MORAGA, Calif. — In Salesian, the 22nd annual De La Salle/MaxPreps Martin Luther King Jr. Classic features one of the top 20 teams in the country. The undefeated Pride is ranked 13th by MaxPreps.
In Jalen Green, of San Joaquin Memorial, the MLK is blessed with the second-ranked junior in the country according to 247Sports.
But it is the strong collection of six games with quality match-ups, that highlight the event, which takes place Jan. 21 at St. Mary's College.
Here is a closer look at each of the very competitive games which can be watched via the
SportsLive streaming service, powered by the CBS Interactive Media division of CBS Sports Digital, and
DeLaSalleTV.com.
Campolindo (Moraga) vs. St. Patrick-St. Vincent (Vallejo) 
Dishon Jackson (22), St. Patrick-St. Vincent
Photo by Ralph Thompson
Time: 10 a.m.
Head coaches: Steven Dyer (Campolindo), Derek Walker (St. Patrick)
2017-18 records: Campolindo 21-11, St. Patrick 21-11
Records through Jan. 17: Campolindo 13-4, St. Patrick 11-7
Points per game (allowed): Campolindo 65.7 (56.4), SPSV 62.5 (58.6).
State rankings (MaxPreps computer): Campolindo 53, St. Patrick 196
Record previous five seasons: Campolindo 106-49, SPSV 115-49.
Terrific trios: Campolindo — PG
David Ahazie, PG
Carter Mahaney, G
Aidan Mahaney.
SPSV — C
Dishon Jackson, G
Akil Edwards, W
Tariq Johnson.
WATCH ST. PATRICK-ST. VINCENT VS. CAMPOLINDO: Click hereBriefly: SPSV won the state D4 state championship in 2016-17. … Jackson, a 6-10, 230-pound post, was a freshman on the team. He’s currently ranked the 12th best junior in the state, according to 247Sports. … Aidan Mahaney is ranked one of the top 20 freshman in the country and is averaging a team-best 17.4 points per game. … SPSV opened the 2018-19 season with three straight losses, including to MLK Classic squads Moreau Catholic, but responded with three straight wins. … Even without second-leading leading scorer Ahazie, the Cougars defeated Modesto Christian in the semifinals of the MC Holiday Tournament, before losing to Weston Ranch-Stockton.
St. John Bosco (Bellflower) vs. Modesto Christian (Modesto)
Joshua Adoh, St. John Bosco
Photo by Louis Lopez
Time: 11:45 p.m.
Head coaches: Matt Dunn (SJB), Brice Fantazia (Modesto Christian)
2017-18 records: St. John Bosco 25-8, Modesto Christian 29-4
Records through Jan. 17: St. John Bosco 18-5, Modesto Christian 15-4
Points per game (allowed): SJB 75.9 (55.7), Modesto Christian 79.8 (58.2).
State rankings (MaxPreps computer): SJB No. 18, Modesto Christian No. 41.
Record previous five seasons: SJB 105-54, MC 137-27
Terrific trios: St. John Bosco — PF
Jonathan Salazar, W
Joshua Adoh, W
Chris James.
Modesto Christian — PF
Aaron Murphy, F
Alex Merkviladze, G
Earv Knox.
WATCH ST. JOHN BOSCO VS. MODESTO CHRISTIAN: Click here
Briefly: The
Braves have played some remarkably close and high scoring games,
winning over Santa Margarita (98-95 2 OT), Long Beach Poly (70-65) and
St. Anthony-Long Beach (67-64), while losing to Loyola-Los Angeles
(78-75), Long Beach Poly (75-72) and JSerra Catholic (85-84 OT). … The
Santa Margarita and JSerra games came back-to-back. … Dunn, in his
fourth season, has had to play short-handed much of season due to
injuries, including the UOP-commit Salazar, rated the 34th top senior in
California by 247Sports. … Bosco lost to Salesian 45-36 in a 2017 MLK
Classic game. … Modesto Christian could easily have just one defeat as
three of its losses have come by a total of 14 points. … Murphy has
committed to Davis. … The Crusaders had a three-game win streak over
Lincoln, West and Tokay where they combined to score 294 points. …
Modesto Christian lost to Salesian 76-62 at last year’s MLK Classic
after beating Newark Memorial 61-47 in 2017.
