Frank Burlison

HENDERSON, Nev. – The second annual High Academic Super Bowl, presented by Ryan Silver’s West Coast Elite Basketball program and held at Coronado High, proved a nice showcase for the hoops talents of 100 or so high school students who also excel in the classroom.

Players got to play in at least four camp games apiece over the Monday and Tuesday event, held as a “tip-off”, of sorts, prior to the NCAA’s “evaluation period” that runs Wednesday to Sunday for the coaching staffs of the schools designated as Division I members of the organization.

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LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – There were cool happenings, Southern California-wise, in Orange County on Sunday – the final day of the second July NCAA “live evaluation week” – for college coaching staffs and assorted other high school hoops aficionados.

Over at American Sports Centers – located in Anaheim, home to Disneyland, which, in a way, could be considered by many as “the most American of cities – the finals of the Double Pump Best of Summer Tournament were played.

In the top (17-Under Open) division, Riverside County-based Team ELEATE knocked off the Oakland area’s Team Lillard (formerly known as the Oakland Rebels), 75-65.

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LYNWOOD, Ca. – Two of the elite underclassmen in the west – and beyond – took top honors following the conclusion of the two-day Pangos/Fullcourt Press All-West Camp at Lynwood High Thursday evening.

Six-foot-eight Onyeka Okongwu, who shared national Freshman of the Year honors with Chino Hills High teammate Melo Ball this past season, joined 6-4 David Singleton (Torrance, CA, Bishop Montgomery) as the co-Most Outstanding Players after the camp had wrapped with Top 50 and Top 25 all-star games, with rosters culled from the 160 or so players who participated.

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LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – The first week of the NCAA July “evaluation” period wrapped up Sunday at 5 o’clock, with three major events wrapping up in as many locations in Southern California.

“Travel team” tournaments concluded at Cerritos College in Norwalk and at the Anaheim Sports Center for the Double Pump Summer Tip-Off.

The Belmont Shore team knocked Wisconsin United, 62-61, via two David Singleton free throws with three seconds to go for the Invitational Division championship at Cerritos College.

Singleton (Torrance, CA, Bishop Montgomery), one of the best 2018 shooting guard prospects in the country, and 6-foot-7 Isaiah White (La Verne, CA, Damien), one of the better remaining unsigned players in the class of 2016, shared Most Outstanding Players in the division.

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LOS ANGELES – The Friday night championship semifinals are set for the 30^th Nike Fairfax Summer Basketball Classic.

In the first semi, at 6 o’clock, Corona Centennial takes on Long Beach Poly, with Trinity League foes Mater Dei and Santa Margarita following at 7:30.

Friday’s other games: (13^th place semifinals) 9 a.m., Santa Monica vs. Alemany; 10:30, Maranatha vs. Orange Lutheran; (consolation semifinals) Noon, Loyola vs. Calabasas; 1:30 p.m., Fairfax vs. La Canada; (fifth-place semifinals) 3, Redondo vs. Chino Hills; 4:30, Brentwood vs. Crespi.

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