Bee’s Best: 25 Sacramento-area boys basketball players to watch in 2026
It takes a lot of everything to win basketball games and to compete for championships, be it holiday events, league banners or the biggest prizes in the CIF playoffs.
The greater Sacramento region is well stocked in high school talent, particularly for sophomores, juniors and seniors. There is a banner crop of freshmen in the area this season, ripe for another top-player list.
Here are non-freshman players to peek at and ponder for 2025-26, listed in alphabetical order.
Safi Abdela, Twelve Bridges, Sr.
A 6-foot-6 forward, Abdela helped the Raging Rhinos of Placer County win 23 games a year ago and to a 14-2 showing this season. Twelve Bridges expects to compete for the Foothill Valley League championship and to make another CIF Sac-Joaquin Section championship run.
Josiah Andrews, Rocklin, Sr.
A football star headed to Northern Arizona on scholarship, Andrews played a key role for the Thunder hoops squad a year ago, a group that won the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship.
Jordan Boyce, McClatchy, Sr.
The 5-11 guard averaged 14.1 points a year ago at Laguna Creek in Elk Grove before his transfer to the Lions of Sacramento. He is joined by new teammates Kai Bradford, Andre Rabb-Patterson, Noah Hargrove and others to infuse new life into the storied Lions.
Malachi Brown, Antelope, Sr.
A 6-foot guard, Brown is a third-year varsity player who is averaging 19.1 points for the Titans. Antelope is 12-2 with visions of winning the Metro League championship.
Lucas Cutler, Oak Ridge, So.
A 6-5 guard, Cutler has nearly doubled his scoring average to 15.6 points while snatching nearly 12 rebounds a game for the Trojans, who are 9-5 and expect to compete for the Sierra Foothill League championship.
Joven Dulay, Folsom, Sr.
The 6-6 forward scored 13.5 points a game for the Sierra Foothill League champions a year ago, and he’s off to another good start for the 9-4 Bulldogs. His teammates include sophomore guard star Parks Weaver, who played well in the Bulldogs’ championship effort at the prestigious Damien Classic in Southern California this week.
Ian Engh, Rio Americano, Sr.
A 6-foot guard and a fourth-year varsity player, Engh has had a stellar career for a Raiders program that has been a factor or a force since the 1970s. He averaged 15 points a year ago.
Templeton Fountaine V, Vanden, Jr.
The 6-3 combo guard has extended the tradition of star backcourt players for the Vikings of Solano County. He is averaging 16.6 points, and he has combined with backcourt mate James Carraway to lead Vanden to a 6-3 start.
Andre Gomez, Grant, Sr.
A 6-4 guard with a mullet as good and striking as his prep career, Gomez is averaging 20.1 points, and he’s flanked by teammates such as senior Cobe James (22.5 points), freshman Marvin Crump (10.2 assists) and senior post Nadir Lockhart (11.4 points, 5.1 blocks).
Jaeden Goodman, Inderkum, Sr.
The 6-7 forward has doubled his scoring average of a year ago to 15.6 points per game and his rebounding average to 7.8. His teammates include sophomore guard Kyler Fielding and 6-3 guard LJ Chadwick as both average 8.4 points for the 10-3 Tigers of Sacramento.
Brenden Hawkins, Del Oro, Jr.
The 6-2 guard and third-year varsity starter is averaging 13.2 points for the 9-3 Golden Eagles of Loomis. He has a terrific 6-7 freshman big man to work with in Keyaan Moulla, who is averaging 15.8 points and 8.6 rebounds.
Braeden Hennelly, Christian Brothers, Jr
The 6-3 junior wing has emerged as the Falcons’ top player, averaging 12.8 points and 5.1 rebounds for an 8-4 team that will contend for the Capital Valley Conference championship with visions of repeating as a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section winner.
Mason Pearcy, Casa Roble, Sr.
A key cog for the Rams’ first CIF Sac-Joaquin Section championship team when he averaged 13.3 points, Pearcy has been crucial in the team’s 9-3 start. The Rams will battle Natomas again for the Golden Empire League title.
Maison Phillips, Jesuit, So.
A 6-4 guard, Phillips played beyond his years as a freshman starter a year ago in playing a vital role in the team’s CIF State championship march. His teammates include returning guard starter Brandon Williams.
Tyler Ritter, Roseville, Sr.
A 6-1 guard, Ritter is a smooth floor leader who leads the Tigers with a 20.2 scoring average and in assists, steals and total rebounds. His teammates include seniors Matthias Howard (14.8 points) and JJ Yong (14.6 points) for a team that will be in the Foothill Valley League championship race.
Aiden Rollins, Franklin, Sr.
A 6-3 guard and a four-year varsity starter for the Wildcats of Elk Grove, Rollins is the program’s all-time career scorer. He can score inside and out. Flanked by fellow guards Marcus Cephus and Benjamin Sandy, Franklin is off to a 13-1 start and expects to win the Delta League championship.
Kannon Rector/Emmett Rose, Placer
The guards work so well together that we’re lumping them as a 1-2 punch as they are leading one of the finest Hillmen teams in the long, storied history of the program that dates back more than 80 years. They can handle the ball, lead the charge and score, and they have the Hillmen of Auburn off to a 15-1 start.
Baron Sabir, Sheldon, Jr.
The 6-foot-5 guard/forward is the next sure thing for the Huskies of the Elk Grove Unified School District, a prolific scorer who started the season with scoring outbursts of 40, 33 and 31 points along with a 19-point, 11-rebound, 7-assist game. His teammates include 6-6 forward Zech Beaty and guards Ryder Daniels and Tey Carter for the longtime Division I powerhouse.
Max VanLaningham, Woodcreek, Sr.
A fourth-year varsity starter, the 6-9 Mad Max is averaging nearly 17 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists for the Timberwolves of Roseville, who are 9-4. Along with guard teammates Zach Bualet and Michael Kirby Jr., Woodcreek expects to compete for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship.
Zach Villanueva, West Campus, Sr.
The 6-foot guard is a fourth-year starter for the Warriors of Sacramento, and he is off to a hot start in averaging 24.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 3.1 steals for a team that will compete for the Greater Sacramento League championship. Teammates include senior guard Edmund Michalski (18.3 points, 8.1 rebounds).
Aeron Wallace/Alfred Wilkins, Natomas
The junior guards are varsity veterans who lead the team in scoring in combining for 26.2 points, 10 rebounds and nearly 7 rebounds. Their senior guard teammate Manno Jenkins is a fourth-year varsity starter.
Myles Wiggins, Destiny Christian, Sr.
A fourth-year varsity player who can score inside, rebound and run the floor, Wiggins is flanked by fellow senior captains in Mohamed Kamara and Frederick Blue to help power the Lions of Sacramento to a 9-5 start amid a brutal schedule.
Mark Williams, Nevada Union, Sr.
A 6-3 guard, Williams led the Miners of Grass Valley in scoring a year ago, and he is at the forefront of the team starting this season 10-5. Nevada Union will be in the title hunt in the Foothill Valley League.