Going into The Classic at Damien Platinum Division title game, the conventional thinking was Roosevelt had to find a way to slow down St. John Bosco's sensational sophomore (2026) guard Brandon McCoy. The abilities of the best juniors in the championship contest -- Roosevelt's Brayden Burries and St. John Bosco's Elzie Harrington -- figured to off-set each other. The Mustangs found the secret sauce to somewhat harness McCoy in the form of a 6-foot-1, 170-pound junior (2025) who just goes about his job and, like his teammate Burries, is grateful to be playing the game he loves.

That player is Issac Williamson and it's no secret he is Roosevelt's best perimeter defender. He got the assignment on McCoy and did an admirable job, helping to limit him to 13 points. The key to his championship game performance was scoring 17 points, including a twisting lay-up with 15 seconds remaining that halted a major Braves scoring run and hitting three of Roosevelt's 10 3-pointers in its 68-65 title game victory. With the victory, the Mustangs upped their record to 16-1 heading into 2024, took down the No. 18 team in the FAB 50 National Team Rankings, and won the prestigious Platinum Division title for the first time in program history.

"He's (Williamson) our best at pressuring the ball and we also wanted to stay disciplined in our gaps and stay in front of our man," said Roosevelt senior Darnez Slater, who finished with a team-high 18 points. "It's all about trusting our work."

Roosevelt jumped on St. John Bosco (13-2) early and shot the ball much better from the outside than its opponent with the second quarter being the key, as Slater netted eight points in that eight-minute time period. Roosevelt led 21-19 after the first period and 41-28 at halftime, as the Mustangs held McCoy to four points in the first 16 minutes. Roosevelt's lead got to as big as 16 points (50-34) before the Braves made their move to get back in the game.

St. John Bosco went on a late 12-2 run to get back in the game and within striking distance in the game's closing minutes. The score went from 61-47 to 63-59 before Williamson's clutch lay-up. Bosco did get to within three points (65-62) on a corner 3-pointer by McCoy with 12.8 seconds remaining, but could get no closer.

With nine seconds remaining Burries went to the line on the fifth team foul. He missed the first free throw and if this game were played last year, the ball would have been live and Bosco may have been on the move to tie the game in the closing seconds. But with the new foul rules implemented by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), which eliminated the one-and-one foul shot, Burries shot a second free throw and toilet-bowled it in to make the score 66-62. Any chance of Bosco sending the game to overtime was essentially gone when it turned the ball over with 5.6 seconds to go and Williamson canned two free throws with 3.9 seconds to go.

Jack Turner, who made a concession 3-pointer at the buzzer, led St. John Bosco with 18 points. Harrington and junior forward Kade Bonam, both who keyed St. John Bosco's late run, added 15 and 13 points, respectively.

Burries, who finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, was named Platinum Division Most Valuable Player. For he and Williamson, finding success in a scholastic setting is extra satisfying as their team prepares for a run in the CIF Southern Section open division playoffs because of the circumstances surrounding their 2022-23 sophomore year. Both players were forced to sit out their tenth-grade season following an administrative eligibility issue at their previous school, Poly (Riverside, Calif.).

"Last year changed my outlook and approach to the game," Burries said. "I learned don't take the game for granted because you never know when your last game is. This was a great team win, honestly. I feel like we're only going to get better from here."

Another team that feels Saturday produced a great win was the Lancers of Carlsbad (Calif.). After all, Oak Cliff Faith Family (Dallas, Texas), its opponent in the National Division title game at the Holiday Classic at Torrey Pines (Calif.), had run roughshod over its first three opponents in the winner's bracket. The Eagles trailed Carlsbad 55-54 entering the fourth quarter after a big bucket by Colorado-bound big man Doryan Onwuchekwa, but the Lancers used a big fourth quarter to capture the title with a 78-69 victory.

Jake Hall, a 6-foot-4 junior (2025) who is one of the most crafty players in California with his unique offensive package of deliberate moves and clutch shots, was named MVP after scoring 25 points. Senior 6-foot-4 guard Tony Duckett, who was named MVP of the Tarkanian Classic Spalding Division after hitting the championship-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer, was named all-tournament. The talented unsigned senior netted 19 points for Carlsbad (14-2).

Issac Williams, a guard headed to Texas A & M-Corprus Christi, joined teammate Onwuchekwa on the all-tournament team after scoring a team-high 21 points for battle-tested Faith Family (10-9)

Saturday night's victory gave Carlsbad its first Torrey Pines Holiday Classic title in the National Division since 2001, when it defeated host Torrey Pines in the final. Faith Family advanced to the title game in 2021, but lost a double-digit fourth quarter lead to Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.).

In the second division (Gold) of The Classic at Damien, it was an encore performance for San Ramon Valley (Danville, Calif.) and its best player, junior guard Luke Isaak. In a well-played game versus Dixie (St. George, Utah), San Ramon Valley was trailing 68-66 when Isaak nailed a contested 3-pointer off the glass with seven seconds remaining to propel the Wolves to a 69-68 victory and their second consecutive title in the Gold Division.

Isaak, who helped his college recruiting stock as much as any player in the tournament, hit another big 3-pointer down the stretch, scored nine points in the fourth period and 17 points for the game in earning divisional MVP honors for the second straight time. Senior teammate Seamus Deely, a rugged 6-foot-5 forward, had 19 points and 12 rebounds and was named all-tournament.

Will San Ramon Valley and Isaak 3-peat in 2024?

