mission prep tourney

The Vegas Reebok Holiday Prep Classic will be a fun event for those teams playing there, but as we've just noted in other articles today, it's not the only game in town this year. There will be some national teams, and more than a few really top SoCal teams coming to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's Mott Gym from December 20-23, 1999 for the inaugural "Mission Prep & Rim Rattler Holiday Hoops Invitational". The event will feature two national caliber teams from Miami, Florida, Miami Senior and Miami Christian; Alameda St. Joesph's Notre Dame from Alameda; Division III CIF-SS Champion Chaminade, Central Section Division II Champion Fresno Edison, Southern Section Division II-A Champion Mayfair, two of the top teams in SLO, Arroyo Grande and Mission Prep, State Division V runner up Calvary Temple, Inglewood (Division II-A runner's up), East Bakersfield (Central Section D-III finalist), and some of the best top teams from the San Diego and Southern Sections, including Compton Centennial, La Jolla Bishop's, Eastlake from Chula Vista, and Bakersfield Foothill.

Some of the top players participating will include Josh Childress (6'-6" Jr. SG/SF) from Mayfair, this year's hot shooter in the junior class who is being recruited by Kansas, UCLA, and a dozen other top D-I schools; Nick Booker (6'-5" Sr. SG/SF) who has signed with Davidson University; Marcus Barnes (6'-2" Sr. PG) from Miami Senior, who is a top prospect on the east coast; Ellis Myles (6'-7" Sr. PF), currently being recruited by San Diego State and other top D-I schools; Scott Borchart (6'-7" Sr. PF) from Chaminade who is being recruited by Arizona, and half the Pac-10, who drew national attention this past summer for not playing this summer with any AAU teams; Nick Tabari (6'-1" Sr. PG?SG) who averaged 26 ppg last year for the State D-V runners-up; Phillip Johnson (6'-11" Jr. C), another of the big tall guys in the talent-laden junior class in SoCal, played this summer with EBO; and on and on. . .

The schedule we received was sent some time ago, back in late September, so there could be some changes, but here's what we believe the schedule looks like for the first day, Monday, December 20, 1999:

9:00 a.m.	Game 1	Chaminade v. Edison
10:30 a.m.	Game 2	Calvary Temple v. Inglewood
12:00 p.m.	Game 3	Mayfair v. Bishop's
1:30 p.m.	Game 4	St. Joseph's v. East Bakersfield
3:00 p.m.	Game 5	Centennial Compton v. Foothill
4:30 p.m.	Game 6	Arroyo Grande v. Miami Christian
6:00 p.m.	Game 7	Eastlake v. Mission Prep
7:30 p.m.	Game 8	Richmond v. Miami Senior
9:00	Slam Dunk & Three Point Contest

The times for each game will be the same each day, i.e, games every 1 1/2 hours starting at 9:00 a.m. each day. The finals will be held on Thursday, December 23, 1999 at 7:30 p.m.

There will be a tournament banquet and reception on Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. at the Firestone Grill for those who will be arriving early. there are plenty of places to stay nearby, lots of good hotels and fine restaurants and the weather has been great and the forecast is for sunny skies and warm weather. tickest are $5.00 per day for adults and tournament passes will be $15.00 for all 32 games played. Kids and students under 18 can get free admission with a ticket available at lots of local businesses in and around SLO. This is going to be a great tournament and if you're up that way, or even if you're not, make a point of getting there.

For further information you can contact the Holiday Hoops Invitational staff at (805) 541-4377.