|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
High School |
| |
||||||
| Wednesday, July 16 |
||||||
| Basketball Recruiting Buzz By Jon Reidel SchoolSports.com | ||||||
|
There's a small but happy segment of the high school basketball population that has already had its most desired holiday wish granted. This elite group of girls' and boys' hoop stars already has something that thousands of less-heralded players want: a college basketball scholarship. With the all-important summer evaluation period long gone and most of these players now tucked away in their hometowns for the season ahead, it may be too late for some of the smaller players to catch the eye of a college recruiter. But there is still a chance for those who are lucky enough to be on teams that have been invited to major high school holiday tournaments.
Not only are these events golden, last-chance opportunities for many unsigned seniors to showcase their talents to recruiters, but they also serve as coming-out parties for many of the nation's underclassmen. They also give less-heralded players a chance to prove to NAIA, junior college, and Division II and III coaches that they are worthy of a free ride. Over the years, the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has brought more talented players and coaches together than any other holiday tourney of its kind. Now in its 20th year, Beach Ball has perhaps the most distinguished list of alumni and frequently brings in at least five of the nation's Top 25 teams. "Coaches have already looked at most of the top 100 players, so there's no question that the exposure at tournaments like these are very important for kids who may be on the NAIA or juco level," says Beach Ball executive director John Rhodes. "Every kid wants their dream fulfilled of playing college basketball, and this tournament helps give them a chance." In addition to the hundreds of college coaches expected at the event, Rhodes says he's expecting 20 NBA scouts to attend the event at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. This year's tourney may be the best field ever assembled, as nationally ranked Mater Dei High (Santa Ana, Calif.), with 7-footer Jamal Sampson and 6-foot-5 Cedric Bozeman, will be on hand to lead a host of national powers. Mater Dei will be challenged by teams like St. Raymond's High (Bronx, N.Y.), Dillard High (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Archbishop Molloy High (Queens, N.Y.), DeMatha Catholic High (Hyattsville, Md.), Glynn Academy (Brunswick, Ga.), Westbury Christian Academy (Houston, Texas), Westover High (Albany, Ga.) and Ballard High (Louisville, Ky.). Although most of the big-name players from these schools have already signed with colleges, a few haven't. For example, 6-foot-11 Brandon Bender of Ballard and 6-foot-5 Greg Tinch of Westover remain unsigned. "The winter can be huge for some of these kids," says Clarke Francis of hoopscooponline.com. "Most guys are already gone, but it's a great chance for underclassmen to immerge." A prime example of an unknown player who will probably quadruple the number of recruiting letters he receives following Beach Ball is 6-foot-10 Josh Fowler of Socastee High in Myrtle Beach. The relatively unknown former skateboard junkie has grown seven inches over the past year-and-a-half and developed into a solid big man. He'll likely become a hot commodity if he plays well against many of the highly touted big men at Beach Ball. Another unheralded junior who could break out at Beach Ball is Raymond Felton of Latta, S.C. He too will get a chance to prove himself at Beach Ball, which is one of dozens of holiday tourneys around the nation where unknown players get a shot to attain their hoop dreams.
Material from SchoolSports.com.Visit their web site at www.schoolsports.com | |
|||||
|
|
