Sports
Column: Southern California has the best high school basketball anywhere right now
If you’re a fan of amateur basketball, there’s no better place to spend the next four months than Southern California, where talent at the high school level has converged among the classes of 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028 to create one of those “I can’t believe it” moments.
“No question, it’s special,” Harvard-Westlake coach David Rebibo said.
“SoCal basketball is the greatest amateur basketball in the world right now. Tomorrow may be different but today,” Inglewood coach Jason Crowe Sr. said in a tweet.
Let’s start with the class of 2025. Nikolas Khamenia from Harvard-Westlake has grown to 6 feet 9, won two gold medals representing USA national teams and is committed to Duke. Brayden Burries from Eastvale Roosevelt is a 6-4 guard considered the best uncommitted senior in California after averaging 24.8 points for a 31-4 team last season.
Alijah Arenas of Chatsworth shows off his leaping skills.
(Craig Weston)
The class of 2026 is unprecedented in the quality of talent concentrated in one area. Tyran Stokes of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Brandon McCoy of St. John Bosco, Alijah Arenas of Chatsworth, Jason Crowe Jr. of Inglewood, Tajh Ariza of Westchester and Christian Collins of St. John Bosco are top-15 college prospects.
Add Kaiden Bailey from Santa Margarita, Luke Barnett from Mater Dei, Brannon Martinsen from JSerra, and a Southland all-star team could travel the country and take on anyone.
“To have this many national-level-caliber players in Southern California is pretty amazing,” St. John Bosco coach Matt Dunn said.
Players have played with and against each other, so that raises the level of intensity for the upcoming matchups. Stokes and McCoy were teammates on the USA U17 gold-medal team. Crowe and Arenas have been club teammates. Ariza and Collins used to be teammates at St. Bernard. Much of the talent is concentrated in the Mission and Trinity leagues, and games involving them will be played on Jan. 10 in a special one-day showcase at the Intuit Dome.
The class of 2027 is led by La Mirada’s Gene Roebuck, who averaged 24.1 points as a freshman. The Barnes twins, Carter and Isaiah, should be much improved at Crespi.
Corona Centennial has 6-3 freshman Kai Patton, who coach Josh Giles said is “the most freakish athletic freshman I’ve had in 22 years of coaching.” Mater Dei’s 6-7 freshman Evan Willis also is highly regarded.
There are players from Senegal, China, the Republic of Congo, Croatia, South Sudan, Russia and Nigeria on rosters, adding to the intrigue of overflowing talent in the Southland.
For the first time, the Southern Section will use a computer algorithm to place teams in playoff divisions, which will be culture shock to some. There’s no more knowing divisions before the season begins. It’s similar to football, where teams in the same league could face off in the opening round.
With the season starting Nov. 18, there are four teams that start out as elite: St. John Bosco, Harvard-Westlake, Eastvale Roosevelt and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. There are others capable of reaching that level, including Mater Dei, JSerra, Sierra Canyon, Damien and Windward.
Injuries and the sit-out period for eligibility could result in uncertainty early on. Stokes has a wrist injury, so he could be sidelined for weeks at Notre Dame. Servite has players 6-9 and 6-11 from Senegal who become eligible Dec. 27.
Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight begins his 43rd season.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
Mater Dei has 10 players with grade-point averages above 4.0, so coach Gary McKnight, entering his 43rd season as the winningest coach in California, is excited. “It’s fun to come to practice,” he said.
The most improbable City Section final in history happened last season, when King/Drew defeated LACES 51-45 in the Open Division final. Then a group of King/Drew players transferred to Washington Prep in the offseason, led by All-City guard Donald Thompson Jr. They won’t be eligible until Dec. 27. It’s another wide-open affair to determine No. 1, with Westchester the early favorite.
Players to watch
Nikolas Khamenia, Harvard-Westlake, 6-9, Sr: Duke commit won two gold medals in summer competitions
Brandon McCoy, St. John Bosco, 6-4, Jr: His athleticism, competitiveness, defensive toughness are second to none.
