Friday, November 27, 2009

Baton Rouge Area Teams headed West for Texas Jamboree


Here is the official preview by my guy Jim Hicks who runs RCSSports.com Jim's site is the #1 site in the Greater Houston Area for Boy's HS basketball.

Pictured Below are the entire Glen Oaks Panthers after winning the Woodlawn Tourney, and Istrouma's Ronald McGhee, Steven Jackon and Darius Johnson.





By: Jim Hicks (RCS Sports)

It's that time of year again. On Friday and Saturday the place to be is Strake Jesuit, where the Thanksgiving Jamboree (hosted by Rick Nelson) once again boasts the state's top match-play lineup. Several teams from Dallas Fort Worth, Louisiana, and Austin will play two games each against some of Greater Houston's top private and public schools. The final three games on Friday feature three DFW powers versus a trio of Houston area teams, with a combined record of 27-1. Then, Saturday's lineup includes Dallas Woodrow Wilson (4-0), Duncanville (5-2), Port Arthur Memorial (2-0), Houston Jones (1-1), and Strake Jesuit (3-2). I'd be totally lying to you if I told you those Houston and Dallas teams/ fans aren't taking these showdowns seriously. Are bragging rights at stake? (As I spit my best imitation of Sarah Palin) You betcha!

This event should be listed right smack in the middle of the Black Friday sales papers. Eight games for only $10 (only $1.25 a pop) is about as good of a bargain that you could ask for. Plus, this is a grand opportunity to see which teams live up to the hype, and which ones don't. Naturally, there can hardly be top teams without top players. Here's your personal "cheat sheet" to print and keep in pocket as you sat courtside.

ALL GAMES @ STRAKE JESUIT COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL 8900 Bellaire, Houston 77036

Friday, November 27, 2009

10:30 am NORTH FOREST BULLDOGS (0-2) vs ST JOHN'S MAVERICKS (3-4)

This should be a fairly evenly matched game. North Forest is a bit on the scrappy side and will pretty much take whatever defenses give them, while St John's will rely heavily on guard play in a more structured offense.

EYE CATCHERS!

NF: Johnny Pope 5'10 cg 2011, Kenderek Uwadia 6'5 pf 2010

SJ: William Young 5'11 pg 2010 (23ppg/ 7apg), Tim Otey 6'0 g 2010 (12ppg), Justin Winslow 6'1 g 2011

RCS PREDICTION: St John's by 4
12PM AUSTIN LBJ JAGUARS (3-0) vs ST PIUS X PANTHERS (6-7)

Austin LBJ entered the season as one of the top ranked 4A teams in the state. That ain't good news for St Pius, who has a new head coach of a young team wrestling to find their identity. However, the Panthers now have their football players and have won 3 of their last 4 games. This could be the perfect grounds for an upset.

EYE CATCHERS!

LBJ: Robert Lee 6'0 g 2010 (22ppg), Donald Dallas 6'2 g 2010, Cameron Brown 6'0 g 2010

SP: Trey Guidry 6'5 w 2012 (18ppg), Kenny Wells 6'1 g 2011

RCS PREDICTION: LBJ by 8


1:30 BATON ROUGE GLEN OAKS PANTHERS (5-0) vs CLEAR SPRINGS CHARGERS (1-2)

Glen Oaks is one of Louisiana's top 5 teams and are off to a strong start including an impressive win last week over rival Istouma HS. Meanwhile, Clear Springs boast a pretty solid front court, but it don't mean didley squat if the guards can't break the press and get the rock into those guys.

EYE CATCHERS!

GO: Brian Williams 6'5 g 2010 (Mr Basketball last season), Tre Drye 6'7 f 2011

CS: Anthony Horton 6'7 pf 2010 (signed w/ Campbell), Teris Bourgeouis 6'4 f 2011, Ryan Garcia 6'7 c 2010

RCS PREDICTION: Glen Oaks by 14


3:00 pm ISTROUMA (LA) INDIANS (3-1) vs ST THOMAS EAGLES (8-4)

The Istrouma squad is laced with athletes including a nice blend of upper and under classmen. Expect four sophomores to see plenty action for the Indians. Speaking of 10th graders, St Thomas has one of the best young in-out duos in Houston. The Eagles are without 3 starters because of leg injuries, but their vocal student section is often good for causing at least one turnover + one air ball per quarter.

