MaxPreps 2015-16 High School Basketball Early Contenders, presented by Dick's Sporting Goods and Under Armour: Mater Dei

Video: Early Contenders - Mater Dei



Head coach: Gary McKnight (1,024-90 career record)

2014-15 record: 29-5

State association: California Interscholastic Federation



Enrollment: 2,100




Miles Brookins (6-9, Jr., F) … Offers from Pac-12 and Mountain West schools

Harrison Butler (6-4, So., G) … Key contributor as a freshman

M.J. Cage (6-9, Sr., F/C) … Committed to Oregon

Spencer Freedman (6-0, So., G) … High impact transfer at the point guard position



Bailey Stout (6-2, Sr., G) … Played in all 34 games last year, averaged 5.1 points per game

Justice Sueing (6-7, Jr., F) … All-State selection in Hawaii last season

Michael Wang (6-9, So., F) … Native of China

Matthew Weyand (6-5, Jr., G/F) … Played in 67 games over past two seasons




Dec. 4 – vs. Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights, Ill.) at Chicago Elite Classic



Dec. 28-31 – Beach Ball Classic

Jan. 18 – vs. Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) at Spalding Hoophall Classic

Feb. 6 – vs. Foothills Christian (El Cajon) at Nike Extravaganza




* McKnight's 1,024 career wins is good for ninth on the all-time list nationally. His .919 winning percentage is the best in high school basketball history. Mater Dei has won 11 state titles and 22 section crowns during his tenure.

* With last year's top scorer Rex Pflueger off to Notre Dame and La'vette Parker at Air Force, the development of Cage will be key. The future Oregon Duck averaged 13.2 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots per game as a junior.



* There's always a future star waiting in the wings at Mater Dei and Freedman may fit that bill this season. The sharpshooting point guard had a big freshman season at Santa Monica and looked like a good fit with the Monarchs over the summer.

View gallery of preseason Early Contenders photo shoot with Mater Dei