Video: Early Contenders - Mater DeiMaxPreps 2015-16 High School Basketball Early Contenders, Presented by Dick's Sporting Goods and Under Armour
Head coach: Gary McKnight (1,024-90 career record)
2014-15 record: 29-5
State association: California Interscholastic Federation
Enrollment: 2,100
2015-16 Mater Dei basketball team
Photo by Louis Lopez
Players to Watch
Miles Brookins (6-9, Jr., F) … Offers from Pac-12 and Mountain West schools
Harrison Butler (6-4, So., G) … Key contributor as a freshman
M.J. Cage (6-9, Sr., F/C) … Committed to Oregon
Spencer Freedman (6-0, So., G) … High impact transfer at the point guard position
Bailey Stout (6-2, Sr., G) … Played in all 34 games last year, averaged 5.1 points per game
Justice Sueing (6-7, Jr., F) … All-State selection in Hawaii last season
Michael Wang (6-9, So., F) … Native of China
Matthew Weyand (6-5, Jr., G/F) … Played in 67 games over past two seasons
Forward/center M.J. Cage
Photo by Louis Lopez
Key Dates
Dec. 4 – vs.
Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights, Ill.) at Chicago Elite Classic
Dec. 28-31 – Beach Ball Classic
Jan. 18 – vs.
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) at Spalding Hoophall Classic
Feb. 6 – vs.
Foothills Christian (El Cajon) at Nike Extravaganza
Guard Spencer Freedman
Photo by Louis Lopez
Monarch Storylines
* McKnight's 1,024 career wins is good for ninth on the all-time list nationally. His .919 winning percentage is the best in high school basketball history. Mater Dei has won 11 state titles and 22 section crowns during his tenure.
* With last year's top scorer Rex Pflueger off to Notre Dame and La'vette Parker at Air Force, the development of Cage will be key. The future Oregon Duck averaged 13.2 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots per game as a junior.
* There's always a future star waiting in the wings at Mater Dei and Freedman may fit that bill this season. The sharpshooting point guard had a big freshman season at Santa Monica and looked like a good fit with the Monarchs over the summer.
View gallery of preseason Early Contenders photo shoot with Mater Dei