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Wednesday, January 1, 2002

Our Tennessee Correspondent Andre Whitehead was at the 20th Annual Arby's Classic in Bristol, TN and he tells us that in the che championship game last night Marietta (Wheeler) GA beat Mansfield (H.S.) OH, 68-51.  And the secret to Wheeler's success was 6'9 Jemario Davidson's ability to dominate the boards and get the ball out to 6'1 Soph Sharoud Curry, 6'2 Tremaine Aaron from Marietta (Wheeler) GA, and 6'3 Richard McCray in transiton.  Speaking McCray, who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, did you know that he is going to Alabama, along with his teammate (Davidson)?  Neither did we until Whitehead called today to provide us with this report.  McCray is a terrific athlete who is strong defensively and excellent at filling the lanes.  However, Whitehead questions McCray's outside shooting and whether he's good enough to be more than a role player in the Southeastern Conference.  Perhaps McCray is part of the Davidson-package to Alabama and he'll be a walk-on or perhaps even he's getting a scholarship in another sport.  Obviously we'll check this out further and get back to you.  Also named to the all-tournament were Aaron; Davidson, who, according to Whitehead, saved his best game for the championship game, as he finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, nine blocks in the championship game; 6'2 Antonio Graves from Mansfield (Senior) OH; 6'3 Jr Yima Chia-Kur from Mansfield (Senior) OH; 5'9 Ryan Saunders from Orlando (William R. Boone) FL; 5'11 Denny Philemond from Orlando (William R. Boone) FL; and 6'5 Drew Hauser from Maryville (H.S.) TN.  Also noteworthy is the fact that 6'2 Lee Humphrey from Maryville (H.S.) TN, who ranked #139 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP, was left of the all-tournament team, despite the fact he had 28 points the first night against Kingsport (Dobbins-Bennett) TN, 22 points the second night against Johnson City (Science) TN, and was as good as anybody in the tournament.  However, Humphrey had a viral infection and didn't play on the Monday and Tuesday.  So without its star player, it comes as no surprise that Maryville (H.S.) TN, which won its first two games in the tournament, lost its last two, getting beat by Orlando (William Boone) TN, 4947, in the Third Place Game.  Other players who impressed Whitehead were 6'6 Andre Woodson from Radcliffe (North Hardin) TN, who is already verbally committed to play football at the University of Kentucky; 6'2 Soph Mario Chalmers from Anchorage (Bartlett) TN, who is already getting early interest from schools like North Carolina and Arizona; 6'3 Soph Jon Avery from Mansfield (Senior) OH; and 6'7 Vincent Redd from Elizabethton (H.S.) TN, who most likely will play football (Tennessee leads).   Speaking of Redd, who went head-to-head with Davidson in what was the best match-ups in the tournament, he appedars to be a legitimate sleeper for somebody looking for size at the mid-to-low Division I level.  There were also two foreign teams in the Arby's Classic and Whitehead tells us that 6'8 Tommaso Rinaldi from Rimini, Italy and 6'5 Felix Zzerny from Urspring, Germany both will attract Division I interest.  Rinaldi is slow afoot, but he's fundamentally sound and very skilled in the post.  Zzerny is a good outside shooter, ball handler, and passer, plus he is an excellent student, which is why schools, like Stanford, Davidson, and Vanderbilt, are showing interest. 

Tuesday, December 31, 2002

The results are in from this year's Slam Dunk to the Beach in Lewes, DE and the best player in the tournament was 6'10 David Padgett from Reno (H.S.) NV.  Not only did he have 27 points and seven points against Miami (Christian) FL; 29 points and 11 rebounds against 6'11 Jr Randolph Morris and Fairburn (Landmark Christian) GA; and 25 points and six rebounds against 6'9 Jr D.J. White and Tuscaloosa (Hillcrest) AL in what easily was the best head-to-head match-up of the entire holiday season, but he also was largely responsible for his team's two wins in the tournament.  Padgett isn't a great athlete, but he might be the most skilled big men in the class and, as a result, promises to be a prototypical Roy Williams player at Kansas, which is where he signed last fall.  Finishing a close second on our list of the top players at Slam Dunk to the Beach was 6'3 Mustafa Shakur from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA.  Actually Shakur was the best player in the tournament the first two days, but, in the end, despite the fact that he played well in all three games, as he averaged 19.9 ppg and 10 rpg, Shakur was edged out by Padgett, who was flat out sensatioinal in every game.  And finishing a close third behind Padgett and Shakur was White.  As a matter of fact, White's performance in yesterday's game has to be one of the most important revalations so far this winter.  We're not only talking about an explosive athlete with excellent skills, a great feel for the game, and an incredible wing span, but the word is White, who already is a legitimatr 6'9, may grow some more.  And, if that happens, 6'9 Jr Al Jefferson from Prentiss (H.S.) MS, 6'0 Jr Darius Washington from Orlando (Edgewater) FL, 6'9 Jr Joshua Smith from Powder Springs (McEachern) GA, 5'11 Jr Sebastian Telfair from Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY, and 6'6 Jr Shaun Livingston from Peoria (Central) IL, who in our mind are the top five juniors in the nation, had better come to play every night.  If they don't, White is ready to took their place right now.   He's that good!  Thad Fitzpatrick, who is White's high school coach, tells us that the top four schools on his list are Indiana, Florida, Alabama, and North Carolina.  However, when it is all said and done, we think White is a near lock for Indiana.  In other words, Hoosiers head coach Mike Davis may have wait another year for the quality big man he needs to step in and anchor things in the middle after George Leach graduates next spring.  Actually, we think is more a matter of when, than if, White picks Indiana.  Did you know that Davis and Fitzpatrick not only are close friends, but they were on the same staff together when they were assistant coaches at Alabama?  Did you also know that Fitzpatrick was fired at Alabama and, as a result, may not have a lot of love for the Crimson Tide?  And, if we're right, don't be surprised if Indiana makes another run at the NCAA Championship two years from now.  Remember, by that time Bracey Wright and Marshall Strickland will be juniors and experienced guards and a quality big man can take you long way in the tournament.  In addition to Padgett, Shakur, and White, who finished ranked #1, #2, and #3 by the HOOP SCOOP, we also thought 6'8 Kris Humphries from Minnetonka (Hopkins) MN and 6'1 Guillermo Diaz from Miami (Christian) FL, who we ranked #4 and #5 based on their performances at Slam Dunk to the Beach, had spectacular weeks.  Unfortunately 6'8 Leon Powe from Oakland (Tech) CA, who had two 30-plus point performances earlier in the tournament, got shut down on the final day.  by 6'6 Oumar Sylla from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY.  Not only did Sylla make the game a lot more physical than  Powe would have liked, but he did a number on him defensively, as was evident by Powe's stats - 11 points and only 4-11 field goals.  So it comes as no surprised that Powe drops to #6 after the final day and Sylla is ranked among our top 10 players in the tournament, behind Padgett, Shakur, White, Humphries, Diaz, Powe, 6'10 Kendrick Perkins from Beaumont (Ozen) TX, and 6'7 Jr Adrian Joseph from Oradell (Bergen Catholic) NJ and ahead of 6'2 Jr A.J. Price from Amityville (H.S.) NY.  Our ranking of the second 10 players in the tournament based on performance in order are 6'11 Travis Outlaw from Starkville (H.S.) MS, 6'7 Jr Rudy Gay from Severn (Archbishop Spalding) MD, 7'0 Will Bowers from Severn (Archbisop Spalding) MD, 6'1 Jr Kyle Lowry from Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA, 6'8 Jr Juan Diego Palacios from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY, 6'4 Jr Jerome Petticolas from Washington (Spingarn) DC, 6'8 Demetris Nichols from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, 5'11 Jr Sebastian Telfair from Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY, 6'5 Jesus Verdejo from Miami (Christian) FL, and 6'3 Marquis Webb from Paterson (Catholic) NJ.  Our ranking of the third 10 players in the tournament based on performance in order are 6'7 Jr Alex Galindo from Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ, 6'8 Sean Banks from Oradell (Bergen Catholic) NJ, 6'7 Soph Shane Clark from Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA, 6'2 Jr Courtney Nelson from Bloomfield (Tech) NJ, 6'1 Soph Jarius Hill from Starkville (H.S.) MS, 6'11 Darryl Watkins from Paterson (Catholic) NJ, 6'3 Abdi Lidonde from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, 6'8 Jr Mike Williams from Camden (Wilcox Central) AL, 6'8 Jr James Gist from Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD, and 6'4 Darren Clarke from Minnetonka (Hopkins) MN.  Our ranking of the fourth 10 players in the tournament based on performance in order are 6'1 Jr Da'Shawn Dwight from Bloomfield (Tech) NJ with 20 points, 6'8 Jr DeSean White from Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA, 6'8 Will Sheridan from Hockessin (Sanford) DE, 6'2 Christopher Pugh from Oxon Hill (H.S.) MD, 6'11 Jr Randolph Morris from Fairburn (Landmark Christian) GA, 6'7 Jr Davis Nwankwo from North Bethesda (Georgetown Prep) MD, 6'3 Art Bowers from Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ, 6'8 Dan Coleman from Minnetonka (Hopkins) MN, 6'6 Kenna Young from Beaumont (Ozen) TX, and 6'3 Jr Antwan Harrison from Washington (Gonzaga) DC.  Our ranking of the fifth 10 players in the tournament based on performance in order are 6'7 Babacar Thiam from Washington (Springarn) DC, 6'5 Soph Ryan Ayers from Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA, 6'2 Jr Stanley Hodge from Washington (Gonzaga) DC, 6'4 Raul Orta from Miami (Christian) FL, 6'8 Jr Ben Nwachakwo from Richland (St. Augustine) NJ, 6'2 Shannon Davis from Wilmington (St. Mark's) DE, 6'8 Jr Jerome Johnson from Potomac (Bullis School) MD, 6'6 Soph Brian Grimes from Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA, 6'8 Omari Israel from Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD, and 6'9 Ousmane Konate from Laurinburg (Institute) NC. 

Monday, December 30, 2002

The top players based on performance on the final day (today) at Slam Dunk to the Beach, as ranked by our Northeast Editor Dave Schultz and yours truly, Clark Francis, Editor and Publisher of the HOOP SCOOP, are 6'9 Jr D.J. White from Tuscaloosa (Hillcrest) AL; 6'10 David Padgett from Reno (H.S.) NV; 6'7 Jr Rudy Gay from Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ; 6'8 Kris Humphries from Minnetonka (Hopkins) MN; 6'1 Guillermo Diaz from Miami (Christian) FL; 6'7 Jr Adrian Joseph from Oradell (Bergen Catholic) NJ; 6'8 Demetris Nichols from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI; 6'6 Oumar Sylla from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY, 6'1 Soph Jarius Hill from Starkville (H.S.) MS; 6'5 Jesus Verdejo from Miami (Christian) FL, 6'8 Sean Banks from Oradell (Bergen Catholic) NJ; 6'11 Darryl Watkins from Paterson (Catholic) NJ; 6'3 Marquis Webb from Paterson (Catholic) NJ; 6'10 Travis Outlaw from Starkville (H.S.) MS; 6'0 Jr Kyle Lowry from Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA; 6'8 Jr DeSean White from Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA; 6'8 Mike Williams from Camden (Wilcox Central) AL; 7'0 Will Bowers from Severn (Archbishop Spalding) MD; 6'8 Will Sheridan from Hockessin (Sanford) DE; 6'7 Jr Alex Galindo from Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ; 6'10 Konimba Diarra from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY; 6'4 Darren Clarke from Minnetonka (Hopkins) MN with 15 points, seven points, three assists, and two steals; 6'9 Ousmane Konate from Laurinburg (Institute) NC; 6'8 Dan Coleman from Minnetonka (Hopkins) MN with 14 points and 10 rebounds; and 6'8 Randolph Morris from Fairburn (Landmark Christian) GA.  Morris hit only 3-14 field goals and his team got destroyed today, because he still has to make the list because he did finish with 14 points, 14 rebounds, and seven blocked shots. 

