The Storer Classic college tournament is a January fixture on the UCLA campus, but the associated high school tournament is becoming the bigger event these days.

While six college teams from the University of California system play in the college event, while nine different boys HS programs are in the high school section.

Top Utah-based teams Snow Canyon, United, and Olympus, meet up with Santa Monica and the Irvine Rhinos out of Southern California and Danville, SFGG, Lamorinda, and Mother Lode from Northern California.

SFGG has built some depth this season and could be a force to be reckoned with. Last year’s JV team has produced Sione Tea, Cormac Slattery, Mark Kearney, Jericho Niko, and Nikita Moysov, who will look to break into the varsity side.

Danville is thinking about winning Northern California, and has the squad to do the job.

Many of the Oaks players have been with the program since they were 11-year-olds.

“Our goal is to prepare our boys to be ready to play in college,” said new head coach David Liebowitz, who looks to have a “smart, balanced, fast-strike team built on fitness with a great core of senior leadership.”

Danville is also deep, and with 30 players who look to play varsity, this tournament will be about finding who are the very best.

“We’re hoping to come away with a good idea of areas of focus for the year,” added Liebowitz.

 

Snow Canyon is one of those Utah teams just looking for a little warm weather. The St. George, Utah team has been able to train only a handful of times, so this tournament is mostly about getting some game time.

Halfback Wyatt Parry, flyhalf Andy Day, and forwards David Dillard, Jayden Lacayo, Cesar Martinez, Tucker Lamoreaux, and Logan Pendleton all return from last year’s team. Wing Conner Poulson, No. 8 Brooks Maile (set to play football at BYU), and Isaac Slivers (younger brother to 2015-16 standout Sam Slivers) should contribute, too.

University of Utah All American Chad Gough is with the program as a coach, and brings a wealth of high-level experience on the sideline.

 

Watch out also for United, which is always strong and returns the surprising game breaker Owen Gubler and the snappy fullback Eli Pulu, as well as all-everything No. 8 Bailey Wilson.

 

Here’s the schedule:

1/13/2018

900 Olympus v Motherlode

950 Snow Canyon v SFGG

1040 SMRC v Danville

1130 Lamorinda v United

1220 Utah B v SFGG/Danville B

1310 Rhinos v Motherlode

1400 Olympus v SFGG

1450 Snow Canyon v Danville

1540 SMRC v Lamorinda

1630 United v Rhinos

 

1/14/2018

950 SFGG A v SMRC

1040 SFGG B v Danville B

1130 Danville A v Motherlode

1220 Lamorinda v Rhinos