The Wears, both of whom were first-team all-county selections as juniors, led Mater Dei to a state championship last season. They already have committed to sign with North Carolina.

See David Wear's stats

See Travis Wear's stats

The rest of the roster:

Dominic Cheek, Jersey City, N.J.
JaMychal Green, Montgomery, Ala.
Matt Humphrey, Chicago
Ryan Kelly, Raleigh, N.C.
Malcolm Lee, Riverside (J.W. North High)
Leslie McDonald, Memphis
Mason Plumlee, Arden, N.C.
Travis Releford, Shawnee Mission, Kan.
Kemba Walker, New York
Maalik Wayns, Philadelphia

SI also picked the No. 1 program in each state; Mater Dei was No. 1 in California.

Punahou High of Honolulu was SI's choice for the nation's top program. Punahou won 16 state titles and produced 12 Division I recruits during the 2007-08 school year.

Here is what Sports Illustrated wrote about Mater Dei:

"At any other school the news that 19 seniors earned D-I scholarships would be the headline accomplishment. For the Monarchs, however, the junior class gets top billing. After leading the football team to the state quarterfinals, quarterback Matt Barkley, who will follow Mater Dei alumnus Matt Leinart's path to USC, became the first Gatorade Football Player of the Year who was not a senior. Forwards Travis and David Wear, twins who committed early to UNC, starred for the state hoops titlists."

In last year's national rankings, Mater Dei was No. 7.

There were two other California schools on the list: Long Beach Poly at No. 6 and Archbishop Mitty of San Jose at No. 17.

To see the complete list and the story, go to http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/

Are y'all ready?

Mater Dei and Archbishop Mitty (the Mitty) have just finished warmups at the Arco Arena in Sacramento. Since I'm sitting behind a row of people, I didn't get a good feel of the players' nerves. But I got something even better than that: Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight. Fryer and I are right behind the MD bench, meaning McKnight will be standing maybe 10 feet in front of me all night. So here's the deal, I'll give up the goods, but you gotta promise not to say anything. Agree?

OK then. Let's get this thing started.

MD starts fast

In less than two minutes three different players have scored already for the Monarchs. This is why they're so dangerous. Franklin and Arnet hit open jumpers, as did David Wear. All five players on the floor can shoot, but what makes so affective is they're not all looking to shoot. The Mitty will have to respect each player.

Andy Brown misses a wide-open jumper. The Mitty got away with one there.

The Mitty's Collin Chiverton drives past Arnet for his second field goal of the game. He might e their guy tonight, given Drew Gordon's injury. (Gordon did not start but has just enetered the game.)

And we got a timeout.

Inside the huddle:

• McKnight wants MD to stay in motion once they swing the ball on offense.
• Coach Jason Quinn says they need to start communicating on defense. Chiverton has broken down the defense twice, probably explaining why Jamaal Trice has just enetered for MD.

Franklin picks up his second foul and exits. The Monarchs CANNOT survive this game if someone fouls out early.

Mater Dei is having some difficulty with its entry passes. I wonder if that is because it's an area in which it wasn't challenged much while playing county teams. This was clearly a struggle for them against Dominguez two weeks ago.

If you're watching this on TV, you'll notice Arnet rubbing the top of his head sometimes when the Mitty brings the ball upcourt. All week Mater Dei worked on what plays the Mitty might run after dissecting its game film. Looks like Arnet and company have it down pretty well.

Trice and Gordon are called or a double technical after a brief confrontation. The two were jawing at each other following some contact. No biggie.

MD 16, AM 11

End of 1Q

As the whistle blows

Fryer couldn't hear what the MD coaches told the boys during the quarter break other than what offense MD was going to run, which would be inappropriate for me to reveal.

Gordon is moving fluidly, but he does not look very explosive right now.

The Mitty is overplaying Franklin to his right, but he just sped past a defender anyway and dumped it off to David Wear, who made an easy jumper.

David picks up his second foul and comes out for Connor Hughes. This is shocking. Hughes practiced all week with the scout team, which mimicked the Mitty offense/defense. There's no way he has a good feel of what his team is doing.

Sure enough, Hughes exits the game after fouling Chiverton on a layup.

Franklin reaches at halfcourt and is called for his third foul. Why???

"Throw me a bone," McKnight barks at his coaches. That bone ends up being seldom used guard Collin Krahe.

Arnet is then called for his second foul, and the team's 11th. Time has officially stopped or Mater Dei.

