socal classic announcement

SoCal Basketball Classic This Saturday
Will Feature Top U.S. Ranked Teams--(Jan. 22, 2000)

What: adidas-Artesia/Poly SoCal Basketball Classic
When: January 29, 2000
Where: Lynwood HS (click for map)
4050 Imperial Highway
Who: Seven Games, Two Sessions, 14 top teams

Yes, believe it or not, while the SoCal Classic has moved from venue to venue in the past couple of years, its finally found a home this the year at Lynwood High School which isn't just any ordinary high school gym. If you've never been there, then you have to see this place to believe it. A completely redone, brand new high school campus which features a state of the art, multimillion dollar gym, a facility which is actually comparable in size to the gyms at Loyola Marymount or LA Southwest College (used by the Lakers as a practice facility).

Session #1
10:30 am	Compton vs. Serra
12:00 p.m.	Mater Dei vs. Univ HS of San Diego
1:40 pm	Pasadena vs. LA Washington
3:10 pm	Santa Margarita vs. Verbum Dei
Session #2
5:15 p.m.	LB Poly vs. Richmond (CA)
6:50 p.m	Artesia vs. Washington Union (Fresno)
8:20 p.m.	Dominguez vs. Roman Catholic (Philadelphia)

Tremendous matchups, featuring some of the top players in SoCal and several top national players. One of the top matchups will include a rematch of last Monday's Mater Dei v. USDHS game, and a chance for the Walton-led Dons to redeem themselves against the No. 9 team in the US (USA Today ranking). Compton v. Serra will feature two top local teams with top players, including Aerick Sanders (6'-9" Sr. C) who has signed with San Diego State. Pasadena v. LA Washington will be a great game, featuring Doug Thomas (6'-9" Jr. C), a talented junior big man, point guard Reggie Harmon (5'-8" Sr. PG), a blindingly-quick ballhandler who can score and dish, Josh Duncan (6'-5" Sr. F), a first team All-Pacific League, and Dino Wilburn (6'-3" So. SG) all for Pasadena, while LA Washington has point guard Antoine Parker (5'-10" Jr. PG), and Eugene Moore (6'-7" Sr. PF). Santa Margarita features Ryan Stacey (6'-8" Sr. F), while Verbum Dei seems to finally be winning some games with their new coach and new cast. In the evening session, LB Poly will face Richmond, the same team coached by Ken Carter, author of "101 Ways to Earn A Higher GPA". He's the same guy who last year benched his entire team because one player fell below the required GPA, and the team and Carter are also, we believe, the subject of a screenplay being written by Mike Miller, formerly of PacWest and WestCoastHoops. And we also hear they can play, too.

But the two big showcase events of the day are reserved for the last two games of the evening which will feature Artesia, currently ranked as the No. 6 team in the country by USA Today against the DeShawn Stevenson-led Panthers of Washington Union who will be looking for redemption and respect after losing to Bishop Montgomery a week ago Saturday at the Double Pump Hoop Challenge over MLK weekend. But the big headliner of the night will be No. 2 in the US (according to USA Today) against No. 25 in the country (again USA Today rankings) featuring Eddie Griffin (6'-9" Sr. C/F) who signed with Seton Hall, who was the consensus No. 1 player in the country at the end of the summer.

Lynwood High School is located at 4050 Imperial Hwy (take the 710 Fwy to Imperial Hwy exit, and proceed West to the school). All tickets will be sold at the door only, and General Admission is $7.00 (each session), with Children only $3.00 (ages 7 to 13 yrs).

For any further questoins about the event, contact either Joe Kapono (yes, he's Jason's dad) or B. Shotwell (yes, she's Ramaan's mother) by fax at (209) 796-4423, or phone (562) 924-5314 X4, or by email at ushotwell@aol.com