NBA teams feature 36 former all-stars From Sonny Vaccaro's Reebok Big Time HS tournament
From Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant in 1995, to 2003 co-MVP Dwight Howard, who was this year's No. 1 draft pick for the Orlando Magic, Sonny Vaccaro's Reebok Big Time tournament is the premier event for future stars of the NBA. Read on for more details.
From Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant in 1995, to 2003 co-MVP Dwight Howard, who was this year's No. 1 draft pick for the Orlando Magic, Sonny Vaccaro's Reebok Big Time tournament is the premier event for future stars of the NBA.
In all, 36 active players or current NBA draft choices were former all-stars in the nation's largest and most prestigious boy's prep summer tournament.
For this year, another field of 336 teams will let their collective talents shine next week at Sonny Vaccaro's 10th Annual Big Time tournament in Las Vegas. The massive summertime hoopfest will be played July 22-26 on 24 courts at 12 high schools in Southern Nevada.
Teams from 41 U.S. States, Washington, D.C., and Canada, have entered the showcase summer event, which will be headquartered for the first time at Foothill High School in suburban Henderson, Nev.
"We have always been about providing opportunities for young players to develop their skills and be seen by college coaches and pro scouts, but to have 36 former Big Time all-stars on NBA rosters is unbelievable," said the gregarious Vaccaro, the Big Time founder and executive director who is now Reebok's Director of Grassroots Basketball based in Los Angeles. "It's not all about the NBA, it's about providing the opportunity to succeed on the next level, and for that, all of us with the Big Time are extremely proud."
Last month's NBA draft was particularly impressive for the Reebok Big Time, as nine former all-stars were among the top 43 players taken.
No. 1 draft pick Dwight Howard was co-MVP in the Big Time last summer with Atlanta Celtics teammate Josh Smith, who was the 17th draft pick this year, taken in the first round by the Atlanta Hawks.
The other five 2003 Big Time all-stars who were drafted in June right out of high school were: Shaun Livingston (No. 4, Los Angeles Clippers), Robert Swift (No. 12, Seattle Sonics), Sebastian Telfair (No. 13, Portland Trail Blazers), J.R. Smith (No. 18, New Orleans Hornets) and Dorell Wright (No. 19, Miami Heat).
The two college players drafted who were former Big Time all-stars were UCLA's Trevor Ariza, from 2002 (No. 43, New York Knicks) and Duke's Chris Duhon from 1999 (No. 38, Chicago Bulls).
Besides Bryant, former Big Time all-stars who played on NBA teams during the 2003-2004 season were: Lamar Odom from 1996 (Miami Heat), Tracy McGrady from 1996 (Houston Rockets), Luke Walton from 1997 (Los Angeles Lakers), DeMarr Johnson from 1998 (New York Knicks), DeShawn Stevenson from 1999 (Miami Heat), and 2001 Big Time all-stars LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets).
"What we have accomplished over the last decade with the Big Time is a wonderful tribute to the opportunities we have here in America, and how incredibly talented this kids are," added Vaccaro, who is also the founder and director of both the legendary Roundball Classic all-star game in Chicago and the talent-rich Reebok ABCD Camp held at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, N.J.
Vaccaro and his staff have added two additional events this summer: The Reebok Summer Classic East (held this week at Fairleigh Dickinson) and the Reebok Summer Classic West (July 27-30 at Cal State Fullerton).
The 2004 Reebok Big Time will crown 'Champions of the Summer' in five different divisions: Open, A, B, C, and a new High School category.
This year's marquee Open tournament will feature 112 teams, including 56 top pre-seeded teams while the A, B, C and High School tournaments will each have 56-team tournaments following three games of pool play during the first two days in the tournament.
The 56 top pre-seeded teams will be in the Open Division and they will be joined by the first place teams from 56 four-team pools. The A Division will have the second place teams from the 56 pools while the B Division will have the third place teams and the C Division will be comprised of the fourth place pool teams. The High School Division will be the 56 teams entered in that division who will be placed in the tournament bracket based on their results in pool play.
The event staff of nearly 300 is being directed again by Larry McKay and Jim Allen, who have co-directed the tournament since it began in 1995.
In addition to being the tournament headquarters site, Foothill will also host the championship games in all five divisions on Monday, July 26. Besides Foothill, the other Henderson schools that will host games involving Open teams will be Basic High School and Coronado High School.
Mojave HS is the only site in North Las Vegas this year and the eight schools that will host the Reebok Big Time in Las Vegas are: Chaparral HS, Cimarron-Memorial HS, Las Vegas HS, Liberty HS, Palo Verde HS, Spring Valley HS, Valley HS and Western HS. This will be the first time both Liberty and Spring Valley will be part of the host school lineup. Chaparral HS will also be the fourth site for the first day of Open division tournament play on Saturday, July 24.
Daily General Admission tickets, available at the door for $10 each, are good for admission to all games at all sites on the date of purchase.
Big Time Players In the Pros (former Big Time all-tourney team members currently in the NBA)
2003 1. Dwight Howard (2004 Drafted #1), Orlando Magic 2. Shaun Livingston (2004 Drafted #4), Los Angeles Clippers 3. Robert Swift (2004 Drafted #12), Seattle Sonics 4. Sebastian Telfair (2004 Drafted #13), Portland Trail Blazers 5. Josh Smith (2004 Drafted #17), Atlanta Hawks 6. J.R. Smith (2004 Drafted #18), New Orleans Hornets 7. Dorell Wright (2004 Drafted #19), Miami Heat
2002 1. Trevor Ariza (2004 Drafted #43), New York Knicks
2001 1. Carmello Anthony, Denver Nuggets 2. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
1999 1. Chris Duhon (2004 Drafted #38), Chicago Bulls 2. Gerald Wallace, Sacramento Kings 3. DeShawn Stevenson, Miami Heat 4. T.J. Ford, Milwaukee Bucks
1998 1. Jonathan Bender, Indiana Pacers 2. Curtis Borchardt, Utah Jazz 3. Nick Collison, Seattle Sonics 4. Mike Dunleavy, Golden State Warriors 5. Drew Gooden, Orlando Magic 6. Donnel Harvey, Phoenix Suns 7. DeMarr Johnson, New York Knicks 8. Jason Kapono, Charlotte Bobcats 9. Jason Richardson, Golden State Warriors
1997 1. Al Harrington, Indiana Pacers 2. Dan Gadzuric, Milwaukee Bucks 3. Mike Miller, Memphis Grizzlies 4. Joel Przybilla, Atlanta Hawks 5. Rasula Butler, Miami Heat 6. Keyon Dolling, Los Angeles Clippers 7. Luke Walton, Los Angeles Lakers
1996 1. Lamar Odom, Miami Heat 2. Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets 3. Britton Johnsen, Orlando Magic 4. Melvin Ely, Los Angeles Clippers
1995 1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers 2. Jason Hart, San Antonio Spurs
For more information, contact the tournament office in Las Vegas at 702.373.7007 or visit the official website of The Reebok Big Time at Big Time tournament.
In all, 36 active players or current NBA draft choices were former all-stars in the nation's largest and most prestigious boy's prep summer tournament.
For this year, another field of 336 teams will let their collective talents shine next week at Sonny Vaccaro's 10th Annual Big Time tournament in Las Vegas. The massive summertime hoopfest will be played July 22-26 on 24 courts at 12 high schools in Southern Nevada.
Teams from 41 U.S. States, Washington, D.C., and Canada, have entered the showcase summer event, which will be headquartered for the first time at Foothill High School in suburban Henderson, Nev.
