With the boys basketball playoffs beginning next week, who has the best chance of winning or advancing the furthest in the CIF playoffs? Obviously Diamond Ranch, No. 1 in Division III-A, has the best chance and should be the top seed entering next weeks playoffs, as long as they don’t stumble on Thursday in a big non-league showdown at Nogales. Here’s a quick look at our ranked teams.

Above: This is how Nogales felt after losing to Diamond Ranch earlier this season. They play again on Thursday at Nogales.

Division III-A
1. Diamond Ranch, 2. Sonora, 3. Harvard-Westlake, 4. Golden Valley, 5 Bonita, others. 13 Charter Oak.
Division II-AA
1. Thousand Oaks, 2. Leuzinger, 3. Glendora, 4. Marina, 5. Huntington Beach, others. 11. Walnut
Division III-AA
1. Cambell Hall, 2. Anaheim Canyon, 3. Santa Margarita, 4. Palm Spring, 5. Nogales, others 16. South Hills
Division IV-A
1.Bishop Montgomery, 2. Serra, 3. Ocean View, 4. Inglewood, 5. Northview, others 7. Bishop Amat, 14. South El Monte
Division V-A
1. Windward, 2. La Verne Lutheran, 3. Brethren Christian, 4. Buckley, 5. Sierra Canyon.

This is about the time we start thinking about the boys basketball player of the year. I’ll give you ten choices, and feel pretty good that a player from this list will win it all. In no particular order, here is the top ten candidates …

Chris Cunningham, Diamond Ranch
Cezar Guerrero, Workman
Garrett Johnson, Diamond Ranch
Manny Acosta, South El Monte
Aaron De Anda, Nogales
Nolan Abernathy, Bonita
Randal Guillory, Nogales
Kos Russell, Glendora
Danny Silva, Northview