Some guy in the stands just screamed this at the refs: "We know you on TV but we not here to watch you." I thought that was funny.

Inside the huddle:

• Two players (I think the Wear twins) threw a couple barbs
• Quinn agains feels MD is gettign confused with their defensive assignments

Gordon is blocked by Travis Wear. Gordon did not have much lift on that attempt. Fryer thinks it's time to get David Wear back into the game.

Arnet picks up his third and Bobby Schultz enters the game for MD. I don't know that I've ever seen Bobby Schultz play. "Bobby Schultz's dad was a great player for MD in the 70s," Fryer says. Great, so I hadn't seen Bobby or his father play. Guess I'm in luck tonight.

Btw, I know it seems like all Im writing about is fouls, but that is about all that is happening. Trice hits a 3 from the corner. MD really needed that, or the MD coaches might have started foaming from the mouth. I saw early signs of this happening from my seat.

I can't believe Mater Dei just went the past two minutes with Krahe and Schultz both on the court. AND HERE COMES MIKE PIERCE AND DAVID BROWN!?! They came in for the final three seconds to ensure no one else picked up a bad foul. Smart move.

MD 34, AM 24

Halftime

Is it him?

McKnight apparently told the TV halftime interviewer the officiating has been terrible both ays. Once he returned to the bench, the first thing he did was ask a couple reporters at press row, "Is it me?"

Franklin busts an open three. You cannot leave him alone like that.

On two possesions in a row, Andy Brown was battling inside but got no love. "Run the offense!" McKnight says. He wants that ball going inside.

Brown is fouled hard on a fast break and Mitty is called for an intentional. A couple of players at the end of the MD bench got a, little too excited after that one. You would have thought their nerves would have been calmed by that burn they got in the first half.

Gordon has arrived. He leapt over a MD player and dunked in a teammate's missed shot. Before he did this I had noticed he has been posting up pretty high, hiugher than I think he'd want to. Maybe that's where he typically sets up, but if he's not 100% (and he's not), he might be better served positioning closer to the basket.

It's halfway through the third quarter and Mater Dei has survived their foul problems. But Arnet and Franklin still have 3. They cannot pick up another before the end of the quarter.

Brown is called for pushign off underneath the MD basket, his third These calls might be a little too strict, but it's been like that for three quarters now. MD has to be smarter about it. An offensive foul following a missed shot is not worth it.

Franklin is called for pushing off with his off arm while bringing the ball up the court. Again, bad judgement on both ends.

Jamaal went nearly an entire possession unguarded and then, witht eh shot clock winding down and the ball swung back into hsi hands, he is blocked. Mater Dei is looking stagnant on offense.

Hughes and Schultz come in for Franklin and Travis Wear. I've officially seen Bobby Shultz play.

Andy Brown just picked up his fourth foul with 01.8 seconds left. Fryer says: "That's the only unintelligent thing I've ever seen Andy Brown do." Me too.

MD 44, AM 34

End of 3Q

Survival of the foulest

As the quarter begins and I look up at the scoreboard I see Mater Dei has four players on the court with four players with four fouls. Can they survive?

The Mitty's Enoch Andoh makes two layups inside. MD is clearly playing off them down there. It has no choice.

Travis Wear has just fouled out, as Andoh makes another shot to cut MD's lead to four.

Make that two. Off a steal, Chiverton tries to bait Brown into a foul. Brown plays him well, but leaves a slither of space on the baseline and Chiverton goes up and under for the reverse.

After a layup by Gordon ties it, Andy Brown cunningly takes it right back at the Mitty defense and is fouled while making a layup. I bet he knew he could catch Mitty off guard since it had just tied the game for the first time in forveer. He lives for these moments.

Andy Brown cleanly blocks Chiverton on another reverse attempt. At the gym, that'd prompt a "Get it out!" from me. In Sacramento, it just makes me wonder if Brown should be all-county first team or second.

Inside the huddle:

• Quinn doesn't want Gordon spinning inside. Tough to take away when everyone on the court has four fouls.

David Wear picks up a foul on the offensive end, his third. MD lucks out as he and Trice are the only ones without four fouls.

Almost in one motion Brown receives an entry pass, turns and fires from 15 feet. On Mater Dei's next possession he has the ball swatted away from him. He then deflects a Mitty pass in its own backcourt and draws a fifth foul from Chiverton. That was huge. MD leads by three after the free throws.

"A hero ain't nothing but a sandwich." a Mitty fan yells behind me. I'm not sure why, but I feel like you needed to know this.

