pumpmlk1

We just got the official announcement for the 1999 MLK Adidas/Double Pump Hoop Festival. It will take place only on Saturday, January 16, 1999. Originally, it was thought that it would be a three-day tournament format, but evidently in recognition of the fact that during the season, teams are limited in the number of games they play (20, which actually can work out to 30--not including playoffs-- because of the "three for one" rule pertaining to tournaments), the Pumps determined to limit the event to only a one day festival, rather than a tournament format.

The host school will be Anahiem Canyon, and the event will take place at Cal State Dominguez Hills, and will run with 9 different showcase games, starting at 9:00 a.m. and concluding with a 9:00 p.m. game (i.e., games every 1 1/2 hours). When you see the list, you'll know that you won't want to miss this one, and best of all, it won't conflict with the 1999 MLK Challenge which is organized by Dinos Trigonis and hosted by Russell Otis and Compton Dominguez, which will take place on Monday, January 18 at Pauley Pavilion. We don't have the lineup for that one, but take a look at who's coming to the Pump/Adidas MLK Hoops Festival:

9:00 a.m.	Los Alamitos High School	vs.	Verbum Dei High School
10:30 a.m.	Canyon High School	vs.	Oceanview High School
12:00 p.m.	Inglewood High School	vs.	Redondo Beach High School
1:30 p.m.	Fontana High School	vs.	Fairfax High School
3:00 p.m.	Sylmar High School	vs.	Simi Valley High School
4:30 p.m.	Chaminade High School	vs.	Washington Union High School
6:00 p.m.	Long Beach Poly High School	vs.	Long Beach Jordan High School
7:30 p.m.	Artesia High School	vs.	Mayfair High School
9:00 p.m.	Bishop Montgomery High School	vs.	Serra High School

As you may have noticed, several of these games are "league" games, and that, again is to be able to satisfy the rule of "20/30" and also to highlight and showcase some local teams playing other local teams in a league context. Several of the games, however, are true "showcase" events, and the one we're looking forward to most is Chaminade v. Washington Union, probably two of the three strongest teams in CIF Division III (USDHS is the other one) and this could very well be the Southern Region showdown preview if Chaminade is able to knock off USDHS. Of course, Chaminade will feature returning players like Cayce Cook (5'-9" Sr. PG), Robbie Tanouye (5'-10" Sr. PG), Scott Borchart (6'-9" So. PF), and J.J. Todd (6'-10" Sr. C), and some new faces like Darren Tarlow (6'-4" Sr. F) and possibly Ruben Sanchez (5'-10" Jr. PG) both of whom played JV last season. Washington Union, from Fresno, features probably the most athletic player on the West Coast, DeShawn Stevenson (6'-5" Jr. SG), who can slam and jam better than anyone, and some other great players like Shamell Stallworth (6'-5" Sr. SG), Richard Manning (6'-8" Sr. PF), Coupe Taylor (6'-0" Sr. PG), Maurice Moore (6'-1" Sr. PG), and the player with one of our "best name" candidates, Carvell Wafer (6'-7" Sr. PF) --those of you who remember the Carvel ice cream stores will get that one. A great lineup.

This is going to be a great event, and you'll want to be there for all of these games. And the Pumps promise that this time, they'll have some decent food. Hey, the nachos are good, but a little variety would be good too.