The Daily News All-Area boys basketball team for the 2024-25 season.
ALL-AREA BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alijah Arenas, Chatsworth, Senior
The accolades came in droves this season.
McDonald’s All-American. All-City Open Division Co-Player of the Year. The first player in the CIF LA City section to reach the 3,000-point mark — and he did it in just three seasons.
The Daily News Player of the Year.
But for Chatsworth’s Alijah Arenas, the spotlight hardly matters.
What matters to him is hooping and hanging with his teammates, putting in the work to get better every day and staying humble.
“It wasn’t just me,” Arenas said. “Yes, I’m really well-known, but I can’t make anything on my own. My teammates did everything they could. They really did a lot for me and knowing how much they did for me, I really wanted to do the same thing back. The love of the game that I got, it’s those guys.”
Arenas elevated Chatsworth’s basketball program the moment he arrived on campus three years ago.
He led Chatsworth to back-to-back CIF State SoCal Regional titles (Division IV in 2023-24 and Division II in 2024-25). The Chancellors made two straight CIF State finals appearances and they reached the City Section Open Division final this year.
He took a route most student-athletes don’t take. Coming from a lineage of hoopers, including his dad Gilbert Arenas, a three-time NBA All-Star whose high school jersey hangs in the gym at Grant. His older sister Izela Arenas starred at Sierra Canyon and just finished her freshman season at Louisville.
His younger sister Hamiley Arenas just wrapped up her freshman season at Notre Dame High and his younger brother Aloni Arenas is already making headlines in middle school and could potentially follow in his brother’s footsteps at Chatsworth.
Arenas could have played anywhere, but chose to build something special at Chatsworth.
“I love Chatsworth. I love everything about it,” Arenas said, “to the gym, to the kids, to eating at the lunch tables, all my teachers, everybody. It’s just welcoming, since the first day I got here. Knowing I could leave my legacy behind here, it’s just a blessing at this point.”
“It means everything for everyone because he did it so humbly,” Chatsworth head coach Sam Harris said. “He did it without ever wanting anything in return. He did it with zero expectations. He came in just wanting to do something different and he was able to do that. For me, seeing him grow into the person that he is, not necessarily the basketball player, but just the person, his maturity level and how good of a teammate he is, that’s the stuff that’s more important.”
His numbers this season jump off the page as high as he jumps in the gym: 30.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.1 steals per game.
The way he could go coast to coast off a defensive rebound for a bucket, his ability to break through constant double and triple teams, his eye for finding his teammates in their sweet spots and his smooth shooting touch were on display on a nightly basis.
And he’s looking to showcase those skills next year in his freshman season at USC.
The future is certainly bright, but as he maintained throughout his basketball journey, it’s not about the lights and glamour, it’s about the love of the game, continuing to grow and family.
“The future for me is to stay humble, get better and live life,” Arenas said.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Ali Monfared, Canyon
Canyon started the season at a sizzling pace, going 17-4 in its first 21 games, including sweeping the Duarte Holiday Classic. The Cowboys went through some bumps in the middle of their Foothill League stretch, losing five of seven games to close the regular season.
While the team could have easily folded, head coach Ali Monfared spirited his team to a historic playoff run, with his fiery determination and love of his players on display from the sidelines.
The Cowboys won five games in a row in the postseason to capture the CIF-SS Division 2A crown, the first CIF title in program history, including an epic 89-86 three-overtime win against St. Bonaventure in the title game.
“This is all about these 11 men of Canyon Country,” Monfared said after the championship game. “These guys are the most resilient group of Canyon Cowboys in my book of all time. Proud is an understatement. They’re about team, they’re about winning and these guys are going to have this moment for the rest of their lives.”
ALL-AREA TEAM
Isaiah Carroll, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.
His contributions on the court went far beyond stats. Carroll mastered all the details that translate to winning basketball – hustling, defending and hitting timely shots.
Bryce Cofield, Sierra Canyon, Sr.
Cofield led the Trailblazers with averages of 12.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists. The Cal State Fullerton commit helped guide Sierra Canyon to a CIF State Division I championship and earned All CIF-SS Open Division honors.
Gavin Hightower, Sierra Canyon, Sr.
The engine of Sierra Canyon’s offense, Hightower’s ability to get to the rim for a bucket or assist made him one of the most difficult players to defend. The Iona-bound guard averaged 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
Isaiah Johnson, Campbell Hall, Sr.
Johnson could score with the best players in the country and was a threat to drop 30-plus on any given night. He averaged 26.7 points, 5.6 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game. Johnson will play college ball at Colorado.
Nikolas Khamenia, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.
He was the Mission League MVP, All-CIF-SS Open Division honoree and a McDonald’s All-American. The Duke signee averaged 18 points, 8.6 rebounds and 7.6 assists.
Eric Kubel, Canyon, Sr.
Kubel broke several Canyon records this year, including most points in a season (745). He led California in made 3s, was named CIF-SS Division 2A Player of the Year and helped the Cowboys win their first-ever CIF title.
Tae Simmons, Heritage Christian, Sr.
The All-CIF-SS Open Division selection guided the Warriors to an Open Division berth. He averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds. Simmons is committed to San Diego State.
Tyran Stokes, Notre Dame, Jr.
The No. 1-ranked junior in the country was a force while leading his team to the CIF-SS Open Division final. Stokes averaged 21 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists and was on the All-CIF-SS Open Division team.
Peyton White, Crespi, Sr.
White averaged 20.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game and greatly improved his range. He was selected for the All-CIF-SS Division 1 team. White is headed to Nevada for college.
JD Wyatt, Sun Valley Poly, Sr.
Wyatt scored 27 of his team’s 50 points in the CIF City Section Division I championship game and was named the DI Player of the Year. He averaged 28.5 points per game and had a 54-point performance.
ALL-AREA SECOND TEAM
Maximo Adams, Sierra Canyon, Jr.
Stevie Amar, Oaks Christian, Sr.
NaVorro Bowman, Notre Dame, So.
Max Guardado, Saugus, Sr.
Kamari King, Cleveland, Sr.
Austin Maziasz, Westlake, Sr.
Dillan Shaw, Heritage Christian, Sr.
Joe Sterling, Harvard-Westlake, Jr.
Jonas Thurman, Chaminade, Sr.
Zach White Notre Dame, Jr.