© 2006 MidStateHoops.com.
All rights reserved.

THE BEST IN ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL RECRUITING!

Spiece Run-N' Slam All-Star Weekend Classic
Preview, Part 1
by Pat Benninger
May 2, 2006

Ft. Wayne, Indiana will be packed with teams and prospects from "Land Of Lincoln", especially on the 17U level.  The two top teams from the state in attendance will be Illinois Wolves and MeanStreets.

The Wolves are currently 18-2, losing only to D-1 Greyhounds and Memphis Tigers (by forfeit).  They are led by three of the top four juniors in the state in Demetri McCamey, Evan Turner, and recent Southern Illinois commit-Carlton Fay.  Also look for unsigned senior-Travis Marion, sharpshooters-Jon Rice and Sam Maniscalco, 6’4” wings-Michael Stovall and Mike Bellato, and 6’8” Dwight McCombs to make impacts.

Trey Blue and Jacob Pullen have led their MeanStreets team to a very fair season that anyone would be proud of.  However, elite eight finishes in top tournaments are disappointing for them.  Hopefully, Jelani Poston, Larry Dumas, Isaiah Martin, and sophomores-Mike Dunigan and Josh Crittle, can extend their efforts enough to put Tai’s team over the top.

Other teams from Illinois that will be participating in the tournament include Illinois Fire, led by Mustapha Farrakhan, James Henley, Ryan Hare, and Jeremy Montgomery; Illinois Defenders, led by Northwestern commit-Mike Capocci, Blake Saunders, and Garrett Lefflerman; Team Illinois, led by Brandon Dunson, Verdell Jones, and Eric Hobbie; and Full Package, led by Wisconsin swingman-Quan Hicks, Sean Kane, Caleb Harris, and Shannon Adams.

Look for Angel Garcia and David Sanchez, who will be competing with the Indiana based-CAPS All-Stars.

A few nationally top rated players expected to attend include (but are not limited to): O.J. Mayo, Bill Walker, Michigan State commits-Durrell Summers and Kalin Lucas, Corperryale Harris, Marquette commit-Scott Christopherson, super sophomores-Yancey Gates and B.J. Mullens, Alex Legion, Michigan commit-Kelvin Grady, Dar Tucker, sophomore-Korey Lucious, and Ohio State commit-Jon Deibler.