pump fall premier

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SoCalHoops Tournament News

adidas Fall Pump Premier Tournament
Set For Sept. 24-26--(Aug. 25, 1999)

What: Fall Pump Premier Tournament
When: September 24-26, 1999.
Where: Cal State Dominguez Hills
Who: 52 of the Top High School-level Boys' teams

September 9-26 marks the Fall NCAA "open evaluation" period, when college coaches can come out and watch prospective recruits again, and get a closer look at some of the better players they scouted during the summer events. As Frank Burlison noted in his column in the Orange County Register yesterday, it also "translates into an opportunity for the rest of us to watch most of Southern California's better high school players in action three months before the "real" season begins." And since the "real" season never ends, fall is once again a time to watch the all-star teams, the "high school" teams playing under assumed names, and chat with the coaches (both college and high school) in the stands. In short, it's another chance to seek the best and brightest players in SoCal. Of course Frank also said about the Fall recruiting period: "What's a basketball recruiting period without a David and Dana Pump-driven event? It's like walking into a movie theater without a monster tub of popcorn and 32-ounce soft drink. It just doesn't feel quite right."

So, grab that popcorn, and that huge drink, and get ready for some great hoops action: New this year is the "Fall Pump Premier Tournament", a 52 team tournament. In the wake of the success of the Double Pump-sponsored "Best of Summer Tournament" and the "Pump Easter Tournament", it's not really surprising that the Pumps have decided to shift away from the "Discovery Shootout" format to move toward a more traditional team tournament concept. We're assured that the Pumps will continue to host a Discovery Shootout in the Spring (dates TBA) for those players who are unaffiliated with a team, but most people who have attended such events want to see more, and admittedly the shootout format (running clock, no foul shots) has not been as conducive to continuity of play as has the straight tournament formula. Don't worry, everyone will still get accomodated, it's just that the college coaches seem to want to watch the tournament style play more than the shootout, at least during the fall recruiting period when the likely suspects from the senior class are already most likely playing with one or another top-flight travel squad.

This one will feature a 3 game guarantee, and will be played according to national high school rules with certified officials. Given the teams attracted to the Pump events in the past, we'd expect to again see some of the top traveling teams in the country at the event. We still don't have the lists of teams, but we're expecting it any minute. For now, if you have questions or want to enter a team, contact Double Pump, Inc.'s Westwood, California office at 530-256-2862 or fax them at 530-256-2863.

See you there.