If you are looking to see a number of the top high school teams in the nation in one venue, there is no doubt that the City of Palms Classic in Ft. Myers, FL and the Academy National Invitational were the places to be before and after Christmas.  However, if you were looking to see an overwhelming number of outstanding players, then there is no question that Slam Dunk to the Beach in Lewes, DE, which is in its final day, still reigns supreme, as the top players in the tournament reads like a Who's Who of our top 100 juniors and seniors nationally.  And unless something changes today, the best player in the tournament will 6'8 Leon Powe from Oakland (Tech) CA.  And he's done so while still not being at 100%.  If you will recall, Powe was out all last summer with a serious knee injury and, as a result, is playing like he still has a lot to prove, as he's put up prolific numbers to the tune of 33.5 ppg and 8 rpg in his first two games.   Second on our list for the week is 6'3 Mustafa Shakur from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA, who was the best player in the tournament each of the first two days.  But after that everything appears to be up for grabs.  In the first game of the day earlier today, which was the Tip-Off Classic Consolation Game, 6'8 Will Sheridan had 15 points and 10 rebounds, as Hockessin (Sanford) DE knocked off Fairburn (Landmark Christian) GA, 54-22.  Next, Laurinburg (Institute) NC beat North Bethesda (Georgetown Prep) MD in the 7th Place Game in the Slam Dunk to the Beach Bracket.  Especially noteworthy in that game was the 15-point/13-rebound/four/block/two steal performance by 6'9 Ousmane Konate from Laurinburg (Institute) NC.  Minnetonka (Hopkins) MN beat Starkville (H.S.) MS, 66-56, in the National Powers Series Consolation Game, but 6'8 Kris Humphries from Minnetonka (Hopkins) MN, who finished with 24 points and 10 points, didn't shoot as well as he did last night as he was only 11-21 from the field, including 0-3 from beyond the arc.  Still, that won't prevent Humphries from being ranked among the top five players in the tournament. The leading scorer in the game was 6'1 Soph Jarius Hill from Starkville (H.S.) MS with 28 points and 6'10 Travis Outlaw, who wasn't nearly as good as he was yesterday when he was the best player for the entire day, chipped in with 18 points and four rebounds. Oakland (Tech) CA couldn't match-up inside against Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY in the 5th Place Game in the Slam Dunk to the Beach Bracket, as they got beat 81-51 and Powe turned in his first mediocre performance of the tournament with 11 points, 15 rebounds, and only 4-11 field goals.  Once again, the best player for Our Savior New American was 6'6 Oumar Sylla, who finished with 22 points, 9-14 field goals, and 3-3 3-pointers.  Also not as good as he's been previously in the tournament was 6'8 Jr Juan Diego Palacios from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY, as he finished with only six points and six rebounds.  However, 6'10 Konimba Diarra from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY had his best game of the tournament with 16 points and seven rebounds.  In a Tommy Jacobs Memorial Game 6'8 Jr Mike Williams from Camden (Wilcox Central) AL scored his team's first eight points, but then he got in foul trouble and, like they say, the rest is history, as Paterson (Catholic) NJ coasted to a 65-44 victory.  Williams did have 21 points and eight rebounds, and a number of electrifying dunks, but the rest of his points came long after the game was over in the second half.  Paterson Catholic was led by 6'11 Darryl Watkins, who finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, two blocks, and two steals and played as well as we've seen him play in quite a while, and 6'3 Marquis Webb, who had with 17 points, five assists, and two steals.  Barrington (St Andrews) RI was down by as many as 12 points early in the 4th quarter in the 3rd Place Game in the Slam Dunk to the Beach Bracket, but had a chance to win in the final seconds, after 6'3 Abdi Lidonde and 6'8 Demetris Nichols both got hot in the 4th quarter, as they combined for 4-4 3-pointers.  But neither was open for the last second shot, as 6'4 Nick Mattone, who was 0-4 on the day from behind the arc, missed what would have been the game tying shot and, as a result, Cardinal Dougherty held on to win 76-73.  6'7 Soph Shane Clark had 15 points and 11 rebounds, 6'8 Jr DeSean White had 21 points, and 6'1 Jr Kyle Lowry had 21 points, five rebounds, and four assists for the winners, while Nichols had 22 points and eight rebounds and Lidonde had 14 points, despite hitting only 4-12 3-pointers for the game. 

Reno (H.S.) NV jumped out to a 19-8 lead early against Tuscaloosa (Hillcrest) AL in the Tip-Off Series Championship Game after 6'9 Jr D.J. White got into foul trouble and 6'10 David Padgett, who accounted for all of his team's first 18 points with five field goals and four assists, was almost impossible to stop when he got the ball inside.  However, once White, who scored 12 points in the second quarter, re-entered the game, Hillcrest went on a 15-5 run and trailed by only one at half-time.  Reno had opened it back up, 43-31, by the end of the third quarter, but Hillcrest made another comeback late in the 4th quarter, as 6'0 Frosh William Barnes and 5'10 Frosh Desmond Jackson hit a pair of threes to made it 47-44.  But that was a close as they were going to get, as Hillcrest's freshmen guards made several critical turnovers and Reno converted their free throws to make the final 51-46.   Padgett finished with 25 points and five rebounds, but we give the edge in the match-up to White, who led Hillcrest with 22 points and nine rebounds.  Speaking of White, we're talking about an explosive athlete with good skills, excellent court awareness, and a nice feel for the game.  Plus, he doesn't go out on the perimeter and try and do things he can't do.  And that's why he reminds our Northeast Editor Dave Schultz of former NBA star Horace Grant.  Instead, White uses his quickness and athleticism to be a dominant force around the basket.  Padgett also has a great feel for the game, is very skilled, and is an offensive threat both inside and outside, as is evident by the fact he hit several 3-pointers and put up prolific number throughout the tournament.  We also have to mention Jackson again, because this freshman with ice in his vains was Hillcrest's second leading scorer with 12 points on 4-8 3-pointers.  Watching 6'5 Jesus Verdejo and 6'1 Guillermo Diaz in transition for Miami (Christian) FL against Oradell (Bergen Catholic) NJ in the National Power Series Championship was like watching Sports Center on EPSN.  Not only are they both incredible athletes and spectacular dunkers, but they are the heart-and-sole of the most exciting and, perhaps even, the best team in the country.  Verdejo is a world-class athlete in his own right, but he pales in comparison to Diaz, who is reported to have a 50-inch vertical.  We're talking about one of the best leapers/dunkers/showmen that I've ever seen and he generates the same type of excitement that Darrell Griffith, who had a 48-inch vertical leap, did when I first starting watching dunking contests over 25-years ago.  "Griffith jumps so high that he says hello to God three times a quarter," said the legendary Howard Garfinkel, after watching Griffith win the Slam Dunk Contest in the Derby Classic All-Star Game in 1976.   And the same line can be applied to Diaz, who has incredible moves, unbelievable body control, and a crowd pleasing demeanor.  One guy behind me even kept yelling "superman" whenever it appeared that Diaz might be on the verge of doing something spectacular.  However, we want to see Diaz again before we jump on the bandwagon.  Believe it or not, some people in our business are talking about whether Diaz should be a McDonald's All-American.  Others aren't even sure whether Diaz is a high Division I player.  Diaz stronger than he looks, but he's only 6'1, not 6'3, like he was originally reported to be.  He also has a long way to go before he's ready to even think about being a point guard.  However, Diaz does appear to be a much better rebounder and outside shooter than we'd expected him to be, as was evident by his double-digit rebounds, the tough 3-pointer he made from the corner tonight ,and by the fact that he made both the game tying and game winning shots several nights ago.  Diaz, who finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists, also led Miami Christian to a 58-52 victory tonight over Oradell (Bergen Catholic) NJ.  Verdejo chipped in with 18 points, while 6'7 Jr Adrian Joseph led Bergen Catholic with 20 points and 15 rebounds.  After watching the championship games for the Tip-Off Series and the National Power Series, the championship game for the Slam Dunk to the Beach Division between Severn (Archbishop Spalding) MD led Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ turned out to be anticlimactic.  Archbishop Spalding jumped out to a 33-25 half-time led, but, by the end of the third quarter, the lead was down to three and from there it was only matter of time before St. Benedict's prevailed, 49-48.  Tournament MVP honors should have gone to 6'7 Jr Rudy Gay from Severn (Archbishop Spalding) MD, but that wasn't going to happen, because they usually don't like to give that honor to somebody on the losing team.  It just isn't politically correct!  However, without Gay, it wouldn't have even been close, as he finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds and played like a man-possessed.  Instead, MVP honors went to 6'7 Jr Alex Galindo from Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ, who had eight points, nine rebounds, and was 2-13 from the field.  Obviously Galindo, who had scored 13 points and 17 points in his first two games, earned this award based on how well he played earlier in the tournament.  And the fact that Gay was the leading rebounder in the game with 11 rebounds might have been the deciding factor.   In other words, there really was nobody to pick as the MVP from the winning team, as 6'3 Art Bowers, who finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, and 4-12 field goals, and 6'5 Jr J.R. Smith was the leading scorer with 13 points, but didn't play well earlier in the tournament.  Gay did make the all-tournament team for the Slam Dunk to the Beach Division, along with 6'7 Oumar Sylla from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY, 6'8 Leon Powe from Oakland (Tech) CA, 6'8 Demetris Nichols from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, 6'7 Soph Shane Clark from Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA, 6'1 Jr Kyle Lowry from Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA, 7'0 Will Bowers from Severn (Archbishop Spalding) MD, and 6'3 Art Bowers from Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ.  As a always, a special thanks to tournament director Bobby Jacobs, who continues to do a marvelous job of getting incredible amount of the top talent in the nation to Lewes, DE every year. 

The top 20 players at based on performance from yesterday, Sunday, December 29th, at Slam Dunk to the Beach in Lewes, DE, according to our Northeast Editor Dave Schultz, include:  1) 6'10 Travis Outlaw from Starkville (H.S.) MS with 26 points and nine rebounds; 2) 6'8 Sean Banks from Oradell (Bergen Catholic) NJ with 22 points and six points; 3) 6'3 Mustafa Shakur from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists; 4) 6'8 Jr James Gist from Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD with 22 points; 5) 6'8 Jr D.J. White from Tuscaloosa (Hillcrest) AL with 16 points and six rebounds; 6) 6'8 Jr Juan Diego Palacios from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY with 19 points; 7) 6'7 Jr Adrian Joseph from Oradell (Bergen Catholic) NJ with 12 points and 12 rebounds; 8) 6'9 Jr Jerome Johnson from Potomac (Bullis School) MD with 18 points and four; 9) 6'8 Omari Israel from Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD with 16 points and nine rebounds; 10) 6'5 Soph Ryan Ayers from Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA with 18 points and right rebounds; 11) 6'1 Soph Jarius Hall from Starkville (H.S.) MS with 17 points; 12) 6'3 Jr Antwan Harrison from Washington (Gonzaga) DC with 14 points; 13) 6'6 Luke Owings from Washington (Gonzaga) DC with 12 points and nine rebounds; 14) 6'7 Babacar Thiam from Washington (Springarn) DC with 14 points and seven rebounds; 15) 6'8 Will Sheridan from Hockessin (Sanford) DE with 14 points; 16) 6'6 Oumar Sylla from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY; 17) 6'8 Jr Ben Nwachakwo from Richland (St. Augustine) NJ with 16 points and six rebounds; 18) 6'4 Jerome Petticolas from Washington (Spingarn) DC with 10 points and eight rebounds; 19) 6'4 Abdi Lidonde from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI with Barrington (St. Andrews) RI with 12 points (four 3-pointers), and 20) 6'2 Shannon Davis from Wilmington (St. Mark's) DE with 18 points.  Editor's Note:  Yesterday was more like the first day at Slam Dunk to the Beach, as many of the top players and teams were not on the schedule.  Therefore, top performances on the second, third, and final days of the tournament will be worth more than those from the first and fourth days of the tournament.  My input will be factored in from the first, part of the fourth, and the final day and our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin's input will be factored in from the first three-and-a-half days.  However, in the final analysis Dave Schultz, who has not only seen, but has kept statistics for every game of the tournament from start to finish, will make the call.  So make sure you check out our final rankings from Slam Dunk to the Beach tomorrow. 