That's a ways off but we do know teams such as Roosevelt, Carlsbad, and SRV will be ringing in the New Year's on the right foot, as will many other divisional champions from the two prestigious Southern California holiday tournaments.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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For Roosevelt, the Mustangs used a monster overtime stanza from Colorado State-bound senior Darnez Slater to record a 76-71 win over host Damien (La Verne, Calif.), which sent the game to an extra period on a 3-pointer at the buzzer by 5-foot-9 sophomore Elijah Smith. With Damien trialing 63-60, Roosevelt called a timeout with under twenty seconds remaining and with Damien in possession after a loose ball. The clock wound down all the way to 4.8 seconds before the Mustangs' Brayden Burries knocked the ball out of bounds. Damien retained possession and both teams called a timeout to go over strategy. The Spartans even called another timeout with 2.9 seconds remaining that had the crowd on the edge of their seat. That crowd exploded after an inbounds pass that junior (2025) 7-foot big man Nate Garcia was unable to reach caromed to Smith, who calmly stepped to his left and fired a 3-pointer that swished through the net to make the score 63-63 and give the lively crowd four more minutes of basketball.

That's when Slater went to work to put Roosevelt (15-1) in Saturday's 8:30 title game. He had two points in regulation, but quickly hit a 3-pointer then converted a soft lay-up after a steal by junior 5-foot-9 guard Myles Walker (13 points) that gave the Mustangs a 72-67 lead with 1:17 remaining in the extra period. When Slater then coverted a sweeping, running junior hook with 35 seconds to go, it made the score 74-69 and it was apparent Roosevelt wasn't going to be denied. In all, Slater scored Roosevelt's first 11 points in overtime and finished with 13 points.

Garcia (15 points) made two free throws with 22.9 seconds remaining to once again make it a one possession game (74-71) before Roosevelt junior guard Issac Williamson sealed matters by making two free throws with 21.8 seconds remaining.

During regulation, Xavier Clinton, a 6-foot-4 senior, did most of the damage for Damien (13-2) with 20 points. In a back-and-forth affair, it's pretty safe to say Roosevelt wouldn't have been in position to win down the stretch without the play of Burries, its splendid 2025 wing guard. One of the best players nationally in his class, Burries got to the rim when he needed to, finishing with 31 points, and pulled down seven rebounds. Fans are in store for a real treat on Saturday evening with Burries matching up with St. John Bosco's 6-foot-5 lead guard Elzie Harrington, who helped the Braves advance to the title game with 14 points in its 68-66 overtime overtime victory over previous unbeaten Salesian (Richmond, Calif.).

St. John Bosco, which came in at No. 18 in the latest FAB 50 National Rankings update, moved to 13-1 with the victory with its only loss a 74-71 setback to Christ The King (Middle Village, N.Y.) in the semifinals of the Iolani Classic in Hawaii. Salesian, which is No. 40 (one spot below the DeMatha Catholic of Maryland club that Bosco beat in its final game in Hawaii) fell to 12-1 with the two-point loss.

The first semifinal contest in the Platinum Division wasn't decided until The Pride was unable to get off a shot with 0.4 seconds remaining after 7-foot Bosco sophomore Howie Wu was inserted to harass the in-bound pass attempt by Salesian's Hawaii-bound guard Aaron Claytor (10 points). Wu did just enough that Claytor was unable to get a clean pass over to Salesian's big shot-maker, 6-foot-4 junior Alvin Loving IV, as no shot attempt was taken.

Early in the game, St. John Bosco coach Matt Dunn was not exactly pleased with his team's effort and execution and he let the players know about it. That tounge-lashing paid off after Harrington scored what turned out to be the game-winning layup on a contested drive with 23 seconds remaining in overtime. After the basket, the Braves put forth terrific defensive effort on Salesian's last possession while The Pride, a team with a multitude of capable play-makers, worked the ball around for an open look. They didn't get any clean looks before the ball was tipped out of bounds and Wu inserted into the contest.

Sophomore Elias Obenyah, part of California's terrific 2026 class, led four Salesian players in double figures with 14 points. Six-foot-5 sophomore Carlton Perrilliat added 13 points with play-making senior De'Undrae Perteete netting 10 for Salesian.

The Harrington-Burries matchup is highly-anticipated, but the X-factor in the contest could be 6-foot-4 Brandon McCoy, who leads California's sophomore contingent and is now playing at a level where he is in the running to lead the class nationally. He's that talented and explosive. McCoy led the way for Bosco with a game-high 28 points, including some field goals that were back-breaking for Salesian and five points in the extra period.

While Bosco hasn't lost in-state, Roosevelt's only loss came in double overtime to JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.). That club took its first loss of the season in the quarterfinals of The Holiday Classic presented by SBLive. It was a resounding 60-42 setback to Oak Cliff Faith Family (Dallas, Texas), which punched its ticket to the National Division championship game on Friday evening with a 75-55 victory over St. Augustine (San Diego Calif.). Texas A & M–Corpus Christi signee Issac Williams, a 6-foot-2 guard, led Faith Family with 22 points over a team that took third place in the top division at the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas.

Faith Family came into The Holiday Classic at 7-8 against a rugged national schedule, but is starting to play like a team that was ranked No. 27 in the preseason FAB 50 rankings. Colorado-bound big man Doryan Onwuchekwa leads a deep and balanced team that will do battle with Carlsbad (Calif.), which advanced to the title game via a 71-67 semifinal win over Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.). That means a big man battle will ensue between Onwuchekwa and Pepperdine-bound 6-foot-9 Jael Martin.

Tony Duckett, a 6-foot-4 senior who was the MVP of the Spalding Division at the Tarkanian Classic and is one of the West Region's top unsigned prospects, led the way for 13-2 Carlsbad in the semifinal win over Mitty with 18 points.

