The562’s coverage of Millikan Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law.
The562’s coverage of Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013.
It was a season to remember on the hardwood in Long Beach, and at the center of two of the biggest basketball stories were a pair of freshmen who helped rewrite their schools’ history books.
That’s why Millikan’s Quali Giran and Lakewood’s Aniyah Lindsey are The562.org’s Freshmen of the Year.
Giran took the Moore League by storm with one of the most impressive freshman seasons in recent memory. Although it was only his first varsity campaign, Giran played with the poise of an upperclassman, leading the Rams in scoring while serving as a key piece in Millikan’s undefeated Moore League championship season and CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoff run.
The dynamic guard scored at all three levels as the Rams captured their first league title since 1988. For his efforts, Giran was named Moore League MVP, becoming the first freshman ever to earn the honor. Since the season ended, he has picked up multiple Division I scholarship offers and is already regarded as one of Southern California’s top prospects entering his sophomore year.
His humble approach helped him stay grounded throughout a historic freshman season, something Millikan coach Stephon Price said separates him from most players his age.
“There’s no moment too big for him,” Price said during the season. “He’s been preparing for this moment for a very long time. He doesn’t get fed up, he stays the course, and man, he’s him.”
On the girls’ side, Lindsey emerged as the catalyst behind one of the most memorable seasons in Lakewood history. The freshman guard helped lead the Lancers to their first Moore League championship in 34 years, bringing a winning culture back to the program while establishing herself as one of the area’s brightest young stars.
According to MaxPreps, Lindsey averaged a team-high 16.7 points per game while consistently creating matchup problems for opposing defenses with her ability to score off the dribble, finish at the rim and knock down perimeter shots.
Lindsey’s breakout campaign helped elevate Lakewood into the CIF Southern Section playoffs and signaled a bright future for a Lancers program that took a major step forward this season. With three years of high school basketball still ahead of her, Lindsey has already established herself as one of the premier young talents in the Moore League.