Notre Dame (Riverside) vs. Moreau Catholic (Hayward)
Anthony Holland, Notre Dame
Photo by Donn Parris
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Head coaches: Robert Robinson (Notre Dame), Frank Knight (Moreau Catholic)
2017-18 records: Notre Dame 33-4, Moreau Catholic 22-8
Records through Jan. 17: Notre Dame 15-7, Moreau Catholic 12-5
Points per game (allowed): Notre Dame 63.2 (56.6), Moreau Catholic 71.0 (56.4)
State rankings (MaxPreps computer): Notre Dame 29, Moreau Catholic 83
Record previous five seasons: Notre Dame 94-56, Moreau Catholic 122-37
Terrific trios: Notre Dame — SF
Anthony Holland, G
Anton Mozga, G
Pierce Sterling.
Moreau Catholic — G
David Hector, W
Amil Fields, W
Leonard Turner.
WATCH NOTRE DAME VS. MOREAU CATHOLIC, 1:30 P.M.: Click hereBriefly: Robinson has helped the Titans really turn things around following six consecutive losing seasons, finished off with a 4-21 campaign in 2014-15. … Since then, Notre Dame has gone 80-19, finished off with back-to-back 31-4 and 33-4 seasons. … The Titans have played the state’s best, losing to defending state Open champion Sierra Canyon (88-72), 2017 state Open champ Bishop Montgomery (65-57 OT), defending state D2 champion Chino Hills (74-70) and 11-time state champion Mater Dei-Santa Ana (64-48). … Four Titans average scoring in double digits: Holland (15.6), Moga (14.4),
Dondre Bausley (12.3) and Sterling (12.0). … Moreau Catholic is even more balanced, led by Fields (12.1 ppg), Hector (11.9 ppg) and Turner (10.6). … Knight uses all 15 players on his roster. … Hector leads the team in rebounds, assists and steals. … This is Notre Dame’s first appearance in the MLK Classic, while Moreau is a regular, including a 59-56 win over Woodcreek-Roseville last season.
San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno) vs. De La Salle (Concord)
Tim Kostolansky, De La Salle
Photo by Heston Quan
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Head coaches: Brad Roznovsky (San Joaquin Memorial), Justin Argenal (De La Salle)
2017-18 records: San Joaquin Memorial 25-7, De La Salle 21-9
Records through Jan. 17: San-Joaquin Memorial 12-9, De La Salle 15-2
Points per game (allowed): San-Joaquin Memorial 68.6 (68.7), De La Salle 59.1 (41.0)
State rankings (MaxPreps computer): San Joaquin Memorial 128, De La Salle 40
Record previous five seasons: San Joaquin Memorial 86-52, De La Salle 130-32
Terrific trios: San Joaquin Memorial — W
Jalen Green, C
Braxton Meah, G
Justin Huelskamp.
De La Salle — G
Thomas Gregorios, F/C
Tim Kostolansky, W
Jeremiah Dargan.
WATCH SAN JOAQUIN MEMORIAL VS. DE LA SALLE, 3:15 P.M.: Click hereBriefly: Green is rated the No. 2 junior in the country by 247Sports after he averaged 27.9 points and 7.7 rebounds as a sophomore. … Playing one of the most rigorous schedules in Northern California, SJM has competitive losses to defending NorCal Open champion Sheldon (77-61) and 2018 NorCal Open finalist Bishop O’Dowd (76-73). … The Panthers opened the season with an 81-80 win over Rockwall (Texas) as Green went for 46 points. … This is SJM’s first appearance in the MaxPreps/De La Salle MLK Classic. … The Spartans' two losses were 53-45 to 20-3 Crespi (53-45) and Oak Ridge (55-50). … They have allowed less than 40 points eight times and their defense ranks among the top 10 in the state. … Argenal calls Gregorios “one of the most underrated point guards in the state.” … De La Salle started the East Bay Athletic League season with four straight wins, including 63-48 over Dougherty Valley, ranked 78th in the state. … The Spartans’ history is rich, with two state, six NorCal, 12 section and 25 league championships.
