Published Dec 16, 2003
Previewing the Les Schwab Invitational
Justin Young
RivalsHoops.com Recruiting Analyst
National teams
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Hillcrest (AL)
The No. 12 player in the country, D.J. White, headlines the 2003 Les Schwab Invitational. The future Indiana Hoosier is a prototypical college power forward with great physical skills and overall hoops knowledge. He will either be the teacher or the student in this event that features a number of top notch power forwards.
Georgetown Prep (DC)
The Little Hoyas are led by uncommitted senior Davis Nwankwo. He has decided to wait until the spring to make a decision between Arizona, Stanford and now Miami (FL). The 6-foot-8 power forward is flanked by two other Division I big men.
7-foot-2 mammoth of a center Roy Hibbert is committed to big man U Georgetown. There isn’t a player in the field that can match him size for size.
Georgetown Prep also boasts 6-foot-9 Aris Williams who is committed to Valparaiso and Syracuse football commitment 6-foot-3 Tommy ‘Rice’ Moss, the second cousin of NFL star Randy Moss.
Verbum Dei (CA)
Led by super sophomore Matt Shaw, the fellas from Los Angeles are a well traveled and tough team. Shaw is one of Southern California’s top underclassmen. This tournament could be a coming out party for the youngster with several top notch big men playing in the field. The 6-foot-7 Shaw averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds as a freshman.
Giving Verbum Dei some experience in the backcourt is 5-foot-8 senior guard Michael Pagan. The little lightning bolt guard can put up some points, averaging 21 points a game as a junior.
Another name to watch is 6-foot-8 senior Lowell Grissom.
Oregon teams
Benson
Junior point guard Jeremy Lathan is a powerful and quick floor general that has already received offers from Minnesota and New Mexico.
Hillsboro
Led by James Loe, an all-state performer last season, Hillsboro will push the ball up the court and play a fast paced style of game. Loe, a 5-foot-10 point, is signed with Eastern Washington.
6-foot-8 junior forward Brad Hodge holds things down inside. Hodge is receiving early looks from Oregon, Oregon State and Utah.
Jefferson
There hasn’t been a school that has produced more top notch Division I talent over the last five years than Jefferson HS. They have sent the likes of Aaron Miles and Brandon Lee to Kansas, Thomas Gardner to Missouri and Brandon Brooks to USC. This group at the LSI is no different.
Sophomore Lathen Wallace will likely join the ranks of his fellow Democrats. The 6-foot-3 guard can light it up from deep and plays under control. He is considered one of the top players on the West Coast for the 2006 class.
6-foot-8 junior Brian Morris is the focus inside. And the big man has been the focus of several big schools. Arizona State, UConn, Florida State, Kansas, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Texas Tech and UCLA have all shown interest.
6-foot, 150 pound junior point guard Mac Hopson gives the Demos a smart floor leader with guts and plenty of heart. Hopson has received mail from the likes of Marquette, Kansas State and Oregon State.
Jesuit
The genes in the Tarver family are good. Real good. Three of the Tarver boys dot the Jesuit roster. Senior Zach is a future Oregon State football player.
Josh is a 6-foot-3 junior guard that is garnering interest from Minnesota, Notre Dame and Oregon State.
The youngest Tarver, Seth , is a 6-foot-4 guard with big time upside. He started for Jesuit as a freshman.
Lake Oswego
There may not be a better freshman big man in the country than 6-foot-8 forward Kevin Love. Some have tabbed him as the next Bill Walton. Talk about some lofty expectations. So far, though, Love has answered the call and is averaging a double-double.
Another underclassmen prospect is Daniel Brady, a 6-foot-6 versatile forward from the 2006 class.
Lincoln
Omar Leary leads the way for the Cardinals. The 5-foot-10 point guard is one of the top prospects in the class of 2005 in the state of Oregon. He has already received an offer from Texas A&M and Arizona, UConn, Missouri and Florida are keeping tabs on him.
6-foot-5 high-flying junior LaTravis Turner joins Leary in the backcourt. Turner can flat out jump out of the gym and has received letters from Arizona, Florida State, Missouri, Texas Tech, UCLA and USC.
Redmond
Future Oregon Duck Maarty Leunen leads the way for the Redmond squad, the defending state champs. Leunen returns as the Oregon Player of the Year as well.
His younger brother, 6-foot-7 Matt Leunen is a talented swing forward from the class of 2005.
Sunset
Sam Rayburn, a 6-foot-11 center, will play for Ben Braun and the Cal Bears next season but won't be playing in the LSI due to an injury. Josh Jackson, a crafty guard getting low major looks will lead the way instead.
For the full tournament bracket and updated stats click here.