Top players and teams to watch at 2021 Holiday Classic at Torrey Pines high school basketball tournament
The 31st Holiday Classic high school boys basketball tournament at Torrey Pines has arrived. This year's tournament, which is presented by SBLive Sports, tips off on Monday morning across four sites in the San Diego Section.
The tournament runs through Thursday, Dec. 30 and will feature 62 teams across four brackets. The top teams will compete in the National bracket at Torrey Pines High School. St. Augustine will host the American bracket, Carlsbad will host the Senator bracket and Rancho Buena Vista will host the Governor bracket.
Ten teams have dropped out of the tournament, leading to the elimination of the Mayor's bracket. The updated schedule includes 31 games per day across the four sites:
Here's a tournament preview with a look at the top teams and players to watch across the four-day tournament:
FIVE TEAMS TO WATCH
The Eagles come in at 15-3 and just finished up a 3-1 stretch at the Tarkanian Classic that included wins over West Ranch and Coronado. Faith Family has a one-two punch in seniors TJ Caldwell and Brandon Walker and size in sophomore Doryan Onwuchekwa that will provide matchup problems against any opponents they take on this week.
The Cougars, ranked No. 4 in California in SBLive's statewide rankings, are off to a 6-0 start this season behind the play of their senior point guard Aidan Mahaney. They've held all six opponents to 46 points or less and have won 25 straight games overall dating back to February of 2020. Mahaney and the Cougars will be tested throughout this week starting off with a matchup against Faith Family in round one.
It's been an up and down start for Coronado through the first month of the season. They opened the Tarkanian Classic with a win over De La Salle (Illinois) but dropped three straight to finish the tournament. With the talent of Richard Isaacs Jr. and Osiris Grady on the roster, it's tough to see the Cougars struggling for too long.
The Gaels, ranked No. 21 in the nation in the SBLive/SI Power 25, have raced out to a 10-0 start with a mixture of veterans and young talent throughout their roster. Senior Darrion Williams was named MVP of the Tarkanian Classic after helping Gorman beat Liberty 97-95 in the championship game.
The Broncos are off to an 8-0 start after the first month of the season and have made their mark defensively. They've held all eight of their opponents to under 50 points and are giving up 42 points per game. They'll get a challenge in round one against St. Augustine and it doesn't get any easier after that.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ryan Abelman - Bishop Gorman (Nevada) - senior
Abelman was one of four Gael's to make the all-tournament team at the Tarkanian Classic. He's signed with Northern Arizona.
Miles Byrd - Lincoln (Stockton) - senior
Byrd averaged 19 points per game during his shortened junior season. He signed with San Diego State over offers from Washington and Minnesota.
TJ Caldwell - Faith Family Academy (Texas) - senior
Caldwell has led the Eagles to a 15-3 start this season. He's signed with Ole Miss.
Jeremiah Cherry - St Mary's (Arizona) - senior
Cherry, the younger brother of former San Diego Section standout Taeshon, is a load for opponents to deal with inside at six-foot-ten.
Jeremiah Dargan - Clayton Valley Charter - senior
Dargan is averaging 18 points and seven rebounds per game and is shooting 62-percent from three-point range so far this season.
Jurian Dixon - St. Augustine - junior
Dixon was the only sophomore selected to the All-CIF team last season in the San Diego Section. Mississippi State and Stetson are his most recent offers.
Dennis Evans - Hillcrest - junior
Evans is a big time rim protector for the Trojans. He's averaging 11 points and nine rebounds per game and has blocked 87 shots in only 12 games.
Martin Flores - San Ysidro - senior
Flores averaged over 25 points per game last season on his way to earning All-CIF San Diego Section honors.
Osiris Grady - Coronado (Nevada) - junior
The six-foot-seven Grady had a huge summer, picking up offers from USC, Arkansas, West Virginia, and many others.
Jake Hall - Carlsbad - freshman
Hall is averaging 22 points per game this season including a 26-point performance against Mater Dei Catholic on Holiday Classic Tip Off night.
Richard Isaacs Jr. - Coronado (Nevada) - senior
Isaacs returned to Coronado after spending the past two seasons at Wasatch Academy in Utah. He's the top ranked senior in Nevada and has signed with Texas Tech.
Otto Landrum - Torrey Pines - senior
Landrum has taken his game to the next level this season, averaging 26 points and 12 rebounds per game during the Falcons' 8-2 start. He's signed with Boston University.
Aidan Mahaney - Campolindo - senior
Mahaney is now in his fourth year as the Cougar's starting point guard and recently surpassed 1,200 career points. He's signed with St. Mary's.
Camden McCormick - Francis Parker - senior
McCormicks was a second team All-CIF selection in San Diego last season and is averaging 18 points per game during the Lancers first ten games.
Doryan Onwuchekwa - Faith Family Academy (Texas) - sophomore
The six-foot-eleven center is part of a big starting lineup for the Eagles. Early offers have come in from Tennessee, SMU, and Texas A&M.
Tyce Paulsen - Curtis (Washington) - junior
Paulsen, a six-foot-four guard added offers from Pepperdine and Montana among others during the summer.
Styles Phipps - St. Mary's (Arizona) - sophomore
The standout guard added offers from TCU and Portland this past summer.
Jase Richardson - Bishop Gorman (Nevada) - sophomore
The son of two-time NBA Slam Dunk Champion Jason Richardson, Jase is part of a loaded group of underclassmen for the Gaels.
Vinny Signorelli - Victory Christian - senior
Signorelli averaged 24 points and six assists per game last season. He's committed to San Diego Christian College.
Brandon Walker - Faith Family Academy (Texas) - senior
Walker has been provided the Eagles lots of scoring so far this season playing alongside TJ Caldwell. He's signed with UT-Arlington.
