The best of holiday hoops is in San Diego

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The best of post-Christmas high school hoops – anywhere – can be found in San Diego County for the next five days.

The 22^nd Torrey Pines Holiday Prep Classic is set for five San Diego high schools, with the featured National Division contests held at host Torrey Pines (3710 Del Mar Heights Road), beginning with three games that get underway Monday night at 5:25.

Competition at all five schools (Torrey Pines, La Costa Canyon, Westview, Cathedral Catholic and Rancho Bernardo) begins Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock.

Highlighting the 17-team National Division is DeMatha from Hyattsville, Md., one of the nation’s premier programs.

DeMatha, which opens play Tuesday night at 7:30 against the winner of Monday night’s 8:35 San Diego Lincoln-San Diego Army-Navy tilt, is led by two Big East Conference-bound players, center Jerami Grant (Syracuse) and guard James Robinson (Pittsburgh).

Lincoln is led by two of the best juniors in California, twins Tyrell and Tyree Robinson (each 6-foot-4).

Two of the teams won tournaments last week, Sacramento Sheldon bagging the National Prep Classic in Santa Maria and Woodland Hills Taft taking the Mission Prep Tournament in San Luis Obispo.

Taft, under first-year head coach Jason Hart (a long-time NBA point guard), knocked off La Costa Canyon in the final of the Mission Prep event with 6-6 Cal State Northridge-bound center Brandon Perry earning MVP honors.

Taft picked up a huge addition last week when 6-7 Compton transfer Anthony January became eligible during the Mission Prep semifinals.

The Toreadors open play Tuesday at 1:10 against one of Washington’s best squads, Lake Washington.

Sheldon upset Kansas City Sunrise Christian in the final at Hancock College in Santa Maria, with 6-3 junior D’erryl Williams picking up MVP honors.

Sheldon opens Tuesday action with a 10 a.m. against a quality Southern California opponent, Lakewood Mayfair.

The best of the Tuesday games may be the one that pits Compton of Southern California against Northern California power San Jose Mitty.

Compton has one of the state’s best unsigned seniors in 6-6 Victor Robbins while Mitty is led by the one of the nation’s best juniors, 6-7 Aaron Gordon.

La Costa, led by 6-5, San Diego State-bound Matt Shrigley, is favored to repeat as champion in the American Division.

The championship game in the National Division is set for Friday night 8:15, with the American Division finale also played at Torrey Pines (tipoff set for 5:05).