2014 MaxPreps Holiday Classic produced six state finalists

Video: 2014 MaxPreps Holiday Classic Recap

Palm Springs is best known for world class resorts, golf courses and a hot desert climate.

The Southern California oasis is also becoming a destination for some of the nation's best high school basketball teams.

The 2014 MaxPreps Holiday Classic brought over 100 teams to the Coachella Valley last December. The elite Invitational Division boys bracket produced six eventual state finalists and five section or state champions.

There may not be a more competitive holiday tournament bracket on the West Coast. The 15 American teams in the MaxPreps Holiday Classic Invitational Division (the 16th team in the field was from Spain) combined for a 367-97 record during the 2014-15 season – a winning percentage of nearly .800.



In the 2014 Classic final, California Division V state champion Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) beat Georgia Class AAAAAA runner-up Pebblebrook (Mableton) in a game that will be remembered for years to come in the desert.

Past standouts in the event include Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs, NBD Defensive Player of the Year), twin guards Aaron and Andrew Harrison (Kentucky, 2014 NBA Draft entries), Xavier Johnson (Colorado), Katin Reinhardt (USC), Elijah Stewart (USC), Jason Todd (University of Portland), Kendall Williams (Italy Serie A2) and Isaiah Whitehead (Seton Hall).

MaxPreps will announce the field for the 2015 event in May.

State Champions in 2014 MaxPreps Holiday Classic
Damien (La Verne, Calif.): 29-5, CIF Division III state champion
Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas): 33-4, TAPPS Class 5A state champion
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.): 26-4, CIF Division V state champion

State Finalists in 2014 MaxPreps Holiday Classic
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.): 20-11, CIF Division II state finalist
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.): 29-5, CIF Open Division state finalist
Pebblebrook (Mableton, Ga.): 27-6, Class AAAAAA runner-up

CIF Section Champions in 2014 MaxPreps Holiday Classic
Etiwanda (Calif.): 24-9, Southern Section Open Division champion
Folsom (Calif.): 28-5, Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 champion



Other Invitational Participants
Alemany (Mission Hills, Calif.): 23-9, CIF Division III regional finalist
American Fork (Utah): 14-10
Issaquah (Wash.): 22-6, Class 4A state quarterfinalist
Rufus King (Milwaukee, Wis.): 22-3, Division 1 sectional finalist
Moreau Catholic (Hayward, Calif.): 23-7, North Coast Section Division 3 finalist
Sacramento (Calif.): 28-6, Sac-Joaquin Section Division 2 finalist
Saddleback Valley Christian (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.): 19-9

Past Invitational Champions
2014 – Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) def. Pebblebrook (Mableton, Ga.), 67-66
2013 – Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.) def. Capital Christian (Sacramento, Calif.), 54-45
2012 – Westchester (Los Angeles) def. Fort Bend Travis (Richmond, Texas), 70-62
2011 – Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) def. Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.), 76-69
2010 – Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) def. Silverado (Las Vegas), 65-57
2009 – Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) def. Foothill (Henderson, Nev.), 78-67
2008 – Orange Lutheran (Calif.) def. Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo, Calif.), 85-70
2007 – Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) def. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.), 62-55
2006 – De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) def. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.), 78-57
2005 – Etiwanda (Calif.) def. Loyola (Los Angeles)
2004 – Cathedral City (Calif.) def. Elsinore (Wildomar, Calif.)
2003 – Indio (Calif.) def. Cathedral City (Calif.)
* Event was known as Desert Heat Invitational from 2003-2010.