Along the Recruiting Trail

Archbishop Mitty among a slew of teams who won Holiday Classics

Jan. 6, 2008

By Van Coleman

Special To CSTV.com & Hoopmasters.com


	Van Coleman Van is one of the nation's premier recruiting experts. E-mail here!

St. Benedict's, Mater Dei, Archbishop Mitty, Memphis Briarcrest, Chicago Whitney Young, Chicago Simeon and Raleigh Word of God are among this year's Holiday Classic Champions.

The Holiday Tournament season has been a good one nationally. We were live at the City of Palms, Houston vs. The Nation and Beach Ball Classic and we had representatives at the Arby's Classic, GSK Holiday Invitational and Proviso West Holiday Classic.

Here's a quick overview of some of the above tournaments plus a number of others across the nation, as we wrap up the holiday coverage and move on to the second half of the High School season.

Archbishop Mitty upends Oregon City for title at Les Schwab Invitational

Many in the stands thought this one was over early as San Jose Archbishop Mitty (Calif.) ran out to an early 20-5 lead in the first six minutes of the game behind the dominant play of 6-foot-8 Colin Chiverton. They maintained that lead to the half, going into the locker room up 50-36 over Oregon City.

The Oregon City squad closed the gap to eight points, 67-59, as 6-foot-3 point guard Brad Tinsley hit his teammates for driving buckets and throw downs. But Chiverton and his frontcourt mate 6-foot-10 Drew Gordon (No.31/UCLA) tool over on the baseline, both scoring and controlling the boards to open up an 18 point lead, then coasted to an 86-75 victory to win the championship.

Archbishop Mitty was led by Chiverton with 27 points and 5 rebounds, while Gordon added 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in the win. Oregon City's top gun was Tinsley (Pepperdine) with 25 points and 7 assists. He received solid support from Kamal Smith, who finished with 16 points in the loss.

Les Schwab Invitational All-Tournament Team: MVP-Drew Gordon 6-foot-10 PF San Jose Archbishop Mitty; Colin Chiverton 6-foot-8 CF San Jose Archbishop Mitty; Brad Tinsley 6-foot-3 PG Oregon City; Mike Moser 6-foot-8 PF Portland Grant; Michael Harthun 6-foot-4 SG South Medford.

Memphis Briarcrest outlasts D.C. Archbishop Carroll for Arby's Classic title

The championship game of the Arby's Classic was close early as Memphis Briarcrest opened up a 19-16 advantage behind Leslie McDonald (No.17/2009) and Elgin Lee, who combined for ten points to overcome 14 points that Archbishop Carroll's Kris Joseph and Rodney McGruder scored in the opening quarter. The D.C. duo, helped by some tough defense, dominated the second quarter to build a 32-27 half-time advantage.

The second half belonged to tourney MVP McDonald, who led a late charge by Briarcrest. With Carroll up 53-52 with just over five minutes to play, McDonald led a 14-3 run to put Briarcrest up 67-56 as they held on to win a 71-61 decision over D.C. Carroll.

Briarcrest was led by McDonald, who finished with 26 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. He got solid support from Elgin Lee who contributed 21 points, while Gregg Wooten added 19 points, including four threes. The top gun for Carroll was Kris Joseph (No.54/Syracuse), who ended with 22 points and 8 rebounds. He got solid help from McGruder, who chipped in with 14 points.

Arby's Classic All-Tournament Team: MVP-Leslie McDonald 6-foot-5 SG (2009) Memphis Briarcrest; Greg Wooten 6-2 CG (2009) Memphis Briarcrest; Johnny Williams 6-foot-7 PF Memphis Briarcrest; Elgin Lee 6-foot-3 WF Memphis Briarcrest; Kris Joseph 6-foot-4 SG Washington Archbishop Carroll; Rodney McGruder 6-4 SG Washington Archbishop Carroll; Alek Mitrovic 6-foot-7 CF Washington Archbishop Carroll; Thierno Agne 6-7 WF Ulm Urspring (Germ.); Maurice Stuckey 6-foot-3 Ulm Urspring (Germ.); Travis Leslie 6-foot-5 SG Decatur Columbia (Ga.); Darius Morrow 6-foot-8 C Decatur Columbia (Ga.); Dago Pena 6-foot-5 WF Punta Gorda Charlotte (Fla.); Jared Cartwright 6-foot-6 WF Freeport Tabernacle (Gr. Bahamas); Justin Sylvester 6-foot-2 Kingsport Dobyns Bennett (Tenn.); Nigel Carter 6-foot-5 Los Angeles Dorsey (Ca.); Tramar Sutherland 6-foot-3 Toronto Henry Carr (Ont.); Pablo Warner 6-foot-2 SG (2009) Honolulu Iolani (Hi.); Eddie Piccinini 6-foot-1 Orlando Pine Castle (Fla.)

