Irvine Valley's men's basketball team is ranked fifth in Southern California and 11th in the state in this week's first in-season polls.
The Lasers have a record of 6-0 and won their own Irvine Valley Classic, beating preseason No. 2 in Southern California Cerritos in the final in double overtime two weeks ago.
The Lasers compete in the Monterey Peninsula Tournament this week. They start action on Thursday.
Irvine Valley was unranked in the preseason poll, but coach Jerry Hernandez looks to have the type of team this year that can challenge for a top spot in the Orange Empire Conference and make it once again to the playoffs.
Hernandez, who has sent more than 80 of his players to four-year schools with scholarships, has made the playoffs in all but four of his 18 years at IVC.
