Let the games begin. The 2006 AAU season gets started in a big way this weekend as the Boo Williams Invitational kicks off in Hampton, Va.
The Boo Williams is generally the spring board for the AAU season. Guys like Vernon Macklin, Scottie Reynolds, Kevin Durant and Tywon Lawson used last year's event to spark their big senior seasons.
Who will it be this year?
The field of prospects from junior class is led by Kyle Singler, Derrick Rose and Kosta Koufos, all five-star prospects in the current top ten Rivals.com rankings for the class of 2007.
"It's a great opportunity to come out strong and for the known prospects it is a chance to really establish themselves with strong play at this event," said Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Jerry Meyer. "This is where they catch people's eyes."
The event can also propel regional superstars into five-star players. McDonald's All-American Sherron Collins did last year. Duke Crews made sure people knew about him. He shined in front of the home crowd all weekend long. Durant used the event to stronghold the No. 2 overall spot this year.
A number of ranked players in the field are already committed to schools. Durrell Summers (Michigan State), Gani Lawal (Georgia Tech), Nick Calathes (Florida), Donte Green (Syracuse), Laron Dendy (Clemson), Mike Holmes (South Carolina), Jeremy Price (Georgia), Jeff Jones (Maryland) and Bill Cole (Illinois).
Other players of note include five-star prospects Chris Wright, who helped pilot the Boo Williams Summer League team to the championship over Gary Johnson, Jai Lucas, Isaiah Rusher and the rest of the Houston Hoops. Louisiana forward Leonard Washington is another five-star prospect in the field.
Players like four-star prospects Nate Miles of Texas, Solomon Alabi of Florida, Devin Ebanks of New York and Maurice Miller of Tennessee all have breakout potential.
This year's 2007 class is deep. There is no debate about that. New Jersey native Corey Stokes will be on hand as will Peach State natives Jamar Moore and Chris Barnes. Oklahoma big man Blake Griffin is one of the toughest players in the class. Same goes for Patrick Patterson. They will be geared up for the weekend's events.
The class of 2008 field isn't too shabby either. Led by Philadelphia guard Tyreke Evans, the rising junior class has a number of big timers in the tournament. Evans will suit up for Team Final, a newly formed team on the Nike circuit.
The bulls-eye will be on him this weekend as the big timers aim to play for top honors in the class of 2008. Rivals.com will release its first class of 2008 ranking later this spring.
Other players to watch are Louisiana big man Greg Monroe, Alabama forward Xavier Gibson, Texas guard Willie Warren, Virginia big man Ed Davis and St. Benedict's post man Samardo Samuels.
Rivals.com National Recruiting Analysts Jerry Meyer and Justin Young will be on hand for the tournament from start to finish this weekend.