In the Gold Division of The Classic at Damien, St. Pius X-St. Matthias (Downey, Calif.) came in as the prohibitive favorite after capturing the top division at the Tarkanian Classic and were looking at cracking the FAB 50 rankings with another title at The Classic. The Warriors' national and state ranking will have to be revisited after they fell in the semifinals to San Ramon Valley (Danville, Calif.), 67-62.

San Ramon Valley is no slouch, as it came into the event as the defending champion in the Gold Division and was eager to show (on a more national scale) that its wins last season were no fluke at all or Friday's victory not much of an upset. SRV is a well-schooled team that moves the ball well and has many capable scorers. None of them are better than fast-rising Luke Isaak, a 6-foot-4 junior (2025) and last year's MVP of the Gold Division. He netted 19 points in the big victory with rugged senior forward Seamus Deely adding 15.

Sam Ramon Valley will play for its second consecutive divisional title versus Dixie (St. George, Utah), a 74-69 semifinal winner over West Ranch (Valencia, Calif.).

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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The Classic at Damien Platinum Division Semifinals (12/29)
Salesian (Richmond, Calif.) vs. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) 7 pm
Damien (La Varne, Calif.) vs. Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.), 8:30 pm

The Holiday Classic National Division Semifinals (12/29)
Oak Cliff Faith Family (Dallas) vs. St Augustine (San Diego, Calif.), 7 pm
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) vs. Carlsbad (Calif.), 8:35 pm

Alec Blair, De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) 6-7 SF 2025
He's more than a terrific athlete; he could be one of the best two-sport stars to come down the pike from the CIF North Coast Section in quite some time. In fact, we can't recall a basketball-baseball combo from California bound to be a high MLB draft pick who was this good at basketball. MLB sluggers Aaron Judge (Linden) and Giancarlo Stanton (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks), among others, were no where near the basketball player Blair is. Going back further, Hall of Fame writer Frank Burlison noted that 1980 No. 1 MLB draft pick Darryl Strawberry of L.A. Crenshaw was not the hooper Blair is. Like The Straw, Blair is a sweet-swinging lefty outfielder who is big-time on the hardwood. In fact, Blair was all-state last season as a sophomore and has made a big jump this winter. He looks taller than he did last year and his elite footwork, jump stops and feel has been on display at The Classic at Damien. Blair is also an elite passer and has a nasty streak on the glass, too. His Top 100 level game was on full display in De La Salle's 72-62 victory over Campbell Hall (North Hollywood, Calif.) in the first round of the Platinum Division with 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. He didn't have quite that statistical output in the 51-42 quarterfinal loss to host Damien, but there is no doubt he'd be on the radar of even more P5 schools if basketball was surely in his future. In looks like he'll give baseball a try after high school, but it's never easy to forecast how a pro career goes and we've seen many instances where players try football or basketball later on. Regardless, Blair's future is bright.

Aidan Fowler, JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) 5-11 PG 2024
The more one watches this cat-quick point guard, the more one wonders why Fowler doesn't have more college interest. Big Sky programs and high level D2s would be smart to take a deeper look and pull the trigger on JSerra's floor general. He can shoot the deep ball and sprint into a pull-up jumper, something that is rare among high school guards that are not going to P5 schools and even some of them can't do it. His sprinting with the ball and hustle without hit is a major plus for a college looking for a dependable guard. Fowler had 18 points and a handful of assists in JSerra's 72-45 first round victory over host Torrey Pines (Del Mar, Calif.) at The Holiday Classic. Even though JSerra suffered its first loss of the season in a 60-42 quarterfinal setback to battle-tested Faith Family, Fowler hit big shots en route to 16 points. Most impressive was how well he stayed in front of Faith Family's primarily ball-handlers defensively for the entire game.

Lamont Hartfield, Oak Cliff Faith Family (Dallas, Texas) 6-5 W 2025
Faith Family is a battle-tested team with many contributors and this physically strong and talented junior is one of the key cogs. Colorado-bound big man Doryan Onwuchekwa is the ring-leader, but a number of players can make big shots and have so far in leading the Eagles into the National Division semifinals at Torry Pines. Hartfield has plenty of upside with his nice frame and ability to shoot off the catch. The talented lefty had eight points in a 62-54 first round win over O'Dea (Seattle, Wash.) and eight more, including two big 3-pointers in the second half, in his team's big 60-42 quarterfinal win over previously unbeaten JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.). With his combination of size, skill and knock down ability, he'll be a hot commodity to track during the spring travel season.

Luke Isaak, San Ramon Valley (Danville, Calif.) 6-4 SG 2025
This sharp-shooter was the Most Valuable Player of the Gold Division at The Classic at Damien last season and is off to a strong encore, as the defending divisional champ Wolves are in the semifinals after a 70-60 quarterfinal victory over Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.). Isaak went for 26 points after netting 16 points in his team's 54-52 first round win over Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) that came down to the last possession. As we're seeing in the NBA, teams that don't have consistent perimeter shooters struggle and college coaches can't have enough of them on their ever-changing rosters. Isaak foots the bill and should be getting serious D1 looks as he's one of those threats where the ball looks like it's going to drop every time. Isaak has faced good competition and puts up solid numbers while being a team-first player. One aspect of his game that really stands out to us is he's always under control and has his feet under him on the release. He is good on the catch and also moves well without the ball.

