EASTVALE — Brayden Burries’ high school career included a major detour, but he still reached the final destination.
-
Roosevelt’s Brayden Burries led the Mustangs to CIF Southern Section and CIF State Open Division Championships and is the IE Varsity Boys Basketball Player of the Year in Eastvale on Friday, April 11, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
1 of 6
Roosevelt’s Brayden Burries led the Mustangs to CIF Southern Section and CIF State Open Division Championships and is the IE Varsity Boys Basketball Player of the Year in Eastvale on Friday, April 11, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Expand
Burries, a 6-foot-5 guard who has signed with Arizona, turned in one of the finest season in Inland Empire history. He averaged 29.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.9 steals per game this season and helped the Roosevelt boys basketball team win CIF Southern Section and CIF State Open Division championships. He also was chosen for the McDonald’s All-American Game.
Burries became the first Riverside County boys player and second Inland boys player to score at least 1,000 points in a season.
For those reasons, Burries has been selected the IE Varsity Boys Basketball Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.
“Brayden is a great example for every player out there,” Roosevelt coach Stephen Singleton said about Burries earlier this year. “He works hard and is one of the best basketball players in the nation. But he stays humble and is grateful for what he’s doing,”
Burries first burst onto the high school scene at Riverside Poly, averaging 18.2 points per game for the Bears his freshman year. Poly’s program was placed on probation by the CIF Southern Section for multiple rules violations. Burries and Issac Williamson had transferred to Roosevelt before the ruling came down, but both were declared ineligible to play during the 2022-23 season.
“It was hard to leave Poly. I still have a lot of friends over there, and I talk to coach (Travis) Showalter every week,” Burries said. “When everything happened, I didn’t know what to expect. I could have gone anywhere to play, but I believe God directed me to Roosevelt. This school has welcomed me and my family with open arms. I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to be here.”
Burries’ ability on the court is no surprise. His father, Bobby, starred at Pacific High School, San Bernardino Valley College and Cal State San Bernardino. His mother, Hannah Low, was a multi-sport standout at Merced Junior College and played two years for the Tennessee softball program and then two more seasons for the Cal State San Bernardino women’s basketball program.
“He was raised by two great parents who guided him and let him know hard work will take you to the next level,” Singleton said.
Burries returned to high school action his junior season and quickly made up for the time he lost. Burries averaged 24.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.7 steals per game and helped Roosevelt advance to the Open Division championship games of the CIF Southern Section and CIF State regional playoffs. The losses to Harvard-Westlake in both fueled a fire for the Mustangs.
“We felt we should have won both of those games, so this year has been about finishing business,” Burries said earlier this year.
And Burries did his part. He finished with 1,094 points, second in Inland history behind Louis Kelly of Cajon (1,155 in 1996-97).
Burries showed phenomenal consistency during the season, scoring at least 20 points in 29 games, at least 30 points 16 times and 40 or more points in five games. Burries broke the school record when he tallied 56 points in a 111-92 win over Inglewood.
And he was in top form in the postseason. Roosevelt went through a gauntlet in the Southern Section’s Open Division playoffs, with games against Heritage Christian, Redondo, Sierra Canyon, St. John Bosco and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. Burries was not fazed, averaging 27.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game to lead the Mustangs to the program’s first section championship.
Burries capped his career in style, averaging 36.7 points per game in three CIF State playoff games. He saved his best for last, scoring 44 points on 15-of-22 shooting to lead the Mustangs to an 80-60 victory over San Francisco’s Archbishop Riordan in the state championship game. It was the most points in an Open Division final and second most in any CIF State boys title game.
“I’ve coached a lot of great players over the years, and Brayden definitely is up there with the best of them,” Singleton said.
IE VARSITY COACH OF THE YEAR
Stephen Singleton, Roosevelt
Singleton guided the Mustangs to a memorable and historic season in his 10th season at the helm. Roosevelt played one of the toughest schedules in the nation and finished the campaign with a 35-2 record. That win total set a Riverside County record and tied the 2016 Chino Hills team (35-0) for most wins by an Inland boys basketball. The Mustangs won the CIF Southern Section’s and CIF State’s Open Division championships. It was the program’s first section title and second state championship (Division I champs in 2017). Roosevelt captured the Platinum Division title from the Classic at Damien tournament and also won the top title at the the Tarkanian Classic. The Mustangs went unbeaten in Big VIII League play and won the title for the second straight year. Roosevelt finished No. 2 in the final Maxpreps.com national rankings, the program’s second straight Top 4 finish in the rankings.
IE VARSITY FIRST TEAM
Brayden Burries, Roosevelt, Sr.
James “Jrob” Croy, Riverside Poly, Jr.
Eli Garner, Damien, Jr.
Aaron Glass, Rancho Cucamonga, Sr.
Lincoln Liggins, Arlington, Sr.
Hugo Morales, Norte Vista, So.
Trestyne Nguru, Rancho Verde, Sr.
Jeremiah Profit, Temecula Valley, So.
Isaiah Rogers, Centennial, Jr.
Lawrence Sanford, Vista Murrieta, Sr.
Myles Walker, Roosevelt, Sr.
Issac Williamson, Roosevelt, Sr.
IE VARSITY SECOND TEAM
Nate Bowden, Hillcrest, Sr.
Julius Brower, Linfield Christian, Sr.
Semaj Carter, Rancho Verde, Jr.
Carter Fulton, Norte Vista, So.
Sloane Harris, Etiwanda, So.
Chris Holland, Riverside Poly, Sr.
Shawn Jamison Jr., Chino, Sr.
Malachi Jones, Aquinas, Sr.
Jaizahn Lewis, Murrieta Valley, Fr.
Jayden Smoot, Rancho Christian, Sr.
Malik Young, Yucaipa, Sr.
Gor-el Zollicoffer, Great Oak, Sr.
Originally Published:
