KA-MO Shootout draws large field
The state championships were decided about three months ago. The next high school season is still a good five months away. But a large collection of basketball teams from both sides of the state line and beyond will be on display this weekend.
The annual KA-MO Hoops Shootout begins today at Blue Valley West and Olathe Northwest high schools. In its fifth year, the event boasts its largest field yet — 36 varsity teams and 12 JV squads.
That also includes teams from Iowa and Oklahoma. Putnam City High’s team will be traveling from the Oklahoma City area, bringing with it 6-foot-6 shooting guard Xavier Henry, who is considered one of the top recruits of the Class of 2009 and who has Kansas on his radar.
“Probably the greatest reason that (the event has) grown is because it’s catered to high school teams,” Shawnee Mission East coach Shawn Hair said. “I think you’re going to see high school teams, more and more, wanting to play together in the summer, and this is great opportunity to do it.”
Three courts will be in use at each site, and each team is assured of playing at least six games. Pool play runs today, beginning at 4 p.m. for JV and 5:40 for varsity teams, through Saturday, with play moving to a tournament format Sunday.
Hair, his brother BJ Hair and Blue Valley West coach Donnie Campbell developed the event for a few reasons. Among them, it offers an alternative to sending their squads to the summer team camps sponsored by college programs, and it provides a different aspect to summer competition than the top area talent merging into veritable all-star summer teams.
“Our idea and our feeling behind this whole thing is we wanted high school teams to play together,” Hair said. “It’s a bonding experience, and they’re bonding with their teammates that they’re going to play with next year.”
“That’s what we we’re looking for,” Hair said. “And with 48 teams, we’ve definitely got that.”
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