National powerhouses highlight 96-team field

Adam Candee

Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2002 | 9:58 a.m.

No, LeBron James, the luminescent axis of the prep basketball world, will not be at this weekend's Holiday Prep Classic basketball tournament.

But just about everyone else who rotates around that pivot will be in Las Vegas for the 96-team, three-day tournament featuring national powerhouses such as Virginia's Oak Hill Academy and California's Westchester High School, as well as a host of local entries.

The tournament gets under way Thursday afternoon and runs through Saturday night at a handful of local high school gyms.

This year's tournament will be split into eight mini-tournaments, with the best teams taking part in the Bill Bobier Challenge I and II divisions. The highlight of the tournament for locals will be the Friday night showdown between Oak Hill, the nation's top-ranked team, and Cheyenne, the top team in Las Vegas and arguably the best in the state.

"I think it's a great opportunity for our kids," Cheyenne coach Larry Johnson said. "The kids will look back later and see those (Oak Hill) kids playing in the NBA."

Just because Oak Hill carries the name and the pedigree of a basketball factory does not mean Cheyenne feels it is playing for a moral victory. Just two years ago, a strong Bishop Gorman team put a huge scare into the Warriors in the Holiday Prep before falling.

The Desert Shields, rated ninth in the West in USA Today's national rankings, are up for the challenge. They know Oak Hill is beatable, after watching James and his Akron, Ohio, high school squad take out the Warriors on national TV last week.

"Anything is possible," Johnson said. "That's what makes the game of basketball great."

The Shields remain undefeated after surviving a tight game against Durango, 75-68, Tuesday night. Standout senior guard Lorrenzo Wade -- possibly the city's best player -- took over in the fourth quarter to lead Cheyenne to the win.

Locals will have plenty of opportunities to size up area teams against some of the country's best, as 26 Southern Nevada teams are entered in this year's field. The tournament features 16 more teams than it did a year ago.

"Without a doubt, this will be the most talented and competitive field we've ever had and that's really saying something when you consider the history of the Classic," said tournament director Larry McKay. "The expanded format helps us maintain our sanctioning from the National High School Federation."

A recent NFHS ruling stated that all teams in the same tournament must be afforded equal treatment, meaning that if the Holiday Prep pays one team's travel expenses, it must do so for all. By splitting into eight divisions, or mini-tournaments, teams receiving similar financial help with travel expenses are being placed into similar categories.

McKay said about 65 percent of teams have some part of their travel expenses footed by the Holiday Prep.

The tournament will also feature 14 of the 100 best seniors in the country, as rated by expert Bob Gibbons. Three of those players are on the Oak Hill squad -- 6-foot-8 power forward Ivan Harris (headed to Ohio State), 6-3 combo guard Marcus Williams (Connecticut) and 6-3 shooting guard J.R. Reynolds (Virginia).

Another interesting matchup will pit Mt. Zion Christian (N.C.) against Green Valley, at the Gators' home gym Thursday night. That game will feature Oregon-bound 6-10 post Mitch Platt of the Gators going up against Charlotte-bound 6-11 post Martin Iti of Mt. Zion. Both players are top 100 prospects.

Bishop Gorman and Green Valley will compete in the Millennium Cup I bracket, while Centennial and Durango participate in the Millennium Cup II division. Desert Pines, Foothill and Valley are in the Gold Cup; Cimarron-Memorial, Las Vegas, Palo Verde and Sierra Vista are in the Silver Cup; Coronado, Faith Lutheran, Galena (Reno), Meadows, Mountain View Christian, Virgin Valley and Western are in the Bronze Cup; and Basic, Bonanza, Chaparral, Lake Mead Christian, Moapa Valley, Mojave, and Silverado are in the Copper Cup.

Title games for all eight divisions will take place Saturday at Green Valley.

For Holiday Prep Classic schedules, please see: http:// www.holidayprepclassic.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=1025&CID=130864