Hoops Extravaganza on Saturday in Anaheim

The annual eight-game Nike Hoops Extravaganza will tip-off at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 5, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.

The featured teams include "host," Santa Ana Mater Dei High School, Los Angeles Fairfax High School, Lynwood High School, Fullerton High School, Las Vegas, Nev., Durango High School, Brentwood, Tenn., Brentwood Academy, and in the main event final game, nationally-rated Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill Academy will meet equally powerful Los Angeles Westchester High School.

Tournament director Gary McKnight, the head coach at Mater Dei High School, has assembled another outstanding lineup for the Nike-sponsored Hoops Extravaganza at the 7,000 seat Anaheim Convention Center, located directly across from Disneyland. Four teams rated among the nation's Top 25 by USA Today will participate in this year's event.

The most interesting matchups include an 11:00 a.m. game between Lynwood High School (rated No. 10 in the West) with UNLV signee, 6-foot-8 forward Davon Jefferson, Arizona State recruit, high scoring 6-foot-4 guard Seketoure Henry, and unsigned, but "hot" juco prospect, 6-foot-3 senior guard Antonio Weary; and Long Beach Poly High School, led by 6-foot-5 junior swingman Chris Brown, and 6-foot-6 sophomore forward David Chiebowski.

At 12:30 p.m. the best team in Nevada, Las Vegas Durango High School with gifted 6-foot-5 junior forward Andre McFarland, will play Rancho Santa Margarita, Santa Margarita High School, and their future All-American, UCLA-committed, 6-foot-9 junior power forward James Keefe.

The 2:00 p.m. game will have Coach Jim Harris' always competitive Huntington Beach Ocean View High School team playing Villa Park High School. This game will match two highly-rated sophomores, 6-foot-9 center/forward Clint Amberry of Ocean View, and 6-foot-5 wing forward Drew Viney of Villa Park.

In game five at 3:30 p.m. Fullerton High School with San Diego State signee, slender 6-foot-11 center/forward Brett Hoerner faces Los Angeles Verbum Dei High School and their promising 6-foot-11 freshman center Auri Allen, and talented unsigned senior, 6-foot-5 forward Gerard Anderson.

At 5:00 p.m. No. 20-rated Los Angeles Fairfax High School with a plethora of talent that includes Duke-bound, 6-foot-7 forward Jamal Boykin, up-and-coming juniors 6-foot-4 wing Jerren Shipp, and 6-foot-7 forward Matt Shaw, and standout sophomore 6-foot-5 forward Chace Stanback, will be challenged by Orange Lutheran High School. Lutheran's top player is Yale signee, 6-foot-6 forward Travis Sinick.

One of the day's best matchups will be at 6:30 p.m. when No. 25-rated Santa Ana Mater Dei (20-3) will face Brentwood, Tenn., Brentwood Academy, and Rival.com's No. 2-rated player in the Class of 2006, 6-foot-9 forward Brandan Wright. Mater Dei's strong lineup includes future UCLA Bruin, 6-foot-7 sophomore sensation Taylor King, unsigned senior floorleader, 6-foot point guard Mike Gerrity, and impressive sophomores 6-foot-1 guard Kamyron Brown, and 6-foot-11 center Alex Jacobson.

The 8:30 p.m. grand finale will have Coach Steve Smith's No. 8-rated Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill Academy squaring off with Coach Ed Azzam's No. 10-rated Los Angeles Westchester High School team. This game will be loaded with top Division I or future NBA prospects.

The key players for Oak Hill are seniors, Syracuse-bound, 6-foot-4 combo guard Eric Devendorf, and unsigned 6-foot-four swingman Jamont Gordon, and super juniors, 6-foot-9 forward Kevin Durant, and 5-foot-11 point guard Tywon Lawson, and William & Mary recruit, 6-foot-6 senior center/forward Alex Smith.

The top players for Westchester are Rivals.com's No. 18-rated senior, Louisville signee, 6-foot-9 center/forward Amir Johnson, Connecticut-bound, 6-foot-6 wing Marcus Johnson, and two Cal State Fullerton signees, 6-foot-4 second guard Gerard Moret, and 6-foot-7 power forward Jerrel Lake.

The opening 9:30 a.m. game will pair Fountain Valley High School against Crespi Encino High School.

Click to Rivals.com Ultimate Ticket for complete coverage of this event.