Word of God is first local champion in GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational

For the first time since 1989, a local team won the GSK Holiday Invitational title in what could be described as a classic game. Word of God defeated powerful DeMatha, 64-62, behind 19 points from 6-foot-8 sophomore C.J. Leslie (No.28/2010/N.C. State). His perimeter running mate, 6-foot-4 John Wall (No.15/2009/North Carolina), one of the top point guards in the junior class, finished with 14 points for Word of God on his way to winning the MVP award of the eight-team National bracket. Josh Selby had a game-high 25 points for DeMatha but it was not enough as they suffered a tough loss Saturday night.

GSK All-Tournament Team: Most Valuable Player: John Wall 6-foot-5 PG (2009) Raleigh Word of God (N.C.); Most Outstanding Player: C.J. Leslie 6-foot-8 WF (2010) Raleigh Word of God (N.C.); Antonio Moffit Knightdale; Justin Watts, Durham Jordan; Ryan Kelly 6-foot-10 C Raleigh Ravenscroft (N.C.); Donovan Ingram 6-foot-2 CG Kinston; Eugene Phelps 6-foot-6 PF Woodland Hills Taft (Calif.); Larry Drew 6-foot-1 PG Woodland Hills Taft (Calif.).

Whitney Young wins in overtime at Proviso West Holiday Classic...

Whitney Young pulled off a 55-53 overtime win over Homewood-Flossmoor in the Proviso West Holiday Tournament championship game as 6-foot-3 junior guard Chris Colvin scored on a drive with four seconds left in overtime.

The Dolphins (9-1) avenged an earlier season 66-55 loss at Chicago State. A. J. Rompza led Whitney Young with 17 points, including three three-pointers. Tournament MVP Kevin Dillard (Southern Illinois) led all scorers for Homewood-Flossmoor with 21 points, despite fouling out with 5:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. Dillard went 7-for-15 from the field, 4-of-7 from three-point range and 3-for-4 from the line. He got solid support from Supo Sanni, who added 13 points and 11 rebounds, but came up short in a thriller. Homewood-Flossmoor fell to 11-1 with their first loss of the season.

Proviso West Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team: First Team: MVP-Kevin Dillard 6-foot PG Homewood-Flossmoor (MVP); A.J. Rompza 6-foot PG Whitney Young; Supo Sanni 6-foot-4 WF (2009) Homewood-Flossmoor; Mike Dinunno 5-foot-11 PG Chicago Von Steuben; Ryan Hare 6-foot-3 SG Marshall. Second Team: Marcus Jordan 6-foot-4 SG (2009) Chicago Whitney Young; Darius Smith 6-foot-2 SG Chicago Marshall; Alex Dragievich Glenbrook North; Oscar Macias Morton; Peter Boehm 6-foot-9 (2010) Winnetka New Trier.

Powder Springs McEachern nips Berkeley Prep for Kingdom of the Sun crown

The Kingdom of the Sun lived up to its long-term history with a real barnburner in its championship game as Powder Spring McEachern nipped Berkeley Prep by a 65-62 margin. McEachern held a 35-29 lead at the end of the first half as 6-foot-2 sophomore Trae Golden (No.14 Soph/Ohio State) lead the way with 16 points in the opening half.

Berkeley Prep wasn't done as they knotted the score at 59-all with 1:44 left in the game. Both clubs traded baskets over the next minute, and Berkeley thought they had sent it to overtime on a three-pointer with four seconds to play. But McEachern called a timeout and set up their final play. It was simple plan, get the ball to Trae Golden and let the super sophomore take it end to end. The ball did get into Golden's hands and he drove to the top of the key, rose and stuck a three as the buzzer sounded to give McEachern the 65-62 win.