Arnet might have just won this game for Mater Dei. He anticipated a Mitty pass on the perimeter and was fouled on a fast break. I wonder if that was just instinct or because he had an idea what Mitty was trying to do. Now he's got to make his free throws.

He makes one of two and MD leads by five.

Mitty misses another outside shot and Brown comes up with the rebound. Why are they shooting outside???

Brown makes one of two and Mitty comes back with a layup. Guess they heard me.

Mitty tries to press MD and Brown cuts through the lane for an open layup. MD leads by six with 45 seconds left. It's over, Mater Dei

Hey, there's Tyler Saucedo and the rest of the MD bench entering the game. Holla!

MD 65, AM 53

Final

Adam Maya/the new and "untouchable" OCVarsity

amaya@ocregister.com

Gordon is moving fluidly but he does not look very explosive right now.

The Mitty is overplaying Franklin to his right, but he just sped past a defender anyway and dumped it off to David Wear, who made an easy jumper.

David picks up his second foul and comes out for Connor Hughes. This is shocking. Hughes practiced all week with the scout team, which mimicked the Mitty offense/defense. There's no way he has a good feel of what his team is doing.

Sure enough, Hughes exits the game after fouling Chiverton on a layup.

Franklin reaches at halfcourt and is called for his third foul. Why???

"Throw me a bone," McKnight barks at his coaches. That bone ends up being seldom used guard Collin Krahe.

Arnet is then called for his second foul, and the team's 11th. Time has officially stopped or Mater Dei.

Some guy in the stands just screamed this at the refs: "We know you on TV but we not here to watch you." I thought that was funny.

Inside the huddle:

• Two players (I think the Wear twins) threw a couple barbs
• Quinn agains feels MD is getting confused with their defensive assignments

Gordon is blocked by Travis Wear. Gordon did not have much lift on that attempt. Fryer thinks it's time to get David Wear back into the game.

Arnet picks up his third and Bobby Schultz enters the game for MD. I don't know that I've ever seen Bobby Schultz play. "Bobby Schultz's dad was a great player for MD in the 70s," Fryer says. Great, so I hadn't seen Bobby or his father play. Guess I'm in luck tonight.

Btw, I know it seems like all Im writing about is fouls, but that is about all that is happening. Trice hits a 3 from the corner. MD really needed that, or the MD coaches might have started foaming from the mouth. I saw early signs of this happening from my seat.

I can't believe Mater Dei just went the past two minutes with Krahe and Schultz both on the court. AND HERE COMES MIKE PIERCE AND DAVID BROWN!?! They came in for the final three seconds to ensure no one else picked up a bad foul. Smart move.

MD 34, AM 24

Halftime

Andy Brown misses a wide-open jumper. The Mitty got away with one there.

The Mitty's Collin Chiverton drives past Arnet for his second field goal of the game. He might e their guy tonight, given Drew Gordon's injury. (Gordon did not start but has just enetered the game.)

And we got a timeout.

Inside the huddle:

• McKnight wants MD to stay in motion once they swing the ball on offense.
• Coach Jason Quinn says they need to start communicating on defense. Chiverton has broken down the defense twice, probably explaining why Jamaal Trice has just enetered for MD.

Franklin picks up his second foul and exits. The Monarchs CANNOT survive this game if someone fouls out early.

Mater Dei is having some difficulty with its entry passes. I wonder if that is because it's an area in which it wasn't challenged much while playing county teams. This was clearly a struggle for them against Dominguez two weeks ago.

If you're watching this on TV, you'll notice Arnet rubbing the top of his head sometimes when the Mitty brings the ball upcourt. All week Mater Dei worked on what plays the Mitty might run after dissecting its game film. Looks like Arnet and company have it down pretty well.

Trice and Gordon are called or a double technical after a brief confrontation. The two were jawing at each other following some contact. No biggie.

MD 16, AM 11

End of 1Q

MATER DEI (34-1) VS. ARCHBISHOP MITTY OF SAN JOSE (32-1)

Division II

At Arco Arena, Sacramento, Friday, 8 p.m.

TV: Prime Ticket

How they got there: Mater Dei, runner-up in CIF-Southern Section Division I-AA, in the CIF Southern California Regionals defeated Centennial of Bakersfield, 76-39, in the first round, Mission Hills of San Marcos, 83-54, in the semifinals, and Edison of Fresno, 75-59, in the finals. Archbishop Mitty, CIF-Central Coast Section Division II champion, defeated Shasta, 71-51, in the first round, Hayward, 85-68, in the semifinals and Fairfield, 76-56, in the finals.

