Presented by Rameybasketball.com

Rameybasketball.com & Demetrious Johnson Charitable Foundation presents the 2nd Annual Cricket Wireless  Midwest Showdown High School Basketball Shootout held on December 13, 2008 at Viking Hall on the campus of Normandy High School. Viking Hall is considered one of the premeir high school facilities in the St. Louis area. This years event will feature 16 teams competing in 8 games including top teams from: MO, IN, TN, & IL. Click on team for team bio. Tickets are now on sale through Metrotix.com & all Metrotix outlets & at all local participating schools.

Manassas Head Coach Tommy Warren brings in his Manassas team that finished 25-13 last year and feature one of the most sought after 2010 players in the south in 5’11 Desiree Phillips. Phillips is being recruited by Florida and several other high major programs. Miller Career Academy team is coming off a strong 22-5 season under Head Coach Martin Jenkins and return the dynamic senior guard duo of 5’2 Rashonda Willis and 5’5 Ciara Leak. Jenkins team is very explosive and quick

New Macarthur Head Coach Felipe Phillips inherits a team that underachieved last year and posted a disappointing 5-25 record. Coach Phillips inherits a lot of talent that is led by 1st team all conference player in 6’4 sr. Monty Wilson who averaged 20 points and 7 rebounds a game. The Sharpshooting Wilson is currently being recruited by IUPUI, SIUE, SEMO, and Western Michigan. Also returning to an already deep and talented Macarthur team is 6’6 jr. Kendall Kennison. The highly athletic Kennison missed last year due to academic issues but is considered one of the top junior in the state of Illinois. The Wellston Trojans are two years removed from winning the Class 2A state title and was highly favored to repeat last year before falling on a buzzer beater in the district championship. The Trojans are always talented and this year Head Coach Sterling Bates will be led by 6’5 soph. Ben McClemore a highlight reel waiting to happen. McClemore is considered one of the top 5 C/O 2011 players in the state. Other key returners from last year’s 16-11 team include athletic 6’2 sr. Carlton Terry and point guard 5’9 sr. Manual Crossland.

Providence St. Mel and Head Coach Todd Kelly are primed to improve on last years 12-15 record. One reason is 6’9 jr. Phillip Jackson who is one of the top 10 juniors in the state of Illinois and the Midwest. The athletic Jackson is currently being recruited by: Iowa State, SIU, Northern Illinois, Bradley, Illinois State, Colorado, and others. 6’5 jr transfer Mark Mack will be an immediate impact player. Head Coach Steve Combs brings in the defending Class 2A state champions who finished 28-2 last year and has won 2 out of the last 3 Class 2A State titles (finishing 3rd in between). Leading the way for the Bulldogs is 6’4 jr. Cory Via who scored 26 points in the state championship game last year and is considered one of the top seniors in the state of Missouri. 6’4 bruiser Mason Hardin will also be a key contributor for the Bulldogs who are again a favorite to get back to State.

Evansville Harrison Head Coach Bryan Speer comes into this event with a very exciting team and player in 5’10 Southern Illinois commit Kendal Brown. Brown who averaged 16 points & 7 assists a game last year in leading the Warriors to a 14-9 record. The quick Brown is a slick ball handler that is considered one of the top C/O 2009 players in the state of Indiana. Parkway South comes into this event fresh off a 27-3 season in which they reached the State Sectional Quarterfinals. Leading the way for Head Coach Mitch Stevens Patriots will be 5’10 sr. guard Ben Hoener who averaged 20 points and 6 assists a game last year and is a favorite for player of the year honors in the state of Missouri. 6’3 jr. Scott Pohle was recognized by Rameybasketball.com as the top shooter in the St. Louis Metropolitan area after hitting 85 three’s on over 42%. Pohle averaged 12 points a game last year. The Patriots are considered one of the top area preseason teams

Head Coach Bob Williams brings in a very talented Schaumburg team that finished 20-12 last year and is led by 6’2 point guard Cully Payne. Payne has committed to play basketball at the University of Alabama next year. Payne is considered on of the top seniors in the Midwest and one of the top point guards nationally. Francis Howell and head coach Mike Storm bring a very experienced team that finished 17-11 last year. Leading the way for the Vikings is 6’5 All Conference performer Cody Sorenson who averaged 18 points & 11 rebounds a game last year. Coach Storm also returns 6’2 sr. Cameron Cathcart 12 points and 9 rebounds, 6’3 jr. Brevin McVicar 9 points, and 6’2 sr. point guard Ryan Henkleman 7 points and 4 assists. Howell is considered one of the top teams in Class 5A.

