Holiday Classic Top 30 Players to Watch for 33rd event at Torrey Pines High School
SAN DIEGO — Each standing 6 feet, 10 inches, Robert Miller, Doryan Onwuckekwa and Nigel Walls tend to be at the head of every class, list or anything visual.
The trio, all from Texas high schools, head the list of top players to watch in the 2023 version of the Holiday Classic presented by SBLive Sports.
The 33rd four-day tournament features 76 teams across five brackets opens Wednesday, Dec. 27.
Miller, from Pasadena Memorial (Texas), is considered a power forward by 247Sports, which ranks him the No. 49 overall senior in the country and No. 2 in Texas in its composite rankings.
He's a big reason — no pun intended at 225 pounds — LSU made him one of 14 offers which Miller signed on Nov. 8.
Through 17 games this season, Miller averages 18.1 points, 12.6 rebounds and an eye-opening 5.5 blocks per game. That's right in line with his junior season when he averaged 19.7, 13.1 and 5.4 in 32 games for the 23-12 Mavericks.
According to 247Sports recruiting expert Brandon Jenkins: "Miller is easily one of the more naturally talented and gifted prospects the national 2024 class has to offer. Prospects who can handle, shoot and pass off a live dribble the way he does at his size do not come around often."
Walls, from St. Francis Episcopal School in Houston, is ranked even higher at No. 40 in the junior class among 247Sports' composite list and No. 3 in Texas.
Even at 195 points, Walls is also considered a power forward and like Miller he has 14 college offers, including Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn and USC. In 15 games this season, Walls is averaging 15.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks, similar to last season when in 23 games he averaged 14.2, 8.7 and 2.9 per game.
Jenkins on Walls: "A stretch four-man who is physically underdeveloped, Walls' potential far outweighs his production to date. ... Walls is a favorte to cash in on his potential due to his knack for competing. He looks to alter shots defensively, is aggressive in putting the ball on the floor offensively, and is more than capable of stretching out a defense and hitting a few jumpers from long range. ... His combination of size, skill and touch give him a very high offensive ceiling."
Onwuchekwa, a 245-pound senior at Faith Family Academy of Oak Cliff in Dallas, has already signed at Colorado. He led the Eagles to a Texas UIL 4A state championship last year, though the squad has struggled in the early going in 2023-24 at 7-8.
Doryan Onwuchekwa (2) after winning the UIL Texas State 4A championship last winter.
Photo: Tom Dendy
Jenkins on Onwuchekwa: "What first stands out about Onwuchekwa is his touch. When he receives the ball inside, his is comfortable scoring over either shoulder with great touch on jump hooks and under the rim finishing through traffic. ... When operating outsdie of the pain, he shoots one of the softest balls from the perimater. The ball looks graceful coming off his hands and his stroke is pure. While he does bring ideal girth to the low post position, his bread and butter is his skill."
St. Francis Episcopal opens National Division play Wednesday at St. Augustine against the host Saints at 5:25 p.m. From there, the Wolves move to Torrey Pines High School to play the rest of their games.
Pasadena Memorial, out of the Senator's Division, opens Wednesday also at 5:25 p.m. at Rancho Buena Vista High School. The Mavericks play Bellarmine of (Wash.)
Faith Family, out of the National Division, opens 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. O'Dea (Wash.) at Torrey Pines.
Here are 27 players to watch, their division and who and where they play opening-round games.
Of the remaining 27, there are.a pair of super shooting freshmen along with three sophomores — two of whom play on the same team.
(Alphabetical list. Teams from California unless indicated)
- Zak Abdalla (Foothill, Nev.) — The 6-2 junior has an offer from Cal Poly. (American Division, open 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Bellarmine (San Jose) at St. Augustine)
- Vere Anthony (St. Francis Prep, N.Y.) — The 6-1, 190-pound junior point guard from Fresh Meadow has offers from Manhattan and Robert Morris. (National Division, opens 3:50 p.m. Wednesday vs. St. Edward (Ohio) at Torrey Pines)
- Tobias Averill (Santa Margarita) — Already signed with Carleton College, the 6-5 senior shooting guard leads one of the Southland's top teams. (National Division, opens 2:15 p.m. Wednesday vs. Mitty at Torrey Pines)
- Justin Brumbay (Good Counsel, Md.) — The 6-4 senior has several D1 offers. (National Division, opens 5:25 p.m. Wednesday vs. St. Mary's (Ariz.) at Torrey Pines)
- Aidan Fowler (JSerra Catholic) — The 5-10 point guard is a fan favorite and a talented player as proven by his All-Tourney honors at the Holiday Classic as a junior. He matched Mike Williams with 34 points in a 97-91 consolation win over San Ysidro. SEE VIDEO (National Division, opens 12:40 p.m. Wednesday vs. Torrey Pines at Torrey Pines)
