MaxPreps Martin Luther King Jr. Classic game previews

All-MLK Classic alumni team
MP MLK Jr. Classic overview
Slideshow of 20 top standouts
Arguably nation's top junior Ivan Rabb primed for Capital Christian


BERKELEY, Calif. — Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) boys basketball coach Lou Richie didn’t really need to elaborate. Simply his team and Capital Christian (Sacramento) didn’t get along in some summer-league action. 

“We had a very heated battle over the summer,” he said. “The two teams know each other very well. I'll leave it at that."

It’s understood too that when the two teams tangle 3:45 p.m. Monday, that this is not only the premier game of the 17th MaxPreps Martin Luther King Jr. Classic, hosted by De La Salle, but also a showdown of Northern California’s two top teams.

Here’s a look at this heavyweight battle featuring top college prospects as well as the five other games slated for Haas Pavilion on the campus of the University of California-Berkeley.

Capital Christian (15-2) vs. Bishop O’Dowd (9-4)
Time: 3:45 p.m.
Coaches: Devon Jones (CC), Lou Richie (BOD)
Mascots: Cougars (CC), Dragons (BOD)
2012-13 records: Capital Christian 26-5, Bishop O’Dowd 26-4
Terrific trios: Capital Christian — F D.J. Wilson, C Nifae Lealao, PG Tyler Jennings. Bishop O’Dowd — C Ivan Rabb, PG Paris Austin, PG Juwan Anderson.

Capital Christian, a NorCal Division V finalist, won the loaded and historic Gridley Tournament and then finished second in the 24-team Invitational Division of the MaxPreps Holiday Classic national tourney last month, beating Westchester in the semifinals. … The Cougars are led by the 6-9 Wilson, a forward with guard skills, who is signed the University of Michigan. … Lealao, a 6-6, 240-pound power forward, didn’t play in the title game at the Holiday Classic and probably would have made a big difference. A football recruit to Stanford, Lealao is a defensive stopper, low block presence and glue guy. … The backcourt of Jennings and Uchenna Iroegbu is dynamic. … Rabb is considered the top junior in the country and Friday he showed why with a triple double of 27 points, 11 blocks and 10 rebounds in an 80-74 win at previously unbeaten Berkeley. He averages 25 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks… The Dragons like to run with Austin and Anderson, a pair of dynamic point guards. … The matchup in the backcourt should decide this one, along with the showdown down low of Rabb vs. Wilson, though look for Lealao to do much of the heavy defensive lifting on Rabb.

Castro Valley (11-4) vs. Saint Mary's (Albany) (14-4)
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Coaches: Pete Vaz (Castro Valley), Olatunji Dean (Saint Mary’s)
Mascots: Trojans (CV), Panthers (SM)
2012-13 records: Castro Valley 13-13, Saint Mary’s 19-13
Terrific trios: Castro Valley — G Jalen McFerren, G Nate Moore, F Josh Valli. Saint Mary’s — G Kevin Warren, G Aren Ulmer, F Jerrod Nodar

After both teams battled through growing pains last season, each has bounced back nicely. ... This should be an evenly-matched opener. … McFerren is a dynamic 6-foot guard who averages more than 20 points per game and had 29 on Wednesday in a big victory over San Leandro. … Moore, a 5-9 senior, is the defending state long jump and triple jump champion. … Warren, one of six sophomores on the Panthers’ roster, leads the team with a 16.1 scoring average. Nodar, son of former Saint Mary’s coach Manny Nodar, is second at 15.8. … St. Mary’s won the title at the Bear Creek Bruin Shootout.

Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) (11-3) vs. El Cerrito (17-1)
Time: 12:15 p.m.
Coaches: Darrell Barbour (SHC), Michael Booker (EC)
Mascots: Fighting Irish (SHC), Gauchos (EC)
2012-13 records: SHC 21-12, EC 22-11
Terrific trios: SHC — G Deondre Otis, F Liam O'Reilly, G David Parsons. EC — G Tyrell Alcorn, F Jovontae Carleton, G Anthony Sullen
 
This might end up the most entertaining game of the day as the pair of Division III state powers are rivals from either side of the Bay. … SHC is the defending Northern California D3 champion and has been to three state title games in 10 years, winning in 2009. … Point guard Otis runs the show and controls tempo. … The Irish rely on balanced scoring and superb defense, though it lost to 70-39 in the WCAL opener to rival St. Ignatius. … That loss woke up SHC which Saturday defeated Valley Christian 84-45. … El Cerrito relies on great quickness, tempo and turning defense to offense. … Alcorn, one of the top junior guards in the state, is averaging 17.6 per game, followed by Carleton (13.9), Sullen (12.3) and sophomore Sayeed Pridgett (10.3).

Jesuit (Carmichael) (18-0) vs. Newark Memorial (9-7)
Time: 2 p.m.
Coaches: Greg Harcos (J), Craig Ashmore (NM)
Mascots: Marauders (Jesuit), Cougars (NM)
2012-13 records: Jesuit 13-15, Newark Memorial 23-6
Terrific trios: Jesuit — F Lake Lutes, F Isaiah Bailey, C Brady Anderson. Newark Memorial — G Joey Frenchwood, F Matthew Thomas, F Damien Banford.
 
