Graphic by Social Recluse Graphx
For decades, the USA basketball team could and would cakewalk to international tournament and Olympic championships.
No more.
The game has gone international. Other countries are often more skilled – especially big men who can shoot – than Americans.
That notion will be taken to task at the 2014 MaxPreps Holiday Classic, which is just three days away.
Schnider Herard, a 6-11 post from Prestonwood
Christian might be able to contend with
Oakley Prep's twin 7-footers.
Photo by Mike Bouffard
The four-day, 148-team, 15-division tournament opens Friday and concludes Jan. 30 in Palm Springs.
Rancho Mirage (Calif.)
will serve as the primary host, but games will be played
in seven others venues around the Coachella Valley.
With three days remaining, we focus on the three countries represented: USA, German and Spain.
"The game is known all over the world," tournament co-director Wayne Merino said. "And we're getting calls all over the globe wanting to be part of this tournament. That's very humbling and cool."
The two out-of-country teams are from Germany and Spain.
The German team
Urspring (Ulm, Germany) is coached by Domenik Reinboth and features five players 6-foot-7 or taller, including 6-10, 240-pound post
Noah Aghas.
Mahir Agva (6-9, 204) and
Victor Habrich (6-8, 215) are also listed as post players, but that doesn't mean they can't shoot.
Ursspring might have trouble going against small, quick guards. Only
Nicolas Philipp (5-9) is below 6-foot on the roster, which boasts 10 of 12 players at least 6-3.
But if Urspring appears giant, it's nothing compared to
Oakley College (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain), which features two 7-footers
Lucas N'gueson (7-0, 210), a junior, and senior
Menno Dijkstra (7-0, 220).
Johnny Wang, a 6-9 junior, and
Souleymane Daikite, a 6-8 junior, makes up a very big front line which also boasts three more 6-6 players.
Oakley Prep will mix it up with tournament's top 16-team Open Division that features defending MaxPreps national champion
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.),
Other headliners from the Open Division include
Texas private school state champion
Prestonwood Christian (Plano), California section champions
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose),
Folsom,
JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) and
Moreau Catholic (Hayward).
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
is another program to watch after going 29-4 a year ago with a rotation
that featured four freshmen — including MaxPreps National Freshman of
the Year
Cody Riley — and sophomore point guard
Devearl Ramsey, a USA Basketball gold medalist.
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For additional information, visit
MaxPrepsHolidayClassic.com,
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@MPHolClass or Instagram
@maxpreps_holiday_classic.
