Leading off today: It's a baby step toward something more ambitious, but it's nevertheless a step forward for ESPN in its bid to put together a season-ending high school basketball tournament.
ESPN RISE and Paragon Marketing Group announced this week that the National High School Invitational will debut April 3-5, 2009 with eight boys teams and four girls teams competing at Georgetown Prep in Bethesda, Md.
The event will fill its brackets with four-year high schools that have their respective governing body’s permission to participate. Teams with post-graduate students or re-classified fifth-year seniors will not be eligible.
The Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (boys teams), the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (girls teams) and the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (boys and girls teams) have given approval thus far for member schools to participate.
Among New York schools, Our Savior New American reportedly has said it will participate if selected for the event, which will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU.
Soccer stars: A thank you goes out to Perry Novak for compiling the NYSSA boys soccer all-state team, which we announced this morning. We previously recognized the team selected by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, but that team is limited to players whose coaches are members of the NSCAA.
Recognized as players of the year are: Joseph Lopez (Brentwood, Class AA), Ngwese Ebangwese (Pittsford Sutherland, A), Brian Rogers (Bronxville, B), Eli Vitale (Red Creek, C) and Nathan Steward (Hamilton, D).
Recognized as coaches of the year are: Ron Eden (Brentwood, Class AA), Dan Costello (Comsewogue, A), Donald Lucas (Bronxville, B), Don Hartley (Red Creek, C), Mike Danaher (Fabius-Pompey, C) and Brian Latella (Hamilton, D).
The all-star list can be seen here.
