Las Vegas bills itself as the entertainment capital of the world. Beginning Friday, it becomes the grassroots basketball capital of the world.
Nearly 1,000 teams from around the United States and Canada will descend on Sin City for three major events spread out over five days and 41 venues.
Shabazz Muhammad and Dream Vision are among the headliners of the adidas Super 64.
Photo by Nick Koza
The dean of late-July basketball in Vegas is the adidas Super 64, entering its ninth year. Nearly 400 teams in four age groups are scheduled to participate.
CBS Sports Network will televise the final of the Super 64 at 8 p.m. EDT on Tuesday. Top-ranked 2012 prospect
Shabazz Muhammad – a Las Vegas native – and California-based Dream Vision will be among the favorites in the 17s division along with perennially strong clubs like the Atlanta Celtics, Florida Rams Black, Indiana Elite and New England Playaz.
The Fab 48 debuted last summer and immediately grabbed headlines with a strong field and LeBron James' appearance at the under-17 invitational division championship. More than 300 teams are registered this year in the U16 and U17 divisions alone.
The Oakland Soldiers emerged as the top program in the inaugural Fab 48 and will be a strong contender to repeat. Other headliners include No. 1-ranked 2013 prospect
Jabari Parker and Mac Irvin Fire and the New Jersey-based Playaz Basketball Club, featuring 6-foot-8 point guard
Kyle Anderson.
Entering the fray this year will be Las Vegas Live, an event produced by Hal Pastner – longtime Houston-area club-ball mover and shaker and the father of Memphis head coach Josh Pastner. Live has nearly 90 teams registered in the U17 division and is hosting tournaments all the way down to the U10 boys level and four age groups for girls.
adidas Super 64, July 22-26Helpful links: Super 64 home /
Venues /
17U poolsTeams to watch: Atlanta Celtics (Ga.), Compton Magic Elite (Calif.), Connecticut Basketball Club, Dallas Mustangs (Texas), DC Assault (District of Columbia), Double Pump Elite (Calif.), Dream Vision (Calif.), Florida Rams Black, Indiana Elite, New England Playaz (Mass.), New Heights (N.Y.), Wisconsin Playground Warriors.
Fab 48, July 22-25Helpful links: Information center /
Venues /
17U Invitational pools Teams to watch: Grassroots Canada, Mac Irvin Fire (Ill.), New York Panthers, Oakland Soldiers (Calif.), Playaz Basketball Club (N.J.), Team Loaded (Va.).
Las Vegas Live, July 22-26Helpful links: Home /
17U schedule /
VenuesTeams to watch: California Supreme, Friends of Hoop (Wash.), Houston Hoops (Texas).