Alijah Arenas, Chatsworth, 6-5, Jr: City Section’s No. 1 player keeps improving.
Jason Crowe Jr., Inglewood, 6-2, Jr: Averaged 37.4 and 36 points the last two seasons at Lynwood.
Brayden Burries, Eastvale Roosevelt, 6-5, Sr: Versatile, fierce, unselfish and a true leader.
Tyran Stokes, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 6-7, Jr: Prolific Prep transfer has NBA-like skills.
Tahj Ariza, Westchester, 6-8, Jr: Playing at his father’s alma mater offers unique opportunity.
Elzie Harrington, St. John Bosco, 6-5, Sr: Harvard commit has gained confidence and strength.
Nathaniel Garcia, Damien, 7-0, Sr: California Baptist commit is stronger, more athletic and taller.
Brandon Benjamin, Anaheim Canyon, 6-6, Sr: San Diego commit has improved as a three-point shooter.
Sports
Conor McGregor’s long-awaited Octagon return cut short by apparent knee injury seconds into UFC 329
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Nearly five years after his last walk to the Octagon, Conor McGregor made his long-awaited UFC return Saturday night against fellow MMA star Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 in Las Vegas.
McGregor opened aggressively, attempting a running kick before throwing a head kick moments later. He appeared to slip on both tries. Holloway quickly capitalized after the second, taking top position and landing a right hand before McGregor was able to work his way back to his feet.
Moments later, McGregor hit the canvas again after trying to throw a kick with his right leg, which appeared to buckle underneath him.
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Conor McGregor of Ireland participates in the walkout before facing Max Holloway of the United States in their welterweight bout during UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Ian Maule/Getty Images)
The official inside the Octagon waved off the fight moments later, giving Holloway a TKO victory.
During the broadcast, UFC CEO Dana White pointed to a first-round replay that appeared to show the moment McGregor suffered the injury. The apparent injury was not to the same leg McGregor broke during his 2021 fight against Dustin Poirier, which led to a lengthy absence from the Octagon.
The loss extended McGregor’s long winless drought, with his last UFC victory coming by first-round TKO against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in January 2020.
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McGregor earned a unanimous decision over Holloway in a featherweight clash in 2013, when neither was an MMA megastar. In the blink of an eye, McGregor’s star rose.
Conor McGregor and Max Holloway face off during the UFC 329 ceremonial weigh-in at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 10, 2026. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
On Wednesday, he admitted he got caught up in his own stardom after winning UFC belts in two weight classes and becoming one of the biggest names in combat sports.
“I launched an Irish whiskey,” McGregor said. “I didn’t drink heavily, if at all, at that time of my life. I was an athlete at the top of my game. Next thing you know, thousands upon thousands of bottles (are) in my garage.
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“‘Sell this, Conor.’ OK, I’d leave my property with two bottles under my arm, and that was it. I was caught. And I wasn’t used to it. And that’s it. God gave me these lessons. That’s it. I was trapped and caught, and it is what it is.”
Conor McGregor jumps into the air for a kick as he fights Max Holloway in a welterweight bout at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (John Locher/AP)
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Easier said than done, perhaps, as the controversial former champion has been embroiled in multiple controversies and legal issues over the past several years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
LAS VEGAS — The door opened for Arthur Kaluma to show his worth for the Lakers in the NBA Summer League on Saturday night.
He did so in a big way.
Kaluma had 34 points and five rebounds during the Lakers’ 91-70 win over the Dallas Mavericks at the Thomas & Mack Center.
He was 11 for 16 from the field and six for 10 from three-point range.
With Lakers rookie guard Cameron Carr unable to play because of a right thumb contusion, Kaluma took over the scoring role. Carr, the 24th pick in the NBA draft, is averaging 17 points per game.