Sunday, December 29, 2002

The rankings of the top 25 players in order based on performance from yesterday, Saturday, December 28th, at Slam Dunk to the Beach in Lewes, DE, as provided by our Northeast Editor Dave Schultz and Philedelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin are as follows:  1) 6'8 Leon Powe from Oakland (Tech) CA with 36 points and six rebounds; 2) 5'11 Jr Sebastian Telfair from Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY with 34 points; 3) 6'11 David Padgett from Reno (H.S.) NV with 29 points and 10 rebounds; 4) 6'3 Guillermo Diez from Miami (Christian) FL with 18 points and eight rebounds; 5) Kris Humphries from Beaumont (Ozen) TX with 20 points and 10 rebounds; 6) 6'2 Jr A.J. Price from Amityville (H.S.) NY with 32 points; 7) 6'10 Kendrick Perkins from Beaumont (Ozen) TX with 20 points and 10 rebounds; 8) 6'4 Jerome Petticolas from Washington (Spingarn) DC with 25 points and nine rebounds; 9) 6'6 Oumar Sylla from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY with 21 points; 10) 6'8 Demetris Nichols from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI with 16 points and 11 rebounds; 11) 6'11 Jr Randolph Morris from Fairburn (Landmark Christian) GA with 22 points and 11 rebounds; 12) 6'6 Kenna Young from Beaumont (Ozen) TX with 13 points and 11 rebounds; 13) 6'7 Jr Rudy Gay from Severn (Archbishop Spalding) MD with 15 points and seven rebounds; 14) 6'8 Jr Juan Diego Palacios from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY with 19 points; 15) 6'7 Soph Shane Clark from Philadelphia (Cardinal Daugherty) PA with 19 points; 16) 6'7 Jr Alex Galindo from Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ with 16 points and 10 rebounds; 17) 6'1 Jr Kyle Lowry from Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA with 10 points; 18) 6'8 Jr Michael Williams from Camden (Wilcox Central) AL; 19) 7'0 Will Bowers from Severn (Archbishop Spalding) MD with 13 points and four rebounds; 20) 6'4 Darren Clarke from Minnetonka (Hopkins) MN with 12 points; 21) 6'4 Jesus Verdejo from Miami (Christian) FL with 17 points; 22) 6'9 Jr Davis Nwankwo from North Bethesda (Georgetown Prep) MD with 17 points and four rebounds; 23) 6'1 Bashir Mason from Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ with 13 points and five assists; 24) 6'4 Abdi Lidonde from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI with 16 points; 25) 6'8 Jr James Gist from Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD with 16 points and six rebounds; and 25) 6'7 Babacar Thiam from Washington (Spingarn) DC with 15 points and six rebounds.

Saturday, December 28, 2002

Yesterday I caught the first flight out of BWI in order to spend two days covering the Academy National Invitational in Houston, TX.  However, our Northeast Editor Dave Schultz and our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin are still at Slam Dunk to the Beach in Lewes, DE and it appears that yesterday was much more interesting than the first day, as more of the top players and teams participated and the individual performances were a lot better.  As a matter of fact, their list of the top 25 players, based on action from yesterday only, reads like a Who's Who of the top high school players in the nation.  Let's take a closer look.  For the second consecutive day the best player at Slam Dunk to the Beach was 6'3 Mustafa Shakur from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA with 24 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.  A close second was 6'10 Kendrick Perkins from Beaumont (Ozen) TX with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocked shots.  Next, in order were 6'8 Kris Humphries from Minnetonka (Hopkins) MN with 21 point, 11 rebounds, and four assists; 6'4 Marques Webb from Paterson (Catholic) NJ with 28 points and eight rebounds; 6'8 Leon Powe from Oakland (Tech) CA, who still isn't close to being 100%, with 31 points and 10 rebounds; 6'8 Jr D.J. White from Tuscaloosa (Hillcrest) AL with 21 points and nine rebounds; 6'10 David Padgett from Reno (H.S.) NV with 27 points and seven rebounds; 6'1 Guillermo Diaz from Miami (Christian) FL with 22 points; 6'3 Art Bowers from Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ with 21 points and nine rebounds; 6'4 Brian Mason from Laurinburg (Institute) NC with 22 points and six rebounds; 6'7 Soph Antonio Pena from Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY with 21 points and nine rebounds; 6'10 Travis Outlaw from Starkville (H.S.) MS with 14 points, six rebounds, five blocked shots, and four assists; 6'5 Jesus Verdejo from Miami (Christian) FL with 29 points and seven rebounds; 6'2 Jr Courtney Nelson from Bloomfield (Tech) NJ with 21 points and eight assists; 6'4 Raul Orta from Miami (Christian) FL with 15 points and three assists; 6'8 Dan Coleman from Minnetonka (Hopkins) MN with 14 points and six assists; 6'11 Darryl Watkins from Paterson (Catholic) NJ with 14 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocked shots; 6'1 Jr Da'Shawn Dwight from Bloomfield (Tech) NJ with 20 points; 6'2 Christopher Pugh from Oxon Hill (H.S.) MD with 19 points and four rebounds; 6'2 Jr Stanley Hodge from Washington (Gonzaga) DC with 18 points and nine rebounds; 6'8 Demetris Nichols from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI with 16 points and four rebounds; 6'4 Abdi Lidonde from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI with 26 points and 7-10 3-pointers; 5'10 Jr Sebastian Telfair from Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY with 13 points and seven assists, but only 4-18 field goals; 6'7 Jr Alex Galindo from Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ with 13 points and 10 rebounds; 6'2 Shannon Davis from Wilmington (St. Mark's) DE with 29 points, six rebounds, and four assists; and 6'8 Jr Ben Nwachakwo from Richland (St. Augustine) NJ with 13 points and 11 rebounds. 

Cleveland (Heritage Christian) TX beat Houston (Aldine) TX, 84-65; Winston-Salem (R.J. Reynolds) NC beat Memphis (Booker T. Washington) TN, 56-51; Cedar Hill (H.S.) TX beat Aldine (Nimitz) TX, 74-71, and Los Angeles (Westchester) TX beat Houston (Westbury Christian) TX, 63-58, earlier today in semi-finals consolation games in the National and Texas Divisions at the Academy National Invitational in Houston, TX.  Especially noteworthy was the 33- point performance by 6'5 Vakeaton Wafer from Cleveland (Heritage) TX, who onc again showed why we think he is one of the top 10 seniors nationally, as well as one of the best 3-point shooters in the nation.  In this game he was 5-9 from beyond the arc, but he also finished 11-17 from the field and and had seven rebounds.  We also were very impressed with 6'5 Soph Rashad Woods from Cleveland (Heritage Christian) TX, who is just one many outstanding young players that head coach Jerome Tang has in this program.  Woods, who finished with 19 points today against Houston (Aldine) TX, complemented Wafer outside with 3-8 3-point field goals.  But he's also equally good at using his explosiveness and athleticism to score in transtion.   We also were very impressed by 6'7 Justin Bohlander from Winston-Salem (R.J. Reynolds) NC, who continued to do all the blue collar work inside (eight rebounds), but, who showed that he has good offensive skills around the basket, as he hit 8-11 field goals and led R.J. Reynolds in scoring with 18 points.  Bohandler also has enough mobility and athleticism to be ranked among our top 150 nationally and get recruited at the high Division I level.  However, right now nobody's recruiting him.   If you will reccall, he was supposed to get an academic scholarship and walk-on at North Carolina next year, but that probably won't happen, because Tar Heels assistant coach Fred Quartlebaum made an illegal contact with him last week after a game and, as a result, turned himself into the NCAA.  Also in light of the fact that 6'8 Sean May was injured in North Carolina's loss last night to Iona and, as a result, will be out for eight weeks, Bohlander probably would be North Carolina's best inside player right now, if he was a college freshman, instead of high school senoir.   We do know that USC assistant coach Kurtis Townsend, who is one of the most astute evaluators of talent in the business, plans to offer Bohlander based on his performance here, but our guess is that his list will get longer before it gets shorter.  Booker T. Washington's leading scorer was 5'9 Jr James Hooper with 21 points, but, as usual, the guy who made this team go was 5'10 Jr Andre Allen, who finished with 11 points, six rebounds, and seven assists.   Obviously we like Allen's upper body strength, athleticism, and ability to get to the hole, but we continue to question his outside shooting and how mich better he'll get.   We also once again were impressed by 6'7 Cartier Martin and 6'5 Blake Adams from Aldine (Nimitz) TX, who combined for 52 of their team's 71 points.   But this still wasn't enough for Nimitz to beat Cedar Hill.  An even better question is how does Cedar Hill win the game when 6'1 Jason Horton from Cedar Hill (H.S.) TX has almost as many turnovers (11) as he does points (15)?  The answer was a big performance from 6'4 Kelvin Williams, who finished with 23 points and nine rebounds.  Not only is Williams an excellent athlete who does most of his damage around the basket, but he reminds us of a smaller version of former University of Louisville power forward Alex Sanders.  In the final consolation game 6'10 Ndudi Ebi from Houston (Westbury Christrian) TX, who had only five points and one rebound at half-time, and 6'8 Trevor Ariza from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, who was equally mediocre in the first half with only five points and two rebounds, both came to life in the second half, as Ebi exploded for 27 points and eight rebounds and Ariza finished with 13 points and nine rebounds.  Ariza was complemented by 6'6 Scott Cutley, who finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and 6'4 Jr Jonathan Toliver, who had 17 points.  Chipping in with 11 points for Westbury Christian was 6'5 Ugo Ihekweauz.

Now that former Atlanta Hawks head coach Lon Kruger is looking for a job and UCLA's record has dropped to 2-5, after today's loss to Michigan, it only makes sense that Kruger's name suddenly is being mentioned as one of the leading candidates to replace Steve Lavin, if he gets the ax next spring.  However, before anybody starts to write Lavin's obituary, don't forget that this guy with nine lives.  He also should have 6'8 Marcedes Lewis from Long Beach (Poly) CA, who was a top 100 senior nationally in our final rankings of the top players in the Class of 2002, from the football team almost immediately.  And once Lewis gets into basketball shape and has some time to learn the system, UCLA should the inside presence necessary to show dramatic improvement later in the season.  However, if this doesn't happen, then there is no doubt that Lavin is in trouble.  As a matter of fact, in addition to Kruger, the list of potential candidates to replace Lavin already includes Alabama head coach Mark Gottfried, Missouri head coach Quin Synder, Pittsburgh head coach Ben Howland, Utah head coach Rick Majerus, Gonzaga head coach Mark Few, Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar, and UC-Irvine head coach Pat Douglass.  Obviously Romar is a long shot, because he hasn't put all the pieces together since he was at Pepperdine four years ago, but Douglass has a lot better shot than most people realize.  Remember, the new athletic director at UCLA hired Douglass at UC-Irvine six years ago.  We also hear that 6'3 Dommanic Ingerson, who is transferring from the University of Michigan, may be on the verge of picking San Francisco.  And this would make sense, because Ingerson is originally from Santa Barbara (H.S.) CA.  This also would give the Dons what arguably should be the best one-two punch in the West Coast Conference, if 6'9 Julian Sensley from L.A. City (JC) CA, who is one of the top junior college players in the nation, finally meets the academic requirements necessary to be eligible to play at a four-year Division I school.  We also understand that Rhode Island is the heavy favorite for 6'8 Scott Hazelton, who is transferring from the University of Connecticut.  But we also know that the University of Richmond is on the verge of getting a highly touted inside player on the bounce and we suspect Hazelton might be the guy.  The list for 6'1 Jr Jason Horton from Cedar Hill (H.S.) TX includes Missouri, Texas, Stanford, Duke, and Michigan.   The favorites for 6'3 Daniel Gibson from Houston (Jones) TX are Texas, North Carolina, and Georgia Tech.  We also have confirmed that 6'9 Nick Stigger, who recently left Van Nuys (Montclair Prep) CA is back in Memphis at Booker T. Washington High School, but he won't be eligible to play until school resumes in early January.  As a result, Stigger was not available to give Booker T. Washington the inside presence they needed at the Academy National Invitational, which is going on right now in Houston, TX.   Right now Booker T. Washington is 0-2 in the tournament.  We suspect that Valparaiso stashed 6'8 Jr Juan Diego Palacios, who reminds us of Jamal Mashburn in many ways, at Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY, but the list he gave our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin two days ago at Slam Dunk to the Beach included UNLV, Tennessee, N.C. State, Louisville, Syracuse, Illinois, Standford, and South Florida.

