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Reebok Big Time Tournament Preview

Sonny Vaccaro’s Reebok Big Time Tournament tips-off Thursday
336 teams led by Spiece Indy Heat, Michigan Hurricanes, Illinois Wolves and the SoCal All-Stars are slated for the Sonny Vaccaro’s 10th Reebok Big Time tournament that will begin play Thursday July 22nd with pool play and come to a conclusion with a championship game on Monday July 26th.
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In total there will be 835 games on 24 courts in 12 high schools spread out through Southern Nevada. Teams from 41 US states, Washington D.C., and Canada who participate in the tournament that starts daily at 9 a.m. and last until midnight every night with the lone exception being the championship rounds on Monday. All day passes, good at every gym, can be purchased for $10.
Big Time loaded with top prospects in 2005
The list of high profile prospects is deep and led by Josh McRoberts (Spiece Indy Heat), Brandon Rush (Rocktown), Gerald Green (Houston Elite), Monta Ellis (Magnolia Stars) and Eric Devendorf (Michigan Hurricanes) all who are top 10 candidates in the Rivals150 that will be released August 2nd.
Duke commitment McRoberts, 6-foot-11, 240-pounds, has seen his stock skyrocket in the last two months after adding 25-pounds of muscle and adjusting to playing in the paint. He’s managed to keep his small forward skills which add to his allure.
With NBA bloodlines Rush, 6-foot-7, 190-pounds, has been one of the most talked about recruits in his class since his freshman year in high school. The explosive athlete has been up and down all summer but recently showed signs of living up to his all-American potential.
Perhaps the best offensive threat in 2005, Green, 6-foot-8, 195-pounds, fresh off his ABCD MVP performance, looks to continue his run as the nation’s top prospect. The small forward is as developed offensively as anyone in the nation.
Mississippi State commitment Ellis, 6-foot-2, 160-pounds, has quietly enjoyed a stellar AAU circuit while not being mentioned as much as his peers. Perhaps the fastest guard in the country, he can put up numbers in bunches whether it be from deep three’s or driving to the basket.
Devendorf, 6-foot-3, 180-pounds, put a smile on Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim’s face when he chose the Orangemen over Florida and Michigan State and the Motor City guard has been as consistent as any guard this summer.
Three of Rivals.com top 6 prospects in 2006 on display
Three prospects who occupy spots in the Rivals.com150 highlight the list of 2006 standouts that will be in Las Vegas for the Big Time tournament.
Consensus No. 1 pick Greg Oden will lead his Spiece Indy Heat team into the tournament. Oden, 6-foot-11, 225-pounds, is a five-foot and in player who gets most of his points on powerful dunks or offensive rebounds. He’s currently talking about college but having his name announced by David Stern at the start of the 2006 NBA draft is a strong possibility.
Teaming with Oden to make an intimidating inside-out punch will be shooting guard Daequan Cook who is currently ranked No. 6 by Rivals.com. Cooke, 6-foot-4, 185-pounds, is an athletic rim rocker who also has a nice jumper and solid enough handle to be considered a complete player.
New York big man Derrick Caracter will represent the Northeast in Sin City. Caracter, 6-foot-8, 287-pounds, was slow out of the gate this summer but played with an inspired effort at the ABCD camp including a head-to-head match-up with Oden.
Don’t forget about the 2007 kids
While Rivals.com has yet to release the ranking for the 2007 class four players who will be included O.J. Mayo, Bill Walker, Taylor King and Jerryd Bayless will represent the sophomore class and look to cement their names among the elite in their class.
The mostly wide publicized of the group is Mayo, 6-foot-3, 180-pounds, has been a household name for recruitniks since his 8th grade season. The shooting guard has a consistency and maturity that belies his years.
Mayo’s teammate Bill Walker, 6-foot-5, 190-pounds, has been one of the most exciting players to watch this summer regardless of class. The explosive jumper jack had a group tournament run during the NBA player’s camp and hopes to keep that momentum.
King committed to UCLA as a rising freshman and since that time has seen his stock shoot up and down. However the 6-foot-6 shooting guard has lost 20-pounds in the last few months and was one of the standout underclassmen at the ABCD camp.
Point guard Bayless, 6-foot-2, has been nothing less than spectacular this year and along the way picked up an offer from Arizona head coach Lute Olsen with plenty of more on the way. With nice solid, handle and court vision he is well on his way to being one of the top prospects in 2007.
Stay tuned to Rivals.com for coverage of the Big Time throughout the tournament.
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