nike extravaganza vii announcment

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SoCalHoops High School News

Nike Extravaganza VII This Weekend
Features No. 1 Oak Hill--(Jan. 29, 2002)


Nike Extravaganza VII, Feb. 2, 2002 LB State Pyramid	What:	Nike Extravaganza VII
	When:	Saturday, February 2, 2002
	Where:	Long Beach State Pyramid
		Afternoon Session: Westminster v. Glendora Costa Mesa v. Servite Brea v. Valley Center St. John Bosco v. Ocean View Evening Session Corona Centennial v. Sonora Santa Margarita v. Green Valley Villa Park v. Crenshaw LB Poly v. Vashon (St. Louis) Mater Dei v. Oak Hill (Va)

Where else can you see the No. 1 high school team in the country, a team which some say feautures 12 D-I prospects, going up against a team from Southern California? Well, the only place we know of other than some of the summer events like the adidas Las Vegas Big Time, is the Nike Extravaganza, and fortunately for all of us who live here, it's this weekend at the Pyramid.

Here's the latest press release from our friends who run this thing, and it looks like it will be a great day of basketball, featuring some of the top teams in the country in the evening session and some very good regional matchups in the afternoon session.

On Saturday, February 2^nd, 2002, the Long Beach State Pyramid will again play host to Mater Dei’s Nike Extravaganza presented by Chick’s Sporting Goods and Powerade. The arena will be rocking as nine games take place over two sessions. The day will be highlighted as the defending Division I California State Champions, Mater Dei Monarchs, take on national Number 1 Oak Hill Academy. Oak Hill is led by national talents Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse), Justin Gray (Wake Forest), Chad Moore (Cincinatti), Eric Wilkins (Miami-FL), Ian Johnson (Davidson), Richard Joyce (Wake Forest), Antywane Robinson (Temple) and Sani Ibrahim (undecided). Coach Steve Smith has called his squad the deepest, and possibly the most talented in school history. The young, but exciting Monarchs are led by juniors Wesley Washington and Harrison Schaen. Oak Hill suffered its last loss in the Nike Extravaganza two years ago when it was upset by then Number 2 ranked Dominguez of Compton. The Nike Extravaganza has seen its share of upsets. Three times in the history of the event, the number one ranked team in the nation has lost.

There is more to the Nike Extravaganza than the featured game. Also in the evening session, Southern California power Long Beach Poly, led by Bobby Jones, will take on Vashon of St. Louis (currently ranked #8 nationally). Missouri bound guard Jimmy McKinney leads Vashon. Many other exciting teams and players will also be participating. This includes Corona Centennial led by J.R. Reese and Lance Soderberg, Santa Margarita led by Jason Collins and Brandon Rohe, Villa Park led by Sean Phaler, and perennial power Crenshaw.

Tickets for the event are $8 for the morning session and $20 and $10 for the evening session. Tickets can be obtained form the Long Beach Pyramid box office or the Mater Dei Athletic office. The ticket price also includes half-time entertainment including the popular balloon man, national all-star cheerleaders and other exciting activities. There are also games for the kids in our interactive promenade section.

We'll feature some short previews, including a closer look at the Oak Hill team and the team from Vashon shortly.

See you there.