It looked like it was going to be a carbon copy of the championship game earlier this weekend in the City of Palms Classic in Ft. Myers, FL between New York (Rice) NY and Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, as Rice jumped out to a 17-6 lead in today's first National Bracket Semi-Finals Game in the Academy National Invitational in Houston, TX.  But St. Patrick had closed by gap to six by half-time and they went on an 11-0 run to start the second half to make it 33-28.  And from that point on it was like a chess match, as neither team could establish any momentum and both teams matched one another whenever the other team made a big play.  However, in the final minute 6'2 Jr Russell Robinson fouled out for Rice and, as a result, they had nobody to take and make the game winning shot, like they did they did last night against Los Angeles (Westchester) CA.  Rice also were unable to take advantage of the size of 7'3 Shagari Alleyne, who normally has a knack for being in the right place at the right time to make the play, as he missed some big shots and was unable to react to things that weren't right in front of him.  The game also was a little more physical than Alleyne would have liked, plus, all too often, he was further away from the basket than Rice head coach Maurice Hicks would have liked.   Still, they got very balanced scoring from 6'7 Arturo Dubois, who finished with 15 points, and Robinson and Alleyne, who scored 14 points a piece, as they accounted for 44 of Rice's 52 points.  They (Alleyne, Robinson, and Dubois) also combined to hit 18 of 31 from the field, as Rice hit 22-42 (52%) from the field.  St. Patrick countered with Patterson's hot hand as he finished with 5-13 3-pointers.  And really that was the difference in the game, as St. Patrick hit 6-22 3-pointers compared to only 1-8 3-pointers for Rice.  And once again 5'11 Jason Patterson came up big for St. Patrick's with 15 points and 6'11 Grant Billmeier, who finished with 10 points and three rebounds, won the battle of the big guys inside against Alleyne.  Obviously it wasn't very pretty, but St. Patrick's 55-52 victory over Rice does establish them as the favorite to win the National Division of the Academy National Invitational on Monday night against the winner of the Seattle (Rainier Beach) WA-Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA game, which willbe played later tonight.  Earlier tonight Houston (Jones) TX knocked off Houston (Westfield) TX in the first Texas Division Semi-Finals Game, thanks primarily to the efforts of 6'3 Jr Daniel Gibson from Houston (Jones) TX, who, now is our choice as the best player in both tournaments after the first two days.  Not only did Gibson score 23 points today, but he grabbed four rebounds, dished out four assists, and shot the lights out from beyond the arc, as he made 5-9 3-pointers.  Once again the best player for Westfield was 6'2 Adam Galbreath, but this lefty slasher's best sport is football and he lacks a true position in basketball.  In the second Texas Division Semi-Finals Game between Port Arthur (Memorial) TX and Houston (Strake Jesuit) TX it was a lot more closer than we expected, as Memorial won 59-53 (we didn't think Strake Jesuit would be able to handle Memorial's pressure nor match up with them athletically).  The leading scorer for Memorial was 6'4 Joshua Charles with 15 points.  Strake Jesuit's best player is 6'4 Park Pinkalla and he finished with 21 points.  The second game in the National Division of the Academy National Invitational started off just like the first one as Seattle (Rainier Beach) WA jumped out to a 7-2 lead.  However, unlike Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, Oak Hill made things more interesting a little quicker, as they cut the lead to 18-14 late in the first quarter and went into the locker room with a 35-30 half-time lead.  Not only is this a different team than we saw yesterday, but Rainier Beach had already scored almost as many points in the first half as they scored yesterday in the entire game when they beat Winston-Salem (R.J. Reynolds) NC, 36-34.   And just like St. Patrick in the other National Semi-Finals Game, Oak Hill went on a 9-2 run to start the second half against Seattle (Rainier Beach) WA and, from there, it was too close to call, as neither team was up by more than six the rest of the way in what easily was the best game of the entire first two days.  And just like St. Patrick in the earlier game, Oak Hill was able to hold on to win, 69-65.  Which means the pre-season #1-ranked team (Oak Hill), according to the USA Today, has knocked off the USA Today's current #1-ranked team (Rainier Beach) and, as a result, will get to play the team we think really is the best team in the nation (St. Patrick), despite the fact they (St. Patrick) lost earlier this week to the team (Rice) they beat tonight.  Certainly it doesn't get any better than this, unless you have 6'7 LeBron James from Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary) OH, who, by the way, led his team to a thrilling 67-62 overtime win against Columbus (Brookhaven) OH, which also is one of the best teams in the nation, earlier tonight in Columbus, OH.  Our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson was at the game and he tells us that James had 27 points and 5'7 Andrew Lavender from Columbus (Brookhaven) OH finished with 26 points.  Getting back to the Oak Hill-Rainier Beach game, the leading scorer for Oak Hill was 6'2 Marcus Williams with 21 points, but even more important were his nine assists.  Add that to the 14 assists that Williams had yesterday against Memphis (Booker T. Washington) TN and it's easy to see why were have him ranked as the #1 player based on the first two days at the Academy National Invitational.  And right behind Williams in our rankings is 6'4 Rodrick Stewart from Seattle (Rainier Beach) WA.  Not only did Stewart scored 20 points and grab six rebounds, but he also had six assists and three steals, as he was the catalyst for Rainier Beach's transition game.  The best players from the Academy National Invitational after two days are as follows:  Marcus Williams, Rodrick Stewart, 6'3 Jr Daniel Gibson from Houston (Jones) TX, 6'10 Ndudi Ebi from Houston (Westbury Christian) TX, 6'5 Vakeaton Wafer from Cleveland (Heritage Christian) TX, 6'7 Cartier Martin from Aldine (Nimitz) TX, 7'3 Shagari Alleyne from New York (Rice) NY, 5'11 Jason Patterson from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6'8 Trevor Ariza from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'2 Russell Robinson from New York (Rice) NY, 6'1 Jr Jason Horton from Cedar Hill (H.S.) TX, 6'8 Ivan Harris from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 6'5 Blake Adams from Aldine (Nimitz) TX, 6'4 Parker Pinkalla from Houston (Strake Jesuit) TX, 6'7 Jr Arturo Dubois from New York (Rice) NY, 6'2 Jr Isaiah Swann from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 5'10 Andre Allen from Memphis (Booker T. Washington) TN, 6'4 Kelvin Williams from Cedar Hill (H.S.) TX, 6'7 Justin Bohlander from Winston-Salem (R.J. Reynolds) NC, 6'1 Michael Nardi from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6'10 Jr Chester Giles from Seattle (Rainier Beach) WA, 6'11 Grant Billmeier from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6'2 Adam Galbreath from Houston (Westfield) TX, 5'9 Jr James Hooper from Memphis (Booker T. Washington) TN, 6'5 Soph Rashad Woods from Cleveland (Heritage Christian) TX, and 6'2 Marcus Williams from Houston (Aldine) TX.  Conspicuous by their absence are players like 6'7 Reyshawn Terry from Winston-Salem (R.J. Reynolds) NC, 6'9 Frosh Derrick Caracter from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6'2 J.R. Reynolds from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 6'9 Byron Joynes from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 6'8 Warren Scott from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, and 6'4 Lodrick Stewart from Seattle (Rainier Beach) WA, all of whom have big time reputations, but did not play as well as we've seen them play in other venues.  

Friday, December 27, 2002

The big game between Seattle (Rainier Beach) WA and Winston-Salem (R.J. Reynolds) NC at the Academy National Invitational in Houston, TX had all the ingredients necessary to be a great game, as 6'4 Rodrick Stewart from Seattle (Rainier Beach) WA, 6'4 Lodrick Stewart from Seattle (Rainier Beach) WA, 6'7 Reyshawn Terry from Winston-Salem (R.J. Reynolds) NC, 6'10 Jr Chester Giles from Seattle (Rainier Beach) WA, and 6'8 Keith Foster from Winston-Salem (R.J. Reynolds) NC are all players with national reputations and both teams are nationally ranked in the latest high school polls.  As a matter of fact, Rainier Beach is currently ranked as the #1 high school in the nation in the latest USA Today poll and R.J. Reynolds was ranked as high #6 nationally by the USA Today prior to the start of the season.  So obviously it was a major disappointment when both teams combined to score only 70 points.   Rainier Beach squeaked it out 36-34, but R.J. Reynolds, which led 22-14 at half-time, scored only 12 points in the second half and they shot a miserable 7-34 from the field for the game.  They also only hit 1-8 from beyond the arc, but Rainier Beach was even worse, as they didn't hit a 3-pointer all day (0-12).  The only player to score in double-digits for Rainier Beach was Rodrick Stewart, who finished with 13 points, five steals and 5-12 field goals.  Lodrick  Stewart hit 2-11 field goals en route to only five points for Rainier Beach. The leading scorer for R.J. Reynolds was Foster with 13 points and seven rebounds, but it proved to be a very tough day for Terry, who went 2-12 from the field and 1-5 3-point land, as he posted only nine points for the game.  We also have to mention 6'7 Justin Bohlander from Winston-Salem (R.J. Reynolds) NC, because we liked his blue collar work ethic and toughness on the boards.  However, he scored all four of his points at the foul line, as he hit 0-6 field goals.  And the three games earlier in the day, also weren't overly exciting, as Port Arthur (Memorial) TX beat Cleveland (Heritage Christian) TX, 74-53; Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA beat Memphis (Booker T. Washington) TX, 63-56; and Houston (Strake Jesuit) TX beat Houston (Aldine) TX, 52-50.  But we do have to make note of the 14 assists by 6'2 Marcus Williams from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, the excellent outside shooting (4-7 3-pointers en route to 23 points) by 6'2 Jr Isaiah Swann from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, the 18 point/12 rebound effort turned in by 6'5 Chris Chaney from Houston (Aldine) TX; and 17 points by 6'4 Parker Pinkalla from Houston (Strake Jesuit) TX.  Things did start to heat up as in the 5th game of the day as Houston (Westfield) TX knocked off Aldine (Nimitz) TX, 68-63.   And the big difference in the game was Nimitz's inability to negate Westfield's 6'2 Adam Galbreath with the outside shooting of 6'6 Cartier Martin and 6'6 Blake Adams.  Galbreath, who did most of his damage in transition and from mid-range and in, hit 12-17 field goals, as he finished with 26 points.  Martin and Adams did combine for 45 of their team's 63 points and 15 of their team's rebouds, but they also were only a combined 3-9 from beyond the arc.  Next came the game between New York (Rice) NY and Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, which more than lived up to the billing, as Rice jumped out early to a 22-11 lead.   Then, Westchester, thanks primarily to the efforts of 6'8 Trevor Ariza, who had picked up where he left off when we last saw him at the adidas Big Time Tournament last summer in Las Vegas, NV, came back and led most of the second half.   However, in the end, Rice did what great team's are supposed to do.  And the player who came up big at crunch time once again for Rice was 6'2 Jr Russell Robinson, who hit the game winning shot in the final seconds to make it 52-51.   If you will recall, Robinson was the MVP last week, after scoring 42 points in the semi-finals and 18 points in the championship, most of which came down the stretch, when Rice won the City of Palms Classic in Ft. Myers, FL.  The leading scorer (20 points) and rebounder (eight boards) for Rice was 7'3 Shagari Alleyne from New York (Rice) NY.  Robinson and 6'7 Jr Arturo Dubois both chipped in with 11 points apiece for Rice.  Ariza not only led Westchester with 22 points, six rebounds, four steals, and three blocks, but he also thrived in his team's uptempo setting, hit 10-12 field goals, and played tremendous intensity.  Unfortunately the much anticipated match-up in the next game between 6'3 Jr Daniel Gibson from Houston (Jones) TX and 6'1 Jr Jason Horton from Cedar Hill (H.S.) TX was somewhat of a disappointment.  And actually it was almost too close to call, as they both finished with 18 points and neither shot well from the field, as was evident by Horton's 6-18 field goals and 1-5 3-pointers and Gibson's 6-17 field goals and 2-7 3-pointers.  Gibson also had seven rebounds, three assists, and three blocks, while Horton had four asssits, three steals, and five turnovers.   Here, the edge goes to Gibson, but overall we like Horton better, because he's more of a pure point guard, as he makes great decisions, breaks you down off the dribble, and is an outstanding ball handler and passer.  He also shoots it just as well as Gibson, plus he has explosive speed and quickness, can stop on a dime, and changes speeds as well as anybody.  However, Gibson is bigger, rebounds better, and is more under control.  In other words, you can go wrong with either player, as both are ranked among our top 15 juniors nationally.  It looks like their loss in the championship game in Ft. Myers, FL earlier this week provided the necessary wake-up call to Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ.  Not only did St. Patrick jump out early to a 19-4 lead, but they never looked back against Houston (Westbury Christian) TX, as they coasted to 67-46 victory.   Another big difference between tonight's game and earlier in the week was St. Patrick's ability to hit the outside shot (9-16 3-point shooting).  St. Patrick's was led by 6'1 Michael Nardi with 18 points, three assists, and four steals, while 6'11 Grant Billmeier chipped in with 13 points and four rebounds 5'11 Jason Patterson had 19 points and four steals.  6'10 Ndudi Ebi from Houston (Westbury Christian) TX, who finished with 24 points, nine rebounds, and four blocked shots was only player who stepped up for Westbury Christian, but even he did most of his damage after the game was over.  Tomorrow's Consolation Bracket Games in the Academy National Invitational will begin at 9:30 AM with Cleveland (Heritage Christian) TX versus Houston (Aldine) TX, followed by Memphis (Booker T. Washington) TN at 11:00 AM, Cedar Hill (H.S.) TX versus Aldine (Nimitz) TX at 12:30 PM, and Houston (Westbury Christian) TX versus Los Angeles (Westchester) CA at 2:00 PM.  Tomorrow's Winners Bracket Games will feature Houston (Westfield) TX versus Houston (Jones) TX at 3:30 PM, New York (Rice) NY versus Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ at 5:00 PM, Port Arthur (Memorial) TX versus Houston (Strake Jesuit) TX at 6:30 PM, and Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA versus Seattle (Rainier Beach) WA at 8:00 PM.  Yes, that's a rematch of the City of Palms Classic Championship Game from five days ago betwen Rice and St. Patrick in Ft. Myers, FL, as well as the USA Today's current #1-ranked team (Rainier Beach) versus its pre-season #1-ranked team (Oak Hill).  And our guess is that it will be St. Patrick versus Oak Hill in the finals on Monday, December 30th at 8:00 PM.

