More than 100 teams set to tip off in desert
The holiday season has a lot of familiar sounds: Sleigh bells ringing, carolers singing and in the desert you can add sneakers squeaking.
That’s because a holiday tradition in the Coachella Valley is one of the biggest high school basketball tournaments in the United States as more than 100 teams will be in the desert for the Rancho Mirage Desert Holiday Classic. The event is in its 23rd year and it runs from Dec. 27-30 and includes some of the best schools around.
There are plenty of local teams in the mix, teams from eight states and even teams from Canada and Germany. The event boasts a list of 15 players who played in the desert and went on to play in the NBA, including Lonzo and LaMelo Ball, Jordan Poole, Malik Monk, Stanley Johnson and Josh Christopher to name a few. And don’t forget about the always popular Slam Dunk Contest on Friday night.
The point is, every type of basketball fan should be able to find something they like at the Desert Holiday Classic and here is the need-to-know info to make sure you’re in the right place at the right time.
Event details
What: The Desert Holiday Classic is a four-day high school basketball tournament that features more than 100 teams including a JV division and a 16team girls’ varsity division. This is the 23rd edition of this event.
When: The event is Wednesday, Dec. 27 to Saturday, Dec. 30 and games start around 10 a.m. every day with the last game starting around 9 p.m.
Where: Games will be played at five different desert high schools. Rancho Mirage High School is the host school
and games will also be played at Indio High School, Palm Valley High School, Palm Springs High School and the entire girls’ basketball competition will be at Shadow Hills High School.
Tickets: $15 for adults a day for all games at all gyms. $10 for military, seniors, and kids 10-17. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
Parking: Free at all the participating high schools.
Top players
Somewhere out there in this field will almost certainly be a player or two who will make it to the NBA. Here are some players to watch that might fit that bill:
Trevor Hennig: The 6-foot-4 senior is averaging a whopping 25.3 points and 8.0 for Mount Si, one of the top teams from the state of Washington. He’s the highest scorer of a threeheaded monster at Mount Si that includes senior guard Blake Forrest and super sophomore Latt Ford.
Trent Maclean: The 6-foot-9 junior power forward is the son of former UCLA basketball star Don Maclean and has helped lead his Thousand Oaks team to a 13-1 start to the season and a ranking as the No. 25 team in the state according to MaxPreps.
Brannon Martinsen: The 6-foot-7 forward/guard is one of the top players in his class and he’s leading the way for a Mater Dei (Santa Ana) team that is one of the top 20 teams in California. Martinsen is averaging a team-best 18.7 points per game.
Kam Cooper: Considered among the top freshman players in the United States, the guard is helping lead his Bishop Gorman team to the top ranking in the state of Nevada according to MaxPreps.
Jaden Riley: The 5-foot-11 junior point guard from Liberty (Nevada) has his team undefeated and among the top five teams in the state of Nevada.
He averages just over 12 points per game, but it’s his floor generalship and ability to create offense that is impressive.
Local contingent
A majority of the desert’s varsity boys basketball teams will in the event this year. From the Desert Empire League it’s Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs, La Quinta and Xavier Prep. From the Desert Valley League it’s Indio, Coachella Valley, Yucca Valley, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Desert Mirage and Twentynine Palms. Desert Christian Academy is also in the boys’ field.
The girls’ field includes Shadow Hills, Rancho Mirage, Yucca Valley, Desert Christian Academy, Coachella Valley, Indio and La Quinta.
For more details on the event, visit desertholidayclassic.com.