D'Marco Johnson, Santa Margarita (Calif.) 6-3 CG 2025
This lengthy guard just recently transferred in to Santa Magarita from academy-type program SoCal Academy and has been a shot in the arm for the Eagles. He can play on the ball with good slashing ability and can create for teammates, or off it and score with a versatile offensive skill set. Johnson has terrific length and uses it to finish around the rim, where his bounce allows him to get fouled at a high rate or finish over bigger defenders, or uses it to defend the perimeter with vigor. Johnson has plenty of legit D1 interest and if he continues to play as he did in the first two games down at Torrey Pines, it will continue to grow. He had nine points in the Eagles' 43-38 first round loss to Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) and came back for 16 points in the consolation victory over Waxahachie (Texas).

Gene Roebuck, La Mirada (Calif.) 6-4 WF 2027
This high-scoring wing is already one of the best bucket-getters in Southern California and gets our early vote as the best freshman in the Southland. Now, we haven't seen all of them in a highly-competitive environment just yet, but in terms of production in high-level games, he is deserving of the accolades he's compiling and will compile at the end of the season. Roebuck is skilled with the ball and can beat defenders in a variety of ways by using his strong frame and body control in the mold of former UCLA forward Kris Johnson. Roebuck also has the innate ability to get to the line, as we've already seen him get to the line more than 10 times on multiple occasions. Roebuck is also getting it done vs. high-level competition. He had 34 points in a 64-57 first round setback to Owyhee (meridian, Idaho) in the Platinum Division at The Classic at Damien. He then went for 44 points in a 82-80 loss to Branson (Ross, Calif.) in the consolation bracket. There is always the question of long-term potential (which is still obviously to be determined) vs. high-level production, but there is no question Roebuck is playing the game at a high level a month into his high school career.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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The Big Three Juniors

Carter Bryant, Sage Hill (Newport Beach, Calif.) 6-9 2024 SF
When looking at the landscape of the high school basketball scene today, most of the Top 50 players in each national class play with another Top 50 player. It's just the nature of the business right now, as most elite players look to team with other elites. This is certainly not the case for the talented Bryant, who spent his first two seasons at an Orange County public school (Fountain Valley) and is now at a small private school where he plays for his father (former Long Beach St. player D'Cean Bryant). The dust is not close to settling, but there could be some time before the the 2024 cycle is complete where it won't be a stretch to say Bryant is its best long-term prospect. The way the rankings are currently compiled it won't happen, but he's that talented. He does need to show he can dominate a high level high school and/or grassroots game, but the tools and package is there. He can see the game, pass out out of the double team, shoot over the top of an oncoming double, has a good stroke, and can quickly finish plays around the rim without wasted motion in the mold of the late Len Bias. He is scheduled to make his official visit to Arizona on Feb. 24 and the Wildcats are the clear leader in the clubhouse to get a commitment.

Zoom Diallo, Curtis (University Place, Wash.) 6-4 2024 PG
When looking at this power point guard, he has the look of a future NBA player. He is already one of the nation's best prospects and arguably the best prospect at his position in the 2024 class. The polish to his game continues to shine through, as he is never rushed and always under control. In addition to a good first step and tight handle, Diallo uses a quick pull up to keep defenders honest and has the strength to finish through high major contact. Diallo outplayed highly-regarded point guard Tyler Rolison in an easy first round victory over St. Bernard (Playa del Rey, Calif.) and went for 22 points in a 66-62 quarterfinal victory over battled-tested American Fork (Utah). The defending Class 4A state champions battled FAB 50 No. 13 Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) in the platinum division semifinals.

Dedan Thomas Jr., Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) 6-1 2024 PG
Similar to Diallo, Thomas is one of the best point guards in the nation and has his team in the platinum division semifinals, where Liberty battled Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.). Thomas has long been considered the best point guard in the West Region in the 2024 class and nothing he's done lately will change that notion, although a strong case can now be made for Diallo. It has nothing to do Thomas' play; Diallo is just that good. Thomas has a feel for the game that isn't taught and a unique inside-out game that makes him a tough check. He knows how to keep his dribble in tight spaces, can finish from a variety of angles, and is a big shot maker from the outside. Thomas is looking to lead a young Liberty club to a second consecutive NIAA Class 5A title and has two official visits set up in the coming months. One to UCLA and one to Arizona.

Tournament Fast-Risers
(Listed Alphabetically)

Isaiah Fields, West Ranch (Valencia, Calif.) 6-6 2023 SF
The break out performer of the Southern California high school scene so far, Fields is a rangy athlete with length who can run the floor and finish. He also can knock down an open jumper and competes for loose balls. He is a mid-major athlete with an emerging skill set, but it will remain to be seen at which level he ends up because his grades have to predict. Fields is a perfect candidate to develop more at a JUCO or portal up down the line.

Jalen Glenn, Inderkum (Sacramento, Calif.) 6-5 2023 SF
We've been high on Glenn for some time now and he continued to impress at The Classic. Glenn has all the makings of a talented low major plus wing and will run through a brick wall in basically any system. Not only is he tough, Glenn is an excellent rebounder and an underrated passer in both the half court and on the break. Glenn had a terrific matchup with Etiwanda's D1-bound wing, 6-foot-7 Curtis Williams, and held his own. In that matchup, it was clear Williams' defensive capabilities show Glenn shouldn't shoot too high with regards to level he'll eventually play at. He has some D2 interest and is waiting to see if any D1 will come in late. Big West and Big Sky programs would be smart to take a long look. As for Williams, San Diego St. is the leader in the clubhouse for his services.

Julian Gomez, La Mirada (Calif.) 6-3 2025 SG
This talented lefty combo guard has been ripping up all comers so far for a Matadores club that has advanced to the Silver Division semifinals. Gomez is a natural scorer who handles the ball well enough to see minutes at the one on the next level. How much he grows will determine at what level he eventually settles in to. Gomez has a terrific outside shot, gets by enough defenders to create shots for himself and others, and has a terrific array of moves around the basket. Gomez is also unselfish and moves his feet well on defense. His recent play has reportedly earned him a D1 offer from UCSB and he'll be closely watch on the grassroots circuit this upcoming spring and summer.