Thursday, December 26, 2002

Earlier today at Slam Dunk to the Beach in Lewes, DE 6'3 Mustafa Shakur from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds versus Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA and 6'1 Jr A.J. Price from Amityville (H.S.) NY had 30 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, but both of these performances were cut short as Shakur fouled out with 2:35 left in the third quarter against Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA and Price was slowed by an injury early in the fourth quarter against Bloomfield (Tech) NJ  However, the rest of the day was very uneventful and the low scores and the fact that most of the teams played a zone defense tells a lot of the story.  The results are as follows:  Laurel (H.S.) DE beat Lewes (Cape Henlopen) DE, 67-63; Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA beat Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA, 67-57; Amityville (H.S.) NY beat Bloomfield (Tech) NJ, 72-63; Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD beat Oradell (Bergen Catholic) PA, 57-54; Washington (Spingarn) DC beat Greenbelt (Eleanor Roosevelt) MD, 75-57; Oxon Hill (H.S.) MD beat Washington (Gonzaga) DC, 53-52; Potomac (Bullis School) MD beat Hockessin (Sanford) DE, 43-40; Severn (Archbishop Spalding) MD beat North Bethesda (Georgetown Prep) MD, 45-40; and Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA beat Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY, 64-57.  And to provide even further evidence of how mediocre the first day was is the list of big name players who failed to even make our list of the top players, which can be found below.   Those who didn't make the list are 6'8 Sean Banks, who shot a miserable 4-14 from the field en route to a 11-point/rebound performance against Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD; 6'8 Omari Israel and 6'8 Jr James Gist, both from Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD, who combined for only 14 points and eight rebounds versus Oradell (Bergen Catholic) NJ; 6'7 Babacar Thiam from Washington (Spingarn) DC, who hit only 3-12 field goals and finished with seven points and five turnovers; 6'9 Jr Jerome Johnson from Potomac (Bullis School) MD, who finished with only three points and six rebounds against Hockessin (Sanford) DE; and 6'7 Jr Rudy Gay from Severn (Archbishop Spalding) MD, who had six points and two rebounds against North Bethesda (Georgetown Prep) MD.  The top players at Slam Dunk to the Beach based on performance in order after the first day were Shakur; Price; 6'6 Oumar Sylla from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY, who scored all but 12 of his team's points in the second half en route to a 26-point effort against Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA; 6'0 Jr Kyle Lowry from Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists versus Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY; 6'8 Jr Juan Diego Palacios from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY, who had 14 points and nine rebounds against Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA; 7'0 Will Bowers from Severn (Archbishop Spalding) MD, who had 16 points, four rebounds, four blocked shots, was 9-12 from the foul line, and did a lot things that don't show up in the box score versus North Bethesda (Georgetown Prep) MD; 7'2 Jr Roy Hibbert from North Bethesda (Georgetown Prep) MD, who was in foul trouble and didn't play most of the second half, but had nine points and five rebounds versus Severn (Archbishop Spalding) MD; 6'9 Jr Davis Nwankwo from North Bethesda (Georgetown Prep) MD, who had seven points, seven rebounds, and seven blocked shots versus Severn (Archbishop Spalding) MD; 6'2 Jr Courtney Nelson from Bloomfield (Tech) NJ with 18 points versus Amityville (H.S.) NY; 6'4 Jerome Petticolas from Washington (Spingarn) DC with 28 points and 10 rebounds versus Greenbelt (Eleanor Roosevelt) MD; 6'2 Christopher Pugh from Oxon Hill (H.S.) MD, who scored 18 points and hit the game winning 3-point shot versus Washington (Gonzaga) DC; 6'1 Isaac Greer from Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA with 15 points versus Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY; 6'7 Soph Shane Clark from Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA with 13 points and nine rebounds versus Centerach (Our Savior New American) NY; 6'6 Soph Brian Grimes from Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA with 13 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three blocked shots versus Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA; 6'1 Jr Da'Shawn Dwight from Bloomfield (Tech) NJ with 22 points and six assists versus Amityville (H.S.) NY; 6'8 Jr DeSean White from Philadelpia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA with 13 points and six rebounds versus Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY; 6'4 Sohi Frazier from Washington (Spingarn) DC with 15 points, nine rebounds, and three steals versus Greenbelt (Eleanor Roosevelt) MD; 6'5 Soph Ryan Ayers from Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA with 20 points, 8-12 field goals, and seven rebounds versus Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA; 6'5 Soph Paul Johnson from Washington (Gonzaga) DC with 11 points and 10 rebounds versus Oxon Hill (H.S.) MD; 6'8 Will Sheridan from Hockessin (Sanford) DE, who had 11 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocked shots against Potomac (Bullis School) MD; 6'7 Jr Adrian Joseph from Oradell (Bergen Catholic) NJ with 16 points and 10 rebounds versus Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD; 6'9 Jr Jared Gaither form Greenbelt (Eleanor Roosevelt) MD with 17 points, 6-7 field goals, and eight rebounds versus Washington (Spingarn) DC; 6'0 Kevin App from Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD, who scored 22 points and was one of the best 3-point shooters we saw all day (3-8 3-pointers) against Oradell (Bergen Catholic) NJ; 6'5 Anton Ridley from Laurel (H.S.) MD with 17 points and 14 rebounds versus Laurel (H.S.) DE; 6'1 Daniel Marshall from Washington (Spingarn) DC with 17 points, five assists, six turnovers, and seven steals versus Greenbelt (Eleanor Roosevelt) MD; 6'3 Jr Antwan Harrison from Washington (Gonzaga) DC with 15 points and nine rebounds against Oxon Hill (H.S.) MD; 6'2 Jr Deandre Scott from Lewes (Cape Henelopen) DE, who hit 3-6 3-pointers en route to 22 points and 10 rebounds versus Lewes (Cape Henelopen) DE; and 6'0 Jr Jackie Taylor from Lewes (Cape Henelopen) DE with 17 points versus Laurel (H.S.) DE. 

Wednesday, December 25, 2002

Slam Dunk to the Beach in Lewes, DE, which is one of the premier events of the entire year, tips off tomorrow and the first game will be at 10:00 AM with Lewes (Cape Henlopen) DE versus Laurel (H.S.) DE, followed by Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA, versus Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA at 11:30 AM; Amityville (H.S.) NY versus Bloomfield (Tech) NJ at 1:00 PM, Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD versus Oradell (Bergen Catholic) NJ at 2:30 PM, Greenbelt (Eleanor Roosevelt) MD versus Washington (Spingarn) DC at 4:00 PM, Washington (Gonzaga) DC versus Oxon Hill (H.S.) MD at 5:30 PM, Potomac (Bullis School) MD versus Hockessin (Sanford) DE at 7:00 PM, Severn (Archbishop Spalding) MD versus North Bethesda (Georgetown Prep) MD at 8:30 PM, and Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA versus Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY at 10:00 PM.  The schedule on Friday, December 27th, will include Bloomfield (Tech) NJ versus Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA at 8:30 AM, Wilmington (St. Mark's) NJ versus Laurel (H.S.) DE at 10:00 AM, Richland (St. Augustine) NJ versus Washington (Gonzaga) DC at 11:30 AM, Greenbelt (Eleanor Roosevelt) MD versus Minnetonka (Hopkins) MN at 1:00 PM, Oxon Hill (H.S.) MD versus Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY at 2:30 PM, Tuscaloosa (Hillcrest) AL versus Starkville (H.S.) MS at 4:00 PM, Miami (Christian) FL versus Reno (H.S.) NV at 5:30 PM, Beaumont (Ozen) TX versus Paterson (Catholic) NJ at 7:00 PM, Laurinburg (Institute) NC versus Barrington (St. Andrews) RI at 8:30 PM, and Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ versus Oakland (Tech) CA at 10:00 PM.  The schedule on Saturday, December 28th, has Washington (Spingarn) DC versus Amityville (H.S.) NY at 8:30 AM, Oxon Hill (H.S.) MD versus Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD at 10:00 AM, Potomac (Bullis School) MD versus Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY at 11:30 AM, Fairburn (Landmark Christian) GA versus Reno (H.S.) NV at 1:00 PM, the loser of Severn (Archbishop Spalding) MD-North Bethesda (Georgetown Prep) MD versus the loser of Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA-Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY in the Slam Dunk Consolation Semi-Finals at 2:30 PM, the loser of Laurinburg (Institute) NC-Barrington (St. Andrews) RI versus the loser of Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ versus Oakland (Tech) CA in the Slam Dunk Consolation Semi-Finals at 4:00 PM, Beaumont (Ozen) TX versus Camden (Wilcox Central) AL at 5:30 PM, Minnetonka (Hopkins) MN versus Miami (Christian) FL at 7:00 PM, the winner of Severn (Archbishop Spalding) MD-North Bethesda (Georgetown Prep) MD versus the winner of Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA-Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY in the Slam Dunk Semi-Finals at 8:30 PM, and the winner of Laurinburg (Institute) NC-Barrington (St. Andrews) RI versus the winner of Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ versus Oakland (Tech) CA in the Slam Dunk Semi-Finals at 10:00 PM.  The schedule on Sunday, December 29th, includes Lewes (Cape Henelopen) DE versus Richland (St. Augustine) NJ at 10:00 AM, the Mayor's Cup Consolation Game at 11:30 AM, the Mayor's Cup Championship at 1:00 PM, Washington (Spingarn) DC versus Potomac (The Bullis School) MD at 2:30 PM, Tuscaloosa (Hillcrest) AL versus Hockessin (Sanford) DE at 4:00 PM, Washington (Gonzaga) DC versus Barrington (St. Andrews) RI at 5:30 PM, Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY versus Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD at 7:00 PM, and Starkville (H.S.) MS versus (Oradell (Bergen Catholic) NJ at 8:30 PM.  The schedule on Monday begins at 8:30 AM with the Tip-Off Classic Consolation, followed by the Slam Dunk -7th Place Game at 10:00 AM, the National Power Series Consolation Game 11:30 PM, the Slam Dunk-5th Place Game at 1:00 PM, Camden (Wilcox Central) AL versus Paterson (Catholic) NJ at 2:30 PM, the Slam Dunk-3rd Place Game at 4:00 PM, the Tip-Off Championship Game at 5:30 PM, National Power Series Championship Game at 7:00 PM, and the Slam Dunk-Championship Game at 8:30 PM.   The top players include at Slam Dunk to the Beach will include 5'10 Jr Sebastian Telfair from Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY, 6'3 Mustafa Shakur from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA, 6'8 Kris Humphries from Minnetonka (Hopkins) MN, 6'7 Sean Banks from Oradell (Bergen Catholic) NJ, 6'8 Mike Williams from Camden (Wilcox Central) DE, 6'9 Travis Outlaw from Starkville (H.S.) MS, 6'10 David Padgett from Reno (H.S.) NV, 6'10 Jr Randolph Morris from Fairburn (Landmark Christian) GA, 6'11 Darryl Watkins from Paterson (Catholic) NJ, 6'7 Regis Koundjia from Laurinburg (Institute) NC, 6'8 Leon Powe from Oakland (Tech) CA, 6'8 Will Sheridan from Hockessin (Sanford) DE, 6'8 Jr Stanley Branch from Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ, 6'3 Art Bowers from Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ, 6'6 Jr Earl Smith from Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ, 6'7 Barbacar Thiem from Washington (Spingarn) DC, 6'3 Soleheim Frazier from Washington (Spingarn) DC, 6'8 Jr D.J. White from Tuscaloosa (Hillcrest) AL, 6'8 Jr Juan Diego Palacios from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY, 6'7 Demetrius Nichols from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, 6'0 Jr A.J Price from Amityville (H.S.) NY, 6'8 Omari Israel from Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD, 6'9 Oumar Sylla from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY, 6'8 Boubacour Coly from Laurinburg (Institute) NC, 6'1 Guillermo Diaz from Miami (Christian) FL, 6'9 Konimba Darra from Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY, 6'4 Jesus Verdejo from Miami (Christian) FL, 6'3 Marquis Webb from Paterson (Catholic) NJ, 6'11 Will Bowers from Severn (Archbishop Spalding) MD, 6'3 Abid Lidonde from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, 6'0 Jr Emery Outland from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, 6'3 Jr Nick Matone from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, 6'3 Rashard Nixon from Oxon Hill (H.S.) MD, 6'8 Daniel Coleman from Minnetonka (Hopkins) MN, 6'7 Keena Young from Beaumont (Ozen) TX, 5'11 Jr Roy Hibbert from North Bethesda (Georgetown Prep) MD, 6'9 Jr Davis Nwanko from North Bethesda (Georgetown Prep) MD, 6'8 Jr Jerome Johnson from Potomac (Bullis School) MD, 6'9 Jr Jarrett Gaither from Greenbelt (Eleanor Roosevelt) MD, 6'7 Jr DeSean White from Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA, 5'11 Jr Kyle Lowry from Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA, 6'8 Jr James Gist from Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD, 6'0 Jr Lorenzo Miles from Washington (Gonzaga) DC, 6'6 Soph Shane Clark from from Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA, 6'4 Jr Bilal Benn from Philadelphia (Cardinal Dougherty) PA, 6'3 Jr Antwan Harrison from Washington (Gonzaga) DC, 6'6 Soph Paul Johnson from Washington (Gonzaga) DC, and 6'1 Jr Courtney Nelson from Bloomfield (Bloomfield Tech) NJ.  For even more information about the Slam Dunk to the Beach, go to there website at Slam Dunk to the Beach.

