Former Salpointe HS post player Enoch Andoh came up big this weekend.

This past weekend many of Arizona's top travel programs hit the road once more in the month of April to compete in another Hal Pastner event. This weekend teams competed in the Las Vegas Spring Showcase, and Arizona prospects did not disappoint as two different club teams advanced to the elite eight of the tournament (17 & Under Platinum Division Championship bracket). Tucson's Sporting Chance and the Southwest Rebels Top Prospects, a travel team based out of west Phoenix, both advanced to the elite eight of this year's tournament, before losing in the quaterfinals of the tournament.

Sporting Chance had the most impressive run of the event, as this Tucson-based program made accomplishments in this year's event that will significantly impact southern Arizona's view of spring/summer basketball, as well as how the state of Arizona is viewed as a whole. Sporting Chance advanced to this year's tournament quarterfinal game after consecutive wins over both teams of Southern California All-Stars (also known as the SoCal All-Stars) organization. First defeating the SoCal All-Stars Elite in the second round of the tournament playoffs, and then the SoCal All-Stars Select in the third round of the tournament playoffs.

To put this amazing accomplishment into perspective, the SoCal All-Stars (SCA) were nationally recognized as the #1 overall club/travel team in the nation last year, and have been recognized for years among the nation's best travel programs, with the majority of talent from this program moving on to the high-major division-I ranks. Former players of the SoCal All-Stars include such talents as Marcus Williams (NBA -New Jersey Nets), Tyson Chandler (NBA - New Orleans Hornets), Josh Childress (Atlanta Hawks), Chase Budinger (University of Arizona), and many others.

While the SoCal All-Stars were without the services of the nation's premier 2008 point guard, Brandon Jennings, in the game against Sporting Chance, it does not lessen the accomplishments of the southern Arizona based program.

"We played like a team and just outplayed them," said Sporting Chance Head Coach Gary Malis. "It was fun, it was really cool. It was a really special weekend for these kids."

	Luis Barraza has had a very good spring.

According to Malis, everyone on his team played well in this year's event and contributed to his team's success this weekend. While Malis did not want to single out any individual top performers from this weekend's event, member's of our Arizona Preps staff were in attendance this weekend and advised us that the Sporting Chance was led by the inside play of 6-foot-8 junior forward Enoch Andoh (Archbishop Mitty HS - CA) and 6-foot-9 junior Austin Smith (Ironwood Ridge HS). Both players played strong inside defensively and gave Sporting Chance tough inside baskets down the stretch in wins over SCA.

Sporting Chance also got a very good defensive effort, as well as scoring from Tucson HS 6-foot-4 junior Brian Hill. 6-foot-7 junior DJ Shumpert of Sahuarita HS provided very good shotblocking and rebounding, while Salpointe HS 6-foot-3 juniors Chase Adams and Tyler Gage provided great backcourt play, alongside 6-foot- junior Kelly Gibson of Tucson HS, and 6-foot-4 junior Brandon Maclelland of Buena HS.

"We started this team in the 5th grade, so it was really nice for this to happen," said Malis.

The Southwest Rebels Top Prospects, coached by west valley based trainer Michael O'Guinn advanced to this year's quarterfinal game after defeating the Portland Legends.

"Everybody balled this weekend," said O'Guinn.

According to O'Guinn, the Rebels were led by the inside play of Mountain Ridge HS 6-foot-9 sophomore Colin Borchert, Pinnacle HS 6-foot-9 junior Taylor Rohde (Arizona State signee) and Sunrise Mountain HS 6-foot-7 unsigned senior post Justin McCullough. The Rebels were led by the perimeter play of Notre Dame Prep HS 6-foot-6 unsigned senior forward Tom Fow, Trevor Browne HS 6-foot-4 unsigned senior guard Luis Barraza and Cactus HS 6-foot-3 junior point guard Marques Coleman.

"What happened this weekend was great for Arizona," said O'Guinn.

The Rebels eventually lost to Utah Pump N' Run in the quarterfinals, while Sporting Chance was defeated by eventual tournament champion California Hoops in the quarterfinals.

Note: In the 17 & Under Silver Division Championship bracket, Team AZ, coached by Dave Williams, advanced to the championship game before losing to the Oklahoma Magic.