LSI

by Ben Golliver on Dec 29, 2008 11:11 AM PST

Today is the day to check out the Les Schwab Invitational over at Liberty High.

The afternoon games:

4PM - Grant vs Sunset (Mike Moser vs. Michael Holton's two kids)
5:30PM - Jesuit vs. Jefferson (Jeff's Terrence Jones is incredible and Jesuit is Jesuit, you already know)
7PM - Fairfax vs. Westview (Fairfax's Renardo Sidney is a must-see)
8:30PM - Dominguez vs. Mt. Vernon (Two of the best programs in the country matchup)

You couldn't ask for a better back-to-back-to-back-to-back lineup than that. Trying to decide whether you should go or not? Check out this must-watch video of yesterday's slam dunk contest from Tim Brown at Oregonlive, guest-starring Gavin Dawson as one of the judges. Incredible efforts from high-school kids.

I'm headed to Blazers practice here in a bit and hope to check in later this afternoon with an update. See you out at Liberty tonight.

-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)

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I went on Saturday to both sessions

And it was awesome. Really got to see some great basketball. The Mike Mosier vs. Sidney battle was awesome. Sidney is one incredible passer, and was just a very very smart player. Mosier is a guy you have to see to believe, his ball handling skills for a 6’ 8" guy are off the charts, I can definitely see why UCLA is looking to put him on their team.

Really I cannot recommend going to these games enough, if you’re coaching at any level, you will learn a lot from the coaches that are there, and the skills the kids display really shows how you can help individual players.

I mean one of the kids from Fairfax’s team (#11), that wasn’t even on the ‘players to watch’ section had the best shooting form I have ever seen at any level, which just goes to show what great basketball you can watch at this tournament. The crowd gets all amped up from dunks and blocks, but the basic skill set these kids have is a great testament to how you can improve your own game even if you aren’t 6’ 6".

Plus a lot of the guys who are big in Oregon basketball (past and present) attend these games and if you buy the section seating, its fun to have a chance to talk to these guys about the games, and what they are watching for and seeing in how the kids are applying themselves.

So if you are at all interested in learning about basketball this is a great tournament to go to. If you just want to see the best players from around Oregon, go to this tournament. If you want to just see some freakishly talented athletes, go to this tournament. If you want a chance to see Mike Mosier and Sidney play while sitting at courtside, and not pay several hundred dollars, this is probably one of your last opportunities.

Go to this tournament; you will really really enjoy yourselves. This tournament, year in and year out, puts together a great opportunity that most states (heck most regions) don’t have. Go to the Les Scwab invitational.

Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...

by TheOdenator on Dec 29, 2008 11:55 AM PST reply actions

spot on. you’re speaking the truth.

i loved sidney’s passing. am doing a long writeup on him for my friend’s site… that was point number one. great vision… great timing… and huge hands to sling those one handed rockets.

Blazers Edge.com

by Ben Golliver on Dec 29, 2008 12:09 PM PST up reply actions

Yea I should have talked more about his passing

And his finger rolls into the basket on his lay-ups? Its very hard to describe them, but I have never seen that before. He elevates over the rim and with one hand puts a ridiculous backspin on the ball; so much so that after he makes the shot it looks like the ball is trying to crawl back out of the net? Like I said, its very hard to describe, and just as hard to understand.

Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...

by TheOdenator on Dec 29, 2008 12:16 PM PST up reply actions

Just to toot my own horn

That number 11 (apparently his name is Jordan Weathers) from Fairfax, who I said had the best shooting form I have seen at any level, went 3 for 3 on 3’s in 3 successive possessions. Yea. Pretty cool.

Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...

by TheOdenator on Dec 30, 2008 1:56 PM PST up reply actions