Aidan Fowler, JSerra Catholic
Tarek Fattal/SBLive
- King Grace (Waxahachie, Texas) — Worth of his name, Grace could rise above the 6-10 trio as the tournament's top recruit. The 6-4 junior sharpshooter already has 19 college offers, including Cal, LSU, Kansas State and Cincinnati. He's ranked the No. 34 junior in the country by 247Sports. He's averaging 20.5 points per game in the Indians' first 11 games. (National Division, opens 8:35 p.m. Wednesday vs. Montgomery at Torrey Pines)
- Jake Hall (Carlsbad) — The 6-3 junior guard has several D1 offers. (National Division, opens 7 p.m. vs. Bishop O'Dowd at Carlsbad)
- Parker Jefferson (Waxahachie, Texas) — The 6-9 junior teams with Grace to make quite a tandem. Jefferson averages 13.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. (National Division, opens 8:35 p.m. Wednesday vs. Montgomery at Torrey Pines)
- Tavid Lee Johnson (Francis Parker) — One of two freshman, the 6-foot guard is averaging 29.5 points per game through eight games with 5.5 rebounds per outing. (Governor's Division, opens 3:50 p.m. Wednesday vs. Vista at Francis Parker)
- Chris Jones (Pasadena Memorial, Texas) — The 6-2 junior guard opened the season with a 43-point explosion and he hasn't let up much while leading the Mavericks in scoring at 20.5 points per game. He and Miller team up to make a formidable inside-outside duo. (Senator's Division, opens 5:25 p.m. Wednesday vs. Bellarmine (Wash.) at Rancho Buena Vista High School)
- Tyler Jones (Archbishop Mitty) — A 6-3 senior guard who has signed with UC Riverside. (National Division, opens 2:15 p.m. Wednesday vs. Santa Margarita at Torrey Pines)
- O'Marion Harvey (St. Francis Episcopal, Texas) — A 3-star junior recruit, the 6-6, 185-pound small forward has offers from George Mason and Sam Houston State. (National Divisions, opens 5:25 p.m. vs. St. Augustine at St. Augustine)
- Brycen Mackenzie (Santa Fe Christian) — The 6-2 senior has already signed with Northwest Nazarene. (Governor's Division, opens 7 p.m. vs. Acalanes at Francis Parker)
- Jael Martin (Carlsbad) — The 6-7 senior wing has signed with Pepperdine. (National Division, opens 7 p.m. vs. Bishop O'Dowd at Carlsbad)
- Cam McNamee (Santa Margarita) — A 6-6 shooting guard with great range and versatility has signed with Dartmouth. (National Division, opens 2:15 p.m. Wednesday vs. Mitty at Torrey Pines)
- Neiko Mundey (Good Counsel, Md.) — Only a sophomore, the 6-1 guard already has several D1 offers. (National Division, opens 5:25 p.m. Wednesday vs. St. Mary's (Ariz.) at Torrey Pines)
- Styles Phipps (St. Mary's, Ariz.) — A 6-1 senior point guard, Phipps signed with Grand Canyon over Auburn and Boston College. National Division, opens 5:25 p.m. Wednesday vs. Good Counsel at Torrey Pines)
- Jeremiah Profit (Temecula Valley) — The 6-4 freshman phenom already has several D1 offers. (Senator's Division, opens 9:30 a.m. vs. Prescott (Ariz.) at Rancho Buena Vista)
- Sebastian Rancik (JSerra Catholic) — The 6-9 wing will join Walls at Colorado. The senior has guard skills and tremendous shooting range). He's ranked the 12th best senior recruit in California. (National Division, opens 12:40 p.m. Wednesday vs. Torrey Pines at Torrey Pines)
- Gavin Ripp (Mitty) — The 6-8 senior forward as signed nearby at the University of San Diego. (National Division, opens 2:15 p.m. Wednesday vs. Santa Margarita at Torrey Pines)
- Parker Robinson (Good Counsel) — The 6-4 sophomore already has numerous D1 offers, including East Carolina. (National Division, opens 5:25 p.m. Wednesday vs. St. Mary's (Ariz.) at Torrey Pines)
- LoLo Rudolph (St. Augustine) — The 6-1 senior point guard, who has already signed with Cal State Fullerton, led the Saints to last year's championship game of the National Division. (National Divisions, opens 5:25 p.m. vs. St. Francis Episcopal (Texas) at St. Augustine)
LoLo Rudolph, St. Augustine
Photo: Justin Fine
- Joe Sterling (Crespi) — The 6-2 sophomore already has several D1 offers. (American Division, opens 12:40 p.m. Wednesday vs. Dougherty Valley at St. Augustine)
- Uriah Tenette (Prescott, Ariz.) — The 5-10 junior guard is a scoring machine, averaging more than 30 points per game after putting in more than 23 a game as a sophomore. (Senator's Division, opens 9:30 a.m. vs. Temecula Valley at Rancho Buena Vista)
- Dante Walls (Laguna Creek) — The 6-5 junior averaged 18 points per game as a junior. (American Division, opens 8:30 p.m. Wednesday vs. Canyon View (Ariz.) at St. Augustine)
- Dallas Washington (Santa Margarita) — The 6-8 power forward is ranked the 13th best junior in California with nine offers including Washington State, Pepperdine and Montana. (National Division, opens 2:15 p.m. Wednesday vs. Mitty at Torrey Pines)
- Isaac Williams (Faith Family, Texas) — The 6-1 senior guard has already signed with Texas A&M Corpus Christi. (National Division, opens 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. O'Dea (Wash.) at Torrey Pines)