Tuesday, December 24, 2002

There were not a lot of changes during the final day at the City of Palms Classic in Ft. Myers, FL, as the leading scorers in the tournament were 6'2 Jamon Gordon from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL with 29.0 ppg, 6'1 Jay Jackson led Monroe (Ouachita Parish) LA with 26.8 ppg, 6'2 Jr Russell Robinson from New York (Rice) NY with 24.3 ppg, 6'2 Tre Kelley from Washington (Dunbar) DC with 22.7 ppg, 6'3 Daniel Bell from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL with 22.7 ppg, 6'4 Abdi Lidonde from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI with 18.8 ppg, 6'4 Brendon Rooney from Ft. Myers (H.S.) FL with 18.0 ppg, 6'5 Louie McCroskey from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY with 17.8 ppg, 6'8 Demetris Nichols from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI with 16.5 ppg, 6'5 Jr Brian Laing from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY with 16.5 ppg, 7'3 Shagari Alleyne from New York (Rice) NY with 16.3 ppg, 6'9 Jason Cain from Philadelphia (John Bartram) PA with 16.3 ppg, 6'3 Wesley Washington from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA with 16.3 ppg, 6'2 Jr Johnny Hammons from Corbin (H.S.) KY with 15.3 ppg, and 6'4 Johnny Hodge from Monroe (Ouachita Parish) LA with 15.3 ppg.  The leading rebounders in the tournament were 6'9 Frosh Derrick Caracter from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ with 10.3 rpg, 6'7 Cedric McGowan from Miami (Northwestern) FL with 10.3 rpg, 6'8 Demetris Nichols from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI with 9.3 rpg, 6'3 Daniel Bell from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL with 9.3 rpg, 6'5 Louie McCroskey from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY with 9.0 rpg, 6'9 Jason Cain from Philadelphia (John Bartram) PA with 8.8 rpg, 7'3 Shagari Alleyne from New York (Rice) NY with 8.3 rpg, 6'2 Jamon Gordon from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL with 8.0 rpg, 6'9 Harrison Schaen from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA with 8.0 rpg, 6'8 Jr Robinson Louisme from Ft. Myers (H.S.) FL with 7.5 rpg, 6'6 Jr Lamar Barrett from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI with 7.5 rpg, 6'4 Assad Shakir from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ with 7.0 rpg, 6'11 Grant Billmeier from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ with 7.0 rpg, 6'7 Jr Arturo Dubios from New York (Rice) NY with 6.8 rpg, 6'4 Steve Dryer from New York (Rice) NY with 6.5 rpg, and 6'2 Jr Russell Robinson from New York (Rice) NY with 6.0 rpg.  The assists leaders in the tournament were 6'0 Mike Woodard from Fairburn (Creekside) GA with 4.0 apg, 6'2 Jeremy Farmer from Corbin (H.S.) KY with 3.8 apg, 6'2 Jamon Gordon from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL with 3.7 apg, 6'7 Jr Arturo Dubios from New York (Rice) NY with 3.3 apg, 5'10 Daon Merritt from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY with 3.3 apg, 5'7 David Ellis from Monroe (Ouachita Parish) LA with 3.0 apg, 6'2 Jr Russell Robinson from New York (Rice) NY with 2.3 apg, 6'9 Jason Cain from Philadelphia (John Bartram) PA with 2.3 apg, 6'1 Michael Nardi from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ with 2.3 apg, 6'2 Earl Risby from Washington (Dunbar) DC with 2.3 apg, and 5'7 Jr Gerald Gillion from Miami (Northwestern) FL with 2.3 apg. The leaders in steals were 6'3 Jr Russell Robinson from New York (Rice) NY with 4.3 spg, 6'2 Jamon Gordon from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL with 4.0 spg, 6'5 Soph James McDonald from Washington (Dunbar) DC with 3.0 spg, 5'7 David Ellis from Monroe (Ouachita Parish) LA with 2.8 spg, 6'4 D.J. Strawberry from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA with 2.6 spg, 6'2 Jeremy Farmer from Corbin (H.S.) KY with 2.5 spg, 6'4 Johnny Hodge from Monroe (Ouachita Parish) LA with 2.5 spg, 6'0 Mike Woodard from Fairburn (Creekside) GA with 2.5 spg, 6'3 Daniel Bell from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL with 2.5 spg, 6'6 Jr Charles Bouie from Pahokee (H.S.) FL with 2.5 spg, 6'3 Wesley Washington from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA with 2.2 spg, and 6'6 Jr Brian Laing from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY with 2.0 spg.  The leaders in blocked shots were 7'3 Shagari Alleyne from New York (Rice) NY with 5.3 bpg, 6'8 Demetris Nichols from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI with 2.5 bpg, 6'9 Jason Cain from Philadelphia (John Bartram) PA with 2.3 bpg, 6'8 Jr Robinson Louisme from Ft. Myers (H.S.) FL with 2.3 bpg, 6'9 Harrison Schaen from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA with 2.0 bpg, and 6'9 Frosh Derrick Caracter from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ with 10.3 bpg.  As you can see, Robinson, Gordon, Caracter, McCroskey, Nichols, and Alleyne were all dominant in a number of statistically categories.  Robinson not only had a 42-point game in the semi-finals, but he led the tournament in steals, was 3rd in scoring average, 4th in 3-point shooting, and was tied for 7th in assists, plus he averaged 6.0 rpg.  In other words, Robinson, who has been slowed by injuries for the last year, now appears to be fully recovered.  And, according to Rice head coach Maurice Hicks, he's also a prime recruiting target for St. John's, Villanova, and Louisville.  Caracter was tied for top rebounding honors, tied for 5th in blocked shots, and just missed making the top scoring list averaging 15.0 ppg.  But even more, important Caracter threw the game winning pass to Nardi in overtime in the semi-finals and was the big reason why St. Patrick won in the semi-finals as he finished with 18 rebounds, many of which came in the 4th quarter and overtime.  And one big time college coach who was in attendance last night even goes so far as to compare Caracter to John Williams and Chris Webber.   "Caracter has the same type of body, athleticism, and high degree of skill level both inside and outside that John Williams had, but he also has incredible hands, just like Chris Webber."  Caracter also would have taken home tournament MVP honors, if St. Patrick hadn't lost in the championship, and, as a result, any way you slice, is already way ahead of LaBron James at the same in his quest to become high school basketball's next summer star.  If you will recall, James didn't become the consensus #1-ranked player in his class nationally until he scored 33-points and almost singlehandedly pulled off the upset against Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA two years ago when he was just a sophomore.  In Caracter's case, he was the leading rebounder in the top pre-Christmas Tournament in the nation while playing in the first three high school games of his career.  And this isn't the first time Caracter has stepped up to the plate and hit a home run against incredible competition.  He also was ranked as one of the top five players at the NIKE All-American Camp last summer by the HOOP SCOOP.   We're still not convinced Gordon can play point guard in the Big East (he signed early with Virginia Tech), but he did lead the tournament in scoring, was second in steals, third in assists, tied for 8th in rebounding, and ranked 12th in field goal percentage.  As a matter of fact, the only thing Gordon didn't do was help his team win a game in the tournament (Andrew Jackson High School went home 0-3). McCroskey finished 5th in scoring, 8th in rebounding, 3rd in 3-point shooting, and 6th in field goal percentage, plus he averaged 1.8 spg.  However, just like Robinson, we're not sure most of our competition realizes just how good this guy is.   Maybe it's theirNew York City bias coming into play.  Alleyne finished 11th in scoring, 7th in rebounding, 1st in field goal percentage, and 1st in shot blocking.   However, his greatest asset is his ability to intimidate inside with his incredible wing span and 7'3 presence.   As a matter of fact, Alleyne has a tendency to change the game so much that on several different occasions we saw players alter their shot and miss an easy basket, even though Alleyne was out of the game.  We've already mentioned that Nichols had a bad final game, but that shouldn't totally negate the first three games when he was totally sensational.  Not only did he finish tied for   9th in scoring and  tied for 3rd in rebounding, but also finished ranked second in blocked shots and tied for 13th in 3-point shooting.  But that still wasn't enough for Nichols to be named to the 12-man All-Tournament Team.  Instead, it appears they took 6'9 Harrison Schaen from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA over Nichols when deciding the final spot.  Schaen did finish tied for 8th in rebounding, tied for 5th in blocks, 5th in field goal percentage, and he did play an important role in helping Mater Dei finish third in the tournament.  However, Barrington (St. Andrews) RI didn't get anybody on the all-tournament, despite the fact 6'4 Abdi Lidonde from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI finished ranked #6 in scoring, 8th in field goal percentage, 6th in 3-point field goal percentage, and was terrific all week.  Also making the all-tournament team were Cain, Nardi, Louisme, Washington, Dubois, and Jackson and comparing their numbers is interesting as well.  Cain finished ranked 12th in scoring, tied for 3rd in blocked shots, 6th in rebounding, 3rd in field goal percentage, and tied for 7th in the assists.  Nardi finished tied for 7th in assists, 11th in 3-point shooting, and averaged 15.0 ppg.  Robinson, who was the leading scorer in the championship game, finished ranked 12th in rebounding, tied for 4th in assists, and averaged 1.8 bpg.  Washington was 13th in scoring, 12th in steals, 7th in field goal percentage, and averaged 1.6 apg.  Louisme was 10th in rebounding, third in blocked shots, and 2nd in field goal percentage.  Jackson was the second leading scorer in the tournament, but was not mentioned among the leaders in any other statistical category.    In other words, the 14 above mentioned players (the 12 players on the all-tournament team, plus Schaen and Lidonde) and Woodard, who led the tournament in assists and was tied for 7th in steals, clearly separated themselves from all the rest just about any way you slice it!

