LA Southwest Highlights SCC Men's Basketball Early Outlook
Hosting only a few sports, Los Angeles Southwest College has always been best known for it's men's basketball program. The Cougars won a state title in 2001 and as the 2023-24 season is unfolding the South Coast Conference squad is ranked #16 in the State Top 30 Rankings.
Nine of the 12 teams in the SCC, including all six in the South Division have won state men's basketball championships in their history, but none since Mt. San Antonio won the 2013 title. The Mounties are the only other ranked team at #22 and have the best record of conference squads at 9-1 as of games of Dec. 14.
South Division's LA Southwest (7-4) earned that high rating thanks to a 74-70 win over defending 3C2A champion City College of San Francisco, currently #6, while the Cougars losses include the likes of #3 Fullerton, #8 Cerro Coso and #13 West Los Angeles.
The Cougars are paced by the state's current leading scorer in Chidi Obichere, lighting the net at a 23.5 points per game clip, while Justin Haynes is second in the conference in rebounding at 10.3 boards (7.5 points average).
Next in the South is Long Beach City (6-5) as Brandon Cerda is averaging 18.3 points and is tied for 11th in the state in assists average at 5 per contest. Franklyn Chambers is also a top scorer, averaging 17.9 points and the conference's top steals leader at 2.9 takeaways per game.
El Camino (4-6) has a solid scorer in Billy Ray Barnes III, averaging 18.8 points, while Compton (4-7) is led by Jake TenBerge with a 17 points and 7.9 rebounds average.
Cerritos is off to a slow 3-6 start, but three of its losses were by margins of three points or less, including a 71-68 defeat v. #7-ranked Sequoias. Cameron McCoy has been of the Falcons more consistent players at 10.2 points and 7 rebounds per game.
Defending South champion LA Harbor is 2-7 despite the stellar play of Blake Ballard (17 points, 8 rebounds averages), who is the conference's top free throw shooter at 89.5 percent (51-for-57 at the stripe, 12th in state).
In the North, Mt. SAC is poised to move up the rankings as the Mounties stand at #6 in the state in Non-Conference RPI. Mt. San Antonio's only loss was in overtime v. #23 Chaffey (93-84) on Dec. 2 while it has victories over #24 Santiago Canyon, #25 Citrus and #29 Irvine Valley.
The Mounties have one of the region's best in Nick Hopkins, fifth in the state in scoring at 22.9 points and seventh in rebounding at a SCC tops 10.8 boards.
LA Trade Tech is 5-3 behind Omari Ferguson, 16.5 points and 4.4 assists, while Pasadena City, a team that reached last year's Regional Finals, recovered from a 1-4 beginning to move to 5-4. The Lancers are paced by Myles Watkins, averaging 17.7 points.
East Los Angeles (3-5) is also off to a surprisingly sluggish opening to a season, but the Huskies losses are nothing to overlook, including a Dec. 14 defeat v. #3 Fullerton by just one point, 70-69, and also finishing on the short end v. #2 Mt. San Jacinto, #11 Moorpark, and #21 Saddleback. The 7-time defending North champion, ELAC spreads its minutes throughout a large roster as Daniel Michelini-Jackson is averaging 13.3 points and 5.5 rebounds to top the crew.
Rio Hondo (2-8) has Bryant Handley (14.8 points, 5.6 rebounds pg) as a top player while Los Angeles City, a state champion back in 1997 and 2003, has resurrected its program since being dormant due to budget cuts in 2009.
The Cubs (1-8) finally picked up their first win since that season on Dec. 6, 76-75, over Victor Valley. Luke Olmstead has been a leading player at 16.7 points per contest.
After SCC Crossover games in early January, the conference season for both divisions begins on Jan. 24.