Santa Fe Christian poised for playoff success with USD's top all-time scorer at the helm

Coach Johnny Dee says senior standout Dax Hall is a better player than he was at the same age

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Johnny Dee, in his first year as head coach at Santa Fe Christian High School, has a standout senior in Dax Hall who he says is better than he was as a high school player. Hall has averaged 27 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists per game this season, and Dee believes he is the best player in the county. Santa Fe Christian is the top seed in the Open Division section playoffs, and Dee says the team's depth beyond Hall will be key to their success.

Why it matters

Santa Fe Christian is one of the top high school basketball programs in the San Diego area, and their success this season could set them up for a deep playoff run. Dax Hall's standout play and the team's overall depth make them a formidable opponent, and their coach Johnny Dee's experience as a top scorer at the college level adds an interesting dynamic.

The details

Dax Hall, the younger brother of Carlsbad High's all-time leading scorer Jake Hall, has taken his game to new heights this season under Dee's tutelage. Dee says Hall is a better player than he was at the same age, praising his ability to see the floor, make the right passes, and score efficiently. Hall is shooting 45% from 3-point range this season after being known as more of a driver in previous years. Beyond Hall, Dee says the team has several other contributors who can step up, including junior guard Chase Othick, senior captain Caden Doucette, and senior forward Everett Kerkhoff.

  • Santa Fe Christian closed the regular season last Friday with an 81-52 win over Tri-City Christian to improve to 25-3.
  • The Open Division section playoffs tip off on Friday, February 28, 2026.

The players

Johnny Dee

The head coach of Santa Fe Christian High School and the all-time leading scorer at the University of San Diego.

Dax Hall

The standout senior guard for Santa Fe Christian High School who has averaged 27 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists per game this season.

Jake Hall

Dax Hall's older brother, who scored 3,106 career points at Carlsbad High School - the second most in San Diego history - and is now a standout freshman at the University of New Mexico.

Chase Othick

The junior guard for Santa Fe Christian High School who is the only other double-digit scorer on the team, averaging 14 points per game.

Caden Doucette

The senior captain and guard for Santa Fe Christian High School who has earned a starting role through hard work.

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What they’re saying

“I've told multiple college coaches I know he's a better player than I was. When I was [his age], I had a lot to learn — how to guard, how to play with intensity, how to take it seriously. Even spacing-wise, I was figuring it out by watching clips. I was just running around asking for the ball so I could play one-on-one. That's not a sustainable way to play basketball. Dax really sees the floor. He knows when to make a pass, when to take a shot, and if you double him, he's willing to adjust. I wasn't quite there yet.”

— Johnny Dee, Head Coach, Santa Fe Christian High School (timesofsandiego.com)

“Jake has had a ton of influence on me as a player. But if I were to point out one thing, it would be his work ethic. He always worked the hardest, and it really paid off for him and his success. I try to replicate that and work as hard as I can to keep getting better.”

— Dax Hall, Senior Guard, Santa Fe Christian High School (timesofsandiego.com)

“To me, Dax is the best player in the county, and it's not even particularly close. And that's no disrespect to anybody else. I've seen him want to guard the best player on every team — the ones most people don't want to guard — and he outplays or outscores them every single game. He's held Tavid [Johnson, Francis Parker] under his average both times we played him, and he did the same thing against CJ [Aldrich, RBV], holding him under his average. He doesn't have a ton of weaknesses, and he's incredibly coachable.”

— Johnny Dee, Head Coach, Santa Fe Christian High School (timesofsandiego.com)

What’s next

Santa Fe Christian hosts eight-seed Cathedral Catholic on Friday in the first round of the Open Division section playoffs. Second-round play will be on Wednesday, February 26, with the championship game to follow on February 28 at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside.

The takeaway

With a standout senior leader in Dax Hall, who is drawing comparisons to his coach's own high school career, and a deep supporting cast, Santa Fe Christian appears poised for a deep playoff run. The team's ability to defend and shoot the ball around Hall could make them a tough out for any opponent in the Open Division tournament.