Don’t be fooled by the records. This should be a barnburner. … Jesuit is one of only a handful of Northern California teams with a perfect record. … The Marauders opened the season with consecutive tournament titles at the Wild West Shootout in Reno (Nev.) and the 40th Barry Classic. … Lutes, a 6-7 senior, has already committed to Air Force and leads a huge front line that includes the 6-9 Anderson. … Harcos led Jesuit to big seasons in 2005-06 (28-6), 06-07 (32-2) and 11-12 (27-7). … Newark Memorial has played a rigorous schedule and have impressive wins over Modesto Christian (64-50), Bullard (85-80) and Moreau Catholic (74-48). … Frenchwood is a fourth-year starting point guard. … Banford is a bruising 6-6 power forward and very athletic for his size. … Ashmore is one of the Bay Area’s top coaches, having produced nine straight 20-win seasons. … Since 2004, the Cougars have won 29, 22, 20, 26, 27, 30, 22, 28 and 23 games.

Long Beach Poly (12-6) vs. De La Salle (Concord) (10-4)
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Coaches: Shelton Diggs (LBP), Frank Allocco (DLS)
Mascots: Jackrabbits (LBP), Spartans (DLS)
2012-13 records: Long Beach Poly 30-3, De La Salle 27-5
Terrific trios: LBP — G Kameron Murrell, G Ke'jhan Feagin, C Jordan Dallas. DLS — F Patrick Marr, G Nikhil Peters, F Devin Asiasi.

Two of the nation’s most storied high school sports programs square off in a unique and what should be entertaining regular-season game. … Poly has played one of the state’s toughest schedules and been involved with some of the most hair-raising games. After losing a buzzer-beater to Valor Christian 67-65 at the Tarkanian Classic, the Jackrabbits fought back from 14 down in the fourth quarter to beat three-time defending Alabama state champion Wenonah 90-89 in two overtimes at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic. ... The following night Poly was beat at the buzzer by eventual champion Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.). ... That painful defeat was followed by losses of 68-65 and 55-54 before a 72-70 win. … Following a 70-68 win over Compton last week, Poly has won four straight. … The backcourt of Murrell and Feagin is explosive. … Poly assistant coach A.J. Diggs returns to Cal where he played his college basketball. … With only four seniors on a 15-person roster, De La Salle is extremely young, including 6-4 Peters, who is one of the top sophomores in the state. … Mar, a 6-7 senior, has already committed to Cal State East Bay. … Asiasi started last season as a freshman, but came out late from the football team where he was a two-way starter.

Sacramento (13-3) vs. Salesian (Richmond) (10-7)
Time: 7:15 p.m.
Coaches: Derek Swafford (Sacramento), Bill Mellis (Salesian)
Mascots: Dragons (Sacramento), Pride (Salesian)
2012-13 records: Sacramento 25-9, Salesian 30-4
Terrific trios: Sacramento — F Solomon Young, G Tre Finch, G Stephen Matthews, Jr.. Salesian — C Jonathan Galloway, G Bernard Ward, G DeMar Dunn

Youth will be served in this one, especially Sacramento which starts five sophomores, including leading scorer and dynamic 6-7 shot blocker Young (18.0 ppg). … With two freshman and nine sophomores, the future does look extremely bright for the Dragons, who have impressive wins over Riordan (77-64), Newark Memorial (54-49) and Santa Monica (72-64). … Sacramento’s only losses have been twice to Capital Christian (78-75 and 79-52) and El Cerrito (57-53). … Salesian, which won state titles in 2009 and 2012, has struggled most of the season, including an 0-3 start in league before a resounding 57-44 win over two-time defending D5 champion St. Joseph-Notre Dame on Friday. … Galloway, a 6-10 senior, has a full ride to Irvine secured. … Salesian, which lost two four-year starters in Jabari Bird (Cal) and Mario Dunn (University of Montana) to graduation, relies heavy on guard play.
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BASICS
WHAT: 17th Annual MaxPreps Martin Luther King Jr. Classic hosted by De La Salle High School
WHERE: University of California's Haas Pavilion
WHEN: Monday, Jan. 20

GAMES
Castro Valley vs. Saint Mary's (Albany), 10:30 a.m.
Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) vs. El Cerrito, 12:15 p.m.
Newark Memorial (Newark) vs. Jesuit (Carmichael), 2 p.m.
Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) vs. Capital Christian (Sacramento), 3:45 p.m.
De La Salle (Concord) vs. Long Beach Poly, 5:30 p.m.
Salesian (Richmond) vs. Sacramento, 7:15 p.m.

TICKETS
* Pre-sale at De La Salle bookstore until Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
* General admission tickets available online CLICK HERE
* Pre-sale ticket prices: General admission bleacher seating - $7 per adult; $5 for students, seniors, children; Reserved chair back seating, $15 includes all day in/out access.
* Game-day ticket prices: General, $10 adults, $5 students, seniors, and children. Reserved chair back, $20; Courtside, $30 each game.

BROADCAST
Streamed live HERE ($9.95 fee for all six games)

QWIXCORE
Follow all six games by clicking on live scores from maxpreps.com on your mobile phone.

QUOTE
"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." — Martin Luther King Jr.