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College basketball coaches from each of the schools in the Big 12 Conference — as well as staff members from a majority of the leagues in the country — will descend on the area today through Saturday for one of the final events of the July summer evaluation period.
It’s time for the Metro Sports/KC Prep Invitational, to be held at Okun Fieldhouse, 20200 Johnson Drive in Shawnee.
“I know exactly how many coaches we had last year — 322,” said tournament director Tom Tietze of Tom Tietze Basketball. “I have to hand out the wristbands. I know how many I ordered and how many I had left, so it’s not hard to figure out who attends.
“I saw Bill Self and Danny Manning recently, and Bill was asking me about the tournament. He said, ‘I look forward to being here at the end of the month and being able to sleep in my own bed at night (after being on the road most of July).’
“This is great for the Big 12 area schools. They don’t have to go far,” Tietze added.
It’s also good for recruiting enthusiasts, who will be pleased to learn the tourney is open to the public. Cost is $27 for a tournament pass. Single-day passes are $7 today and Saturday and $9 for Thursday and Friday.
Brackets and schedules are available at http://www.tomtietzebasketball.net/.
Metro Sports will televise several of Thursday’s games via tape delay on Thursday night.
“We have a little bit of everything with players from the Class of 2011 and players emerging from the classes of 2011, ’12 and ’13,” Tietze said. “The great thing is, everything is under one roof. It’s the largest and most heavily attended high school tournament in this town. Coaches and spectators don’t have to drive all over town to different high schools. It’s all here, which is convenient for everybody.”
KU targets Ben McLemore of the St. Louis Eagles and Perry Ellis of Wichita’s Pray and Play Players both will be competing at the four-day event. Coincidentally, both play at 6:15 tonight. The Eagles are rushing into town after placing second at the Under 17 nationals in Florida.
The 6-foot-5 McLemore, who first attended Wellston High, then moved on to St. Louis Eskridge High, plans to complete his high school career this year at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va. He has said several times that KU is his leader, with Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Tennessee, Purdue and others on his list.
Ellis, a 6-8 junior from Wichita Heights, has received offers from KU, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Kentucky, Memphis, Oklahoma and Wake Forest.
“Obviously, those two kids are very high-profile. Perry has been that way since the beginning of his freshman year at Wichita Heights,” Tietze said of the two-time state Gatorade Player of the Year. “Ben McLemore has gathered a lot of interest. I’m not sure a year ago how many people knew who he was. I’ve seen him for some time and thought he’d be a great player. He was at a tiny little high school. It has since closed.”
The Eagles also boast guard Bradley Beal, who last summer committed to Florida over KU and others.
Some of the other top programs to play at the KC Prep Invitational: Milwaukee Spartans, New Mexico Force, Chicago Mean Streets, Tennessee Travellers, Urban DFW and Brandon Bass Elite.
“One of the great things about the certified events in July is everybody gets to make their own evaluations and perceptions of youngsters,” Tietze said of coaches and fans. “I think it’s part of the great atmosphere of the tournament.”
Former Jayhawk Henry still unsigned August 25, 2010
Gameday returning to Allen Fieldhouse August 25, 2010
C.J. Henry, Chase Buford leave KU basketball team August 18, 2010
Julian Wright headed to Toronto August 11, 2010
Selby not yet cleared by NCAA August 5, 2010
Comments
chuckberry32 (anonymous) says…
i've never understood why so many of these elite high school basketball players go to seemingly 6 or so high schools. what's up with that? something about that immediately strikes me as shady.
JacquesMerde (anonymous) says…
Agree. You may be on to something.
Timmay97 (anonymous) says…
Chuckberry,
To me it's simple....
1) To play against better competition depending on what high school they go to.....Oak Hill being a top school plays top tier talent nationally.
2) To get even more noteriety than they already get.
3) They are being guided by AAU coaches letting them know what's best for them.
I'm actually quite surprised myself that Perry Ellis is still playing for Wichita Heights. I played in Wichita at Southeast back in '94, a couple years after B.J. Williams played for Wichita South whom KU recruited and got. I'm not overly concerned with Perry Ellis. I think he will be a Jayhawk when it's all said and done.
hawk316 (anonymous) replies…
timmay97, you probably don't remember the great rivalry between Southeast and East back in the late 60's. Mike Hollimon, Ulysses Stokes, Terry Benton, etc vs. Randy Canfield and other assorted Buffaloes. Fun memories for this ex-Blue Ace.
jaybate (anonymous) says…
"Wednesday Morning Multiple Choice Test"
} “One of the great things about the certified events in July is everybody gets to make their own evaluations and perceptions of youngsters."--Tom Tietze
This is true, because:
a) This event is recognized by a respected governing body of basketball.
b) This event is part of a duly instituted program to help B12 coaches evaluate players.
c) This event actually happens and coaches' perceptions are their own, whereas, uncertified events are illusions created by microwave crowd control technology and their perceptions are electromagnetically induced by joystick jockeys at FEMA in its reputed Continuity of Government installation in Maryland.
