Sheldon, Folsom lead the pack for Bee’s first 2025-26 boys basketball rankings
It’s a new team this winter with a host of seniors having graduated off of last season’s playoff squad, but there’s an old-school vibe brewing again in the Elk Grove Unified School District.
The Sheldon Huskies are on the prowl once again.
One of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section’s powerhouse programs for more than 20 years, Sheldon is top-ranked by The Sacramento Bee in the season’s first rankings, all of it subject to change as the campaign is already in fast-forward motion.
Sheldon is 5-0 and has the makings of another share-the-ball, defensive-minded outfit under longtime coach Joey Rollings, who is on the shortest list of all-time area coaches, and his stellar staff. The Huskies have won so many section Division I crowns that they have run out of room in the trophy case and space on the gym walls.
The program has represented the region and the section several times in CIF Northern California Open Division tournaments, including some wins in a show of staying power. Under Rollings, Sheldon has reached 11 section Division I title games, the last in 2022, and won six banners.
Sheldon returns junior guard Baron Sabir, who helped the Huskies win another Delta League championship in 2024-25, tying for first with rival Monterey Trail. The Huskies impressed in summer league action, including going 9-1 against a host of regionally ranked teams.
Those are summer results, yes, but it’s a gauge. What is without debate is the swift rise of Sabir, who averaged fewer than 10 points a game last season. He has lit it up for 40, 33 and 31 points in games in earning tournament MVP honors in one tournament.
Zach Beatty, a 6-foot-6 senior post, has produced games of 28, 26 and 20 points to go with two 13-rebound games for Sheldon. Sophomore guard Ryder Daniels is a playmaker, and senior point guard Teyjuan “Tae” Carter is also a threat to attack defenses.
Folsom is ranked second under longtime, championship coach Mike Wall, a master on team fundamentals and all-out effort. He, too, is on the shortest list as an all-time area coach for results and how to play the game.
Wall has stacked his share of section championships, six at Folsom alone, and none were more satisfying than last season’s Division I section conquest in dethroning Modesto Christian. The Bulldogs finished as The Bee’s No. 1 ranked team for last season in going 28-4, and they are 2-1 entering the weekend with a 70-66 loss to the Grant Pacers, who are Bee-ranked No. 4 under veteran coach Deonard Wilson and fourth-year varsity starting guard/wing Andre Gomez.
Folsom won the best conference in the section last season, the Sierra Foothill League, and returned versatile talents in Alec Day, Joven Dulay, Parks Weaver, Jack Shull and others.
Franklin of the Elk Grove Unified is ranked third under longtime coach Ken Manfredi, whose roster includes the most prolific player in the 23-year history of the school in fourth-year varsity starting guard Aiden Rollins, who can score inside and out. Franklin will battle Sheldon, No. 12 Monterey Trail and Elk Grove for Delta League honors.
Jesuit is ranked fifth and is a defending CIF State champion under 2024-25 Bee Coach of the Year Tim Kelly. Jesuit is the host school this weekend in the 51st Father Barry Christmas Classic and will be led by returning guard/wings Maison Phillips and Brandon Williams.
Destiny Christian Academy of Sacramento is ranked sixth under first-year coach Rich Sondhi after the Lions went 22-12 under Michael Lorente, now the head coach at American River College. DCA will battle Grant and No. 10 McClatchy, No. 13 Antelope and West Park of Roseville for the Metro League championship.
Inderkum is ranked No. 7 after going 29-3. The Tigers also have a new coach in Kevin Pham, the former UC Merced head coach. Inderkum is off to a 5-1 start, including ranked wins over Natomas (54-48) and Antelope (54-53). Pham replaced Fred Wilson, who elevated the program into a regional power.
Placer is ranked No. 9 and is bolstered by as good of a 1-2 punch as there is in the section in guards Kannon Rector and Emmett Rose. The Hillmen went 26-4 last season with one of the best teams in program history, and all five starters return.
McClatchy was a force in the Metro League and the Sacramento City Unified School District for decades before a dip. The up-cycle includes a 6-1 start this season with ranked wins over Natomas (72-67) and Woodcreek (55-51). The Lions are led by coach Tony Vaughn and guards Jordan Boyce, Kai Bradford and Gene Castillo.
No. 11 Woodcreek of Roseville is coming off of a 24-8 season under the only regional coach to win two CIF State championships in Drew Hibbs (from his time at Foothill High). Hibbs is also an all-time regional coaching great who returns rebounding and dunking big man Max VanLaningham, who signed a scholarship deal with Long Beach State of the Big West Conference.
Other new coaches include Jeff Harder at Rocklin, a longtime assistant to the retired Steve Taylor, who guided the Thunder to a section championship last season. Ranked No. 14, Rocklin graduated Bee Player of the Year Mark Lavrenov, now getting a lot of minutes at Sacramento State, but the Thunder did return guards Josiah Andrews and Connor Bow. The Thunder have started 5-1 with a 51-48 loss to Antelope.
Dean Stark is a familiar face who will be attending Sacramento Waldorf games as the school’s athletic director but has stepped aside from coaching after winning more than 700 games — a section record — with the small Fair Oaks school.
The Bee’s Top 20
(With last season’s record)
1. Sheldon (19-10)
2. Folsom (28-4)
3. Franklin (23-7)
4. Grant (20-10)
5. Jesuit (27-9)
6. Destiny Christian (22-13)
7. Inderkum (29-3)
8. Vanden (21-9)
9. Placer (26-4)
10. McClatchy (13-11)
11. Woodcreek (24-8)
12. Monterey Trail (24-7)
13. Antelope (20-11)
14. Rocklin (25-9)
15. Casa Roble (29-5)
16. Natomas (25-9)
17. Sacramento (18-12)
18. Whitney (16-13)
19. Christian Brothers (27-8)
20. Twelve Bridges (23-9)
Bubble teams: Granite Bay (9-19), Roseville (19-11), Nevada Union (16-13), West Park (3-2), Colfax (21-9), Oak Ridge (17-10), Burbank (23-10), Rio Americano (18-11), Kennedy (15-11), Del Oro (9-19), Elk Grove (17-11).