Boys’ basketball: St. John Bosco-Mater Dei is the game of the year

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There’s lots of hype for Wednesday night’s Trinity League showdown between No. 1 Santa Ana Mater Dei (16-0, 2-0) and No. 4 Bellflower St. John Bosco (10-1, 2-0). And deservingly so.

There will be so much talent on the court that there could be a good debate in the bleachers trying to guess how many of the players participating end up one day in the NBA.

Host St. John Bosco has never beaten Mater Dei, the two-time defending state Division I champions. The Braves are one of the few teams to have three future Division I guards in Isaac Hamilton, Daniel Hamilton and Tyler Dorsey.

Mater Dei wasn’t supposed to be as successful this season, but has won three tournaments, is unbeaten and keeps getting better behind the play of Stanley Johnson and Elijah Brown.

Mater Dei’s Gary McKnight is the winningest coach in state history. He says, ‘We’re going to show up and give it our best shot.’

St. John Bosco Coach Derrick Taylor has been preparing his players for this game all season. ‘I think we’re ready,’ he said. ‘The kids are looking forward to it. We want a signature win.’

IBN Sports will stream the game live at this link.

And I’ll be there to see if the game lives up to the hype. As Johnson tweeted, ‘Hope you guys have ur tickets and ur popcorn ready!!!’

-- Eric Sondheimer