Probable starters: Mater Dei — Blake Arnet (6-2, Sr., G, 6 ppg); Andy Brown (6-8, Jr., G, 15 ppg); Gary Franklin (6-3, So., G, 14 ppg); David Wear (6-10, Jr., F, 17 ppg); Travis Wear (6-10, Jr., F, 16 ppg). Archbishop Mitty — John Adams (6-6, Sr., F, 9 ppg); Enoch Andoh (6-8, Sr., F, 10 ppg); Collin Chiverton (6-6, Sr., G, 21 ppg); Angelo Caloiaro (6-7, Sr., G, 16 ppg); Jay Wey (6-0, Sr., G, 6 ppg).

Outlook: Mitty is the No. 1 team in calhisports.com's California rankings, and Mater Dei is No. 3. (Dominguez of Compton, which beat Mater Dei in the CIF-SS I-AA final, is No. 2). This is a rematch of last year's Division II state championship game, in which Mater Dei beat Mitty, 69-64, in overtime as Mater Dei's Taylor King had 29 points with 15 rebounds. That was Mater Dei's sixth boys basketball state championship, and it included a controversial play: King, now at Duke, was credited with a basket on a shot that replays showed did not go in, in the third quarter. King, fouled on the play, made the resulting free throw. The Mater Dei Monarchs are 6-4 in state championship games. Mitty's Monarchs are making their second appearance in a boys basketball state basketball final. Mitty's top player is Drew Gordon, a 6-foot-9, four-year starter who signed with UCLA. He was out for almost two months because of a broken foot. He returned during the Regionals but is not expected to be in the starting lineup. “Drew's still trying to get back into shape,” Mitty coach Brian Eagleson said. “He's not in the kind of shape yet where he can play a lot of minutes.” Caloiaro is Mitty's leading rebounder at nine a game. Wey averages five assists. Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight said Mitty will be motivated. “They're probably miffed about what happened last year,” McKnight said. Roles have reversed, too. “Last year,” McKnight said, “they were the underclassmen team, and we were the senior-led team and now they're the senior-led team.”

This is a rematch of last year's Division II state final, in which Mater Dei beat Mitty in overtime, 69-64. In that game, Mater Dei's Taylor King was credited for a basket that did not go in, in the third quarter. Let's see ... if Mater Dei had two fewer points at the end of regulation ... ah, never mind. I think things could be reversed this time around ...

And I don't mean Mitty is going to get a phantom basket. I think Mitty wins this time. Mitty has the size to match up with Mater Dei -- 6-foot-6 senior John Adams, 6-7 senior Angelo Caloiaro, 6-8 senior Enoch Andoh, and 6-6 senior Collin Chiverton (the fifth starter is 6-foot senior Jay Wey). And off the bench: 6-9 senior Drew Gordon. Gordon is a UCLA signee and is Mitty's best player but is still returning to form after coming back last week from a broken foot that sidelined him for nearly two months.

Mater Dei is an excellent team, of course, but not flawless. Point guard is not one of Mater Dei's chief strengths, and neither is its depth. When Mater Dei lost to Dominguez of Compton two weeks ago in the CIF-Southern Section finals, Dominguez pressued Mater Dei's point guards -- senior Blake Arnet and sophomore Gary Frankling shared the duties against Dominguez -- and cut off the passing lanes to Mater Dei twins David and Travis Wear, and Andy Brown. Dominguez also kept bringing fresh players off the bench, a tactic Mater Dei cannot match. With Gordon and part-time starting point guard Chris Weber as key reserves, look for Mitty to follow that Dominguez plan and beat Mater Dei in a close game.

-- Steve Fryer

Ven a comer

The pre-game buzz is that Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight is worried about Edison of Fresno. The Tigers apparently present the same type of athleticism match-up Dominguez did. And they're bigger than the Dons.

More important, the chicken tacos here at the Sports Arena are edible, delectable even. They're crazy expensive, but at least you don't have to worry about putting them in your mouth. The lime drink wasn't too bad, either.

After a dunk by Edison 6-9 forward Gregory Smith, Mater Dei comes back with a barrage of shots: a jumper by Andy Brown, a 3 by Travis Wear and Gary Franklin and two layups by David Wear.

The Monarchs have scored 14 in a row, all within the framework of their offense. They seem to have an advantage at each position.

