When: Tonight-Sunday
Where: Allen Fieldhouse, Horejsi Center, Lawrence High School, Haskell Indian Nations University
Who: Top Class of 2009 high school recruits, including No. 3 Derrick Favors and No. 4 Lance Stephenson. Both have KU on a long list of potential college destinations.
Some of the top high school basketball players in the Class of 2009, including No. 3-ranked Derrick Favors and No. 4 Lance Stephenson, headline the ninth-annual Jayhawk Invitational, held tonight through Sunday at Allen Fieldhouse, Horejsi Center, Haskell and Lawrence High.
Favors, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Atlanta, and Stephenson, 6-6 off guard from Brooklyn, N.Y., will lead the Atlanta Celtics against the Las Vegas Prospects at 9:45 p.m. today in Allen.
“I’ve seen Kansas play on television, but I’ve never actually been to Kansas. I’m really excited about the trip. The one thing I’m looking forward to most is playing on the court. Everybody knows that Allen Fieldhouse is a historic place,” said Favors, who has KU, Memphis, Kentucky, Georgia, Georgia Tech and others on his early list of schools.
Stephenson has an early list of KU, Duke, Memphis, Seton Hall, Indiana, North Carolina and Southern Cal. The Prospects are led by Anthony Marshall, a 6-3 guard from Las Vegas. Marshall is considering UNLV, Washington, Gonzaga and others.
The Atlanta Celtics will play at 1 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. Saturday at Horejsi Center.
KU target Elijah Johnson’s Los Angeles Pump N Run Elite team will meet K.C. Pump N Run at 8:30 tonight in Allen.
Johnson, a 6-2 guard from Las Vegas and the No. 38-rated player in the class, has a list of KU, Duke, North Carolina, Texas, UNLV, Arizona, Arizona State and others. K.C. Pump N Run is led by KU target Michael Dixon, a 6-0 guard from Lee’s Summit (Mo.) West. Dixon, the No. 87 rated player, is considering KU, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma and many others. Backcourt partner Jeff Reid, 6-5, from Topeka Hayden, is considering KU, Kansas State, Missouri, Texas A&M and many others.
L.A. Pump N Run will play at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Horejsi, and 4:45 p.m. Saturday at Allen. K.C. Pump N Run will play 9:15 a.m. Saturday at Horejsi and 1 p.m. Saturday at Lawrence High.
Stephan Van Treese, a 6-9 forward/center from Indianapolis, will lead Indiana Elite One against Howard Pulley Black at 7:15 tonight at Allen. Van Treese, the No. 52 rated player, lists KU, Duke, Indiana, Louisville, Ohio State and others. Future Duke player Mason Plumlee, 6-10 from Arden, N.C., also plays for Elite One.
Howard Pulley Black of Minnesota has a KU target in athletic Rodney Williams, 6-5, of New Hope, Minn. Williams, ranked No. 43, has a list of KU, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Iowa State and others. His teammate, No. 32 Royce White, has committed to Minnesota.
Indiana Elite One will play at 9:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday at Haskell. Howard Pulley will play at 10:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Saturday at Haskell.
Shawn Williams, 6-7, from Duncanville, Texas, heads a Texas Select team that will play three games Saturday: 8 a.m. at Allen, 11:45 a.m. at Haskell and 3:30 p.m., at Lawrence High. Williams, the No. 76 player in the class, is considering KU, Kentucky, Texas and many others. Fans are encouraged to attend. There will be admission charged at the gate. The 17-under division final is 3:30 p.m., Sunday at Allen.
For a complete schedule and tourney information, go to jayhawkinvitational.com.