SoCalHoops Recruiting News

8th Annual "Dream Classic" Set For
Jan. 21, 2002 @ APU--(Jan. 4, 2002)

	What:	8th Annual Dream Classic
	When:	Monday, January 21, 2002
	Time:	First game, 10:00 a.m.
		Last Game, 7:45 p.m.
	Where:	Azusa Pacific University

Dinos Trigonis sent us the latest word on the 8th Annual Dream Classic and it looks, well, pretty dreamy....At least it looks about as good as it gets between local teams during the middle of league season playing in a big "extravaganza" environment.  And since Azusa Pacific University is becoming the hot-spot this year for big-time high school hoops action, by Monday, January 21, presumably everyone will have figured out how to get there from wherever it is you're all coming from by the time this event rolls around in three weeks. 

Here's the lineup of games:

These are going to be some very interesting and fun matchups:

Game 1:  This is an All-Division V matchup: Price is the No. 1 ranked team in Division V-A and Rolling Hills Prep is ranked No. 2 by SoCalHoops in V-AA.   Price features a lot of great players, including Oscar Edwards (6'-5" Jr. F), who is sort of a younger version of Darius Sanders (who is just pounding it out for Compton Centennial now that he's transferred from Dominguez) and Derrick Williams (6'-3" Jr. G) who is also lighting it up, and the Knights will be matching up against one of the best young sophs in Curtis Allen (6'-5" So. F).

Game 2:  Verbum Dei v. Calvary Chapel Downey:  This might be the battle for No. 1 in Division IV-A, as two longtime friends, Tim Drisdom (6'-4" Sr. G) from CCD and Richard Chaney (6'-5" Sr. G/F) from Verbum Dei, both of whom will be attending the University of Utah together next year, go head-to-head.  SoCalHoops has CCD ranked as the No. 1 team in the Division after winning the Silver Cup at the Las Vegas Holiday Prep Classic, and Verbum Dei is ranked No. 3 (formerly No. 2).  If you want a glimpse of the CIF-SS playoffs in Division IV-A, you won't want to miss this game.

Game 3:  Diamond Bar features one of the best guards in the country in Khalief Ford (6'-2" Jr. G), who is being recruited by UCLA, Duke, and many other top-echelon programs, while Ray Lokar's Bishop Amat squad features LMU-signee Jonathan Haywood (6'-3" Sr. G).  Bishop Amat is currently ranked the No. 2 team by SoCalHoops, and while Diamond Bar was formerly the No. 3 team in Division I-AA, they've hit a few bumps in the road lately, but will likely bounce back with a strong league showing.  Another fun game...

Game 4:  Sea View League v. South Coast League, an all-OC matchup as Mission Viejo, featuring Travis Neisen (6'-7" Sr. F) who has signed at Santa Clara, and unsigned Kevin Stacey (6'-3" Sr. G) matchup against unsigned Patrick Haddan (6'-1" Sr. G) and the rest of his Woodbridge teammates.

Game 5: Long Beach Poly v. Lakewood:  A Moore League game between the Jackrabbits, one of the deepest teams around, ranked No. 1 in Division I-AA by SoCalHoops, and featuring Marcedes Lewis (who has committed to UCLA for football, but is also expected to play hoops), Carlos Rivers (5'-10" Sr. G), Bobby Jones (6'-7" Sr. F) who is among the highest rated seniors nationally still to unsigned.  Lakewood doesn't have any marquee names on the roster, but they are a tough team with a lot of talent.

Game 6:  Inglewood v. Redondo:   A Bay League game between these two cross-town rivals, featuring some of the best players in the West.  Inglewood is currently ranked No. 2 in the very crowded Division II-AA (which also features Mater Dei, Villa Park, St. John Bosco, etc), and Redondo No. 3 in Division II-A.  The last matchup, which took place 3,000 miles away at the Slam Dunk to the Beach in Lewes, Delaware last week, went to Inglewood, so Redondo will be looking for revenge, and perhaps a league title.  Inglewood has probably the dominant post player in DeAngelo Collins, who is still being talked about as a potential USC or Fresno State recruit, but those who know say the NBA is more likely straight out of high school.  The Sentinels also have Rayshanw "RayRay" Reed, one of the most explosive players in the junior class, as well as senior unsigned point guard Jason McKinney (5'-11" Sr. PG).  Redondo also has it's share of top talent, including two of the best big men also still unsigned:  Adam Zahn (6'-8" Sr. F), and Paul Meynen (6'-10" Sr. F/C).  The Seahawks also have some of the best wings and backcourt players including Keith Ellison (6'-1" Sr. PG) and Wendell White (6'-5" Jr. F/G). 

Game 7:  Mater Dei v. San Diego Horizon-- Mater Dei is still (as of today) ranked No. 1, in a tie with Villa Park, but that could change by tomorrow, since those teams go head-to-head tonight....Mater Dei features some good talent, and even if this is the first team in Gary McKnight's coaching tenure to lose three games in a row, they're still pretty darn good:  Wesley Washington, Harrison Schaen, Mike Strawberry, Travonte Nelson, and a host of talented freshmen, will match up against San Diego Horizon and Nate Carter.  Hey, it's not Mater Dei v. Oak Hill, but if you want that matchup, just wait a couple of weeks longer....in the meantime, this one should give the Monarchs all they can handle.

The admission price for the entire day (all 7 games) is just $7 for adults, and $5 for students (with ID).

For more information about this event call Dinos at 562-223-0190 or check out Fullcourt Press

See you there.

 
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