Youth hoops tourney on tap

By Gary Bedore     May 6, 2005

About 400 youth basketball players representing 12 states will converge on Allen Fieldhouse, Horejsi Center and Lawrence High this weekend for the fifth-annual Sport2Sport/Jayhawk Invitational.

There’s always the chance some of those 15- to 17-year-olds from Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, California, New Mexico, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Illinois, Mississippi and Wisconsin someday could play college ball for Kansas University.

“I think any time you can get prospects on campus, it’s good,” KU coach Bill Self said. “The (NCAA) rules are so strict now, we can’t talk to them while they are here.”

KU’s coaches can’t attend the games or visit with the players during the tourney, which runs tonight through Sunday afternoon. The championship games in the under-15 and under-16 age groups will be at 12:15 p.m. Sunday, with the under-17 title contest to follow at 1:30 p.m., all at Allen Fieldhouse.

Here’s a look at some of the top prospects and when and where they’ll be competing today and Saturday:

  • Cole Aldrich, 6-foot-10, Bloomington, Minn.: A sophomore who already has made an unofficial visit to KU, Aldrich will be playing for the Minnesota Magic U-17 team. The Magic will play at 8 a.m. Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse, then at 1:50 p.m. and 4:10 p.m. Saturday at Horejsi Center.
  • Isaac Miles, 6-2, Shawnee; George Goode, 6-8, Raytown, Mo.; Rahmon Fletcher, 5-10, Kansas City, Mo.: The three local players will suit up for K.C. Rocktown at 10 p.m. today at Allen Fieldhouse; 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse and 5:20 p.m. Saturday at Lawrence High’s West gym. Miles is a junior from Roeland Park Miege, Goode a sophomore from Raytown South and Fletcher a sophomore from K.C., Mo., Paseo.
  • Dewayne Reed, 5-11, Houston; Dexter Pittman, 6-10, Rosenburg, Texas: The two juniors will be with Houston Select at 10 p.m. today at Allen Fieldhouse; 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse and 5:20 p.m. Saturday at the LHS East Gym.
  • Who: About 400 players from 12 statesWhere: Allen Fieldhouse, Horejsi Center, Lawrence HighWhen: Today through SundayFull schedule: Available at sport2sport.com
  • Davon Jefferson, 6-7, Lynwood, Calif., Danny Williams, 6-3, Los Angeles; Quintin Watkins, 6-4, Compton, Calif: The three seniors will play for the H Squad of Los Angeles at 6:30 p.m. today at Allen Fieldhouse, and 8 a.m. and 10:20 a.m. Saturday at Horejsi Center. Jefferson signed with UNLV in November, but is believed headed to prep school. Williams is unsigned.
  • Ryan Harp, 6-4, Abilene, Texas: Harp, a sophomore, will play for Texas Top Prospects at 7:40 p.m. today at Allen Fieldhouse, and at 9:10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Horejsi Center.
  • Brady Morningstar, 6-3, Lawrence; Casey Crawford, 6-8, Overland Park; J.D. Christie, 6-6, Fairway: The three local players will suit up for Kansas City Pump and Run at 8:50 p.m. today at Allen Fieldhouse, 10:20 a.m. Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse and 1:50 p.m. Saturday at LHS East Gym. Morningstar is a Free State senior headed to prep school; Crawford and Christie are juniors from Blue Valley North and SM East, respectively.
  • Andre Stephens, 6-8, Heidleberg, Miss.; Kenneth Cooper, 6-10, Monroe, La.: Cooper, who will attend Oklahoma State next season and prep junior Stephens will play for the Jackson Panthers at 9:10 a.m. Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse; 3 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. Saturday at Horejsi Center.
  • Tyrel Reed, 6-3, Burlington; Travis Releford, 6-4, Kansas City: The two players will be competing in the U-16 division for K.C. Pump and Run at 7:40 p.m. today at Horejsi Center, 12:40 p.m. Saturday at Horejsi and 6:30 p.m. Saturday in Allen Fieldhouse. Reed is a sophomore and Releford a ninth-grader. Both are considered major-college prospects.

¢

KU senior Aaron Miles had workouts for the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks this past week. The point guard is considered a second-round prospect in the NBA Draft.

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