NorCal Preseason Rankings

2021-2022 Northern California Signal The Light Preseason Rankings

*record from 2019-2020 in parenthesis

San Francisco (30-0): The Rams come into the season as our top ranked team in Northern California. San Francisco comes into the season on a 30 game winning streak and the Rams will be in mix for a state championship run for the 2021-2022 season. The Rams are loaded with talent and head coach Justin Labaugh and company will be a team that will be tough to beat this upcoming season. The Rams open up their championship quest for the upcoming season against #6 Yuba at home on November 5th. San Francisco follows that game up a day later against 7th ranked Santa Rosa and will face East Los Angeles in a game where many feel could be a preview of the state championship game on November 7th.

2. Columbia (26-4): The Claim Jumpers come into the season with an athletic and talented team that should make some noise this season and our favorites to bring home the Central Valley Conference championship. Coach Rob Hoyt has put together a team that will look to make a deep post season run and put an end to Fresno City College run of dominance in the conference. Columbia opens up their 2021-2022 season on November 6th as they will face an improved Folsom Lake team in Sonora. The next night the Claim Jumpers will face College of the Marin for their opening weekend.

3. West Valley (17-11): The Vikings open up the season as our number three team in Northern California. West Valley has a starting five that can play with anyone in the state led sophomore big man Adam Afifi. West Valley will look to build off their 17 win season and make a deep post season run. The Vikings will start their season off on the road against Solano on November 4th and follow that up with their home opener against Diablo Valley on November 6th.

4. Sequoias (24-6): The Giants come into the season as another team from the Central Valley Conference that could make a deep post season run. Sequoias has been to the last two Elite Eights and the Giants come into the season as a team that will contend for a Central Valley Conference championship. Sequoias is a big and physical team and with Seth Dawson and Ryan Johnson the Giants will be a team to watch all season long. Sequoias will open the season up November 4th against Palo Verde and follow that up with a game against American River the following night at home in Visalia.

5. Chabot (17-12): The Gladiators will be a team that will be in the mix of things this upcoming season. Chabot has side, guard play and some veterans that will make them a tough team to beat throughout the season. The Gladiator starting five is versatile and the back court is deep with Isaiah Veal, Saams Hoy, and Pitcher. Skylar Robinson is another Gladiator to keep your eyes on as Chabot will open up their season at home against Shasta on November 4th as the Gladiators are hosting an eight team tournament.

6. Yuba (24-6): The 49ers come into the season as the favorite of the Bay Valley Conference. Yuba will look to have another successful season after winning 24 games in 2019-2020. The 49ers have size and return Jacob Henry to the mix for the upcoming season. The 49ers will be tested early as they will have a big weekend to start the season off. Yuba will face top ranked San Francisco on the road on November 5th. After facing the Rams, Yuba will face East Los Angeles and 7th ranked Santa Rosa over the weekend in San Francisco.

7. Santa Rosa (23-7): The Bearcubs are the only team from the Big 8 to crack our top 15 to start the upcoming season. Santa Rosa has been an elite program over the years and coach Craig Mcmillian is one of the best in the business. The Bearcubs are always a team that improves as the season moves along but Santa Rosa could struggle early out the gates. Santa Rosa will open up their 2021-2022 campaign in San Francisco facing East Los Angeles on November 5th and following that up with consecutive games against top ranked San Francisco and 6th ranked Yuba.

8. Fresno (27-3): The Rams will start the season at number eight in our rankings. Coach Rob Haynes has taken over the program and Fresno will look to continue to be a dominant force in the state. Fresno has some solid pieces and have some talent and will be more athletic than they have been in the past. Fresno opens up their 2021-2022 season in Visalia as the Rams will face American River on November 4th and follow that up with a game against Palo Verde at the Sequoias Classic.

9. San Jose (11-17): The Jaguars come into the season as our 9th ranked team in Northern California. San Jose will be a team that will compete for the Coast South Conference championship. The Jaguars are a talented team and Jaycson Bereal is one of the best players in the state. Decaurey Brown also returns to the Jaguars as does Trent Blackshire as both players averaged in double figures as freshmen. San Jose opens up their season at home with three games next weekend. The Jaguars will face Lassen on November 4th, Merced the following night and end their weekend facing San Joaquin Delta to start their season.

10. Mendocino (21-9): The Eagles come into our rankings as the number 10 team in the North. Mendocino continues to fly under the radar but Coach Billy Offill continues to put together teams that win games. The Eagles won 21 games in 2019-2020 and return LJ Hallumus for his sophomore season. Hallumus averaged 21.2 points per contest and the Eagles were one game away from making it to the Elite Eight. Mendocino will open up their 2021-2022 season at home on November 2nd against 15th ranked Redwoods in their lone game of the week.

11. Cabrillo (16-12): The Seahawks are our 3rd team from the Coast South to be ranked and come in at number 11. Cabrillo will look to continue to have another solid season and make a run at a conference championship. Jonel Aponte returns and will look to lead the Seahawks to the post season. Cabrillo will open up their 2021-2022 season at home against Napa Valley on November 5th and follow that up with a game the next night against 15th ranked Redwoods.

12. San Mateo (14-15): The Bulldogs come into the season as a team that could make some noise and enter our preseason rankings at number 12. After making the post season, San Mateo will look to make another post season run as Bobby Arenas and Desai Lopez return. San Mateo will open up their season with three games next week in San Jose. The Bulldogs will face Delta on November 4th and face Lassen and Merced as well at the three day event.

13. Merritt (6-22): The Thunderbirds are our 3rd Bay Valley team to come into our preseason rankings and start the season off at number 13. Merritt will look to make a turn around after posting 6 wins in the 2019-2020 season. Coach Derrick Jones and staff did a great job recruiting and the Thunderbirds have put together a team that will be much improved. Merritt has size and guard play and will be a team that could be in the mix for a post season bid. The Thunderbirds open up the season on November 10th on the road against Skyline.

14. Las Positas (20-9): The Hawks come into the season as our number 14 team in Northern California. Las Positas won 20 games in 2019-2020 and are our 4th Coast North team to be ranked in our preseason top 15. Las Positas will look to have another standout season and should be a team that will be in the post season. The Hawks will open up their 2021-2022 campaign with three home games in the opening week. Las Positas will start the season against Butte on November 4th and follow that up with games against Sacramento and Siskiyous in Livermore.

15. Redwoods (22-6): The Corsairs were a cinderella story in 2019-2020 as Redwoods posted 22 wins and came within a win of making the Elite Eight. This season the Corsairs start off the season at 15th in our Signal The Light Basketball preseason rankings. Drew Gillete returns as does Donald Willis as the Corsairs look to have another solid upcoming season. Redwoods open the season with three games next week but will start the season November 2nd at home against 10th ranked Mendocino. The Corsairs will follow that up a match up against 11th ranked Cabrillo on November 5th and play the day after against Gavilan to open up their first week.