Top 30 Players to Watch at the 26th MLK Classic at De La Salle, presented by SBLive Sports
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA — The list of former players to star in the De La Salle/MLK Jr. Classic presented by SBLive is truly impressive.
Among the players who made it all the way to the NBA include Aaron Gordon (Archbishop Mitty), Ryan Anderson (Oak Ridge) and Jalen Green (San Joaquin Memorial), to name but a few.
The list of standouts projected to play in the 26th event in 2023 is deep and skilled. The eight-game, one-day showcase is Monday at De La Salle. TICKETS HERE
Here’s the best of the best, with the ranking based on what they’ve done thus far in high school and where they are projected.
1. Tounde Yessoufou (St. Joseph)
Ranked the No. 10 junior small forward in the country by 247Sports, the 6-foot-6, 211-pound Yessoufou can score from anywhere. From West Africa before settling in Santa Maria. Through his first 13 games (SJ won 12 of them) in 2023-24, he averaged 34.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. His motor is relentless, and his combination of speed, quickness and strength is elite. He has 11 college offers, including Kansas, Arizona and UCLA.
Tounde Yessoufou soaring in for a deuce at last year's MLK Classic.
Photo: Dennis Lee
2. Alec Blair (De La Salle)
The Spartans’ leading scorer and rebounder as a freshman and sophomore, the 6-6 standout continues to improve in all facets. He ranks as the seventh top junior recruit in the state and No. 48 in the country. Long, skilled and relentless, Blair is a tenacious competitor and led the Spartans on a 12-2 start to season. In a 65-54 win home win over Monte Vista on Tuesday (see video above), Blair showed he could do a lot of everything with 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists. He brought the ball up court, showed fantastic handles and can get almost any shot he wants to. He also made a nifty no-look pass leading to a layup and another nice feed that led to a dunk. Remarkably, Blair is also a top-rated baseball outfield for De La Salle’s nationally ranked team.
Alec Blair is averaging nearly 20 points and eight rebounds per game through 17 games for the Spartans.
Photo: Greg Jungferman
3. Jase Butler (Branson)
The 19th-ranked senior in California, Butler has already signed to Illinois. With 18 offers, the 6-4 guard has numerous choices throughout the country but picked the illini. He’s a complete player with length. He can shoot, defend, rebound and get buckets in the paint at a high level.
4. Anthony Batson (Notre Dame Prep-Scottsdale, Ariz.)
The 6-3, 180-pound senior guard has committed to Rice. He also has offers to Arizona State, Nevada and Stanford. Through his first 14 games this season, he averaged 24.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He had high games of 43 and 39.
5. Zion Sensley (Riordan)
The 6-8 senior wing has already signed to St. Mary’s College. Ranked the No. 13 senior in the state started as a freshman at Riordan, before transferring to Prolific Prep for two seasons. Sensley returned to Riordan for his senior season. He’s long, versatile and relentless.
6. Aaron Hunkin-Claytor (Salesian)
The numbers won’t jump off the page — 12 points, six assists per game — but the 6-3 senior guard and Hawaii signee is a complete basketball player. He runs the show and keeps the Pride, coming off a pair of tournament titles at Gridley and Pro Image Sports Holiday in Meridian (Idaho), in check, in balance and on point.
7. Kaiden Bailey (Crean Lutheran)
A 6-1 point guard, Bailey already has nine college offers as a sophomore. He averaged more than 25 points per game in the Saints’ first 12 games this season. Watch out for Crean Lutheran by the end of the season with two more sophomore standouts in Jacob Majok and Braeden Davidson.
8. Semetri Carr (Branson)
Ranked the 12th best junior in the state by 247Sports, the lightning quick guard and Jase Butler form one of the best duos in the Bay Area, the state and certainly in this tournament.
9. Andrew Hilman (Riordan)
A 6-4 shooting guard with range, hops and intensity, Hilman at times was Riordan’s top player even as a freshman. He’s considered a high major prospect from the Class of 2026. He had 28 points including the game-winner in an 82-81 win over Bishop Gorman-Las Vegas at Crypto.com Arena last week.
10. Julius Price (St. Joseph)
A 6-foot-3 sophomore guard, Price and Yessoufou provide a lethal 1-2 punch. In St. Joseph's first 13 games in 2023-24, he averaged 21.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. A lights out 3-point shooter, he helped the Knights to the NorCal Open Division title in 2022-23.
11. Jasir Rencher (Riordan)
A four-star recruit, the 6-5, 195-pound small forward has 14 offers including Illinois, Mississippi State and Minnesota.
Jasir Rencher slams home two at last year's MLK Classic versus Jesuit.
Photo: Ralph Thompson
12. Gavin Sykes (Modesto Christian)
The 6-4 junior guard scored 21 points in his first game of eligibility, a 68-61 win over Vanden on Dec. 30. Sykes is a transfer from Capital Christian.
