A month into the 2025-26 basketball season, the San Diego Section rankings are starting to take shape, even among the section’s smaller schools.
Santa Fe Christian (13-1) and Madison (11-1) tower above the section’s boys basketball teams while Francis Parker (8-4) and Mater Dei Catholic (11-0) top the section’s girls rankings.
But what about Christian, Mountain Empire, Liberty Charter and Foothills Christian? How are they doing to tip-off the new season?
Christian entered the new year at No. 15 among girls teams, second among Division II squads, while Foothills Christian (7-3) was ranked No. 54 overall, second among the section’s Division 5-AA teams. Mountain Empire (3-6) was ranked 12th among Division V teams.
Christian, which advanced two rounds deep into last year’s Division III playoffs, is keyed by three players each scoring in double digits: sophomore Leah Speers (18.8 ppg), freshman Rebekah Montero (10.5 ppg) and senior Sierra Weckback (10.5 ppg). Rebounding leaders include Weckback (8.9 rpg) and junior Jazmyn Bugg (6.9 rpg).
Foothills, which competes in the Coastal Sunset League is paced by sophomores Jay King (14.0 ppg) and Gigi Kent (13.0 ppg)
Mountain Empire, which competes in the Frontier Sierra League, is led by junior Bibi Caceres (6.4 ppg).
Alpine’s Liberty Charter was off to a 4-0 non-league start with wins over the San Diego Jewish Academy (43-20 on Nov. 20 and 53-16 on Dec. 11), Bayfront Charter (53-8 on Dec. 3) and Bonsall (53-39 on Dec. 8).
Liberty Charter has a key Frontier Sierra League game coming up at back country rival Mountain Empire on Jan. 9 and will host the Lady Redhawks on Jan. 16. League members also include Gompers Prep Academy, High Tech High Chula Vista and the Monarch School.
Among the section’s boys teams, Christian (7-7) was ranked 21st overall , 16th among Division I schools. The Patriots finished 21-6 last season, 7-1 in City Eastern League play as co-champions with the San Diego Cavers.
Six-foot-five senior Julian LeBel looks to be the team’s main scorer in 2025-26. Senior guard Alex Williams is regarded as another strong player on a team expected to field more depth this season.
The Pats return six players and have added eight players from the junior varsity roster or transfers. Senior forward Ronnie Scott (6-5) was still with the football team to start the basketball season.
Liberty Charter, which competes in the Frontier Patriot League, is off to a 5-4 start. Senior Duke Dengerink tops the Lions in season scoring with 11.1 ppg, followed ty sophomore Iden Naami with 9.1 ppg, senior Max Gutierrez at 9.0 ppg and junior Henry Applequist at 8.4 ppg. Dengerink paces the team with 4.7 rebounds per game.
League opponents include High Tech High North County, Southern California Yeshiva, San Diego Academy, Bayfront Charter and Gompers Prep Academy.
League play tips off Jan. 5.
Mountain Empire competes in the Frontier Pioneer League. The Redhawks, who are off to a 5-3 start in non-league games., tip off league play Jan. 20 against El Cajon’s Bostonia Global Lobos, the section’s newest kids on the block. Foothills Christian ended the 2025 portion of its 2025- 26 season with a 1-10 record and six-game losing streak. The Knights tip off the 2026 year with a game Friday, Jan. 2, against Valhalla in the East County Showcase at Helix Charter High School. Tip-off is 1:30 p.m. in the pre- Holiday Bowl matchup.
This is head coach Terry Tucker’s 21st season as a coach, his first year at Foothills Christian. He’s building from the ground up with the Knights.
“I want to get the program to the point where it can have a varsity and junior varsity,” said Tucker, who has previously coached — and found success — at Crawford and San Ysidro high schools. “I’d like to get more boys to play basketball at the school.” The team’s early season record may not show it, but things are starting to turn around.
“They play hard, the kids have high morals,” Tucker said. “We have three freshmen on the varsity. We’re excited about the future.” One freshman in particular — Joel Richards-Jones — definitely appears one to watch as he continues to grow into the game.
The lanky frosh is averaged 27.2 points per game, amassing 245 points in nine contests. By contrast, senior Jack Sudi is averaging 7.7 ppg while classmate Jonathan Castaneda is averaging 7.2 ppg. Senior Hayden Floquet is averaging 5.4 ppg while junior Jaelyn Hasten is averaging 4.0 ppg.
Richards-Jones is the No. 1 scoring freshman in California and the No. 2 scorer in the San Diego Section while pairing up against upperclassmen.
The sticker shock: He’s only 14.
“He’s a rare breed,” Tucker said. “You don’t see too many 14-year-olds anywhere (in high school sports). He has great hands, a great shot for a point guard. He can shoot from long distance — he had six threepointers in one game. He has the potential to be one of the best players I’ve ever coached.”
Richards-Jones poured in 35 points in a 76-46 setback to Westview on Dec. 20. He scored 31 points in his first career varsity game — a 70-57 loss to High Tech High Chula Vista on Nov. 28. He followed that with 27 points in an 81-51 loss to Oceanside on Nov. 29.
