12 days until the MaxPreps Holiday Classic: Elite Players to Watch

Video: BTX - Malik Monk leaves poverty, strikes gold, beats buzzers

It is 12 days until the opening of the MaxPreps Holiday Classic, America's finest high school basketball tournament.

There is much to be grateful for in this 117-team, 11-division, two-gender tournament that runs from Dec. 26-30 in beautiful Palm Springs. For starters, the destination is a premier vacation spot — especially during the holiday season — and especially for schools and families attempting to get away from the winter chill.

Defending state champions from Georgia, Nevada, Texas and Utah — along with nine of California's top programs — will battle it out in a tournament that has thrived for 13 years.

The player alumni from those events is impressive and includes:

Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs, 2014-15 NBA Defensive Player of the Year)

Stanley Johnson (Detroit Pistons)

Aaron and Andrew Harrison (Kentucky, 2015 NBA Draft entries)

Xavier Johnson (Colorado)

Katin Reinhardt (USC)

Elijah Stewart (USC)

Jason Todd (University of Portland)

Kendall Williams (Italy Serie A2)

Isaiah Whitehead (Seton Hall)

And today, in honor of the 12 days until its opening, here are the the elite 12 players from the classes of 2016 and 2017, according to 247Sports and other recruiting sources. 

Class of 2016

1. Malik Monk, 6-6, G, Bentonville (Ark.)/ No. 5 247Sports (Kentucky)

2. Lonzo Ball, 6-6, G, Chino Hills (Calif.) | No. 7 247Sports Composite (UCLA)

3. Schnider Herard, 6-10, C, Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas) | No. 43 247Sports Composite (Mississippi State)

4. Zach Collins, 6-10, F/C, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) | No. 64 247Sports Composite (Gonzaga)

5. Jonah Mathews, 6-2, G, Santa Monica (Calif.) | No. 78 247Sports Composite (USC)

6. Oscar Frayer, 6-6, G/F, Moreau Catholic (Hayward, Calif.) | No. 141 247Sports Composite

7. Jordan Ford, 6-0, G, Folsom (Calif.) | No. 165 247Sports Composite (St. Mary's)

8. Leland Green, 6-2, G, Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) | No. 212 247Sports Composite

9. Travis Bianco, 6-3, G, St. Petersburg (Fla.)

10. Shacquille Dawkins, 5-9, G, Alemany (Mission Hills, Calif.)

11. Tiegen Jones, 6-1, G, Capital Christian (Sacramento, Calif.)

12. Brandon Lawrence, 6-3 G, Moreau Catholic, (Fresno State)

Class of 2017

1. James (M.J.) Walker, Jr. 6-5, G, Jonesboro (Ga.) | No. 25 247Sports Composite

2. Chuck O'Bannon Jr., 6-4, G, Bishop Gorman | No. 37 247Sports Composite

3. Jordan Poole, 6-3, G, King (Milwaukee) | No. 92 247Sports CompositE

4. LiAngelo Ball, 6-5, G, Chino Hills | No. 150 247Sports Composite (UCLA)

5. Darius Banks, 6-4, G, St. Petersburg | No. 176 247Sports Composite

6. Jalen Harris, 6-1, G, Windward (Los Angeles) | No. 187 247Sports Composite

7. Damari Milstead, 6-2, G, Moreau Catholic | No. 108 247Sports Composite

8. Aaron Nettles, 5-11, G, Seattle Prep

9. Kaden Rasheed, 6-1, G, Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)

10. Elizjah Scott, 6-4, G, Chino Hills

11. Collin Welp, 6-8, F, Seattle Prep

12. Ryse Williams, 6-3, G, Redondo Union