Palisades High junior wing OJ Popoola is the 2026 City Section Open Division Player of the Year.
Photo: STEVE GALLUZZO
By STEVE GALLUZZO
CTN Contributor
After leading the Palisades High boys basketball team to its first City Section Open Division championship this winter, OJ Popoola has been named City Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-6 junior wing scored a team-best 19 points in the section final against Cleveland on February 27 at LA Southwest College. Joining Popoola on the All-City Open Division squad are his twin brother EJ (who netted 17 points versus Cleveland) and freshman guard Phil Reed Jr.
The twins are sons of 1996 Pali High alum Chris Popoola, who transferred from Westchester his senior year (1995-96) and helped the Dolphins capture their third straight Western League title. That was the last time Palisades finished alone atop the league standings until this year.
In his second season, Jeff Bryant earned Coach of the Year honors upon piloting Palisades to its second upper division and first since 1969, long before he or any of his players were born. Under his guidance the Dolphins not only won the Open title but also advanced to the SoCal Regional Division II finals, falling one win short of a trip to the state finals.
Second year Palisades High School basketball coach Jeff Bryant has been named Coach of the Year after leading the Dolphins to their first Open Division title.
Photo: STEVE GALLUZZO
Rounding out the All-City Open Division squad are Sergine Deme, Charlie Adams and TJ Wansa of runner-up Cleveland; Bryce Jackson and AJ Bobich from San Pedro (which lost to Palisades in the semifinals); Kentrayl Roberson and Christopher Stokes from Fairfax (which lost to Cleveland in overtime in the semifinals); Tekeio Phillips and X’Zavion McKay of Birmingham; Jaydin Jackson and Daniel Hernandez from El Camino Real; Branden Key and Baron Ezeobiagwu from Narbonne; and Jayshawn Kibble and Semaj Howard of Washington Prep.
GIRLS DIVISION:
Two Pali High players also made the All-City Open Division girls team—senior captain and point guard Elly Tierney and junior forward Riley Oku. The Dolphins lost to Birmingham in the opening round but bounced back to reach the state Division IV title game under first-year coach and Pali High alum LeBre Merritt.
Westchester junior guard Savannah Myles is the City Open Division Girls Player of the Year and EJ Jackson earned Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Comets to their second upper division crown in four years.
Rounding out the All-City Open Division girls team were Diem Gilbert and Kamora Coleman from Westchester; Kayla Tanijiri, Jaydin-Lynn Walker and Belinda Hernandez-Santiago of runner-up Birmingham; Andrea Antonio and Victoria Luis of Hamilton; Alana Yeck and Araceli Gonzalez of Granada Hills; Amiya Aldridge and Leah Matsubayashi of Venice; Melanie Paz and Jazmine Picado of Cleveland; and E’Dareeah Combs and Brooke Johnson of King-Drew.