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LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – I was invited to participate in an NCAA survey to determine the “15 best-ever” tournament performers as part of the celebration of the event’s 75^th anniversary – “75 Years of March Madness” – during Final Four Weekend this April in Atlanta.

The opportunity was both alluring and intimidating: How does one sort through the names of 75 of the sport’s most celebrated players (that were listed on the NCAA ballot) and pick out a measly 15?

After my usual angst when presented with any kind of challenge, I determined that I would narrow my field of options to a more manageable “only the players that I watched multiple times, either in person or on TV”, since the genesis of my passion for the greatest sports event in America.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The 12th annual Spalding Hoophall Classic was spread over five days in Blake Arena on the campus of Springfield College.

But the teams and players that most of those who showed up to watch were on display over Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

And Monday is when a whole lot of people were really happy they braved the gathering     storm clouds in and about the state.

That’s because one of the three most touted players in the Class of 2013 — Jabari Parker, who recently committed to Duke – sparkled while leading his Chicago Simeon squad past Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill, 81-68.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The capacity crowd and ESPN broadcast crew were in Springfield College’s Blake Arena Sunday evening because of the respective stars of the Huntington (WV) Prep and New Hampton (NH) School squads.

Neither Andrew Wiggins nor Noah Vonleh knocked the spectators — in the building or via the telecast — for a metaphorical loop. But they showed plenty of glimpses about why all the hoopla has been climbing to giddy heights since last spring.

The 6-foot-7ish Wiggins — a Toronto import who has become the consensus top-ranked prospect in the Class of 2013 — is still recovering from a bout of bronchitis.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Somewhere in the U.S. of A there may be a high school junior who is as forceful, powerful and dominant as Chicago Whitney Young’s Jahlil Okafor.

But that suggestion would be a difficult sell to Coach Sharrief Metoyer, his Long Beach (CA) Poly team and those who watched the teams clash in Springfield College’s Blake Arena late Saturday afternoon during the 12^th Spaulding Hoophall Classic.

The 6-foot-10, 260-poundish Okafor hit 13 of 17 shots from the floor – six of those dunks – en route to a 26-point, seven-rebound and three blocked-shots performance before subbed out for the first time with about two minutes to go in the Dolphins’ eventual 85-52 shellacking of one of California’s best squads.

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BELLFLOWER, Ca. – Until proven otherwise, the Mater Dei Monarchs remain – as usually the case – in the pole position for “best team in Southern California – and the rest of the state, too” honors.

And, after his performance while leading his team to an impressive Trinity League victory over the host St. John Bosco Braves, someone in Southern California is going to have to dazzle us to demonstrate that they are as good, much less better, than Mater Dei’s standout junior, Stanley Johnson.

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