13. Bryce Quinet (Notre Dame Prep)
A 6-3 junior guard, Quinet has offers from Santa Barbara and Cal State Northridge. He and Battson make up quite a tandem. In his first 16 games, Quinet averaged 19.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He had a career-high 33 in an 89-72 win over Southern Section power West Ranch.
14. Cole Epperson (Jesuit)
The 6-8, 200-pound senior does it all for the Crusaders. He had 24 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks in a big 56-55 win over Redondo Union in the Classic at Damien last month. Last season at the MLK, Epperson had one of the biggest games of the day with 33 points, seven rebounds and four steals in a 63-52 win over Riordan. With then senior Andrej Stojakovic out with a bum ankle, Epperson took over the game.
Cole Epperson slams home two of his tournament-high 33 points at last year's MLK Classic.
Photo: Ralph Thompson
15. Leo Ricketts (De La Salle)
The fiery 6-foot senior point guard continues to grow and improve, turning into one of the Bay Area’s top players at his position. Quick, strong and a lights-out 3-point shooter, Ricketts can also get to the rim. Ricketts has fond memories of last season’s MLK Classic event, when he scored 17 points off the bench in a 63-53 win over then 13-0 West Linn (Ore.), which was ranked No. 1 in the country by USA Today. Ricketts was named game MVP.
Leo Ricketts swoops in with his off-hand for two of his 17 points last season at the MLK Classic.
Photo: Dennis Lee
16. Connor Amundsen (Clovis North)
The 5-foot-10 guard led the Broncos to the state Division 1 finals as a sophomore, before injuring his knee as a junior and missing the entire season. His basketball IQ is off the charts, which makes sense considering his dad Tony is the head coach.
17. Jordy McKenzie (Riordan)
The 6-4 guard has already signed to Eastern Washington after spending three seasons at Pinole Valley where he averaged 17 points, four rebounds and four assists as a junior.
18. Jaylen Valdez (Capital Christian)
A 6-3, 175-pound junior guard has rapidly improved from his sophomore campaign when he averaged 10 points per game, but is up to 22.0 per outing as a senior along with 5.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
19. De’Undrae Perteete (Salesian)
The 6-5 senior is one of the most improved players in the Bay Area, having proven his skills en route to wins over some of the best teams in the state, including 2022 state champion Centennial-Corona twice. Long, skilled and relentless.
20. Kaia Berridge (Riordan)
The 6-4, 195-pound senior guard has signed to Evansville with other offers from Santa Barbara and Riverside.
21. Arshawn Salkhi (De La Salle)
The 6-3 senior guard has made giant strides since last season and is one of the top shooters in the showcase.
22. Amani Johnson (Salesian)
A handful of Pride players who could put up huge numbers at other programs, but simply help Salesian win with stellar and varied skills, including long-range shooting, passing and defending.
23. Alvin Loving (Salesian)
The 6-4 junior is a lights out shooter, rugged defender and excellent distributor for the Pride. He’s also clutch, having sunk a 30-footer at the buzzer to beat Branson in the championship game at the Gridley Tournament.
24. Kevin Haupt (Jesuit)
A 5-10 sophomore guard, Haupt is a lights out shooter who as a sophomore averaged 28.1 points, 5.0 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 3.5 steals a game at Oakmont in Roseville before transferring to Jesuit. He made 62 3-pointers as a sophomore.
25. Myles Jones (Modesto Christian)
The 6-2 sophomore guard transferred from Folsom and was eligible for the first time Dec. 30 in a 68-61 win over Vanden. Jones had 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
26. Cole Loud (Moreau Catholic)
In the early going, the 6-4 junior forward averaged 15.0 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Mariners.
27. Jake Vasquez (Redwood)
The 6-4 senior point guard was a first-team All-Marin County Athletic League performer as a junior, leading the Giants to a 23-7 season.
28. Leo Chapman (Bishop O’Dowd)
The 6-3 shooting guard just earned All-Tournament honors at the Holiday Classic in San Diego.
29. Chase Rawlins (Folsom)
The versatile 6-foot-5 juniors can play point guard, shooting guard or point forward. He leads a youth movement for the Bulldogs. Rawlins averaged 21 points per game during a 9-6 preseason.
30. Ibrahim Monawar (De La Salle)
One of the most improved players in the Bay Area, the 6-2 sophomore guard’s emergence has helped De La Salle’s fast 14-3 start to the season.
HMs: Tobias Aisien (Bishop O’Dowd), Abdoul Bare (St. Joseph), Jeremiah Bernard (Modesto Christian), Samuel Chavarin (Bishop O’Dowd), Rashod Cotton (Modesto Christian), Isaiah Davis (Salesian), Joven Dulay (Folsom), Jordan Espinoza (Clovis North), Josh Green (Bishop O’Dowd), Zander Jimenez (Salesian), Loukas Jones (Clovis North), Braddock Kjellesvig (De La Salle), Gunner Morinini (St. Joseph), Elias Obenyah (Salesian), Carlton Perrilliat (Salesian).