Doug Langford, St. Pius-St. Matthias (Downey, Calif.) 6-8 2025 PF
Plenty of national scouts and some college coaches closely watched Langford's teammate, 6-foot-6 2024 wing Tyrone Riley, but the ones with a sharp eye are also tracking this talented post player. He was a break out performer at the Section 7 live scholastic event in June and continued his upward tick in La Verne. Langford's best trait is he knows what he is: a back-to-the back forward who takes up space and scores inside while staying at home defensively. Langford has a good base and good feet underneath him and is hardly ever caught off-balance. He also compliments those feet with solid fundamental moves and footwork in the post. Langford also possesses good hands on the catch and keeps the ball high. Another St. Pius-St. Matthias 2025 prospect to watch is 6-foot-3 shooting guard Tariq Bridges, who shot well from the outside.

Hudson Mayes, Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) 6-3 2025 SG
The Seahawks may be taking their lumps now, but the team will be much improved to make a CIF Southern Section playoff push as their young pieces get game experience. Mayes is the most talented of the lot, as he got eligible after the 30-day sit out period and made a positive impression at The Classic. Mayes' frame stands out right away, then watching his game you notice how smooth offensively he is. Mayes can get by defenders with ease and sees the game in front of him a step or two ahead. He also utilizes a nice crossover dribble and is a capable defender. Another talented guard for coach Reggie Morris Jr. is 6-foot-3 2024 Devin Ringer, a good outside shooter with quickness. S.J. Madison, a 6-foot-4 2026, is another terrific guard prospect in the fold.

Caleb Newton, Birmingham (Van Nuys, Calif.) 6-3 2026 SG
The Patriots have produced quite a crop of talented players in the past 10 years and for veteran coach Nic Halic this talented guard is the latest off the assembly line. Newton is a terrific shooter and was dialed in from downtown in the two games we evaluated. Newton is a quality ball-handler and has good instincts on both sides of the ball. California's 2026 class is off to a great start and conservatively Newton is a Top 15 player and one day could be a national Top 150 prospect.

Aaron Powell, Campbell Hall (North Hollywood, Calif.) 6-1 2024 PG
We've tracked Powell's progress since middle school and he continues to improve nearly every time we evaluate him. Powell has improved his physical attributes, and at the same time, his explosiveness and that is uncommon for many high school prospects. Not only is Powell's physique maturing, he's taking and hitting quality shots, making good reads for teammates and displaying good defensive traits. Powell not only makes an impact on both ends of the floor, he's also a quality student and that has aided his recruiting options. Among the schools that have offered, Arizona St., Portland and the University of San Diego are recruiting him the hardest.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

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1. People Just Don't Care Enough
As omicron variant surges throughout the country, you just felt and sensed people understood there was a risk attending holiday tournaments. That risk seemed much greater than evaluating fall leagues or during the NCAA live period this past summer. Teams dropped out en masse in both major post-Christmas tournaments we observed because of COVID-19 protocols. Of course, it was easier to drop out after being regulated to the loser's bracket, but some teams had legitimate issues that prevented them from continuing and rightfully dropped out. A few teams, however, didn't tell foes of positive COVID-19 tests among players until after the game or after the fact and at least two coaches we know of were not pleased with that scenario. They wanted the option of being able to play or opting out prior to the game. Regardless of one's vaccination status, there is no doubt few people properly wears a mask at all times over their nose in public or in gyms around the country. There isn't anyone to enforce local ordinances at these tournaments as well. In the end, people don't care enough about the next person and only care about how the ongoing pandemic affects their own livelihood. There is only one way to completely eliminate the danger: stay home for an extended period of time. Some choose to do that and others do not.

2. High School Basketball Affected For A Third Season
Thirty-seven of the 50 teams in the final FAB 50 rankings for the 2019-20 season were affected by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as some states did not complete their respective state tourney. The 2020-21 season never came to fruition in some selected states and regions and the 2021-22 season is now affected by the pandemic, even though the season started on time in every state. The omicron variant has caused positive cases to soar in recent weeks and pre and post-Christmas holiday tournaments were affected. If will be interesting to see how this latest winter surge affects the rest of the season as we ring in the New Year. Will public school districts be forced to take a pause on indoor activities in the coming weeks? It could happen, especially in states or regions with strict COVID-19 guidelines. If definitely won't happen in some states, but if virtual learning is implemented by a school district, it could cause a pause to the high school basketball season. If in-person learning continues without interruption, it would be hard to justify not playing while students sit in classrooms for six hours per day. Either way, high school basketball fans will hold their breath heading into the first full week of 2022.

