UA signee Brendon Lavender has played in McKale Center a number of times in AAU tournaments and elite camps but never with the baskets going the right way in a real game.

That will change Monday when his Mesa Mountain View squad takes on Tucson High at 6 p.m. in McKale as part of the MLK Basketball Classic, an event that will host five games in the Wildcats’ home arena, another five in ASU’s Wells Fargo Arena and four at Mesa Community College.

“”To go the right way and have a huge crowd is just going to be a dream come true,”” Lavender said Dec. 28 in his home gym after an Arizona Basketball Challenge game. “”I can’t wait.””

Mountain View, the three-time defending state champions, ranked No. 6 in power points in 5A-I as of yesterday, while Tucson was No. 15. The Badgers also played in McKale Center last year against St. Mary’s and current UA guard Jerryd Bayless.

When told that Arizona guards Jawann McClellan and Daniel Dillon sat in the front row when UA signee Brandon Jennings played in McKale Center on Dec. 22, a smile brightened Lavender’s face.

“”Really?”” he asked. “”Oh, that’s going to be sick.””