Who are the Merced area’s top boys basketball players to watch this season?
The high school boys basketball season is well underway in the Merced area, and teams are preparing to start league play.
As the 2025-26 continues to ramp up, the Sun-Star polled area boys basketball coaches for some players to watch.
Here they are:
Jordan Thomas, Diego Aguilar and Valentin Vasquez, Merced High senior guards — These three are the Bears’ top players this season. Thomas was the CCC’s defensive player of the year last season. Aguilar was the CCC’s offensive player of the year for the 2024-25 season. Valentin was a first-team all Central California Conference selection last season.
Izavian Goode, Golden Valley senior guard — Goode is a 6-foot-3 point guard who has twice been named CCC first-team and was the league’s Most Valuable Player in the 2024-25 season. According to Golden Valley coach August Tangaan, Goode is a four-year varsity player. “Izavian is the best player our program has had in the past 10 years,” Tangaan said. “He’s a great guy and has a bright future.“
Carter Chapman, Buhach Colony senior guard — The 6-foot-1 Chapman has played varsity basketball all four years of his high school career. He has also surpassed over 1,200 career points. “He’s also maintaining a 4.0 in his academics,” Buhach Colony coach Isaiah Flores-Aguirre said.
Sylas Austin and A.J. Banks, Atwater seniors — Both of the seniors were stars on the Falcons’ football team and are now leading the way for Atwater’s basketball squad. They’re two keys to the Falcons’ solid defense.
A.J. Jones, El Capitan senior forward — Jones, one of the top players in the Merced area, helped lead El Capitan to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship game last season.
Adrian Aguirre, Livingston senior guard — Aguirre showed his scoring prowess by topping 40 points in a game this year. He’ll help the Wolves compete in the Western Athletic Conference.
Daijon O’Neil, senior guard, and Jordan Cortez, junior forward, Stone Ridge Christian — O’Neil and Cortez lead the Knights, who have won two straight Sac-Joaquin Section titles and went undefeated in the Southern League last season. Stone Ridge Christian is loaded with nine returning players, coach Tyler Rogers said.
This story was originally published December 31, 2025 at 10:00 AM.