EYE CATCHERS!

I: Ronald McGhee 6'5 w 2010, Steven Jackson 6'4 f 2010

ST: Christian Sanders 6'3 pg 2012, Aaron Durley 6'9 c 2012

RCS PREDICTION: St Thomas by 1


4:30 DALLAS PINKSTON VIKINGS (0-2) vs SAM HOUSTON TIGERS (1-2)

Both of these teams possess a high major D1 prospect, and one of these teams will experience defeat for the 3rd time while playing less than five games. My point is plain and simple - if these superstars are as good as we've been led to believe, then they should be able to put the team on their back and prove their value

EYE CATCHERS!

DP: Tony Mitchell 6'8 pf 2010 (signed w/ Missouri)

SH: Anthony Norris 6'7 wf 2011

RCS PREDICTION: Pinkston by11


6pm LANCASTER TIGERS (2-0) vs HOUSTON BELLAIRE CARDINALS (6-0)

These could be the best two teams of the entire field, going toe to toe at the crack of dawn. Lancaster is a Dallas area 4A power with wins over Dallas Kimball and Dallas Carter, while Bellaire is the area's top 5A team fresh off capturing 1st place at the prestigious McDonald's Texas Invitational.

EYE CATCHERS!

L: John Bohannon 6'9 f 2010 (signed w/ UTEP), Michale Kyser 6'8 pf 2010 (signed w/ Lamar), Tre Lynch 6'1 cg 2010 (signed w/ Lamar)

B: Tobi Oyedeji 6'8 c 2010 (signed w/ Texas A&M), Jamel Outler 6'3 sg 2010 (signed w/ Texas Tech), Kene Anyigbo 6'6 pf 2010 (signed w/ Western Kentucky), Sheldon McClellan 6'5 wg 2011 (committed to Texas)

RCS PREDICTION: Bellaire by 4


7:30 pm DALLAS EPISCOPAL EAGLES (4-0) vs SECOND BAPTIST EAGLES (8-0)

Two of the top privates in Texas with each featuring an All American point guard running the show. This game will be won with intangibles and how good the role players can perform their roles.

EYE CATCHERS!

E: Trevor Fuller 6'8 pf 2010 (signed w/ San Diego), Phil Pressey 5'10 pg 2010 (signed w/ Missouri)

SB: Mikhail McLean 6'7 f 2010, LJ Rose 6'2 pg 2012

RCS PREDICTION: Second Baptist by 1


9pm DALLAS KIMBALL KNIGHTS (0-1) vs WESTBURY CHRISTIAN WILDCATS (7-0)

The pressing attack of Dallas Kimball meets unbeaten Westbury Christian is a first ever pairing between the historic programs. Kimball suffered a season opening loss vs Lancaster last week while Westbury Christian has dominated all seven opponents with their closest margin of victory being 21pts.

EYE CATCHERS!

K: David Kates 6'5 w 2010, Jerion Henry 6'8 f 2011

WC: Nick Shepherd 6'9 c 2010 (signed w/ Long Beach St), Anthony Collins 5'11 pg 2011

RCS PREDICTION: Westbury Chr by 2


Saturday, November 28, 2009

9:00 am North Forest Bulldogs vs Louisiana Istruma Indians
10:30 am St. John High School vs Austin LBJ Jaguars
12:00 pm St. Thomas Eagles vs Louisiana Glen Oak Panthers
1:30 pm Second Baptist Eagles vs Dallas W.Wilson Wildcats
3:00 pm Strake Jesuit Crusaders vs Dallas Pinkston Vikings
4:30 pm Westbury Christian Wildcats vs Episcopal School of Dallas
6:00 pm. Houston Jones Falcons vs Lancaster Tigers
7:30 pm Port Arthur Memorial Titans vs Dallas Kimball Knights
9:00 pm Houston Bellaire Cardinals vs Duncanville Panthers

Texas Jamboree
Courtesy of RCS Sports and Jim Hicks

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