Boys’ basketball: This week’s top 25 rankings by The Times

Damien, Thousand Oaks and Beverly Hills make their first appearance in this week’s top 25 basketball rankings by The Times.

1. MATER DEI (5-0). Sophomore MJ Cage is developing well.
2. ETIWANDA (5-0). Hanging out in Inland Emire this week.
3. LOYOLA (8-0). Thomas Welsh is Beverly Hills tourney MVP.
4. CORONA CENTENNIAL (5-1). Deontae North is reliable scorer.
5. BISHOP MONTGOMERY (6-0). Justin Bibbins is star point guard.
6. REDONDO (5-1). Sea Hawks rout Inglewood.
7. MAYFAIR (3-1). Monsoons head to Orange County.
8. COMPTON (7-1). Playing in the Inland Empire this week.
9. ST. JOHN BOSCO (3-2). Braves are headed to Florida.
10. WESTCHESTER (6-2). Comets are City title favorites.
11. CANTWELL-SACRED HEART (7-1). Good guard play from Joey Covarrubias.
12. CHAMINADE (6-1). Jack Williams is MVP in Arizona.
13. GARDENA SERRA (6-2). Ronnie Freeman is top guard.
14. CHINO HILLS (4-1). Lots of tough games ahead.
15. EL CAMINO REAL (4-2). Conquistadores looking for consistency.
16. RANCHO CUCAMONGA (4-1). Watch out for Victor Joseph.
17. LONG BEACH POLY (3-1). Jackrabbits will have to beat Compton in league.
18. SIERRA CANYON (9-0). Sophomore Devearl Ramsey is tourney MVP.
19. EL TORO (5-1). Lots of scorers and three-point shooters.
20. VILLAGE CHRISTIAN (5-0). Crusaders will be much better in January.
21. CRESPI (5-1). Celts will be dangerous in Mission League.
22. DAMIEN (4-0). Jeremy Hemsley is a player on the rise.
23. THOUSAND OAKS (8-1). Junior guard Matt Hauser is off to fast start.
24. FAIRFAX (4-2). Lions are young but talented.
25. BEVERLY HILLS (7-3). Normans back down from no one.

Eric.sondheimer@latimes.com