Fullerton Opens Season as CCCMBCA’s Top-Ranked Team

Fullerton, the defending 3C2A Champions, will open the 2026-27 season as the CCCMBCA's top-ranked team. The Hornets have won six 3C2A titles in their history, three under current head coach Perry Webster, who became the college's head coach in 2015 at the age of 26.

Webster holds the unique distinction of being the only person in California Community College history to win 3C2A championships in three distinct roles: as a player (with Saddleback College in 2010), an assistant coach (with Saddleback in 2015), and a head coach (with Fullerton in 2019, 2023, and 2026).

Each of Websters' titles as a coach have climaxed in beating the Rams of San Francisco (2019, 2023, 2026), which open the season as the state's second-ranked team. In fact, either Fullerton or San Francisco City have played in eight of the last nine 3C2A championship games. And during the streak, the two teams have won seven of the last nine championships.

Ironically, neither has managed to win back-to-back championships. That hasn't been done since 1990 and 1991 seasons when Rancho Santiago (now Santa Ana College) won consecutive titles under Hall of Fame coach Dana Pagett.

San Francisco City is led by future Hall of Fame head coach Justin Labagh, who is now in his 23rd season. Labagh is considered one of the most successful coaches in California Community College history. With a winning percentage of .898, Labagh has won five state championships (2011, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2025). The Rams' title in 2025 broke his tie with legendary Hall of Fame coach Jerry Tarkanian for the most California Community College men's basketball state titles.

San Bernardino Valley lands in the No. 3 slot to kick off the season. Quincy Brewer, the winning men's basketball coach in San Bernardino Valley history, reportedly has built a powerhouse team this year. In his 19 seasons at the helm, Brewer has never logged a single losing season, averaging 25 wins per year. The only accomplishment left is to win a 3C2A championship at San Bernardino Valley. Under Brewer, the Wolverines have made five Elite Eight appearances.

Las Positas settles at No. 4. Under head coach James Giacomazzi, the Hawks have made 11 consecutive postseason berths. Unfortunately for Las Positas, the Hawks compete in the same conference at San Francisco City – a program that has won 20 Coast-North Conference championships under Labagh. Giacomazzi will trying to get the Hawks to fly to their fourth 3C2A tournament appearance this season and win the college's first 3C2A men's basketball championship.

Citrus secured the state's No. 5 ranking. The Owls, under head coach Brett Lauer, have clinched seven conference titles, including four straight championships. This season, he'll be trying to coach the Owls to their fourth 3C2A tournament appearance in five seasons. In all, Lauer has guided Citrus to Final Four appearances in 2023, 2025, and 2026. However, all three of those championship runs were ended in the state semifinals by Labagh's City College of San Francisco. Last year, Citrus advanced to the 3C2A semifinals after upsetting West Valley, only to fall — again — to San Francisco, 73-71.

There is a new face in the head coaching chair this year at West Valley. But the expectations are the same. Mykel Morse assumes the reigns as interim head men's basketball coach following the departure of Danny Yoshikawa, who left to join the coaching staff at Oregon State University. Morse isn't new in Saratoga. From 2021 to 2024, Morse served as the associate head coach under Yoshikawa. During that stretch, the Vikings posted an 87–9 overall record, including a flawless 33–0 undefeated 3C2A Championship season in 2023–24, becoming just the fifth team to ever do so. And that season, West Valley boasted the No. 1 scoring defense in the state, holding opponents to just 60.5 points per game. West Valley opens the season as the state's sixth-ranked team.

The Knights of San Diego City ride into the top 10 at No. 7 to. Under head coach Mitch Charlens, the Knights have won nine conference titles and made back-to-back 3C2A Championship final appearances. San Diego City won the 2017 title after holding off Fullerton and then fell to San Francisco City the following season in the finals. As the south's No. 5 seed last year, San Diego City took a 16-game win streak into the 3C2A tournament but lost to San Francisco in a quarterfinal game.

Columbia will open the season as the state's No. 8 ranked team. Under Rob Hoyt, who became the college's all-time winning men's basketball coach last year, the Claim Jumpers expect to secure another Central Valley Conference championship in 2027. Hoyt, who played at Columbia, has never advanced to a 3C2A championship, having lost three times in the regional finals.

Cerritos begins the season as the state's ninth-ranked team. Under head coach Russ May the Falcons have won 10 South Coast Conference championships. May will be trying to make a third consecutive 3C2A tournament appearance this season. Each of the last two years, Cerritos has advanced to the 3C2A tournament — losing both times in the quarterfinals.

San Jose City closes out the top 10. Head coach Devin Aye is the youngest son of Hall of Fame coach Denny Aye and brother of Allan Hancock head coach Tyson Aye. A former player at San Jose City, Aye is the only California community college men's basketball coach to win an outright conference championship and coach of the year honor in three different conferences (Lassen in 2013, Cosumnes River in 2016, and San Jose City in 2023 and 2026). Aye will be trying to guide the Jaguars to a second-consecutive 3C2A tournament appearance in 2027.

(California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association (CCCMBCA))

2026 CCCMBCA Preseason Top 20 (Oct. 19)