Trae Golden finished with 36 points in the final, leading the tournament in scoring with 103 points. He received solid support from 6-foot-9 Darius Garrett with 11 points and 6-foot-7 Kadeem Batts, who chipped in with 10 points. Berkeley Prep played Cinderella all week and did it with a balanced attack. The final was no exception as 6-foot-1 Christian Reintgen led the way with 18 points along with Austin Suarez, who added 11 points, while 6-foot-3 Johnnie Gray and 6-foot-2 Kaznaski both chipped in with 10 points each.

North Crowley holds off Monroe Carroll to win title at Whataburger Westside Lions Club Classic

Fort Worth North Crowley used a huge fourth quarter from 6-foot-3 tournament MVP Willie Warren (No.12/Oklahoma) who scored 12 points in the final stanza to help North Crowley win a 72-60 victory over Monroe Carroll (La.) in the Whataburger Westside Lions Club Classic. Warren led North Crowley, scoring 23 points in the final, while 6-foot-5 Tony McGilveary added 17 and 10 rebounds as North Crowley won its first Orange Division championship at the Whataburger Tournament. Carroll's top gun was 6-foot-9 Terrance Henry (No.67/Mississippi) who finished with a game-high 28 points and 10 rebounds. He got solid support from 6-foot-6 Brandon Wilson (Mississippi), who had 18 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for Carroll.

North Crowley has three Whataburger championships, including a White Division title in 2000 and a Blue Division title in 1998. But this was their first in the National / Orange Division.

Flushing Holy Cross wins STOP-DWI Holiday Classic crown

The Championship at the STOP-DWI Holiday Classic was decided early in the game as Flushing Holy Cross (N.Y.) went on a 16-0 run capped by a Tim Beinert lay-in to go up 18-7 over Portsmouth I.C. Norcom (Va.) at the end of the first period. The rest of the way it was all Holy Cross as they built a 33-17 halftime advantage into 70-42 victory.

Holy Cross was led by Tournament MVP 6-foot-5 Sylven Landesburg (No.37/Virginia) with 27 points and 12 rebounds. He received solid support from Blaise French with 15 points, while Tim Beinert added 12 points in the win. Norcom was led by Deshaune Green, who finished with 14 points.

STOP-DWI All-Tournament Team: MVP Sylven Landesburg Flushing Holy Cross (N.Y.); Blaise French Flushing Holy Cross (N.Y.); Tim Beinert CF Flushing Holy Cross (N.Y.); Troy King Astoria St. John's Prep (N.Y.); Allen Roberts Middletown (Oh.); Elisha Justice Shelby Valley (Ky.); Deshawn Williams Portsmouth I.C. Norcom (Va.); Deshaune Green Portsmouth I.C. Norcom (Va.); Jimmy Gray Binghamton; Chris Cartwright Binghamton.

Santa Ana Mater Dei captures the Orange County Holiday Classic crown

The Santa Ana Mater Dei Monarchs won their third title of the early high school season with an 88-74 victory over J.Serra Catholic. Mater Dei jumped to a 28-13 first-quarter lead behind the guard play of 6-foot-2 Gary Franklin and the domination inside of the 6-foot-9 Wear Twins, David and Travis, who committed to North Carolina this week. The Monarchs built their lead to twenty-plus on a couple of occasions in the third quarter, then coasted home with a 14-point win over J.Serra. Mater Dei was led by Franklin with 19 points and 6 boards. He got solid support from tournament Co-MVP's Travis Wear (No.23/2009) who added 19 points and David Wear (No.30/2009) who chipped in with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Six-foot-4 Blake Arnet added 17 points and 6-foot-8 Andy Brown 10 points in the championship win.

St. Benedict's adds Bojangles Shootout crown to Holiday titles

St. Benedict's survived a grueling December schedule and a deep field at the Bojangles Shootout to leave the Holiday Season as the nation's top squad. But it wasn't easy as they survived a real battle with South Atlanta in the semi's to face a solid Cincinnati Moeller squad in the finals.

The final was close early as the solid squad from Moeller didn't fold under the pressure of meeting up with the nation's top squad. But the St. Benedict's depth wore down the Moeller squad in the second half to give the Gray Bees a 56-45 decision over the Ohio squad.

St. Benedict's was led by Tournament MVP 6-foot-9 Samardo Samuels (No.4/Louisville) who finished with 23 points and 9 rebounds. He received solid help from 6-foot-3 junior Tamir Jackson, who added 14 points and 6-foot-2 Scott Marchado, who added 9 points and 9 assists in the win. Moeller's top gun was 6-foot-3 Michael Davenport with 13 points and 6 rebounds. Six-foot-5 Quinn McDowell (William & Mary) and 5-foot-11 Tony Rack chipped in 11 points each in the loss.

