyon, which has been in the Open Division every year since its creation in 2014, will enter the Mission League this year making the possibility of three teams being selected to the heralded field a high possibility.
All eyes will be on the ‘big three’ throughout the season, but the five other Mission League programs – St. Francis, Chaminade, Loyola, Alemany and Crespi – are filled with talent, too. The high school basketball season doesn’t officially begin until November 14, but the Daily News is providing an early and exclusive preview to the talent the league will boast in this 2022-23 season.
L to R, kneeling; Bronny James-Sierra Canyon, Jayce McDonald-Alemany, Jonas De Krassel-Loyola, Jackson Mosley-St. Francis, Dusty Stomer-Notre Dame, Coltrane Marchand-Chaminade. L to R, standing; Brady Dunlap-Harvard-Westlake, Isaiah Elohim-Sierra Canyon, Trent Perry-Harvard-Westlake, Caleb Foster-Notre Dame, Ashton Hardaway-Sierra Canyon, Jacob Huggins-Harvard-Westlake, Mercy Miller-Notre Dame and Peyton White-Crespi Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
L to R; Ashton Hardaway of Sierra Canyon with Jacob Huggins of Harvard-Westlake Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
L to R; Peyton White of Crespi, Jacob Huggins of Harvard-Westlake and Ashton Hardaway of Sierra Canyon Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
L to R; Trent Perry, Brady Dunlap and Jacob Huggins of Harvard-Westlake with Dusty Stromer, Mercy Miller and Caleb Foster of Notre Dame Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
L to R; Brady Dunlap of Harvard-Westlake with Mercy Miller of Notre Dame Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
L to R; Bronny James of Sierra Canyon and Dusty Stromer of Notre Dame Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
L to R; Coltrane Marchand of Chaminade, Caleb Foster of Notre Dame and Jonas De Krassel of Loyola Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
L to R; Peyton White of Crespi, Jacob Huggins of Harvard-Westlake and Ashton Hardaway of Sierra Canyon Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
L to R; Mercy Miller of Notre Dame and Bronny James of Sierra Canyon Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
L to R; Ashton Hardaway, Bronny James and Isaiah Elohim of Sierra Canyon with Jacob Huggins, Trent Perry and Brady Dunlap of Harvard-Westlake Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
L to R; Brady Dunlap of Harvard-Westlake and Isaiah Elohim of Sierra Canyon Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
L to R; Ashton Hardaway, Isaiah Elohim and Bonny James of Sierra Canyon with Dusty Stromer, Mercy Miller and Caleb Foster of Notre Dame Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
L to R; Jayce McDonald of Alemany, Trent Perry of Harvard-Westlake and Jackson Mosley of St. Francis Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Ashton Hardaway, left, and Bronny James of Sierra Canyon Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
L to R; Isaiah Elohim, Sierra Canyon, Trent Perry, Harvard-Westlake, Jonas De Krassel, Loyola, Peyton White, Crespi, and Mercy Miller of Notre Dame Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Caleb Foster of Notre Dame Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Mercy Miller of Notre Dame Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Isaiah Elohim of Sierra Canyon Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Ashton Hardaway of Sierra Canyon Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Bronny James of Sierra Canyon Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Jacob Huggins of Harvard-Westlake Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Jonas De Krassel of Loyola Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Trent Perry of Harvard-Westlake Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Jackson Mosley of St. Francis Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Coltrane Marchand of Chaminade Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Peyton White of Crespi Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dusty Stromer of Notre Dame Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Jayce McDonald of Alemany Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Brady Dunlap of Harvard-Westlake Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The league is highlighted by two 5-star recruits in Notre Dame’s Caleb Foster (Duke commit) and Sierra Canyon junior Isaiah Elohim. Players from NBA bloodlines, like Bronny and Bryce James, and Ashton Hardaway, sons of LeBron James and Penny Hardaway, respectively; and a bevy of high-level recruits like Dusty Stromer (Gonzaga), Mercy Miller (Houston) and Brady Dunlap (Notre Dame), to name a few.
