Boys' basketball: Taft ranked nationally by ESPN

The Taft boys' basketball team is ranked No. 22 in the country in the preseason ESPN Fab 50 poll.

The Toreadors will feature seniors Spencer Dinwiddie (6'4), Kevin Johnson (6'10) and Georgia transfer C.J. Blackwell.

Coach Derrick Taylor will have no trouble going to his bench with star players such as Brandon Perry, Stephen Maxwell, Khiry Williams, Kris Yanku, Sandro Alberto and Ajon Efferson to choose from.

Taft is the clear cut favorite ahead of Westchester, Fairfax and Crenshaw to win the City championship.

Taft begins play Monday Nov. 29 in the first round of the Westchester tournament with a 7:30 p.m. game against King-Drew.

The Toreadors will also play area juggernaut Harvard-Westlake at Pierce College on Sat. Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Only three other schools made the cut for the top 50.

Long Beach Poly checked in at No. 13. The Jackrabbits feature Boston College-bound forward Ryan Anderson, USC-bound guard Alexis Moore, Alex Carmon and super-sophomore Roschin Prince.

Taft and Long Beach Poly are expected to meet in the So. Cal. Div. I regional final in March.

Mater Dei was No. 43 and Lincoln of San Diego was No. 50.

Lincoln is coached by former Van Nuys head coach and Cleveland asst. Jason Bryant.

Bryant led the Hornets to the state Div. II championship last season.

Lincoln features UCLA-bound guard Norman Powell, Rasean Simpson and sophomore twin guards Tyree and Tyrell Robinson.