3. The Future Is Bright In SoCal
Taking in the action at The Classic at Damien, it was evident there is a plethora of young talent in California, particularly in the massive CIF Southern Section. Devin Williams (6-9) and Curtis Williams (6-6), a pair of 2023 forwards, impressed in front of a flock of college coaches and national scouts on day three as Centennial (Corona, Calif.) defeated Etiwanda (Calif.) to advance to the Platinum Division final. Williams just might be the best long-term prospect on a talented Centennial team and Etiwanda's Williams had a break-out performance, scoring 27 points and showing improved range and offensive prowess in a losing effort. Our focus was getting a good look at the talented 2025 prospects in attendance, particularly the young trio of "big guards", and they didn't disappoint. Elzie Harrington, a 6-foot-5 lead guard from St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), has terrific poise and feel, in addition to the athleticism to get to the rim at the highest levels of high school basketball. Jovani Ruff, a 6-foot-4 combo guard from Poly (Long Beach, Calif.), has a terrific stroke from long range and the mid-range, and likely the best assortment of scoring skills among the three. Brayden Burries, a 6-foot-4 wing guard from Poly (Riverside, Calif.), affects the game in a variety of ways. He has the ability to punish defenses with his downhill driving, can score on the interior with well-timed moves, or handle and beat defenders off the dribble. He could develop into the best prospect from Riverside Poly since future NBA Hall of Famer Reggie Miller signed with UCLA and was a top 50 national prospect in 1982-83. All three have their strengths and it will be interesting to see whom develops into the clear cut No. 1 prospect. Harrington's teammate, 6-foot-7 Kade Bonam, is not far behind the trio as a prospect. He is a versatile scorer and defender would fits into the mold of a hybrid playmaker that colleges seek since the emergence of the Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green. Another 2025 prospect, six-foot Gavin Hightower of Windward (Los Angeles, Calif.) is a high scoring guard but unfortunately his team had to pull out of the event due to COVID-19 protocols.

4. Owyhee (Idaho) Is A Team To Watch In 2022-23
Idaho has never had a team finish in the FAB 50 rankings since its advent for the 1987-88 season, but will that change in 2022-23? The Owyhee (Meridian, Idaho) Storm could make that a possibility with four returning starters and only two graduating seniors off its fine team this year. Six-foot-5 Jack Payne will be off to Colorado State, but there will be plenty coming back to make a FAB 50 push for coach Andy Harrington. Liam Campbell (6-5) is a 2024 combo guard who projects as a high major prospect. Jackson Rasmussen (6-7) is a 2025 forward with a high ceiling as well. Another 2025, Cameron Downie (6-3), is a terrific outside shooter and a high-level passer, while 2023 Titus Bailey (6-3) is another quality player. All of them gained valuable experience during the NCAA scholastic live period this past June and during The Classic at Damien. For the record, the highest ranked team ever from Idaho was Meridian High School in 1991-92, when it finished No. 7 in the Midlands Region Top 10.

5. Chris Nwuli Is A Big-Tine 2025 Prospect
FAB 50 No. 17 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) won two major holiday tournaments and have a plethora of underclass prospects that most colleges know about. Those same programs better start learning about this 6-foot-8 freshman forward as well. Nwuli is quickly developing into a Top 25 national prospect in the class. When he gets minutes in tight games, the springy, young front court man makes an impact with his shot blocking prowess and rebounding, while being a threat to score off the glass or catch. Nwuli needs some offensive polish, but that will come as he matures and gets more playing time on a deep and talented team. Speaking of maturity, Nwuli will be 14 years old for a few more months and his upside is off the charts with the normal development expected of a prospect his age.

Tournament Wrap

Unfortunately after its big 64-56 semifinal victory over previously unbeaten and FAB 50 bubble club Damien (La Verne, Calif.), Poly (Riverside, Calif.) had to drop out of The Classic At Damien's Platinum Division on the day of the championship game because of COVID-19 protocols. Poly was led in the scoring department in the semifinals by 2022 Payden White with 24 points and Rhode Island-bound 2022 Chance Stephens with 23 points. The victory avenged an earlier loss to the host club in the championship game of the Rumble For Rosecrans Tournament.

Poly was scheduled to play FAB 50 No. 7 Centennial (Corona, Calif.) in the Platinum Division title game, but Centennial was declared the divisional champion and ended up playing Gold Division finalist Crean Lutheran (Irvine, Calif.) in a non-bracket game on December 30. Crean Lutheran came into the game unbeaten and won the Gold Division title at the recent Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas, but dropped a 66-56 decision to Centennial in what was officially deemed a "non-bracket" game. Devin Williams, Centennial's athletic 2023 forward, had 16 points as the Huskies moved to 12-1 on the season. Williams had 20 points in Centennial's 67-61 semifinal victory over Etiwanda (Calif.), while New Mexico-bound point guard Donovan Dent had 23 points.

Crean Lutheran (10-1) was led by 2024 point guard Vyctorius Miller with 18 points, six assists and five rebounds. Miller, a Tarkanian Classic divisional MVP, one of the best prospects on the West Coast in his class and the son of noted rapper Silkk The Shocker (Vyshonn Miller), did not suit up in the Gold Division 54-52 semifinal win over Rolling Hills Prep (San Pedro, Calif.).

Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) followed up their Platinum Division title at the Tarkanian Classic by capturing the National Division title at The Holiday Classic presented by SBLive Sports in Del Mar, Calif. Gorman took on talented Oak Cliff Faith Family (Dallas, Texas), a team that finished in third place at Tarkanian. Bishop Gorman fell behind by as many as 19 points in the Tark title game against Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) before winning in double overate at the buzzer, and fell behind by 13 points in the second half against Faith Family. The Gaels once again needed overtime to pull out a victory to improve to 14-0.

Leading the way in the 81-73 overtime win was 2024 guard Jase Richardson, who had a breakout game with 23 points. Darrion Williams, a 6-foot-6 small forward who remains one of the top 2022 unsigned prospects in the West Region, was named tourney MVP after netting 21 points.

Right before the third quarter buzzer, Williams nailed a 3-pointer to get Bishop Gorman within 10 points (58-48). The Gaels slowly chipped away at their deficit before taking a 61-60 lead with 4:06 remaining on a 3-pointer by 2024 guard John "Juni" Mobley. Faith Family (18-4) battled back and the game went into overtime tied at 68-68 after the Eagles' Brandon Walker played excellent defense on Richardson as he attempted a game-winning shot with the game clock running down. In overtime, Richardson hit a corner 3-pointer, his fifth and final one of the game, to give Gorman a 73-70 lead it would not relinquish.

