By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
Some of the top high school basketball talent will be on display July 5-8 at the 16th Annual Mr. Basketball Invitational Tournament in Kearney.
The tournament was started by former Kearney High School and Nebraska-Kearney star Doug Koster in 1991, and has been a showcase for some of the best basketball talent in the Midwest.
The 2007 version of the tournament will have 32 teams from 10 states and Canada. In 2006, the South Dakota Storm won the tournament with a 59-55 overtime victory over the Minnesota Icemen. Storm guard Mike Pajor (Sioux Falls Lincoln) was the 2006 Most Valuable Player after scoring 22 points in the finals.
Also this year, the big weekend will debut the Miss Basketball Big Show, which also will have 32 teams vying for the title in the inaugural tournament.
Some of the alumni of the Mr. Basketball Invitational include Chris Duhon (Chicago Bulls), Mike Miller (Memphis Grizzlies), Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls), Channing Frye (Portland Blazers), and Terrell Suggs (Baltimore Ravens).
Mr. Basketball Pools
Pool A
Alberta All-Stars (Canada)
ECI West Black (N.D.)
Iowa Barnstormers
Kearney Bearcats
Pool B
ECI Minnesota Black
Front Row Elite (Mo.)
IBCA Iowa Select II
Runza Slamfest Stars
Pool C
ECI South Black (S.D.)
Kansas Attack
Midwest Trailblazers (Neb.)
Minnesota Comets I
Pool D
Colorado Shining Stars III
IBCA Iowa Select I
KC Heat (Kan.)
The Alternates (Neb.)
Pool E
Alegent Crusaders I (Neb.)
Colorado Shining Stars II
Mitchell Kernels (S.D.)
MSB Roadrunners (Minn.)
Pool F
Doherty Spartans (Colo.)
Northeast Nebraska Stars
Springfield Gamecocks (Mo.)
Wisconsin Elite
Pool G
Colorado Shining Stars I
Minnesota Comets II
South Dakota Storm
SWD Select (Kan.)
Pool H
Alegent Crusaders II (Neb.)
Colorado Fellas
Minnesota Magic
Oklahoma Saints
Miss Basketball Pools
Pool A
Arizona Sting
Colorado Triple Threat
Cornhusker Shooting Stars II (Neb.)
Missouri Valley Eclipse I (Kan.)
Pool B
Minnesota Metro Stars
Missouri Green Hornets
Omaha Heat I
Team Kansas Select
Pool C
Colorado Springs Lady Hawks
ECI Minnesota
Iowa Elite
Les Chats (Kan.)
Pool D
Cornhusker Shooting Stars I (Neb.)
High Plains Storm (Okla.)
KC Thundercats (Mo.)
South Dakota Riders I
Pool E
Iowa Lightning
Kansas Hoop Service
NWA Wildcats (Ark.)
Team Runza (Neb.)
Pool F
Colorado String Music
Kansas Belles
Omaha Crusaders (Neb.)
South Dakota Riders II
Pool G
ECI East (N.D.)
Missouri Lady Sting
Omaha Heat II
Team Colorado
Pool H
Black Hills Roundup (S.D.)
KC Lady Heat (Kan.)
Missouri Valley Eclipse II (Kan.)
Southern Minnesota Magic (Minn.)