Talented field, Nationally Ranked Teams Headline Ballin' on the Red Invitational

                                      

Top Left: Langston Galloway
Top Right: Ricardo Gathers

Left: D'Andre Martin
Right: Jalan West

Starting tonight Loyola College Prep and Louisiana Youth Developmental will host the 1st Annual Ballin' on the Red tournament at LSU-Shreveport starting tonight at 6:30. Highlighting the field are two 2009 state champions in 3A Richwood-Monroe and 2A Riverside Academy of LaPlace,(all players on RA were apart of the Class C Championship team at Reserver Christian before the school closed) a state runner-up team in 4A Bossier, and semi-finalist Christian Life-Baton Rouge of 1A(3-time state champ from 2006-08). Rounding out the field includes Shreveport teams Loyola of 3A and Airline of 5A along with 4A Vandebilt Catholic from Houma. Loyola College Prep and Louisiana Youth Developmental have put together a great field loaded with talent.

"I wanted to bring team to shreveport and also the local coaches wanted to play other teams." tournament director Mike Theus said. "Should be some great opening round games(tonight). Bossier vs Richwood, CLA vs Airline and Riverside vs Vandy will all be great games."

Great games is an understatement by Theus, who runs the Louisiana Select Nike Travel Team as well. With Christian Life you get three division 1 signees in top 120 player Langston Galloway(St. Joseph's), Patrick Robinson(Northwestern State) and Kaleb Knight(Grambling State). This is just the kids that are already signed. CLA has a potential to have four more kids sign late with two possibly going Division 1. Riverside will be led highly touted sophomore Ricardo Gathers and seniors Cedric Jenkins(pictured right after winning 2008 State Title), Ed Gallina and Kyle McClue, and no this isn't all RA has, they have a load of sophomores to go with Gathers who will or could sign division 1. These ae just two teams filled with talented players from that Bayou State.

"I cant see any other tournament in the state having the talent that we will display at LSUS this weekend" said Theus. "There could possibly be up to 25 D1 players here this weekend."

Although the casual fan would think Theus could be overstating that comment, he isn't. Richwood returns nearly every player from their 3A State title team. Leading the way for the Rams are 6'7" LaDarrin Williams, LeDon Carter, Marceis Davis, D'Andre Martin. Bossier is another highly talented team led by junior Jalan West(pictured right) and sophomore Devonte Francis. Other players to watch are Airline's Josh Hagins in which rumors out of Shreveport are that he could be the best sophomore guard in the state in the 2012 class which is a loaded group of players.

This season's event starts tonight at 6:30 at LSU-Shreveport according to my schedule. Each team is guaranteed 3 games and the event will continue through Saturday and ends with the championship at 8:00 p.m. If you are at home or are in the area today through saturday make your way to LSU-S to see some of the state's top players. You will NOT be disappointed.

Players To Watch:

Airline- Josh Hagins 6'1" Soph. Guard

Bossier- Jalen West 5'10" Junior Guard

Bossier- Devonta Francis 5'9" Soph. Guard

Bossier- Joseph James 5'9" Junior Guard

Christian Life- Langston Galloway 6'3" Senior Guard St Joseph's Signee

Christian Life- Kaleb Knight 6'6" Senior Forward Grambling State Signee

Christian Life- Patrick Robinson 6'6" Senior Guard/Forward Northwestern State Signee

Christian Life- McCall Tomeny 6'5" Senior Small Forward

Christian Life- Marlon Bell 5'8" Senior Point Guard

Christian Life- Corey Self 5'8" Senior Point Guard

Loyola- Zack Bamburg 6'5" Freshman Forward

Richwood- LeDon Carter 6'7" Senior Forward 

Richwood- Marceis Davis 6'3" Senior Guard

Richwood- LaDarrin Williams 6'6" Senior Forward

Richwood- D'Andre Martin 6'3" Junior Guard

Riverside Academy- Cedric Jenkins 6'3" Senior Guard
Riverside Academy- Ed Gallina 6'4" Senior Guard

Riverside Academy- Kyle McClue 6'2" Senior Guard

Riverside Academy- Ricardo Gathers 6'6" Soph. Forward

Riverside Academy- Louis Dabney 6'4" Soph. Guard

Schedule:

Tonight:

Game 1 6:30 P.M. Richwood vs. Bossier
Game 2 8:00 P.M. Christian Life vs. Airline
Game 3 9:30 P.M. Riverside Academy vs. Vandebilt Catholic

Friday:

Game 4 5:00 P.M. Loyola vs. Game 1 Loser
Game 5 6:30 P.M. Game 2 loser vs. Game 3 Loser
Game 6 8:00 P.M. Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner
Game 7 9:30 P.M. Game 1 winner vs. Loyola

Saturday:

Game 8   3:30 P.M. Friendship Game
Game 9   5:00 P.M. Consolation
Game 10 6:30 P.M. Third Place
Game 11 8:00 P.M. Championship