"I just needed to do whatever it took for the team to win," said Richardson, the son of former NBA forward Jason Richardson. "After we got down, we just came together as a team."

Walker, bound for UT-Arlington, and 2022 guard Isaiah Jones scored 19 points apiece for Faith Family.

It will be interesting to see where Bishop Gorman lands in the the next edition of the FAB 50 National Team Rankings, after entering the holiday tournament season at No. 17. There is likely to be a new No. 1 team when the next set of rankings are published.

On December 30 in Mansfield, Texas, No. 1 Duncanville (Texas) lost in overtime, 60-58, to No. 25 Richardson (Texas) in the tile game of the 64th Annual Whataburger Tournament. Duncanville (15-1), which handed Centennial its only loss of the season so far, had a chance to win or tie the game in the closing seconds of overtime, but 2023 forward Ashton Hardaway's 3-pointer was off the mark and Anthony Black's put back attempt missed and was late.

Black, the 6-foot-7 2022 guard, entered the game in the fourth quarter. He was held out earlier in Duncanville's three games at the long-running tournament and the Panthers' 57-53 win over DeSoto (Texas) on December 21 because of an ongoing eligibility issue with the University Interscholastic League (UIL). The game was tied four different times in the final three minutes of regulation.

Kentucky-bound Cason Wallace was named tourney MVP after scoring 22 points for Richardson. The Eagles came into the tournament with a lone loss to FAB 50 No. 22 North Little Rock (Ark.).

We'll have more on Black's eligibility situation in our next FAB 50 update.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

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Is FAB 50 No. 1 Montverde Academy (Fla.) unbeatable? Is Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.) the team to beat for the CIF Open Division title?

Nothing Has Changed At The Top

FAB 50 No. 6 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) fell in overtime, 85-81, to Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.) in the title game of The Classic at Damien and No. 27 Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.) lost to a good JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) team in the finals of The Torrey Pines Holiday Classic in San Diego.

If the CIF state tournament started today, however, those two losing teams would still rate as favorites to win the open division in their respective regions.

Sierra Canyon went into that December 30 game knowing Ziaire Williams, a national Top 10 prospect, was going to be playing for the first time this season. It just so happened the date for transfers to be eligible fell on the same day as the title game against the last team to beat the Trailblazers during the 2018-19 season before they went on to win a second consecutive CIF Open Division state crown and begin this season 14-0.

Sierra Canyon got to The Classic finals using a lineup that included Kentucky-bound B.J. Boston off the bench and played its rotation a variety of minutes depending on the foe. Against Rancho Christian, it was figured Williams would be eased into the rotation, but what happened was Boston started and Williams played 27 minutes off the bench. We were a bit surprised to see Williams take 21 shots and between him and Boston, the forward duo took 46 of Sierra Canyon's 70 shot attempts. Regardless of how the game played out, that was 27 minutes and 21 shots that went to someone else for the team's first 14 games, so it had an impact.

Sierra Canyon will eventually settle into a rotation it will stick to, but to break in a player of Williams' caliber into an already successful lineup had to be tough and it still took 21 turnovers and overtime to knock off California's top-ranked team. Sierra Canyon will have to find its groove and iron out the kinks right away because it faces No. 13 Patrick School (Elizabeth, N.J.) on Friday evening in a nationally-televised game.

That game will also give us a good barometer of just how good California teams are this season because The Celtics lost, 77-32, in the title game of the John Wall Holiday Invitational on December 30 to FAB 50 No. 1 Montverde Academy. Ironically, Sierra Canyon's next game versus a California foe will be on January 11 at Pasadena City College (Calif.) against the very same Rancho Christian team it just lost to.

As for Sheldon, the Huskies advanced through the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic without the services of Marcus Bagley, it's 6-foot-8 senior forward who was playing so terrific at the Tarkanian Classic before being hurt in the second overtime of a third place win over No. 19 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.). Sheldon has terrific depth, as senior guards Josh Williams and Dontrelle Hewlett, along with senior forward Darren Tobias, really stepped up their games in Bagley's absence.

The loss to JSerra was Sheldon's first to a California team, and in both of its losses (the other was to Tarkanian host Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas), the Huskies had leads they blew because of unforced turnovers. If they can clean that up and Bagley remain healthy, Sheldon rates the heavy favorites to once again represent NorCal in the CIF Open division title game based on what we've seen so far. Sierra Canyon, meanwhile, could face Rancho Christian four times this season, so it has plenty of opportunity to find the lineup that will work best for another state title run.

We're Buying Stock In St. John's (Washington, D.C.) Now
In the preseason, the Cadets didn't get much national attention because there were three other teams from the powerful Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) that were worthy of FAB 50 acclaim: Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) and Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.). Well, based on the results of games played so far this season, St. John's has shown it will be formidable in WCAC play, will be FAB 50 ranked in the next update (January 6) and will be a dynamite team in 2020-21.

Ishmael Leggett, a 6-foot-2 point guard headed to Rhode Island, had a terrific showing at the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where the Cadets advanced to the title game before falling to No. 24 Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.), 69-60. In the semifinals, St. John's downed No. 18 Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.), 53-51, and beat No. 36 Poly (Baltimore, Md.) in the quarterfinals. Coach Patrick Behan's best player was slowed a bit in the title game versus Dorman, as he didn't make a 3-point field goal attempt and finished with 14 points, but there are plenty of reasons to like this club and a majority of the pieces are underclassmen.

