Boys’ basketball: Fairfax tournament highlights

There will be no lacking in basketball talent or top teams based on the performances Saturday during a long but productive one-day event at Fairfax.

Front and center is what teams are going to do to deal with Chino Hills and the Ball brothers. The Huskies scored 121 points in a 32-minute game. That could become common when the season begins next month. The fact the players are already in such great shape but still have room for improvement is scary.

Lonzo Ball starts out as everybody’s top player in California and it’s refreshing because he earned that title not based on playing hour after hour in AAU ball but by performing in games and in practices with his teammates.

Chino Hills is not unbeatable, but it will take a sustained effort from beginning to end and the ability to rebound and withstand spurts to beat the Huskies.

Redondo is loaded with good guards and should be a top 10 team with Crespi, which has De’Anthony Melton, one of the most versatile players. Mater Dei will be Mater Dei, though the Monarchs could have more losses than usual.

Sierra Canyon has a starting five that will be as good as any team in California. Ira Lee is making huge progress. Long Beach Poly will be ready to play everyone tough with its defense and good size.

Fairfax is going to battle it out with Westchester for the City Section Division I title, especially when All-City guard Donald Gipson gets cleared next month. Babacar Thiombane, an Army commit, is improving by leaps and bounds.

There shouldn’t be any problem finding 16 top teams in the Southern Section for the Open Division. The City Section elite should revolve around Fairfax, Westchester, Taft, Dorsey and Washington.

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