Monday, December 23, 2002

We are getting reports that 6'1 Chris Lofton from Maysville (Mason County) KY, who is ranked #88 nationally in the junior class by the HOOP SCOOP, has verbally committed to the University of Louisville.  However, according to Rick Bolus, editor and publisher the High Potential Scouting Service, these reports are premature.  Bolus, who talked with a number of people close to the program at the King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic last week, does think this will probably happen in the near future, but is careful to add "it hasn't happened yet."  And, if it's going to happen, Lofton will probably do it sooner than later for several reasons.  First, the Cardinals are also very much in the picture for 5'10 Jr Sebastian Telfair from Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY, who is the #4-ranked junior nationally by the HOOP SCOOP, and, as a result, they may decide against bringing in two similar players in the same recruiting class.  Remember, Lofton led Mason County to the championship over Owensboro (Apollo) KY at the King of Bluegrass and, in the process, was named tournament MVP, as he averaged close to 30 ppg.  In other words, Lofton suddenly is one of the fastest rising players in the nation, as well as perhaps the leading candidate for Mr. Basketball a year from in the juior class.  Which means Lofton might be good enough to take right now, if you can get him, and not worry about Telfair, who also is being heavily recruited by schools like Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, Iowa State, North Carolina, and Duke.  Second, the longer it goes, the more you have to like the University of Kentucky's chances.  Remember, Kentucky is still the state school and Wildcats head coach Tubby Smith still is need of a quality point guard.  It also looks like Laurinburg (Institute) NC head coach Chris Chaney is well on his way towards becoming one of the best recruiter's in the nation and part of his secret appears to be the fact that he can get players into school at just about anytime during the year.  Did you know that 6'9 Ousmane Konate, who was supposed to be at North Bridgton (Bridgton Academy) ME  this year, instead, is now expected to surface at Laurinburg (Institute) NC at any time?  And did you know that 6'9 Renaldo Balkman from Bradenton (Pendleton School) FL has already transferred to Laurinburg?  It also appears that the Pendleton School already has a replacement for Balkman, because 6'10 Jr Jermaine Bell transferred from Virginia Beach (Coastal Christian) VA to Bradenton (Pendleton School) FL earlier this fall.  Speaking of Bell, who has been reclassified as a junior, he no longer is verbally committed St. John's.  Did you also know that 6'9 Nick Stigger is no longer in school at Van Nuys (Montclair Prep) CA and appears to have returned to Memphis, TN.  And this would make sense, because Stigger, who previously attended Memphis (Hillcrest) TN, was stashed at Montclair Prep by USC.  However, that relationship soured when the Trojans coaching staff changed their mind about taking Stigger and didn't offer him a scholarship this fall.

Earlier today in the Challenge Round at the City of Palms Classic in Ft. Myers, FL, Pensacola (Woodham) FL knocked off Lehigh Acres (Lehigh) FL, 74-47; Miami (Northwestern) FL, 84-46; Barrington (St. Andrews) RI beat Jacksonville (Andrew Jacksonville) FL, 85-66; and Pahokee (H.S.) FL beat Fairburn (Creekside) GA, 65-58.  Among those who picked up where they left off last week were 6'2 Jamon Gordon from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL with 26 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals against Barrington (St. Andrews) RI; 6'7 Cedric McGowan from Miami (Northwestern) FL, who finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds versus Corbin (H.S.) KY, 6'2 Johnny Hammons from Corbin (H.S.) KY, who finished 15 points and hit 3-4 3-pointers versus Miami (Northwestern) FL; 6'4 Abdi Lidonde from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, who hit 4-7 3-pointers and finished with 19 points versus Jacksonville (Jackson) FL; 6'2 Zabian Dowdell from Pahokee (H.S.) FL, who had 15 points, including 4-4 3-pointers, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals; and 6'0 Mike Woodard from Fairburn (Creekside) GA who had 13 points and four assists versus Pahokee (H.S.) FL.  However, 6'8 Demetris Nichols from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI and 6'3 Daniel Bell from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL failed to duplicate their earlier performances.   As a matter of fact, Nichols, who was our choice as the best player in the tournament heading into the final day, laid an egg, as he finished with only six points and five rebounds versus Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL.  If you will recall, Nichols was ranked among the leaders heading into today in scoring, rebounding,  and blocked shots, plus he played a pivotal role when St. Andrews almost knocked off Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ on Friday night.  Bell did have 15 points and five rebounds, but heading into this game he was averaging a double-double with 26.5 ppg and 11.5 rpg.   The most disappointing team in the tournament has been Washington (Dunbar) DC and it was a fitting end when they forfeited the Consolation Championship Game to Ft. Myers (H.S.) FL with 41 seconds left in the third quarter after a controversial traveling call and several technicals on 6'2 Tre Kelley from Washington (Dunbar) DC.   Kelley had been one of the better players and leading scorers in the tournament, but in this game finished with only 13 points.  Instead, the best two players in the game were 6'8 Jr Robinson Louisme and 6'4 Brendan Rooney, both from Ft. Myers (H.S.) FL.  Speaking of Ft. Myers High School, they provide us with one of the best stories of the tournament, as they made made things interesting before losing 61-49 in their first round game versus Philadelphia (John Bartram) PA and then went onto beat Miami (Northwestern) FL, 68-55; Corbin, 67-58; and Dunbar, 49-35, en route to the Consolation Championship.  Next up is Philadelphia (John Bartram) PA versus Monroe (Ouchita Parish) LA, but we're really looking forward to the Third Place Game between Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA and Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY and championship game between Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ and New York (Rice) NY.  However, we don't think either game will close.  In other words, we're predicting an upset in the third place game, because we expect Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY to roll right past Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA.  Not only does St. Raymond's have the toughness, athleticism, and experience, but we think Oliver Antigua is one of the bright young head coaches in the nation and, after losing a heartbreaking overtime thriller on Friday night to Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, we think his team still has a lot to prove.  We're also more convinced than ever that St. Patrick is the best high school team in the nation and, as a result, we'd be surprised if they don't make up for the two overtime games in the quarterfinals and semi-finals with a double-digit win tonight.  As a matter of fact, with a day to rest up and get healthy (a number of the St. Patrick's players have been battling the flu all week), it wouldn't surprise us if the championship game is over by half-time.  And, if this does happen, don't be surprised if 6'9 Frosh Derrick Caracter from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, who already is potentially the next LaBron James, wins tournament MVP honors.  Obviously things can change, but,with three games left in the tournament, our other choices for the all-tournament are 6'8 Demetris Nichols from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, 6'3 Jr Russell Robinson from New York (Rice) NY, 6'2 Jamon Gordon from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL, 5'10 Jason Patterson from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6'1 Jay Jackson from Monroe (Ouachita Parish) LA, 6'5 Louie McCroskey from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY, 6'1 Michael Nardi from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 7'3 Shagari Alleyne from New York (Rice) NY, 6'3 Wesley Washington from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'8 Jr Robinson Louisme from Ft. Myers (H.S.) FL, and 6'9 Jason Cain from Philadelphia (Bartram) PA. 

Since making our prediction about the Third Place game in the City of Palms Classic in Ft. Myers, FL, we have been informed that two starters and three substitutes have been suspended and, as a result, won't play in tonight's game.  And one of those starters is 5'10 Daon Merritt, which means we suddenly think this game is up for grabs.  Also of note is the fact that 6'1 Jay Jackson led Monroe (Ouachita Parish) LA to a 59-56 win in the Fifth Place game over Philadelphia (John Bartram) PA with a 27-point effort.   This ranks Jackson second in scoring (26.8 ppg) in the tournament behind 6'2 Jamon Gordon from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL (29.0 ppg) with only two more games to play.  It also assures Jackson a spot on the all-tournament team, along with Gordon and 6'9 Jason Cain from Philadelphia (John Bartram) PA, who finished with 12 points and three rebounds against Monroe (Ouachita Parish) LA.   Instead, the player who stepped up big for Ouachita Parish was 6'1 Charles Jones, who had what was easily his best game of the tournament, as he finished with 17 points.  Getting back to the all-tournament team, City of Palms Tournament Director Donnie Wilkie already has announced that Jackson, Gordon, and Cain will be named to the all-tournament team, which means he only has nine more spots to fill at the conclusion the tournament later tonight.  So far we are three-for-three with our selections, which can be found above.  Our original prediction about the Third Place Game being a blow-out was right on the money.  But we had the wrong team, as Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA jumped out to a 32-19 lead and never looked back.  The big gun for Mater Dei early was 5'11 Trevante Nelson, who hit 4-7 3-pointers en route to 16 points, all of which came in the first half.  Also playing well for Mater Dei were 6'9 Harrison Schaen and 6'7 Marcel Jones, who combined for 29 points.  However, the player most responsible for Mater Dei opening up the lead to as many as 25 points on several occasions in the second half was 6'5 D.J. Strawberry, who scored 13 of his 16 points down the stretch.   It was 92-72 when Mater Dei called the dogs off with 1:37 left in the game.   The final score was 97-76.  Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY got strong efforts from 6'5 Louis McCroskey, who finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and 6'5 Jr Brian Laing, who had 33 points, five rebounds, and three steals.   However, they seriously missed both Merritt and 6'4 Tariq Atkins, who were suspended for violating team rules and, as a result, didn't play.  Also suspended were reserves 6'3 Soph Ricky Torres and 6'2 Miguel Garcia.  Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ jumped out to a 5-3 early lead in the Championship Game, but 6'11 Grant Billmeier and 6'9 Frosh Derrick Caracter both picked up two early fouls and New York (Rice) NY was able to take advantage of the momentum shift, as they led the rest of the half by as much as six and by as little one.   At that point 6'1 Michael Nardi from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ had scored five straight points, but the momentum shifted back to Rice, because Caracter picked up his third foul and immediatley went to the bench.  Right now the half-time score is 29-26 and Caracter now has three fouls.  Billmeier has still has two fouls and 6'3 Jr Russell Robinson from New York (Rice) NY also has two fouls.  Carcater is the leading scorer for St. Patrick with nine points and 6'7 Jr Arturo Dubois is the leading scorer for Rice with 11 points in the first half.  The All-Tournament Team has already been named and it includes Caracter, Nardi, Dubois, 7'3 Shagari Alleyne from New York (Rice) NY, 6'3 Jr Russell Robinson from New York (Rice) NY, 6'1 Jay Jackson from Monroe (Ouachita Parish) LA, 6'5 Louie McCroskey from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY, 6'2 Jamon Gordon from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL, 6'3 Wesley Washington from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'9 Harrison Schaen from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'8 Jr Robinson Louisme from Ft. Myers (H.S.) FL,and 6'9 Jason Cain from Philadelphia (Bartram) PA.   It's a final, Rice 64, St. Patrick 51!  Rice has pulled off the upset and, as a result the St. Patrick jinx continues.  If you will recall, St. Patrick, which finished second to Baton Rouge (Parkview Baptist) LA in 1997, Miami (Senior) FL in 1996, and New Orleans (St. Augustine) LA in 1994 and finished third in 1995, has never won this tournament.  The leading scorer for Rice was Dubois with 19 points, but Robinson, who was named tournament MVP, came up big, as he scored most of his 18 points in the second half.  Robinson, Alleyne, and Dubois all were tied with eight rebounds a piece.  Alleyne also had six blocked shots.  Caracter, who would have been the tournament MVP, if St.Patrick had won, led the losers with 15 points and eight rebounds.  Nardi also had 15 points.  