James Logan (Union City) vs. Pleasant Grove (Utah)
Matt Van Komen almost had a triple double in last year's game against Bishop O'Dowd.
File photo by Doug Stringer
Time: 5 p.m.
Head coaches: Melvin Easley (James Logan), Randy McAllister (Pleasant Grove)
2017-18 records: James Logan 20-7, Pleasant Grove 21-6
Records through Jan. 17: James Logan 12-4, Pleasant Grove 12-2
Points per game (allowed): James Logan 70.1 (61.9), Pleasant Grove 62.4 (48.6)
State rankings (MaxPreps computer): James Logan 52, Pleasant Grove 3
Record previous five seasons: James Logan 94-47, Pleasant Grove 102-27
Terrific trios: James Logan — W
Malcolm Steadman, W
Gabriel Hawkins, PG
Brett Thompson.
Pleasant Grove — C
Matt Van Komen, G
Casey Brown, G
Kael Mikkelsen.
WATCH PLEASANT GROVE VS. JAMES LOGAN: Click hereBriefly: Once a power in the 1980s before hitting hard times, Easley has brought back Logan to prominence with a Northern California D1 championship in 2016-17 before another 20-win season in 2017-18. … The Colts have signature wins this season over Campolindo (69-64), San Leandro (70-66) and Menlo-Atherton (60-54). … Their most eye-opening victory was hitting triple-digits in a 101-66 win over Irvington when Steadman had 21 points, Hawkins 20 and Brahjon Thompson 16. … The 7-4 Van Komen has signed to Utah and is ranked the 198th top senior in the country by 247Sports. … Last season at the MaxPreps/De La Salle MLK Classic, Van Komen nearly had a triple double (10 points, 14 rebounds, 8 blocks) in a 64-54 loss to Bishop O’Dowd. … Brown had 10 points and six assists in that game. … Pleasant Grove lost 61-44 to Lone Peak in last year’s Utah 6A state championship game. The Vikings lost six seniors off that team.
Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond) vs. Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland)
Shane Bell has emerged as Salesian's top scorer.
Photo by Dan Browning
Time: 6:45 p.m.
Head coaches: Bill Mellis (Salesian), Lou Richie (Bishop O’Dowd)
2017-18 records: Salesian 30-2, Bishop O’Dowd 27-6
Records through Jan. 17: Salesian 20-0, Bishop O’Dowd 10-4
Points per game (allowed): Salesian 63.2 (48.0), Bishop O’Dowd 62.1 (60.1)
State rankings (MaxPreps computer): Salesian 3, Bishop O’Dowd 143
Record previous five seasons: Salesian 128-38, Bishop O’Dowd 119-41
Terrific trios: Salesian — G
Jovon McClanahan, G
Jaden McClanahan, G
Shane Bell.
Bishop O’Dowd — G
William Chavarin, G
Brenden Patrick, G
Iniko McNeil.
WATCH SALESIAN VS. BISHOP O'DOWD: Click here Briefly: Salesian, ranked 15th nationally by MaxPreps, has never started the season and is after the school record of 27 straight wins in 2011-12. … The Pride won the Chic-fil-A Classic Tournament in Columbus (S.C.) before taking two straight wins — including 63-57 over nationally ranked Curie-Chicago — at the Mustang Madness in Paducah (Ky) as part of a 13-day road trip starting on Christmas. … McClanahan twins and Bell, the team’s most improved player, have been selected All-Tournament this season. … Pride defeated defending NorCal Open champion Sheldon (77-59) to take the Gridley Invitational on Dec. 8. … O’Dowd lost two Pac-12 guards Naseem Gaskin (Utah) and Elijah Hardy (Washington) to graduation from last year’s NorCal Open finalist. … The Dragons have signature back-to-back wins over St. Joseph Notre Dame (52-51 OT) and San Leandro (52-50), both on game-winners from McNeil. … Chavarin has signed a letter of intent to Cal Poly Pomona. … Richie said this team has a chance to be the most improved from the start of the season in school history. … O’Dowd has nine Northern California championships, second most only to St. Joseph Notre Dame with 10.