2007 Iolani Prep Classic: Four Teams in the Super 25
Four teams set to appear at the 2007 Iolani Prep Classic opened their season ranked in the USA Today High School Basketball Super 25 which was released today:
Montrose Chrisitan (MD), coached by Classic veteran Stu Vetter, will return to Hawaii as the No. 7 ranked team in the country with what he calls one of his “most talented teams”. That’s quite a claim when you consider the teams and players Vetter has coached over the years such as former NBA veteran Dennis Scott (Georgia Tech, Orlando Magic) and recent No.2 Draft Pick Kevin Durant (Texas, Seattle Supersonics). This season, Montrose is touted as having the best core of juniors in the country in 6-6 F Terrell Vinson, 6-7 F Tristan Spurlock and 6-7 F Isaiah Armwood. And if they weren’t big enough already, they also have two recently acquired transfers Temidayo Adebayo (6-10) and Brian Ameka Okam (7-0).
As last year’s New York State Runner-up, Rice (NY) will be back at the Iolani Classic this year with four returning starters. Their talented backcourt is led by Connecticut recruit, PG Kemba Walker, and All-State Selections SG Chris Fouch and Lamont Jones. Rice is ranked No.11 in the USA Today Super 25 and No.4 in the Sporting News.
2006 Iolani Classic Champion Leflore (AL) will be looking to defend their championship in 2007 when they return as the No.16 ranked team in the Super 25. Despite already sporting a huge lineup, the Alabama 6A champions got even bigger (and better) when 6-10 junior center DeMarcus Cousins, the No.3 center in the Class of 2009 according to Scouts, Inc., transfered to LeFlore in late October. 6-5 Marquette-signee Nick Williams, a 2006 All-Tournament team selection, will also be back for the Rattlers.
Mount Vernon (NY), the two-time defending AA state champions in New York, will be looking to make a strong appearance at this year’s Classic as the No.18 ranked team in the country. The team is led by 6-7 West Virginia recruit Kevin Jones and is anchored by backcourt mates PG Ketema Brooks and SG Sherrod Wright.
Though not in the Super 25, perennial California powerhouse Westchester appears as the No. 8 team in the West region. Returning nearly all of his top players from last season and going as many as least nine deep, Coach Ed Azzam expects his team to do good things this year. The talented squad is led by guards Oscar Bellfield and SMU-bound Jarrred Dubois. Early USC-commit, 6-8 sophomore Dwayne Polee, Jr. will also be a huge factor (signed with USC as an 8th Grader).
Final Notes: Despite not being listed in the national rankings, the final two “mainland” teams Mason County and Arlington Country Day (FL) are expected to be among the top teams in their respective leagues.
Mason County (KY) brings one the country’s top prospects in 6-7 Forward Darius Miller. Miller, who recently signed with Kentucky, was the 2006-07 All-Area Player-of-the-Year and was honored among the nation’s Top 20 players in the Sporting News.
Posted in: High School, Iolani, Tournaments
staceylite said,
December 18, 2007
Hey do you have any pics or video would be great of Mount Vernon team from toadys game at Iolani Classic?? Sportswriter in New York for NYCHoops.net doing story really need pictures and video asap if you can help????