} "...why [do] so many of these elite high school basketball players go to seemingly 6 or so high schools?"--JaquesMerde
The possible answers are:
a) They want the benefit of richly diversified educations.
b) They want to sample different parts of the country, so they can make a well-informed decision about where to go to college.
c) Each time they attend another high school they receive a large manila envelope full of unmarked Franklins.
} "How do these high schoolers afford travel, food and lodging to all of these certified and uncertified events?"--jaybate
Select the best answer:
a) Congress has appropriated monies for disadvantaged athletes.
b) Churches sponsor disadvantaged athletes.
c) Don't ask, don't tell.
} "Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today
Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what's going on
What's going on
Ya, what's going on
Ah, what's going on
--Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Al Cleveland, and Marvin Gaye
The correct answer to the song's timeless question/assertion is:
a) Congress is appropriating another $33 Billion for another "surge" in an attempt to bring lasting peace and democracy to another Middle Eastern country.
b) Congress is appropriating another $33 Billion for another "surge" to reassure countries around the world that America stands by its commitments.
c) Congress is appropriating another $33 Billion for another "surge," because the Silk Road Strategy is as hard a habit for the New World Order to kick, as pure Afghanistan heroin is for a junky.
(Note: This post is all satirical fiction intended for entertainment. Malice is absent.)
OakvilleJHawk (anonymous) says…
If there is indeed an NBA lockout after next season, Josh, the Twins and Tyshawn are probably staying put. That still means four schollies for 2011.[Brady, Tyrell, Mario and the leftover 2010].
If there is no NBA lockout you may be able to add at least two, maybe three more.
[Josh, Tyshawn and Marcus-I know, I know, Marcus expressed his desire to stay with his brother but money and opportunity talks.]
Class of 2011 - Angelo Choi, Ben McLemore and Josiah Turner are all real KU possibilties with Jabari Brown a possible bonus by coming with his friend, Josiah.
Class of 2012 - HCBS is shooting for Zach to be grouped with Perry Ellis and, even more importantly Shabazz Mohammed.
The truly encouraging thing is to see Kansas listed on virtually all the uncommitted five stars for the next two seasons. You know, you're not going to get them all......the trick is to get the ones you most want.
One other thing.....something tells me, Nino Jackson will not end up a Jayhawk. Just a feeling.
All comments respected and appreciated. Go Hawks!!!
kkoenig (anonymous) says…
anyone know anything about Maurice Harkless [http://www.zagsblog.com/2010/07/24/harkless-blowing-up-in-vegas/]:
"Nate Blue, Harkless’ mentor, said he believed Kansas was about to offer Harkless, who recently decommitted from UConn but is still considering the Huskies."
OakvilleJHawk (anonymous) says…
Harkless....mid-eighties, ranked four star, 6'-6",180 lb forward from Queens, NY.
Not exactly an earthshaker unless he can hit the three at a high plus 40% and certainly not a candidate for Jaybate's Extreme Muscle Ball. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Kansas wasn't even on his rather extensive original list of schools!!
At least the kid has the smarts to consider running from UConn as fast as possible.
Jaminrawk (anonymous) says…
I think we have a real shot at Turner, Brown and McLemore. We need a couple of bigs though.
86finalfour (anonymous) says…
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010...
I will never understand Bill Self in why he sees no value in watching one of the worst losses in KU history. One reason comes to mind...study it so you never do it again!!
RCJH
frompekka2sasha (anonymous) says…
Jaybate- Do you ever have a post that doesn't have to be several paragraphs? I like to read your thoughts but you must be compensating for something else or have way too much time on your hands. Is it a bald head or a small unit? Do you drive a red Corvette?
jaybate (anonymous) replies…
I'm always compensating for you. :-)
KULA (anonymous) says…
86finalfour-I agree absolutely. Like I've said before, I find it stunning that BS will not watch that game. Talk about denial! Maybe if he'd watched the Bradley or Bucknell games, the UNI game might have turned out differently. Instead, we're stuck with "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." When I hear BS say "that game" I'm not sure which one he's talking about. Is it Bradley, Bucknell or UNI?
86finalfour (anonymous) replies…
Right on! Funny and very true. Even the Southern Illinois and Davidson games were heart stoppers. I think BS is an amazing coach but i think he needs to take a look at these mid-major, grind-it-out teams that are less talented and try to slow the pace down in the tourney. In some respects, this seems like an achilles heel for BS. I almost wonder if he just says that in public but is really studying the tape. He must have at least a curiosity! As a fan, I sure did. I watched the second half again on my dvr. And one thing I noticed: There was one KU player who had a heart of a champion. He busted his tail every second of that game, especially with the late comeback. And he showed no fear. And that was Marcus Morris. Man, I am really looking forward to seeing him develop next year!
kwahyajjj (anonymous) says…
KULA exactly.
The other disturbing quote I've heard is when Bill Self was asked why he did not press during the UNI game he said "That is not who we are".
Are we so stubborn that we put winning second in an effort to do it "our" way?
It doesn't seem to bother other teams when they press us? He also said we didn't have the personnel.
Stop. How many great athletes do we have sitting on the bench that could have subbed?
