Coaches Missed Sharpshooter

Last weekend's inaugural High School National Championship at the Penn Palestra in Philadelphia wasn't an NCAA-certified event even though the two-day eight team tournament occured during the first July evaluation period. That's because the schools were provided travel assistance by the sponsors, And One Basketball and Hoop Group.

Coaches looking for a sharpshooting 6-7, 195 pound swingman would have seen Putnam City High School's Jacob Burtschi. Burtschi tallied 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds and handed out two assists in the Oklahoma City team's 64-55 loss to Georgia's Redan High School and fourth place in the event. His total included four three-point field goals.

And this young man is the son of the Pirates head coach, A.D. Burtschi, who told RivalsHoops.com, "Jacob is being recruited by Wyoming, New Mexico, SMU, Colorado State, Tulsa, Oral Roberts, Iowa, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech." Putnam City enters the 2002-03 season as the state's 6A defending champion.