MLK Classic at De La Salle Game 6 preview: Branson vs. St. Joseph-Santa Maria, How to Watch

Two NorCal Open Division contenders clash as the defending champion Knights, coming off a 122-point effort, tangle with Illinois-bound Jase Butler and the Bulls.

One of California's top one-day Martin Luther King Jr. boys basketball showcases enters its 26th season on Monday, Jan. 15.

That's when the MLK Classic at De La Salle, presented by SBLive Sports and sponsored by Acrisure takes place, featuring eight games starting with the 8:45 a.m. matchup between Moreau Catholic vs. Redwood-Larkspur. TICKETS HERE

“We are proud of this event as it has become a staple in Bay Area basketball over the years,” said De La Salle coach Marcus Schroeder, the former Associate Head Coach at St. Mary’s College. “Of all the great lineups of teams this event has seen in the past quarter-century, the 26th edition of the MLK Classic will not disappoint — the best of the best in Northern California will all participate this year along with great programs from Southern California and Arizona.”

Here is the sixth of eight previews. 

Branson vs. St. Joseph-Santa Maria

Time: 5 p.m.

Head coaches: Demetrius Roquemore (Branson), Tom Mott (St. Joseph)

2023-24 records (as of Jan. 12): Branson (13-5), St. Joseph (15-2)

Points per game (allowed): Branson 66.0 (61.4), St. Joseph 75.2 (51.6)

Terrific trios: Branson — Jase Butler, Semetri Carr, Finn Keeffe; St. Joseph — Tounde Yessoufou, Julius Price Abdoul Bare.

Live stream: NFHS Network

Briefly: It’s the first time Branson has played in the MLK Classic and with talents like Butler and Carr the Bulls could defeat the defending Northern California Open Division champions. Butler is one of the few if any from the Bay Area who have been offered and accepted an offer from Illinois. Carr, a lightning quick point guard, can take over and control the pace. He’s ranked the No. 12 senior in the state by 247Sports. Branson got off to a 7-1 start — losing only in overtime 63-60 to Salesian in the finals of the Gridley Invitational — before losing three straight, including 68-64 to the then state's top-ranked team Roosevelt-Eastvale. Since then the Bulls have won six of seven with the only loss to California No. 21-ranked Windward (70-61) at Damien. ... St. Joseph’s Yessoufou is worth the price of any admission. He's a high-energy, flying 6-6 scoring and rebounding machine. The Knights lost in the final game of the 2023 MLK Classic to Modesto Christian, 68-67, despite 29 points, seven rebounds, four assists and seven steals by Yessoufou. The Knights avenged the loss in the NorCal Open finals. This season, Mott's squad started 10-0 before a 68-48 loss to Washington D.C. power Gonzaga at the King Cotton Holiday Classic. The Knights also dropped a 62-61 humdinger to Eastvale Roosevelt at Crypto.Com Arena on Jan. 6 in the Coastal Catholic Classic. They enter the MLK Classic on a little roll, with league wins over Mission College Prep (74-35) and Santa Ynez (122-43), when Yessoufou led five players in double figures with 33 points. Julius Price had 21, Godson Eyita and Bare 14 apiece and Malcolm Price added 13.  Malcolm Price and Eyita are freshmen. 

Tounde Yessoufou is averaging 33.6 points per game his senior season along 10.0 rebounds per game / Photo: Bobby Medellin

2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Classic at De La Salle, presented by SBLive, six days away

MLK Classic at De La Salle Game 5 preview: De La Salle vs. Crean Lutheran, How to Watch

MLK Classic at De La Salle Game 4 preview: Jesuit vs. Clovis North, How to Watch

MLK Classic at De La Salle Game 3 preview: Notre Dame Prep (Ariz.) vs. Modesto Christian, How to Watch

MLK Classic at De La Salle Game 2 preview: Folsom vs. Oakwood-North Hollywood, How to Watch

MLK Classic at De La Salle Game 1 preview: Moreau Catholic vs. Redwood-Larkspur

Top 30 Players to Watch at the 26th MLK Classic at De La Salle, presented by SBLive Sports