I like Bill Self. I really do. I just can't get over this.
chuckberry32 (anonymous) replies…
i kept asking the board all year why we didn't press more. i still believe that as loaded as that team was we could wear down teams by the second half and still have had fresh legs ourselves. oh well, what do i know.
jlvlawrence (anonymous) replies…
i agree. don't exactly have to press like mizzou, but we certainly should have used it more often. we mos def had the depth for it
86finalfour (anonymous) replies…
I don't know if i can go as far and say the lack of press was the reason for the loss. Some experts say UNI played very well against the press all year long. But what I am certain of is that Bill should take look at that tape to find an answer.
According to Gottlieb (ESPN), Self did not prepare his team properly against UNI. He said in this particular game plan against UNI as an opposing team you have to use your athletic advantage and hammer them physically. "You have to be in their shorts," he said. You have to pressure them, hound them and force them to speed up and get them out of their sets, he said. Instead, KU allowed them to be way too comfortable, he concludes. KU might have had the personnel to press all game, but I think that would've been a risky strategy. UNI scored at ease all year against the press. It's debatable. But i do think they should've been "more in their shorts," as Gottlieb.* Gotta love that expression.
Before you go to sleep tonight, Bill, watch that tape!
* i actually saved and spliced the audio from that radio interview of Gottlieb on KC WHB 810. I can email it to those interested. He goes off on the game plan -- It's interesting.
addlime (anonymous) replies…
I agree with all of these comments. If not the press, something to speed up the game and use our obvious athletic and depth advantages. I think the danger lies in this idea that if you are a top, powerhouse team (like we were) you go into every game just executing your usual gameplan and style and impose your will on the inferior team. Seems to make sense, but is actually BS (no pun intended). I love the approach that Brad Stevens (Butler coach) talked about after his first or second round win this year. He wasn't concerned with any of that. He simply was looking at the next opponent and trying to figure out what weaknesses of theirs he could exploit. We hear all the time that this tournament is about matchups. Well, then coaches should create positive matchup by finding those advantages that they might have, and exploiting them, while minimizing the ability of the other team to do the same.
Long story short, Self knew UNI was a team with gritty half court defense and great shooting. Anyone with eyes could see that half the team had about 20% body fat. He should have sped that game up. No doubt!
KULA (anonymous) says…
BS: "That's not who we are." Guess what coach? "Who we are" keeps getting knocked out of the tourney by less talented teams. With the abundance of talent we had last year & what coulda shoulda been an 11 man rotation, pressing should have been one of the things that "we are." Instead, by the end of the season, BS had choked down to an 8 (actually, 7) man rotation. Imagine what Missouri's press would be like with the talent & depth that we had.
KULA (anonymous) says…
86finalfour-I'd like to hear that tape. I'm sure they'd never criticize a coach on-air, but I'd love to hear what the CBS crew had to say off-camera about this fiasco. I remember Digger laughing before the game saying there's no way UNI could win.
hawkinator (anonymous) says…
does anyone have access to the ESPN insider article:
"Rumors: Kansas closes in on top Ohio recruit" (which may also be titled)
"Kansas in the hunt for Sampson"??
it would be awesome if someone could post that story. anyway, thanks!
tstanlick1909 (anonymous) says…
McLemore yakked on someone last night in the Orlando final so hard, it was the number one play of the day on Sportscenter. Ill try to find the video
tstanlick1909 (anonymous) says…
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recrui...
right around the 2' mark
jaybate (anonymous) says…
"Big-time prep tourney on tap"
Notice the word "tap" in the headline.
This is how propaganda works.
If the propagandist just keeps using the propaganda, eventually it becomes normalized.
First, board rats were mildly annoyed by headlines with the word "tap" on tap.
Next, they began to ridicule the editors for using "tap" in the headlines.
Next, whole threads were dominated by caustic mimicry of the word "tap."
But the editors just kept using the word "tap" and slowly the board rats, like so many Gitmo inmates hearing the same records over and over again, finally just began to accept the word "tap" in headlines as a part of their new de-patterned realities.
Until now, when no one but jaybate even comments on the word "tap" being in the headline.
Its all so very 1984.
"You may think anything you wish, so long as it is what we tell you to think."
"Tap is on tap."
"Tap is truth."
"Truth is tap."
Room 101 is at the end of the hall.
The rats are on tap.
:-)
stravinsky (anonymous) replies…
Dude we're just several days removed from the first KUSports thread to involve a dozen of us being called pedophiles. Things have escalated! Being tapped is no longer shocking, we've been desensitized.
jaybate (anonymous) replies…
strav,
While Hunter Thompson reputedly was suicided trying to expose a reputed Washington pedo ring serving/framing/blackmailing elected officials and main stream news media figures, I don't think one thread with some name calling is going to make intel assisted suicide a risk. :-)
OakvilleJHawk (anonymous) says…
.....the raven, nevermore.
maverickhawk (anonymous) replies…
Big smile!
dynamitehawk (anonymous) says…
Too bad it's not: "Big-time tap tourney for Preps"