The MaxPreps Holiday Classic will welcome more than 100 boys and girls teams from 10 states to Palm Springs, Calif., after Christmas.
The event runs Dec. 26-29 with Cathedral City High School, Palm Desert High School and College of the Desert serving as the three primary sites.
The Classic's big attraction will be the 16-team Invitational Division bracket, which features nationally ranked
Fort Bend Travis (Richmond, Texas) and
Loyola (Los Angeles). Defending state champions
Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) and
Rainier Beach (Seattle) – plus perennial powers like
Westchester (Los Angeles),
Orange Lutheran (Calif.) and
Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) – make it one of the most competitive holiday fields in the country.
Fort Bend Travis (11-2, No. 22 nationally) is led by identical twins
Aaron and
Andrew Harrison, two of the top five senior prospects in America and both headed to Kentucky. The Tigers open Thursday at 11 a.m. against
Miller (Fontana, Calif.).
Loyola (8-0) will be looking for its third tournament crown of the young season in Palm Springs. Spectacular junior point guard
Parker Jackson-Cartwright and the Cubs face
Madison Ridgeland Academy (Madison, Miss.) in first-round action Wednesday at 9 p.m.
For a look at the complete Invitational Division bracket,
click here (PDF).
For more information on the event, including teams, schedules, venues and media requests, visit
MaxPrepsHolidayClassic.com.
Players to Watch
Gabe Bealer (6-5, Sr., G/F),
Antelope (Calif.)Isaiah Ellis (6-6, Sr., F), Antelope
Jack Walton (6-7, Jr., F),
Bellevue (Wash.)Mustafa Jones (6-7, Jr., F),
Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.)Shavar Newkirk (6-0, Jr., G), Cardinal Hayes
Tyler Wilson (6-0, Sr., G), Cardinal Hayes
Martez Cameron (5-8, So., G),
De La Salle (Chicago)Justin Earls (6-8, Sr., F), De La Salle
Alvin Ellis (6-5, Sr., G/F), De La Salle – Minnesota commitment
Aaron Harrison (6-5, Sr., G), Fort Bend Travis – Kentucky commitment *
Andrew Harrison (6-5, Sr., G), Fort Bend Travis – Kentucky commitment *
Derick Newton (6-5, Sr., G/F), Harvard-Westlake
David Winfield (6-9, Sr., C), Harvard-Westlake – Pennsylvania commitment
Eric Childress (6-0, Sr., G),
Leuzinger (Lawndale, Calif.)Parker Jackson-Cartwright (5-11, Jr., G), Loyola *
Trey Mason (6-2, Sr., G), Loyola
Thomas Welsh (7-0, Jr., C), Loyola
Clint Moses (6-3, Fr., G), Madison Ridgeland Academy
Marcus Anderson (6-6, Sr., F), Miller
Earl Bryant (6-4, Sr., G/F), Miller Grove
Keith Pinckney (6-1, Jr., G), Miller Grove
Omar Venable (6-6, Jr., F), Miller Grove
Jacob Lampkin (6-8, Jr., F),
O'Dea (Seattle)Payton Banks (6-6, Sr., G/F), Orange Lutheran – Penn State commitment
Brian Beard (5-9, Jr., G), Orange Lutheran
Ryan Heiligenthal (6-7, So., F), Orange Lutheran
Kendall Lauderdale (6-7, So., F), Orange Lutheran
Shaqquan Aaron (6-7, Jr., G), Rainier Beach *
Marquis Davis (5-9, Sr., G), Rainier Beach
Will Dorsey (5-9, Sr., G), Rainier Beach
Elijah Foster (6-7, Jr., F), Rainier Beach
Fuquan Niles (6-9, Sr., C), Rainier Beach
Djuan Piper (6-6, Sr., G/F), Rainier Beach
Myles Stewart (6-4, Jr., G), Westchester
Mamadou Ndiaye (7-4, Sr., C),
Brethren Christian (Huntington Beach, Calif.) – California-Irvine commitment *
* - Denotes player is on the MaxPreps Top 100 watch list for his class
