Mater Dei to Face James on ESPN2

ESPN2 will provide live coverage when LeBron James and Akron (Ohio) St. Vincent-St. Mary plays Santa Ana Mater Dei in the Dream Classic boys’ basketball event at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 4 at Pauley Pavilion.

When James, a 6-7 swingman who is expected to be a lottery pick during the NBA draft in June, played Dec. 12 against Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy, it was ESPN2’s highest-rated show in nearly two years. It went to 1.67 million homes.

Mater Dei, ranked No. 1 in several national polls, is led by 6-5 forward D.J. Strawberry, who has committed to Maryland, and 6-3 guard Wesley Washington, who has committed to Minnesota.

In other Dream Classic games, Los Angeles Loyola plays Lakewood Mayfair at 2:30 p.m. and Compton Centennial plays Carson at 4:45. Brooklyn (N.Y.) Lincoln, led by highly touted junior point guard Sebastian Telfair, will play Vallejo and junior DeMarcus Nelson, who has committed to Duke, at 8:15.

-- Dan Loumena