Head Coach Gerald Harris & Manassas lost in the championship game 83-81 last year and this year a nothing less than a championship is expected. Leading the way for the Tigers is the #30 ranked players in the nation in 6’9 super athletic sr. Reginald Buckner (17 points, 12 rebounds, 7 blocks a game last year), who has signed to play at the University of Mississippi next year. Although a great rebounder and shot blocker, Buckner excels with the ball in his hands. 5’11 sharpshooting jr. guard Shaq Walker and 6’0 Jamarco Carroll will also be key contributors. Head Coach Mike Potsou leads an experienced Whitfield team into this event and will be led by a trio of juniors. Leading the way is 6’3 athletic junior Julian Johnson who is considered one of the top C/O 2010 players in MO. Johnson averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds a game last year. 6’6 jr. wing Alex Rudd is one of the top shooters in the state of MO and averaged 12 points and 5 rebounds a game last year. 6’2 jr. point guard Maurice Burns controls the action and averaged 10 points and 4 assists. All three are being recruited by several Low-Mid major Division 1 programs.

In the featured game Chicago Foreman makes a return appearance in this event after going 16-9 last year. Head Coach Terry Head is led by one of the nation’s top backcourts in juniors Lavonte Dority and Mike McCall. The 6’0 strong built Dority is ranked in the top 100 nationally and is a strong guard with deadly ball handling ability very similar player to Sherron Collins of the University of Kansas. Dority is holds offers from: Baylor, Indiana, Marquette, and New Mexico and strong interest from: Kentucky, & Kansas. 6’2 Mike McCall is a scoring guard that utilizes a great perimeter game and good quickness to go with his strong guard skills. McCall is ranked as one of the top 150 players nationally in the class of 2010 and holds offers from: Texas A&M, Washington St. SIU, Northern Illinois, Wichita St. Indiana St. & Western Michigan and strong interest from Marquette, Minnesota, Saint Louis, & Wisconsin. 6’4 sr. Willie Howard is a highlight reel waiting to happen. McCluer brings in the talented trio of wing players of 6’3 Wisconsin-Milwaukee commit sr. Lonnie Boga (19 points & 10 rebounds a game last year), 6’2 sr. shooter Jerrel Partlow ( 14 points & 6 rebounds a game last year) and 5’11 soph. Shaquille Boga ( 16 points and 4 assists a game last year). Head Coach Erwin Claggett has the experience and talent to improve on last years 16-9 record and is considered one of the top Class 5A teams in the state. The Comets are always fun to watch and play a very up-tempo style.

The tradition rich East St. Louis Flyers will look to improve on last years 15-14 season and will look at 5’10 sr. guard Durand Sain (8 points & 6 assists a game) & 6’3 soph. Keonte Minor ( 9 points, 6 rebounds & 3 assists). Also expected to contribute is 6’4 sr. Marcus Ford. The athletic Minor is a star wide receiver on the Flyers nationally ranked football team and is also considered one of the top C/O 2011 players in the state of Illinois in Basketball. The very quick and flashy Sain is fielding strong interest from several schools from Low Major D1 to D2. Head Coach Dennis Brooks brings a very quick and athletic team into this event. Normandy High School is coming of a strong 19-7 season last year that came to an end in the district championship. Head Coach Malcolm Hill looks to continue the winning tradition for the Vikings and will look upon 6’3 sr. forward Darryle Dixon (9 points and 7 rebounds and game last year), and 6’4 junior wing Quenton Townsend to lead the way. One of the more talented players for the Vikings will be 6’2 junior guard Deandre Ballard is capable of taking over a game at any time. Ballard is considered one of the areas best kept secrets. Normandy have averaged close to 20 wins a season the last 8 years.