Sunday, December 22, 2002

The top players based primarily on performance at the City of Palms Classic in Ft. Myers, FL after the first four days are as follows:  6'8 Demetris Nichols from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, 6'3 Jr Russell Robinson from New York (Rice) NY, 6'2 Jamon Gordon from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL, 6'9 Frosh Derrick Caracter from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6'1 Jay Jackson from Monroe (Ouachita Parish) LA, 6'5 Louie McCroskey from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY, 6'1 Michael Nardi from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6'4 Abdi Lidonde from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, 6'3 Daniel Bell from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL, 5'10 Jason Patterson from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6'9 Jason Cain from Philadelphia (Bartram) PA, 5'10 Daon Merritt from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY, 6'0 Mike Woodard from Fairburn (Creekside) GA, 7'3 Shagari Alleyne from New York (Rice) NY, 6'3 Wesley Washington from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'8 Jr Robinson Louisme from Ft. Myers (H.S.) FL, 6'4 Johnny Hodge from Monroe (Ouachita Parish) LA, 6'5 D.J. Strawberry from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'9 Harrison Schaen from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'2 Tre Kelley from Washington (Dunbar) DC, 6'4 Tariq Atkins from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY, 6'6 Jr Gavin Grant from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY, 6'11 Grant Billmeier from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, 6'6 Jr Lamar Barrett from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, 6'4 Brendan Rooney from Ft. Myers (H.S.) FL, 6'5 Jr Brian Laing from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY, 6'7 Cedric McGowan from Miami (Northwestern) FL, 6'7 Devon Pearson from Miami (Northwestern) FL, 6'3 Jr Bryant Leach from Philadelphia (Bartram) PA, 6'2 Zabian Dowdell from Pahokee (H.S.) FL, 6'2 Bennett Jones from Fairburn (Creekside) GA, 6'9 Jr Chris Henry from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'7 Jr Arturo Dubois from New York (Rice) NY, 6'4 Jeff Trotter from Fairburn (Creekside) GA, 6'2 Jr Antonio Wilson from Pahokee (H.S.) FL, 6'1 Jr Emery Outland from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI, 6'7 Jr Marcel Jones from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, 6'2 Johnny Hammons from Corbin (H.S.) KY, 6'3 Roderick Handy from Monroe (Ouachita Parish) LA, 6'5 Khalil Salaam from Philadelphia (Bartram) PA, 6'10 Isaiah Mills from Corbin (H.S.) KY, 6'6 Jr Charles Bowie from Pahokee (H.S.) FL, 6'8 Gary Springer from Fairburn (Creekside) GA, and 6'8 Mario Henderson from Lehigh Acres (Lehigh) FL.  The top scorers in the tournament are Gordon with 30.ppg, Kelley with 27.5 ppg, Bell with 26.5 ppg, Robinson with 26.3 ppg, Nichols with 20.0 ppg, Lidonde with 18.7 ppg, Rooney with 18.7 ppg, Alleyne with 18.0 ppg, Cain with 17.0 ppg, McCroskey with 17.0 ppg, Hodge with 16.7 ppg, and Washington with 15.8 ppg.  The leading rebounders in the tournament are Caracter with 11.5 rpg, Bell with 11.5 rpg, Nichols with 10.7 rpg, Cain with 10.7 rpg, McGowan with 10.0 rpg, McCroskey with 8.7 rpg, Schaen with 8.5 rpg, Alleyne with 8.3 rpg, Louisme with 7.3 rpg, Barrett with 7.0 rpg, Trotter with 7.0 rpg, Grant with 7.0 rpg, and Atkins with 7.0 rpg.  The leaders in assists are Woodard with 4.0 apg, 6'2 Jeremy Farmer from Corbin (H.S.) KY with 4.0 apg, Gordon with 3.5 apg, Dubois with 3.3 apg, Merritt with 3.3 apg, 5'7 David Ellis from Monroe (Ouachita Parish) LA with 3.0 apg, 6'2 Earl Risby from Washington (Dunbar) DC with 3.0 apg, and Nardi with 3.0 apg.  The leaders in steals are Robinson with 5.0 spg, Gordon with 5.0 spg, 6'5 Soph James McDonald from Washington (Dunbar) DC with 4.0 spg, 6'0 Winston Hines from Pensacola (Woodham) FL with with 3.5 spg, Woodard with 3.3 spg, Bell with 3.0 spg, and Bouie with 3.0 spg.  The leaders in blocks are Alleyne with 5.0 bpg, Louisme with 2.7 bpg, Nichols with 2.3 bpg, Caine with 2.0 bpg, Grant with 2.0 bpg, Caracter with 2.0 bpg, and 6'4 Soph Alpha Neinge from Washington (Dunbar) DC with 2.0 bpg.  The leaders in turnovers are 5'7 Sheldon Meggie from Lehigh Acres (Lehigh) FL with 5.0 tpg, 6'2 Antonio Wilson from Pahokee (H.S.) FL with 5.0 tpg, 5'7 Jr Gerald Gillion from Miami (Northwestern) FL with Miami (Northwestern) FL with 4.5 tpg, Caracter with 4.5 tpg, 6'1 Charles Jones from Philadelphia (Bartram) PA with 4.0 tpg, and 6'2 Jeremy Farmer from Corbin (H.S.) KY.

Saturday, December 21, 2002

The statistical leaders after three days (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) at the City of Palms Classic are as follows:   The leading scorers in the tournament are 6'2 Jamon Gordon from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL with 30.5 ppg, 6'2 Tre Kelley from Washington (Dunbar) DC with 27.5 ppg, 6'3 Daniel Bell from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL with 26.5 ppg, 6'1 Jay Jackson from Monroe (Ouacita Parish) LA with 23.5 ppg, 6'4 Abdi Lidonde from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI with 22.0 ppg, 6'4 Brendon Rooney from Ft. Myers (H.S.) FL with 18.5 ppg, 6'4 Johnny Hodge from Monroe (Ouachita Parish) LA with 18.5 ppg, 7'3 Shagari Alleyne from New York (Rice) NY with 18.5 ppg, 6'3 Jr Russell Robinson from New York (Rice) NY with 18.5 ppg, 5'10 Jason Patterson from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ with 18.0 ppg, 6'2 Jr Antonio Wilson from Pahokee (H.S.) FL with 18.0 ppg, 5'10 Daon Merritt from New York (Rice) NY with 16.5 ppg, 6'9 Jason Cain from Philadelphia (John Bartram) PA with 16.0 ppg, 6'2 Johnny Hammons from Corbin (H.S.) KY with 16.0 ppg, and 6'10 Isaiah Mills from Corbin (H.S.) KY with 16.0 ppg.  The leading rebounders in the tournament are 6'3 Daniel Bell from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL with 11.5 rpg, 6'9 Harrison Schaen from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA with 10.7 rpg, 6'8 Demetris Nichols from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI with 10.0 rpg, 6'7 Cedric McGowan from Miami (Northwestern) FL with 10.0 rpg, 6'9 Jason Cain from Philadelphia (John Bartram) PA with 9.0 ppg, 6'11 Grant Billmeier from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ with 9.0 rpg, 6'7 Jr Arturo Dubios from New York (Rice) NY with 9.0 rpg, 6'8 Devon Pearson from Miami (Northwestern) FL with 8.5 rpg, 6'6 Jr Lamar Barrett from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI with  8.5 rpg, 7'3 Shagari Alleyne from New York (Rice) NY with 8.5 rpg, 6'4 Jr Bryant Leach from Philadelphia (John Bartram) PA with 8.0 rpg, 6'4 Assad Shakir for Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ with 8.0 rpg, 6'5 Louie McCroskey from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY with 7.5 rpg, 6'10 Isaiah Mills from Corbin (H.S.) KY with 7.5 rpg, 6'2 Jamon Gordon from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL with 7.5 rpg, and 6'4 Jeff Trotter from Fairburn (Creekside) GA with 7.5 rpg.  The assists leaders in the tournament are 6'1 Michael Nardi from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ with 4.0 apg, 6'7 Jr Arturo Dubios from New York (Rice) NY with 4.0 apg, 6'2 Jeremy Farmer from Corbin (H.S.) KY with 4.0 apg, 6'2 Jamon Gordon from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL with 3.5 apg, 5'10 Daon Merritt from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY with 3.0 apg, 6'9 Jason Cain from Philadelphia (Bartram) PA with 3.0 apg, 6'2 Earl Risby from Washington (Dunbar) DC with 3.0 apg.  The leaders in steals are 6'2 Jamon Gordon from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL with 5.0 spg, 6'3 Jr Russell Robinson from New York (Rice) NY with 5.0 spg, 6'4 D.J. Strawberry from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA with 3.3 spg, 6'5 Soph James McDonald from Washington (Dunbar) DC with 4.0 spg, 6'0 Mike Woodard from Fairburn (Creekside) GA with 4.0 spg, 6'0 Winston Hines from Pensacola (Woodham) FL with 3.5 spg, 6'4 Johnny Hodge from Monroe (Ouachita Parish) LA with 3.5 spg, 5'7 David Ellis from Monroe (Ouachita Parish) LA with 3.0 spg, 6'6 Jr Charles Bowie from Pahokee (H.S.) FL with 3.0 spg, and 6'3 Daniel Bell from Jacksonville (Andrew Jackson) FL with 3.0 spg.  The best 3-point shooters in the tournament are 6'0 Jr Tremaine Stevenson from Miami (Northwestern) FL hitting 3-5 for 60%, 6'0 Jr Ryan Maquet from Corbin (H.S.) KY hitting 5-9 for 57%, 6'2 Jr Antonio Wilson from Pahokee (H.S.) FL hitting 6'11 for 55%, 6'4 Abdi Lidonde from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI hitting 8-15 for 53%, 6'2 Jr Johnny Hammons from Corbin (H.S.) KY hitting 3-6 for 50%, 6'3 Jr Bryant Leach from Philadelphia (John Bartram) PA hitting 6-13 for 46%, 6'4 Brendan Rooney from Ft. Myers (H.S.) FL hitting 5-12 for 42%, and 6'2 Zabian Dowdell from Pahokee (H.S.) FL hitting 7-17 for 41%.   The leaders in blocked shots are 7'3 Shagari Alleyne from New York (Rice) NY with 6.5 bpg, 6'8 Demetris Nichols from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI with 3.0 bpg, 6'6 Jr Gavin Grant from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY with 2.5 bpg, 6'9 Jason Cain from Philadelphia (John Bartram) PA with 2.0 bpg, 6'8 Jr Robinson Louisme from Ft. Myers (H.S.) FL with 2.0 bpg, 6'4 Soph Alpha Neinge from Washington (Dunbar) DC with 2.0 bpg, and 6'7 Jr Arturo Dubios from New York (Rice) NY with 2.0 bpg.  The leaders in turnovers are 6'9 Frosh Derrick Caracter from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ with 5.0 tpg, 6'1 Sheldon Maggie from Lehigh Acres (Lehigh) FL with 5.0 tpg, 6'2 Antonio Wilson from Pahokee (H.S.) FL with 5.0 tpg, 5'7 Jr Gerald Gillion from Miami (Northwestern) FL with 4.5 tpg, 6'2 Jeremy Farmer from Corbin (H.S.) KY with 4.5 tpg, 6'7 Jr Marcel Jones from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA with 4.5 tpg, 7'3 Shagari Alleyne from New York (Rice) NY with 3.5 tpg, 6'1 Emery Outland from Barrington (St. Andrews) RI with 3.5 tpg, and 6'2 Zabian Dowdell from Pahokee (H.S.) FL with 3.5 tpg. 

After the first three days at the City of Palms Classic, 6'2 Jr Antonio Watson from Pahokee (H.S.) FL and 6'2 Zabian Dowdell from Pahokee (H.S.) FL were two of the leading 3-point shooters in the tournament.  However,  Dowdell shot a miserable 1-16 from beyond the arc and hit only 3-19 field goals overall, while Watson hit only 2-14 3-pointers and was only 5-23 from the field earlier today in their consolation bracket semi-final game against Washington (Dunbar) DC.  In other words, Watson and Dowdell hit a combined 3-30 3-pointers and 8-42 field goals, but thanks to the fact that their team had 17 offensive rebounds and Washington (Dunbar) DC still hasn't put it all together, they had a chance to win the game with the last possession of the game.  But Dunbar prevailed and 6'2 Tre Kelley, who is the second leading scorer in the tournament (28.0 ppg), continued to put up big numbers as he finished with 29 points and four assists.  However, Kelley got little h