Six-foot-7 Amani Hansberry, a terrific 2023 prospect, had 15 points, made 6-of-8 shots from the field in the title game and is a terrific athlete with plenty of upside. Behan also has three other freshmen on his roster who will be big contributors in the future. Christian Watson, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, can shoot it and is versatile enough to excel at both the three and the four. Watson made two 3-pointers and in the big semifinal win over Long Island Lutheran, while Leggett had 17 points and five rebounds and made 3-of-5 3-pointers. The emergence of St. John's as a national level team means the road to the WCAC championship is even tougher than we anticipated and it was already the best conference in the nation.

This Season Is Not A Coronation, Yet
There is little doubt Patrick School (Elizabeth, N.J.) is a fine team, but when Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) beat them 77-32 in the finals of the John Wall Holiday Invitational in North Carolina, the high school basketball community was ready to anoint the Eagles as one of the best high school teams of all-time.

Based on the scores of their games so far and MVA's talent level, this unit could develop into the best team ever at Montverde Academy, the best high school team since the turn of the century and one of the best we've ever seen. To beat McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), and Mr. Basketball USA candidate Sharife Cooper, by a 99-48 margin speaks volumes, but against preseason No. 1 IMG Academy in the finals of the City of Palms Tournament the score was 63-55.

Should we have had Montverde Academy as preseason No. 1? Well, if we had to do it all over again we'd likely still have IMG Academy as preseason No. 1 based on beating the Eagles when it mattered at GEICO Nationals last spring and the roster it had in place in the fall. Remember, we ranked IMG Academy No. 1 assuming Duke-bound Jalen Johnson would be one of the Ascenders' leading players. He is not in the lineup and IMG Academy still played MVA closer than any other team. In fact, no other team has even been in the game against Montverde Academy.

OSU-bound Cade Cunningham and North Carolina-bound Day'ron Sharpe are two of the best players in the country and realistically Kevin Boyle's backups would be a FAB 50 ranked team. When this team added 6-foot-8 Scottie Barnes, and he fit in to what the Eagles already had back, it took this team to another level because he is so good defensively and brings so many intangibles to the floor. Most of all, Barnes never wants to be on a losing team and it's working magically so far for this team.

Last season, IMG Academy was the first team to produce three McDonald's All-Americans and Cunningham, Sharpe and Barnes should make it two teams all-time with three. We've been doing weekly national rankings for a long time and know it's hard to beat a really good team more than once in a season, but it's something Montverde Academy will have to accomplish to be mentioned alongside high school basketball's all-time best.

Montverde Academy will play IMG Academy on January 19 at the Hoophall Classic and could meet the same team twice more, at the St. James Invitational in Maryland at the end of the month and perhaps for a final time at GEICO Nationals.

Will a loss to IMG Academy (or anyone else) prevent this team from being considered one of the best of all-time? No, not if it's a regular season game, but a loss at the end of the season carries more weight. No team that loses its final game will ever finish No. 1 in the FAB 50 and on the flip side, a great team or one of the very best teams of all-time can have a loss on its resume. The 2019-20 MVA team has the makings of an all-time team, we're just not ready to crown it after 13 games because we've been doing this long enough to know things are not set in stone in the world of high school hoops.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

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In Episode No. 50 of our In The Paint Show,"? co-hosts Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland go hard on the major Southern California Holiday tournaments and some fast-rising players who upped their stock from those particular events.

The fellas break down how Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.) pulled off the upset to defeat Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 85-81, in overtime at The Classic at Damien and Ron breaks down the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic, in which JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) defeated Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.) 52-50. Out in the Coachella Valley, Mt. Si (Snoqualmie, Wash.) emerged from pool play to defeat Mayfair (Lakewood, Calif.) to capture the Rancho Mirage Holiday Invitational.

The fellas also bring on special guest Keith Wilkinson of JSerra to break down his team's run through the National Division of the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic and exciting come-from-behind victory over Sheldon. What made the difference in the second half after trailing the defending NorCal open champions by double-digits?

Who were the?standouts at each event? Why did certain teams play well and other highly-ranked teams struggle? Ron and Dev also break down some?fast-rising players who picked up steam in their college recruiting because of there recent performances, including Anthony Roy (Dublin, Calif.), Shane Bell (Salesian, Richmond, Calif.) and many more.

There is a lot to go over and alot coming up this short week, as we prepare to update our FAB 50 National Team Rankings on January 6!

To learn more about our hosts, Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland, and to get more information about what "In The Paint" is all about, check out our intro below!

The post "In The Paint" Podcast GOES IN on Post-Christmas Holiday Tourneys! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

In the fifth episode of our all-new In The Paint Show," hosts Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland?discuss the recent holiday tournaments around the country and how the results affected the FAB 50 National Rankings. Our guys break down The Classic at Damien in Southern California, Torrey Pines Holiday Classic, The City of Palms Classic in Florida, the Beach Ball Classic in South Carolina, and Iolani Tournament in Hawaii.

Flores and Ugland also discuss how many state associations are barring their member programs from playing independent FAB 50 powers and talk individual standouts from each tournament, including unsigned senior guard and Beach Ball Classic MVP Jordan Brinson of Westchester (Los Angeles, Calif.).

The guys also bring on a special guest: Fairfax (Los Angeles, Calif.) head coach Steve Baik to talk the UCLA coaching situation, The Classic at Damien and the impending Los Angeles Unified School District strike, which could mean no games for Westchester, Fairfax and all L.A. City Section programs as early as the week of January 7.

To learn more about our hosts, Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland, and to get more information about what "In The Paint" is all about, check out our intro below!

Subscribe to our new Podcast on iTunes here

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