Bojangles Shootout National All-Tournament Team: MVP-Samardo Samuels 6-foot-9 St. Benedict's; Greg Echenique 6-foot-9 (2009) St. Benedict's; Derrick Favors 6-foot-9 (No.1/2009) South Atlanta (Ga.); Mfon Udofia 6-foot-2 (2009) Lithonia Millers Grove (Ga.); Quinn McDowell 6-foot-3 Cincinnati Moeller (Oh.)

Simeon edges Farragut for Chicago Public League Holiday Tournament title

Make no mistake, having depth at key positions can lead to a crown and Simeon proved that in the final of the Public League Holiday finals. The Wolverines lost starter 6-foot-9 Stan Simpson (Illinois) with 4:53 to play, then his replacement, 6-foot-6 Stephen Walker, fouled out with 3:32 to play. In came 6-foot-6 senior Darrel Stevenson to fill the void, and that he did, knocking down two free throws with 24-seconds left to put Simeon up 46-44. They proved to be the difference as both teams each made one of two free throws down the stretch as Simeon held on for a 47-45 victory over top-rated Farragut Academy.

Simeon was led by 5-foot-11 Lazeric Jones with 10 points while Stan Simpson added 9 points in the victory. Six-foot guard Kenyon Smith added 4 points, but was named MVP of the tourney due to his stellar floor game. Farragut was led by 6-foot-10 Michael Dunigan (No.25/Oregon) who scored 17 points and pulled down 17 rebounds. He got solid support from Isaiah Williams who added 10 points. Once again, poor free throw shooting was a problem for Farragut as they only hit 10 of 19 in the second half after knocking down nine in a row in the opening half.

Compton Dominguez edges Simi Valley in thriller at MaxPreps Holiday Classic

In the early going, Compton Dominguez built an early 13-point lead, before heading into the locker room up 48-38 in a high-scoring affair with Simi Valley. Dominguez extended its lead to 13 again in the third quarter, but Simi Valley and their high-scoring 6-foot-2 backcourt star Lorne Jackson made a run that put them up 83-82 with just 21-seconds to play. But the ball didn't bounce Simi Valley's way in the end as Darrel Espy missed a three for Dominguez, but Dominick Lacoste made a putback with one second left to give Dominguez an 84-83 win.

6-foot-8 Tournament MVP Jordan Hamilton led the way with 18 points and 12 boards. He received solid support from Myron Green with 17 points, while Robert Mandingo and Aaron More added 10 points each. The Dons balance offset a great performance by Simi Valley's Lorne Jackson, who finished with 39 points and 7 assists. He made 20-of-22 free throws to help keep his club in the game. Micheal Meza and Brad Lewis added 19 and 16 points, respectively, in the loss.

MaxPreps National Division All-Tournament Team: MVP-Jordan Hamilton Compton Dominguez (Ca.); Myron Green Compton Dominguez (Ca.); Bryce Cartwright Compton Dominguez (Ca.); James Rahon San Diego Torrey Pines; Michael Proctor Desert Vista (Ariz.); Chris Jones Newark Memorial (Ca.); Cameron Nettles Cerritos Gahr (Ca.); Peyton Siva Seattle Franklin (Wa.); Demar Derozan Compton (Ca.); Jrue Holiday North Hollywood Campbell Hall (Ca.); Michael Meza Simi Valley (Ca.); Lorne Jackson Simi Valley (Ca.)

Louisville Male edges University Heights for King of Bluegrass Classic crown

The final of the King of the Bluegrass came down to the final two seconds when senior guard Rodd Lanon made a runner in the lane to seal a 53-51 victory for Louisville Male over Hopkinsville University Heights. Lanon finished with 13 points and handed out 6 assists for the Bulldogs. He got solid help from Bryce Mitchell, with 14 points, while Dexter Shannon added 11 points plus 12 rebounds and D'Eric Shontee chipped in with 10 points. University Heights was led by tourney MVP 6-foot-6 Scotty Hopson, who finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

That's our wrap-up of some of the nation's other top holiday tournaments. We will be taking a look at some of the Holiday season's top individual performers over the next couple days, as we get ready to bring you a mid-season player ranking update right here at Generation Next.