Grab a Plate - Holiday Tournament Smorgasbord on Deck for San Diego
- Aaron Burgin
- Dec 22
- 4 min read
Certainly it's the weather, but for about a week, the greater San Diego region bursts at the seams with high school basketball fever, as hundreds of teams descend on America's Finest City to participate in no fewer than five tournaments.
The biggest one, of course, is the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic, which is widely considered one of the biggest and most important post-holiday tournaments on the West Coast, if not the country. The five-division field boasts 90 teams from across the nation.
But there's something for everyone, including several tournaments that wrap up just before the Christmas holiday, including the Boca Rio Chula Vista Spartans Classic and Frank Foggiano's annual JV/Varsity Holiday Tournament, that wraps up today.
Here's a look at this year's holiday tournaments
The 35th Annual Holiday Classic at Torrey Pines
Dates: Dec. 23, 26-27, 29-30, 2025
Website: theholidayclassic.org
Divisions: National, American, Senators, Governors, Mayors
The Skinny: After last year's event was hosted at four campuses, the 2025 edition is back to five divisions at five sites: Torrey Pines, St. Augustine and Carlsbad hosting the National, American and Senator's divisions, respectively. Rancho Buena Vista High will host the Governor's Division and El Camino will host the Mayor's Division.
Much like last year, the National Division field is outstanding. In addition to several of San Diego's top squads - Francis Parker, Mission Bay, St. Augustine and the host Falcons - the field includes several Southern Section powers -- Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, JSerra Catholic, Windward St. Pius X-St. Matthias and Riverside Poly -- Nor Cal mainstays Archbishop Mitty and De La Salle - and a very strong out-of-state contingent, headlined by Dematha Catholic (MD), Lake City (ID), O'Dea (WA), St. Ignatius (OH) and North Oconee (GA). Two highly ranked players will be making their return to San Diego: JSerra's Jaden Bailes, who started at St. Augustine his first three seasons, and North Oconee's Justin Wise, who was slated to play for Torrey Pines before relocating to Georgia.
San Diego's No. 2 team, Santa Fe Christian, will headline the American Division at St. Augustine, one of four top-10 local teams in the field: Cathedral Catholic, Madison and Victory Christian are the others. Rapidly rising La Costa Canyon and Top 10 Mira Mesa will join La Jolla Country Day and Carlsbad in the 16-team Senator's Division bracket at Carlsbad. Nine local teams comprise the majority of the 16-team Governor's Division bracket, headlined by Top 15 team Poway and RBV, which features recent Dartmouth commit CJ Aldrich.
The Mayor's Division has 11 local teams, including one of the biggest surprises this year in San Diego, Pacific Ridge.
This year's action kicks off Dec. 23 with The Holiday Classic Tip-Off Night, which for the first time will be expanded to four games, beginning with the 3:30 tilt between Olympian and Carlsbad. The Showcase features three top-10 battles - Mission Bay vs Victory Christian at 5, Cathedral Catholic vs SFC at 6:30 and Torrey Pines vs Francis Parker at 8.
The 49th Annual Mount Carmel Holiday Classic
Dates: Dec. 26-27, 2-930, 2025
Website: instagram.com/mcholidayhoops
Location: Mt. Carmel HS
The Skinny: Mt Carmel's 13-team field includes the host Sundevils and local squads Eastlake, Classical Academy, Escondido Charter, Mission Hills, Scripps Ranch, Rancho Bernardo and Oceanside, as well as several solid out-of-section squads, including Trabuco Hills, El Dorado, Downey, Catalina (AZ) and Sonora. Instead of a full bracket, the event will be broken into one 8-team bracket and a smaller five-team pool, with the winners of bracket and pool playing in the tournament championship Dec. 30.
Top prospects: Scripps Ranch: Alex Gerhant, Gavin Hallock, Drew Corso, EJ Newman; El Dorado: Jack Boettner, Ryan Northcott, Evan Nam; Mission Hills: Mykah Simmons, Logan Vergenz, Daxton Hyde; Escondido Charter: Boldyn Rimmer; Rancho Bernardo: Tyler Johnson, Jacob Webb, Cyrus Sadri-Ahwazi; Eastlake: Mason Ruyeras; Sonora: Tyler Holmquist, Jayden Barnes, Ryan Hull; Oceanside: Matix Agee, Ethan Fernandez; Downey: Matthew Topete, Christoper Medina; Catalina: Roland Clifton
Surf 'N Slam
Dates: Dec. 26-7, 29-30, 2025
Website: https://globalsande.com/surf-n-slam/
Locations: Helix High School, Christian
The Skinny: The 34th running of the unique tournament has typically been more of an out-of-state destination tournament, and this year is no different, as Christian and Helix are the only local representatives. This year's field includes some heavy hitters from out of the area, including Hawaii's No. 3 team, Kamehameha, a Plymouth Whitemarsh team that includes Towson signee Maji Sajid, Utah power Farmington, which boasts a top 2028 prospect in Jack Layton and 2027 Brycen Rudolph; and Seattle Prep, which features senior standout Niko Christofilis.
Gold Crown Holiday Tip Off Powered by SoCal Prep Holiday Classic
Dates: Dec. 27, 29-30
Locations: Logan Memorial Educational Campus and Eastlake HS
The Skinny: Details are pending, but there will be a boys bracket with games being held at LMEC and Eastlake
Boca Rio Spartans Classic
Dates: Dec 19-20, 22-23 2025
Location: Chula Vista High School
Website: instagram.com/cvhsboysbasketball
The Skinny: Year 3 of the Spartans Tournament is wrapping up with Championship and Consolation semifinals this afternoon and championships tomorrow. The tournament's final four today features undefeated Morse vs Crawford in a 5 p.m. semifinal and Hoover and Southwest SD at 6:30 in the second semifinal matchup. The 16-team field was entirely local this year, including Imperial County's Holtville.
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