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Plenty of talent in ANI National division
Story URL: http://collegebasketballnews.scout.com/2/216815.html

Chris Monter
CollegeBasketballNews.com
Dec 24, 2003

The Academy National Invitational Tournament has some new teams in its third season, but there is no denying that this is one of the top high school events in the country. The tournament start December 27th and will continue December 29th and 30th. The following is a look at the eight teams in the national division. We'll look at the Texas division tomorrow

National Division

11:00 AM                        Los Angeles (CA) Fairfax vs. Melbourne (FL) Florida Air Academy

2:00 PM                           Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei vs. Ft. Lauderdale (FL) Dillard
5:00 PM                          Rockville (MD) Montrose Christian vs.Tulsa (OK) Booker T Washington 
8:00 PM                          Missouri City (TX) Hightower vs. Houston (TX) Milby 
 
The opening game matches Los Angeles (CA) Fairfax versus Melbourne (FL) Florida Air Academy. Fairfax is led by UCLA signee Josh Shipp and junior forward Jamal Boykin. They are 6-1 are finishing third in the Iolani Classic. They lost to #1 Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill Academy in the semifinals.

They face Florida Air Academy, who finished 29-0 last season. They are led by 6-11 senior Alexander Kaun, who signed with Kansas. They are a two-time defending 2A and 3A Florida State Champion. Kaun averaged 16 points, 10 boards, and four blocked shots per game last season.

Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei faces Ft. Lauderdale (FL) Dillard in the second national game. Mater Dei finished third in College Basketball News’ prep poll last season, finishing 35-2. They are led by 6-6 Marcel Jones, who signed with Oregon State and 6-8 power forward Chris Henry, who inked with Washington State. The Monarchs also have talented junior point guard Mike Gerrity and 6-7 freshman Taylor King, who has already committed to UCLA. They are 10-1 with their lone loss to Peoria Central.

Dillard finished 32-1 last season, winning a Class 6A state title and a No. 18 USA Today final national ranking. The state championship was their third in a row. 6-6 Chris Rawls is the lone returning starter for the Panthers.

The third national contest matches Rockville (MD) Montrose Christian against Tulsa (OK) Booker T Washington 

Montrose Christian, coached by Stu Vetter, has a talented pair of African seniors in 6-6 floor leader Churchill Odia and 6-11 big man Tunji Soroye. Odia, who has been bothered by an ankle injury, committed to Xavier and Soroye is Virginia-bound. The Mustangs also have junior forwards Mike Freeman and Uche Echefu and 6-7 freshman Herb Pope. They are 5-2 after finishing in fourth place in the Iolani Classic.

 

Booker T. Washington is led by talented two-sport standout Quentin Chaney, who will play football at Oklahoma next fall.

 

The final national contest features Missouri City (TX) Hightower and Houston (TX) Milby Hightower is led by 5-10 sophomore point guard Nic Wise, who has already committed to Arizona. They finished 34-3 last season and also have plenty of size in seniors Jacque Jones (6-5), Larry Handy (6-7) and Reginald Fuller (6-6). Sophomore big man Darris Santee has a big upside.

 

Milby is 17-0 and is led by Arizona signee Jawaan McClellan. The Buffaloes won the recent 64th annual Houston ISD/Houston Jaycees Tournament, defeating Eisenhower 73-62 in the championship game. McClellan had 31 points to earn the tournament's MVP honors, while Larry Posey, who signed with Texas-Arlington added 21. They also have 6-5 Leon St. Rose and 5-5 point guard Tremaine Webster.



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