Here’s a quick look at each team in the Mission League and the top players to watch.
(Alphabetical)
ALEMANY
Top players: Jayce McDonald, PG, Sr.; Jared Mims, G/F, Jr.; Jared Veiguela, G/F, J.
Quick hit: The Warriors finished last in the league last year, but will look to improve behind the play of standout guard Jayce McDonald.
CHAMINADE
Top players: Coltrane Marchand, SG, Sr.; Dylan Clay, PG, Sr.; Bryce Goldman, G, Jr.; Jonas Thurman, G/F, So.
Quick hit: The Eagles are two seasons removed from a CIF-SS Division 1 title victory and somewhat still in a regrouping stage after an 11-win season last winter. Athletic sophomore Jonas Thurman could be an x-factor.
L to R; Peyton White of Crespi, Jacob Huggins of Harvard-Westlake and Ashton Hardaway of Sierra Canyon Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
CRESPI
Top players: Peyton White, F, So.; Joe Sterling, G, Fr.; Roman Stewart, G/F, Jr.; Ivan Belkin, F, Sr.
Quick hit: The Celts are well-coached, tough and young – but loaded with potential. The two-man game with Sterling and White accompanied by shooting and playmaking from Stewart and Belkin could provide problems for defenses.
HARVARD-WESTLAKE
Top players: Brady Dunlap, G/F, Sr. (Notre Dame); Jacob Huggins, F, Sr. (Princeton); Trent Perry, PG, Jr.; Robert Hinton, G, Jr. (Harvard); Nikolas Khamenia, F, So.
Quick hit: The Wolverines knocked off Sierra Canyon in the Open Division playoffs before falling in a rematch in the CIF State playoffs. Khamenia, a 6-foot-6 shooter, is primed for a breakout season.
LOYOLA
Top players: Jonas De Krassel, G, Jr.; Hugh Vandeweghe, F, Jr.; Jaedyn Patterson, PG, So.
Quick hit: Loyola will look for a breakout campaign under second-year coach Damaine Powell. Vandeweghe is the nephew of former NBA player Kiki Vandeweghe, adding to a deeper storyline of NBA bloodlines in the Mission League.
L to R; Trent Perry, Brady Dunlap and Jacob Huggins of Harvard-Westlake with Dusty Stromer, Mercy Miller and Caleb Foster of Notre Dame Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
NOTRE DAME
Top players: Caleb Foster, PG, Sr. (Duke); Dusty Stromer, G, Sr. (Gonzaga); Mercy Miller, G, Jr. (Houston); Dante Ogbu, G, Sr.; Jayden Harper, F, Jr.
Quick hit: The Knights are the defending Mission League champs and return the Player of the Year in Stromer. With Foster and Miller, Notre Dame might have the best 1-2-3 lineup in Southern California. Mercy Miller is the son of rapper and producer Master P.
SIERRA CANYON
Top players: Isaiah Elohim, G/F, Jr.; Bronny James, G, Sr.; Ashton Hardaway, F, Sr.; Dylan Metoyer, PG, Sr.; Bryce Cofield, G, So.; Jimmy Oladokun, F, Sr.; Noah Williams, F, Jr.
Quick hit: This team is talented and loves to defend. But maybe more importantly, this year’s version of the Trailblazers will take on the personality of its senior leader Bronny James – a team-first playmaker that will put Sierra Canyon into the Open Division yet again.
Ashton Hardaway, left, and Bronny James of Sierra Canyon Tuesday, September 28, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
ST. FRANCIS
Top players: Jackson Mosley, PG, Sr.; Mazi Mosley, G, So.; Luke McGrath, G/F, Sr.
Quick hit: The Golden Knights will be led by coach Todd Wolfson and a savvy, experienced point guard in Jackson Mosley. Mazi Mosley (no relation) is a dynamic playmaker that could develop into the team’s top scoring option.
