35th Holiday Classic brings top high school hoops talent to San Diego

San Diego’s biggest high school basketball tournament is back.

The 35th Holiday Classic, hosted by Torrey Pines High School, features 80 teams from around the country, including 32 from San Diego. Teams from 12 states will compete in one of the country’s most prestigious high school tournaments

The tournament kicks off on Dec. 23, and continues from Dec. 26-27 and 29-30.

The Holiday Classic in previous years showcased numerous players who went on to NBA careers — including future Hall of Famers. That list includes 2017 NBA MVP Russell Westbrook, NBA Finals champion Kyrie Irving, four-time NBA Finals champion Klay Thompson and two-time NBA Finals champion Jrue Holiday.

This year’s visiting teams include DeMatha, a D.C.-area powerhouse that is currently the 24th ranked team in the nation, and Orange County’s JSerra, which won the tournament’s prestigious National Division championship last year.

The Holiday Classic is split into five separate brackets and played at high schools around the county. The top bracket, the National Division, is hosted at Torrey Pines and pits the tournament’s top 16 teams against each other. That bracket includes four San Diego teams this year: Torrey Pines, St. Augustine, Francis Parker and Mission Bay.

The American Division bracket is hosted by St. Augustine, while the Senator’s Division calls Carlsbad High School home. The Governor’s Division plays at Rancho Buena Vista High School and the Mayor’s Division plays at El Camino High School. 

“Francis Parker has a top junior, Tavid Johnson. He is a very notable name for San Diego basketball,” Holiday Classic Director and Torrey Pines Assistant Coach Griffin Jimenez told Times of San Diego.

Johnson is averaging 28.5 points per game and is a 4-star recruit in the 2027 class. DeMatha small forward Daniel Abass is another player to watch at the tournament. 

Tip-Off Night is on the 23rd at Torrey Pines High School, and typically draws a large local crowd. Its games aren’t part of the official bracket, but the night showcases some of San Diego’s best teams and players.

Tickets can be purchased online and aren’t available at the door. Tickets are valid at any of the tournament’s five gyms and are available as single-day or weeklong passes. All games are streamed live on ballertv.com.