We finally received an e-mail from Etop Udo-Ema, who sent us the schedule for the Rim Rattler Inland Empire Invitational, which is in some respects the "Inland Empire Shootout" meaning that some of the teams that have been put together for this event are not travel teams, but teams of individuals who will be playing against other similar teams, or against travel teams. . . but come to think of it, the frequency with which players switch teams and jump from program to program really essentially makes some of the "club" teams not very different than some of the shootout teams.

In any event, if you're in Riverside this weekend instead of up in Fresno, you're likely to see some pretty good players. We're a little confused right now because "The Hood" can't be in both Fresno and Riverside at the same time. . . we know Tyson Chandler is talented, heck he's "The Franchise" but even he can't be in two places at once. . . Likewise the "Belmont Shore" team that's playing this weekend at the Rim Rattler may be one of two different BS teams, and we're not sure which.  It's either the Upland guys, who have previously been known as "Belmont Shore-East" but it won't be the team with Evan Burns, Matt Llewellyn, Omar Wilkes, Ruben Sanchez, GJ King, Anthony Naylor, Matt Wallman and a few other guys, because they'll be at the Charlie Weber Invitational Tournament on the East Coast this weekend.

Among the individuals participating on shootout teams will be guys like Casey Markovic (6'-5" Sr. SG) from Bell-Jeff, Louis Amundson (6'-4" Sr. SF) from Colorado, Chris Lange (6'-8" Sr. F) from New Mexico and Jaris Cole. Top teams will include ICAN (which should have the Onyweke brothers, Amani Daanish) Compton Magic (which is mostly Compton Centennial), North Riverside Slam N Jam, Arizona Slam (Brian Freeny, Antonio Griffin), SC All Stars (the three Soderberg brothers, Jamaal Williams), and, of course if the Hood shows, Tyson Chandler who is also reportedly going to have a home visit on Sunday night with John Calipari of Memphis. . . very interesting if true (and no, we didn't hear that from Etop). And Inland may play one or two games as well, because they aren't going to be up in Fresno either.