The MaxPreps Holiday Classic will return to the high school basketball schedule this season, taking place Dec. 27-30 in Palm Springs, Calif.
Formerly known as the Desert Heat Classic, the event will attract 64 boys teams to compete in six varsity divisions and two junior varsity divisions. Venues include event host
Cathedral City High School,
Palm Springs High School,
Marywood-Palm Valley High School (Rancho Mirage) and College of the Desert.
"As a coach, I know what I am looking for in a travel tournament experience for my team," said MaxPreps Founder and President Andy Beal, also the head coach at Ponderosa High School in Shingle Springs, Calif. "The Desert Heat Classic provided all the elements. It is well-organized, has great venues, amazing winter weather and outstanding competition.
Xavier Johnson, Mater Dei
Photo by David Steutel
"After coaching my team in last year's tournament, I knew it would be a great place for MaxPreps to plant our flag. MaxPreps will help this tournament, already one of the best on the West Coast, become one of a handful of preeminent high school tournaments in the nation."
The 2011 invitational bracket is highlighted by defending California Division I state champion
Mater Dei (Santa Ana), expected to be one the nation's top-ranked teams. The Monarchs are led by legendary head coach Gary McKnight and MaxPreps Top 100 guards
Katin Reinhardt and
Xavier Johnson.
Two-time defending invitational champion
Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood) is back to defend its crown. The Wolverines have some Top 100 talent of their own in 6-foot-8 forward
Zena Edosomwan.
Josh Hearlihy, a versatile 6-7 senior, has delivered a verbal commitment to Utah.
Southern California teams competing in the Classic include:
Burbank,
Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo),
Colton,
Crenshaw (Los Angeles),
Crescenta Valley (La Crescenta),
Dana Hills (Dana Point),
Desert Hot Springs,
Dorsey (Los Angeles),
Edison (Huntington Beach),
Lakeside (Lake Elsinore),
Patriot (Riverside),
Perris,
Rancho Cucamonga,
Santa Ana Valley (Santa Ana),
Simi Valley,
Sultana (Hesperia),
Thousand Oaks,
Torrance,
Twentynine Palms,
Victor Valley (Victorville) and
Viewpoint (Calabasas).
Northern California will be represented by
Ponderosa (Shingle Springs),
Sierra Pacific (Hanford) and
Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove), featuring two-sport star
Arik Armstead.
Out-of-state entrants include
Bishop Manogue (Reno, Nev.),
Galena (Reno, Nev.),
Green Valley (Henderson, Nev.),
Foothill (Henderson, Nev.),
Silverado (Las Vegas) and
Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.).
The tournament format will feature three days of pool play and "Championship Day" with each team competing for placement within their respective division.
For more information, see
desertheatclassic.com.
