Football, step aside. Basketball is here.
Shoes squeak, nets snap and defenders slap the floor as they settle into their stances. A month into the season, the message is clear — the show has begun.
The Record staff released its Top 25 — now the decision is yours. Who deserves to be crowned the area’s best boys basketball player this season?
Fifty-seven players from all 29 San Joaquin County high school boys basketball teams have been included in The Record’s poll to determine who stands out as the area’s best as nonleague play winds down and league action begins in 2026.
Voting will remain open until 11:59 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23. The nominees are in alphabetical order by school. You may vote as many times as you’d like through the duration of the poll, so vote now and vote often. The winner will be announced shortly after.
Nominated players
Bear Creek
Chavez
East Union
Edison
Escalon
Franklin
Kimball
Liberty Ranch
Lincoln
Linden
Lodi
Manteca
McNair
Merrill West
Millennium
Mountain House
Oakdale
Ripon
Ripon Christian
River Island
Sierra
St. Mary’s
Stagg
Tokay
Tracy
Venture Academy
Weston Ranch
This article originally appeared on The Record: VOTE: The Record’s Preseason High School Boys Basketball Player of the Year Poll
Reporting by Dylan Ackermann, The Stockton Record / The Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
