Tuesday, April 7, 1998 | 7:57 a.m.
Local basketball enthusiasts shouldn't be surprised to bump into Georgetown coach John Thompson at a gas station or to see Kansas coach Roy Williams on the Strip this week.
You never know who might be coming to town for the 16th annual Nike Las Vegas Easter Classic, the first major West Coast stop on the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) boys basketball tour.
A field of 156 teams is slated to participate in the four-day event, which will give college coaches and scouts the chance to view many of the country's top players from ages 11 to 17.
"Typically, we get 25 to 40 coaches, depending on the field," tournament director Joe Fisher said. "This is the first West Coast tournament where you have a lot of the top kids out."
Like all AAU tournaments, the Easter Classic will showcase all-star teams made up of talented players from a variety of high schools.
Most teams, including local 16-and-under squads the Lakers and the Nevada Rebels, will draw from a specific area, like Southern Nevada.
Other coaches will bring in high school players from out of town, providing those athletes with the chance to be seen by colleges all over the nation.
Such is the case for the Sports Express, a Los Angeles-based club featuring players such as junior Marvin Stone, a 6-10 Alabama resident and one of the most highly rated prep players in his age group.
Another team with a regionally diverse roster is Franklin Covey, a Salt Lake City-based squad which brings the top Mormon players from the country together to play in front of Brigham Young's coaching staff.
Over the years, the Easter Classic has attracted a number of future collegiate and NBA stars to Las Vegas, including Dallas Maverick Shawn Bradley, Minnesota Timberwolf Kevin Garnett and the University of Arizona's Miky Bibby.
This year should be no exception, with Stone and the Southern California All-Stars' Tyson Chandler -- a 7-foot 14-year-old -- expected to be the top draws.
"You'll be seeing kids who in a few years are going to be some of the top college stars in the country, and after that, some of the bright young stars in the NBA," Fisher said.
The tournament will be held at seven sites around town, including UNLV's North and South gyms and several local high schools. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for students.
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