20th MaxPreps/DLS MLK Jr. Classic: Game previews

Video: Highlights/video of Cassius Stanley
See top plays and hear one of the country's top sophomores who plays at the 20th MLK Classic.

Game-by-game previews for the 20th MaxPreps Martin Luther King Jr. Classic, which takes place Jan. 16 at St. Mary's College in Moraga. Rancho Mirage (Calif.) Rattlers vs. Manteca Buffaloes
Time: 10 a.m.
Head coaches: Rob Hanmer (Rancho Mirage), Brett Lewis (Manteca).
2015-16 records: Rancho Mirage 30-2 (Southern Section 3A finalist), Manteca 29-6 (state Division 3 champion).
Records through Jan. 12: Rancho Mirage 15-2, Manteca 10-5.
Best win: Rancho Mirage — Adelanto (92-61). Manteca — Immanuel (55-52).
Terrific Trios: Rancho Mirage — PG Charles Neal, G Bryan Talley, G Matt Barajas- Tiedeman. Manteca – F Tydus Verhoeven, G Dwight Young, G Gino Campiotti.
Notable athletic alumni: Manteca — Former NFC center Ernie Barber, retired boxer Tony Dominguez, former MLB catcher Ken Huckaby.
Record last five seasons: Rancho Mirage 63-13. Manteca 94-53.
Briefly: In just its second season as a varsity program, Rancho Mirage won its first 30 games last year before falling in the finals of the Southern Section 3A finals to Chaminade. … The Buffaloes won their first state crown last season with big contributions from Verhoeven, a 6-foot-7 swingman who currently averages 14.8 points and 11.2 points per game, and Young, a 5-11 guard, who averages 14.6 ppg. ... Manteca won five straight before losing to perennial state powers Salesian (79-69) and Modesto Christian (63-48).

Newark Memorial (Newark) Cougars vs. Modesto Christian Crusaders
Time: 11:45 a.m.
Head coaches: Craig Ashmore (Newark Memorial), Brice Fantazia (Modesto Christian).
2015-16 records: Newark Memorial 21-10, Modesto Christian 32-2.
Records through Jan. 12: Newark Memorial 6-8, Modesto Christian 9-5.
Best win: Newark Memorial — Fresno (66-57). Modesto Christian — St. Joseph-Alameda (72-60).
Terrific Trios: Newark Memorial — G Decaurey Brown, F Jamal Frenchwood, F Devin Jerome. Modesto Christian — G Darrian Grays, C Gabe Murphy, G Tyler Williams.
Notable alumni: Newark Memorial — Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph, blues guitarist Ron Thompson, standup comic Christopher Titus. Modesto Christian — Chuck Hayes, retired NBA veteran; Richard Midgley, retired overseas professional player; Reeves Nelson, former UCLA leading scorer.
Record last five seasons: Newark Memorial 111-45, Modesto Christian 143-25.
Briefly: Two perennial Northern California powers are rebuilding. … After losing four of five to start, the Cougars looked good in wins over Oakland (86-65) and American (72-51). … Midgley stepped down as Modesto Christian's head coach after two seasons in August to taking a scouting job with the Atlanta Hawks. … The Crusaders were 62-6 in those two seasons. … In his first eight games, Grays averaged 20.5 points per game including 23, 28 and 23 to start the year.

Moreau Catholic (Hayward) Mariners vs. Jesuit (Carmichael) Marauders
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Head coaches: Frank Knight (Moreau Catholic), Jon Rotz (Jesuit).
2015-16 records: Moreau Catholic 25-5, Jesuit 25-6.
Records through Jan. 12: Moreau Catholic 5-9, Jesuit 9-5.
Best win: Moreau Catholic — Immanuel (72-63). Jesuit — Modesto Christian (67-65).
Terrific Trios: Moreau Catholic — G Damari Milstead, G Kyree Walker, F Dvan Molden. Jesuit — G Matthew Ehrlich, G Jake Virga, G Isaiah Rutherford.
Notable athletic alumni: Moreau Catholic — Darren Lewis, Terry Eidson. Jesuit — Festus Ezeli, NBA player; Ken O'Brien, NFL QB, J.P. Howell, pitcher LA Dodgers.
Record last five seasons: Moreau Catholic 103-46. Jesuit 111-42.
Briefly: Two teams coming off terrific years are still trying to find a rhythm. Both lost mainstays to graduation. … Milstead, a senior point guard, was a MaxPreps sophomore All-American. Through 11 games, Milstead averaged 23.3 points per game and Walker, one of the top freshmen in the state, was averaging 22.5. … Through Jan. 4, Jesuit had not won or lost more than two in a row.

Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond) Pride vs. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) Braves
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Head coaches: Bill Mellis (Salesian), Matt Dunn (St. John Bosco).
2015-16 records: Salesian 28-5. St. John Bosco 21-10.
Records through Jan. 12: Salesian 14-3. St. John Bosco 9-7.
Best win: Salesian — Freedom (72-28). St. John Bosco — Edison (75-68).
Terrific Trios: Salesian — G James Akinjo, F Jamario Bibb, F Derrick Langford. St. John Bosco — G J.J. Watson, G Alpha Okoli, G Makani Whiteside.
Notable athletic alumni: Salesian — Jahvid Best, Mike Alcott, Jabari Bird. St. John Bosco — Evan Longoria, MLB; Nomar Garciaparra, former MLB; Josh Rosen, UCLA QB.
Record last five seasons: Salesian 135-37. St. John Bosco 111-49.
Briefly: Salesian, the Bay Area's top-ranked team, lost to Mater Dei, Woodcreek and Westchester, which as of Jan. 3 had a combined record of 42-8. … Salesian, winners of two state titles, is completely balanced with up to 10 players capable of scoring in double figures. … St. John Bosco's big three of Watson, Okoli and Whiteside combine to average 47.6 of team's 61.2 points per game.

Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) Wolverines vs. De La Salle (Concord) Spartans
Time: 5 p.m.
Head coaches: David Rebibo (Harvard-Westlake), Justin Argenal (De La Salle).
2015-16 records: Harvard-Westlake 27-8 (State D4 title), De La Salle 31-3 (NorCal Open champion).
Records through Jan. 12: Harvard-Westlake 11-6, DLS 10-4.
Best win: Harvard-Westlake — Woodcreek (66-57), De La Salle — Monte Vista (51-37).
Terrific Trios: Harvard-Westlake —G Cassius Stanley, G Johnny Juzang, G Ali Iken. De La Salle — C Emeka Udenyi, G Colby Orr, G Connor O'Dea.
Notable athletic alumni: Harvard-Westlake — Jarron and Jason Collins, former NBA players; Brennan Boesch, MLB baseball; Lucas Giolito, MLB. De La Salle — Former NFL star LB D.J. Williams, MLS soccer standout Chris Wondolowski, Former Super Bowl champion OL and current college analyst Aaron Taylor.
Record last five seasons: Harvard-Westlake 92-59. De La Salle 134-25.
Briefly: Rebibo was a former assistant at USF who was replaced by former De La Salle head coach Frank Allocco. … In his first season, Rebibo led the Wolverines to a state title with a decisive win over Palma. … The 6-6 Stanley is considered one of the top sophomores in the country and the 6-7 Juzang is one of the top freshmen. … Argenal, a former state championship player under Allocco, takes over for A.J. Kuhle, another former DLS player and state champion, who left after one very successful season. … The Spartans give up just 43 points per game.

Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) Dragons vs. Capital Christian (Sacramento) Cougars
Time: 6:45 p.m.
Head coaches: Lou Richie (Bishop O'Dowd), Devon Jones (Capital Christian).
2015-16 records: Bishop O'Dowd 17-15. Capital Christian 19-10.
Records through Jan. 12: Bishop O'Dowd 5-6. Capital Christian 7-7.
Best win: Bishop O'Dowd — Bishop Montgomery (70-63). Capital Christian — Alemany (82-71).
Terrific Trios: Bishop O'Dowd — G BJ Shaw, G Elijah Hardy, G. Naseem Gaskin. Capital Christian — G Zachary Chappell, F Austin Alexander, G Conor Jeffery.
Notable athletic alumni: Bishop O'Dowd — Brian Shaw, former NBA player and current Lakers' assistant coach; Tyson Ross, MLB pitcher; Ivan Rabb, Cal preseason All-American. Capital Christian — D.J. Wilson, University of Michigan starting forward.
Record last five seasons: BOD — 125-34. CC — 126-34.
Briefly: Don't be fooled by the records. Both teams have played rigorous schedules. … O'Dowd's opening win over Bishop Montgomery was noteworthy because Bishop Montgomery was No. 1 in the country in two polls and responded with 12 straight wins. … The trio of O'Dowd guards is as strong as any in the state. … Capital Christian has two of the state's top freshmen in 6-7 post Kendall Munson and 6-1 guard Fred Burton. … O'Dowd won the state open division title in 2014 and last year rebuilt by playing a national schedule. … Hardy and Gaskin are juniors.