Frank Burlison

GARDEN GROVE, Ca. – The adidas Nations has attracted a healthy percentage of the high school – and college – hoops talent in the United States for the four days of on-court festivities that got underway Friday at the spiffy Next Level Sports Complex.

Forty-seven players with remaining U.S. prep eligibility man four “U.S.” teams, with teams also being field made up of players from Africa, Russia, Australia, Latin America and the Philippines.

Also in attendance are 29 current U.S. college players, who are competing on four teams that are scrimmaging daily – with just about every NBA franchise having at least one representative watching intently.

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LAS VEGAS – With three travel-ball tournaments going on, more or less, at the same time in Las Vegas as the AAU National Tournament and Super Showcase were being held in Orlando, FL, the competition and overall level of talent would seem to get a tad diluted.

And what seems likely was reality – at least over the past days in the city of searing heat mixed in with the occasional deluge and head-spinning gusts of wind.

Championships in the Fab 48 (at Bishop Gorman High), adidas Super 64 (Rancho High) and Las Vegas/Big Foot (Spring Valley) were won by DC Assault, New Heights (NY) and Seattle Rotary Select, respectively.

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LAS VEGAS — With three travel-ball tournaments going on, more or less, at the same time in Las Vegas as the AAU National Tournament and Super Showcase were being held in Orlando, FL, the competition and overall level of talent would seem to get a tad diluted.

And what seems likely was reality – at least over the past days in the city of searing heat mixed in with the occasional deluge and head-spinning gusts of wind.

Championships in the Fab 48 (at Bishop Gorman High), adidas Super 64 (Rancho High) and Las Vegas/Big Foot (Spring Valley) were won by DC Assault, New Heights (NY) and Seattle Rotary Select, respectively.

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LAS VEGAS – And then there was one – that is, as in one July day’s worth of high school basketball in the last of three July NCAA recruiting evaluation periods.

We’re inching our way ever closer to the finish line, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls . . .

*Over at Bishop Gorman High, the field in the Fab 48/Invitational Division started at 32 before being whittled to eight late Friday night.

The most interesting – and, almost assuredly, entertaining – of the quarterfinals will be the 9:10 a.m.  

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LAS VEGAS – Day III of the five-day NCAA hoops evaluation period – a universe for which this city is unquestionably at the center of – set the stage for potentially a terrific Day IV.

Pool play is over and bracket play – which means win and move to the next round or lose and get ready to head to cooler weather – will be in full effect on Saturday morning.

Into the third day Saturday are Fab 48 (at Bishop Gorman High), the adidas Super 64 (Rancho High) and the Las Vegas Classic (Spring Valley High).

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