SoCalHoops High School News

5th Annual Nike Dream Classic Holiday Challenge
This Monday 1/18--(Jan. 14, 1999)

Why should we re-invent the wheel when there's already a perfectly good, round substitute available. And for a quarter, you can get your hands on one too. We're referring to today's 25 cent edition of the Long Beach Press-Telegram which today put out yet another reminder for the 5th Annual Nike Dream Classic Holiday Challenge which is going to take place this Monday, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (a national holiday for most of us) at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, why shouldn't we feel free to borrow.  Why not, we say!  We've already put up the schedule several times before and briefly analyzed the matchups (as has Michael Miller, in a rare guest appearance at WestCoastHoops), and you know, all of these reports are remarkably similar, because, well, there's really just so much that can actually be said about the matchups, at least until after they've happened. So, at the risk of being redundant, here's Louis Johnson's take on the matchups you'll be seeing on Monday at Pauley in the 5th Annual Nike Dream Classic.

While most of the approximately 10,000 fans expected to be on hand Monday at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion for the festivities will be anxiously awaiting the rematch between nationally ranked teams Dominguez and Mater Dei, the clashes between several highly regarded teams as well as the underlying individual matchups in the event's other six games are sure to pique the interest of any prep basketball fan.

Here's a quick look at the matchups within the matchups of Monday's games:

Redondo Union vs. Inglewood, 9:30 a.m. - This will be the second game in three days for these teams, and this contest should decide the Ocean League title. Matchup worth watching: Redondo forward Andrew Zahn, who is one of the top juniors in the country, against Inglewood senior forward Noel Felix.

Jordan vs. Verbum Dei, 11:10 a.m. - This contest could easily be a headliner in any other event, and gives one an indication of how talented the field is for this year's Dream Classic. Matchups worth watching: Jordan star forward Travon Bryant against UNLV-bound forward Dalron Johnson of Verbum Dei in the post, and Panthers' guard Craig Calloway against Verbum Dei's Marlon Parmer on the perimeter.

Simi Valley vs. Fairfax, 12:50 p.m. - Matchup worth watching: New Mexico signee Rafael Berumen of Simi Valley against Fairfax senior swingman Joe Shipp. Even though Berumen is a post player and Shipp plays more on the perimeter, the two players will hold the key to their respective team's fortunes in this game.

Poly vs. Manual Arts, 2:30 p.m. - Matchup worth watching: Poly junior Wesley Stokes against Manual Arts senior James Wright. Stokes is the premier junior point guard in the state, and Wright, who is headed for Long Beach State, may be Southern California's most underrated floor leader.

Glendora vs. Capistrano Valley, 4:10 p.m. - Matchup worth watching: Stanford-signee Casey Jacobsen of Glendora against Capistrano Valley senior Nate Hair. These two guards are among the best prospects in the country. Jacobsen, who has a chance to become the all-time leading scorer in the state, is a good bet to be a McDonald's All-American this season. Hair, who became a major Division I prospect after a spectacular summer, is headed for USC.

Dominguez vs. Mater Dei, 6 p.m. - A meeting between two of the top 11 teams in the country, according to the latest USA Today rankings. This matchup speaks for itself.

Compton vs. Crenshaw, 8 p.m. - Matchup worth watching: Compton senior Tito Maddox against Crenshaw junior E.J. Harris. Another matchup at the point guard position. Maddox is one of the top 50 players in the senior class nationally, whereas Harris is battling Stokes for the title of best junior floor leader in the state.

There, now you have it straight from somebody who watches a lot of high school basketball (well not as much as he'd like to watch, but that's a whole other story. . . and we'll be looking forward to those wrestling stories,  Louis :-0)  Just kidding.)  Hey we could ramble on and on about how great these games are going to be, but you already know that. Why not come out and check them out for yourself?   Tickets are available at the UCLA box office at Pauley Pavilion, and will presumably be available all day Monday as well.   But get there early, because seating is limited to about 16,000 and last year the games drew about 8,500; we hear that this year's crowd is anticipated to be even bigger.   Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 with a student id.  As for parking at UCLA, well, there you're on your own, but it's usually about $5.  Cheap.

Seriously, these will be some great games and we wouldn't think of missing them for anything.  See you there.

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