Eleven days until the MaxPreps Holiday Classic: Mater Dei in the house

It is 11 days until the MaxPreps Holiday Classic and 11 is the magic number.

Defending MaxPreps national champion Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) will open with its 11th game of the season and if still unbeaten — the Monarchs are current 6-0 — they will have swept four games at the prestigious City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.

Mater Dei is also the 2011 MaxPreps Holiday Classic champion, the last time the Monarchs were in the tournament.

Featuring the most high-powered lineup in the 12-year history of the event, the MaxPreps Holiday Classic will return to Rancho Mirage High School near Palm Springs, California. Rancho Mirage will serve as the primary host, but games will be played in seven venues around the Coachella Valley from Dec. 26-30.



The current Mater Dei team is led by a couple returning starters from last year, 6-foot-10 junior post MJ Cage (16.7 points per game), the son of former NBA standout Michael Cage, and 6-6 senior guard Rex Pflueger (16.7 ppg), a Notre Dame commit.

Of Cage, Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight said: "He's an unbelievable talent. He will be as highly recruited as anyone else we have had here."

That's saying something, considering Mater Dei has won 11 California state championships, all under legendary coach McKnight who last week won his 1,000th career game against just 85 defeats. He's had 10 straight season with at least 30 victories, which may be his most astounding feat according to tournament co-director Wayne Merino.

"Gary is one of those rare guys that no matter who comes into his program, no matter what background or how talented, he'll have them playing all together with a common goal of success," Merino said. "Like Bob Hurley or Morgan Wootten, no matter who is on the floor he'll find a way to win."

Once again, the Monarchs are blessed with gobs of talent.

Though they lost arguably the finest player in their rich history Stanley Johnson to graduation, the Monarchs are winning with returners such La'vette Parker (6-2, Sr., G), Bailey Stout (6-1, Jr., G) and Matthew Weyand (6-5, So., F).



Three freshman are in the rotation — Harrison Butler (6-4, Fr., G), Reagan Lundeen (6-5, Fr., F) and Michael Wang (6-7, Fr., F) — and the most notable newcomer heading into the season was K.J. Smith (6-1, Sr., G), the son of former NBA champ and current TNT analyst Kenny "The Jet" Smith. K.J. was a double-figure scorer a year ago at Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.).

But tying them all together is McKnight, who notched is the 1,000-win plateau last week with a 67-44 win over Corona del Mar.

Now in his 33rd year as head coach at the school, McKnight joins names like Wootten, Ralph Tasker and Hurley in the 1,000-win club. Robert Hughes of Texas is the all-time wins leader at 1,333.

What distinguishes McKnight from others on that list is his win percentage, which stands at an all-time best .921 (1,000-85). With 31 league titles, 22 section titles and 11 state crowns to go along with a MaxPreps mythical national championship in 2013-14, his resume is easily among the most impressive in high school basketball history.

Can he get to 1,333? He's not ruling it out.

"I hope it (win total) gets to 1,300 or 1,400," he said. "I have no intention of retiring. I really enjoy what I'm doing and I'm fortunate to be at a school that has great kids and great athletes."



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In addition to Mater Dei, which went 35-0 en route to its fourth consecutive state title last season, other headliners include Texas private school state champion Prestonwood Christian (Plano), California section champions Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), Folsom, JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) and Moreau Catholic (Hayward) and New Jersey group champ St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City).

Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) is another program to watch after going 29-4 a year ago with a rotation that featured four freshmen — including MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year Cody Riley — and sophomore point guard Devearl Ramsey, a USA Basketball gold medalist.

The Open Division will also feature state championship hopefuls from Georgia, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

Past standouts in the event include twins Aaron and Andrew Harrison (Kentucky), Xavier Johnson (Colorado), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs), Katin Reinhardt (USC), Elijah Stewart (USC), Jason Todd (Portland), Kendall Williams (2014 NBA Draft hopeful) and Isaiah Whitehead (Seton Hall).

Palm Springs and the surrounding Coachella Valley is one of the premier resort destinations in the United States. It's a haven for golf enthusiasts and home to numerous festivals and conventions — including the famed Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival held in nearby Indio.



For additional information, visit MaxPrepsHolidayClassic.com, like us on Facebook, follow on Twitter @MPHolClass or Instagram @maxpreps_holiday_classic. For inquiries and interested teams, contact Rob Hanmer (rob@geartothemax.com) or Merino (wayne@geartothemax.com).