“Cam doesn’t play tonight, so he gets a little bit more minutes, gets a couple more touches,” said Lakers Summer League coach Ty Abbott about Kaluma. “But he’s done a really good job of making the most of it when he doesn’t have actions run for him. So the way that he’s been able to stay ready, find windows for himself has kept him in a rhythm. So, on a night like tonight, when we can run some actions for him, he knocks them down and just plays out of his mind. It was great.”
Kaluma said he was “a little nervous” but his three-point shooting said otherwise.
“When [teammate] Jon Elmore came down and he pitched it back to me for a three … I just knew when it came off my hand it was cash,” Kaluma said. “So I said, ‘Yeah, I’m hot.’ It went on from there.”
Late in the fourth quarter, Kaluma lined up a three-pointer, setting his feet and scoring from 29 feet out. He flashed three fingers and smiled. His teammates on the bench stood and cheered, as did the fans.
“We have such a great group of guys this year at Summer League and going through this it’s hard to get that camaraderie with a group,” Kaluma said. “But I feel like everybody wants to see everybody succeed and I felt that tonight. I’m not going to lie to you. They tell me to shoot the ball. I passed up a couple of shots and they were mad at me the other day.”
Kaluma played for the South Bay Lakers in the G League last season. He averaged 14.6 points per game, 4.9 rebounds and shot 55% from the field, 37% from three-point range.
“The G can get grimey, you know what I’m saying? It’s a time where everybody is trying to fight for a position and there is a certain hunger that you have to have in order to be successful in the G,” Kaluma said. “And I feel like that drive that I had my first year in it pushed me into this summer to really get better and work on my game and come here and have the opportunity to perform.”
Kaluma wasn’t alone in helping the Lakers improve to 2-0 in Summer League play.
Adou Thiero ran the court, took a lob pass from Chris Mañon and threw down a two-handed dunk. He had another solid outing with 15 points and four rebounds. He shot just four for 12 from the field, but was a plus-15.
But the night belonged to Kaluma.
“I pride myself on the defensive end,” he said. “I know I got hot offensively, but the shot was just falling today, you know what I’m saying? My game is three-and-D. I lock-up on defense and I know I can hit open shots. I just got hot today and I’m not going to try to let it get to my head.”
Sports
Golf star records lowest round in LPGA major history with astounding performance at Evian Championship
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There are good days on the golf course, and then there is what Haeran Ryu just did on Saturday.
Ryu, 25, recorded the lowest round in LPGA major history on Saturday with an 11-under 60 at the Evian Championship. With the South Korean golfer’s historic round, she holds a three-stroke lead.
Ryu’s round comes just two weeks after winning her first major at the Women’s PGA Championship. On the 18th hole, Ryu left a 30-foot eagle putt a few inches short, and instead settled for a birdie.
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Haeran Ryu of South Korea reacts on the 18th green after the third round of The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, on July 11, 2026. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
She said after the round that she had no idea what she had done until she counted up her scorecard.
“But after the putt and I counted my score with my caddie,” she said. “Oh my God, it’s 11-under par today. It was so amazing. My caddie says, ‘Yep.’ I’m so happy right now.”
If Ryu had made the eagle putt on the 18th hole, she would have been just the second player to shoot a 59 in LPGA history.
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Haeran Ryu of South Korea celebrates a birdie on the 15th green during the third round of The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 11, 2026, in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Her 60 broke the record for the lowest round in an LPGA major by one shot. Leona Maguire and Jeungeun Lee6 in 2021, and Hyo Joo Kim in 2014, each shot 61 at the Evian Championship, which was designated as an LPGA major in 2013.
The lowest round in a men’s major is 62, which is shared by four players — Branden Grace at Royal Birkdale in the 2017 British Open, Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler in the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, and Schauffele and Shane Lowry in the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
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Haeran Ryu of South Korea and Lottie Woad of England interact after their round on the 18th green during the third round of the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, on July 11, 2026. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Ryu hopes her historic third round can help propel her to a second major win in three weeks.
“That is amazing, amazing dream,” Ryu said. “So I just want that one to come true, but we have one more day.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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