Josh Maroney hits two 3s in the final minute to make it close again. This is why these kids are addicted to these 3s. They can chnage the game real quick. I think they're destructive to a team's offense.

Check this out: With 1.6 seconds left, David Wear opts to not call a timeout while falling out of bounds next to Edison's basket. The Tigers then lob the inbound to halfcourt and it's stolen by Blake Arnet, who heaves a long 3 and makes it. How about that.

MD 20, Edi 11

End of 1Q

It's raining Monarchs

Jamaal Trice makes an open jumper. Travis and David Wear follow with layups. Mater Dei is doing whatever it wants.

To some extent, so is Edison. Gregory Smith scores a layup, this after the Tigers drilled a 3 and two jumpers. Mater Dei's not going to slow the pace down because it doesn't have to. But it's still early...

Gary Franklin hits a 3 from the top of the arc and Mater De leads by 14. You knew he wouldnt be quiet for long. He also has five assists.

Edison forward Phillip Ward gets two layups. Once again, a smaller team might be getting the best of Mater Dei inside.

MD 38, Edi 28

Halftime

Woe is Fryer, woe is I

Mater Dei starts off quick with a David Wear 17-footer. But Edison is not going away.

Charunn Jones nails a 3, then Josh Maroney a jumper. Edison trails by four.

David Wear saves an errant entry pass and kicks it back out. It gets back to him and he spins, pump fakes and scores. He looks determined.

Trice is fouled on the way to the basket and hits two free throws. Mater Dei leads by 10 again. I don't think the Monarchs will be giving up too many 8-2 type runs. They've been shooting well the whole game. Edison must stay close hear and cut this lead befoe the end of the third quarter if it is to have a chance.

Greg Smith gets a layup for the Tigers, who had gotten a little trigger happy from outside.

Andy Brown comes up with an offensive rebound and heads to the line for two. He makes them both. That is Brown at his essence. I looked over at Fryer during those two free throws, for the sole purpose of catching his attention and hearing him utter the Pee Wee Herman "Andee". And he did. Fryer is easy.

Travis Wear fakes a long 2-pointer and makes a leaning jumper from 15 feet. It's good.

MD 52, Edi 40

End of 3Q

An orange brick road to Sacramento

David Wear gets another layup and Edison's Maroney makes a 3. The Tigers are close enough to where they could come back, but they're taking too long to score.

Andy Brown makes a 15-footer, then falls down while backpedlaing. Does it matter? The Monarchs lead by 15. I tried to incite Fryer again with a gance but he didn't bite.

Brown comes back with a layup. And 1. That' s gametime.

Brown hits David Wear backdoor for a layup. Wear then hits Brown on the next possession inside and he scores. Dirty. Mater Dei leads by 17 with a minute left.

McKnight has called the dogs in. You know what that means.

We got three teams in Sacramento!

MD 75, Edi 59

Final

Adam Maya/the new and "untouchable" OCVarsity

amaya@ocregister.com

Charunn Jones nails a 3, then Josh Maroney a jumper. Edison trails by four.

David Wear saves an errant entry pass and kicks it back out. It gets back to him and he spins, pump fakes and scores. He looks determined.

Trice is fouled on the way to the basket and hits two free throws. Mater Dei leads by 10 again. I don't think the Monarchs will be giving up too many 8-2 type runs. They've been shhoting well the whole game. Ediosn must stay close hear and cut this lead befoe the end of the third quarter if it is to have a chance.

Greg Smith gets a layup for the Tigers, who had gotten a little trigger happy from outside.

Andy Brown comes up with an offensive rebound and heads to the line for two. He makes them both. That is Brown at his essence. I looked over at Fryer during those two free throws, for the sole purpose of catching his attention and hearing him utter the Pee Wee Herman "Andee". And he did. Fryer is easy.

Travis Wear fakes a long 2-pointer and makes a leaning jumper from 15 feet. It's good.

MD 52, Edi 40

End of 3Q

To some extent, so is Edison. Gregory Smith scores a layup, this after the Tigers drilled a 3 and two jumpers. Mater Dei's not going to slow the pace down because it doesn't have to. But it's still early...

Gary Franklin hits a 3 from the top of the arc and Mater De leads by 14. You knew he wouldnt be quiet for long. He also has five assists.

Edison forward Phillip Ward gets two layups. Once again, a smaller team might be getting the best of Mater Dei inside.

MD 38, Edi 28

Halftime