"We have always been about providing opportunities for young players to develop their skills and be seen by college coaches and pro scouts, but to have 36 former Big Time all-stars on NBA rosters is unbelievable," said the gregarious Vaccaro, the Big Time founder and executive director who is now Reebok's Director of Grassroots Basketball based in Los Angeles. "It's not all about the NBA, it's about providing the opportunity to succeed on the next level, and for that, all of us with the Big Time are extremely proud."
Last month's NBA draft was particularly impressive for the Reebok Big Time, as nine former all-stars were among the top 43 players taken.
No. 1 draft pick Dwight Howard was co-MVP in the Big Time last summer with Atlanta Celtics teammate Josh Smith, who was the 17th draft pick this year, taken in the first round by the Atlanta Hawks.
The other five 2003 Big Time all-stars who were drafted in June right out of high school were: Shaun Livingston (No. 4, Los Angeles Clippers), Robert Swift (No. 12, Seattle Sonics), Sebastian Telfair (No. 13, Portland Trail Blazers), J.R. Smith (No. 18, New Orleans Hornets) and Dorell Wright (No. 19, Miami Heat).
The two college players drafted who were former Big Time all-stars were UCLA's Trevor Ariza, from 2002 (No. 43, New York Knicks) and Duke's Chris Duhon from 1999 (No. 38, Chicago Bulls).
Besides Bryant, former Big Time all-stars who played on NBA teams during the 2003-2004 season were: Lamar Odom from 1996 (Miami Heat), Tracy McGrady from 1996 (Houston Rockets), Luke Walton from 1997 (Los Angeles Lakers), DeMarr Johnson from 1998 (New York Knicks), DeShawn Stevenson from 1999 (Miami Heat), and 2001 Big Time all-stars LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets).
"What we have accomplished over the last decade with the Big Time is a wonderful tribute to the opportunities we have here in America, and how incredibly talented this kids are," added Vaccaro, who is also the founder and director of both the legendary Roundball Classic all-star game in Chicago and the talent-rich Reebok ABCD Camp held at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, N.J.
Vaccaro and his staff have added two additional events this summer: The Reebok Summer Classic East (held this week at Fairleigh Dickinson) and the Reebok Summer Classic West (July 27-30 at Cal State Fullerton).
The 2004 Reebok Big Time will crown 'Champions of the Summer' in five different divisions: Open, A, B, C, and a new High School category.
This year's marquee Open tournament will feature 112 teams, including 56 top pre-seeded teams while the A, B, C and High School tournaments will each have 56-team tournaments following three games of pool play during the first two days in the tournament.
The 56 top pre-seeded teams will be in the Open Division and they will be joined by the first place teams from 56 four-team pools. The A Division will have the second place teams from the 56 pools while the B Division will have the third place teams and the C Division will be comprised of the fourth place pool teams. The High School Division will be the 56 teams entered in that division who will be placed in the tournament bracket based on their results in pool play.
The event staff of nearly 300 is being directed again by Larry McKay and Jim Allen, who have co-directed the tournament since it began in 1995.
In addition to being the tournament headquarters site, Foothill will also host the championship games in all five divisions on Monday, July 26. Besides Foothill, the other Henderson schools that will host games involving Open teams will be Basic High School and Coronado High School.
Mojave HS is the only site in North Las Vegas this year and the eight schools that will host the Reebok Big Time in Las Vegas are: Chaparral HS, Cimarron-Memorial HS, Las Vegas HS, Liberty HS, Palo Verde HS, Spring Valley HS, Valley HS and Western HS. This will be the first time both Liberty and Spring Valley will be part of the host school lineup. Chaparral HS will also be the fourth site for the first day of Open division tournament play on Saturday, July 24.
Daily General Admission tickets, available at the door for $10 each, are good for admission to all games at all sites on the date of purchase.
Big Time Players In the Pros (former Big Time all-tourney team members currently in the NBA)
2003 1. Dwight Howard (2004 Drafted #1), Orlando Magic 2. Shaun Livingston (2004 Drafted #4), Los Angeles Clippers 3. Robert Swift (2004 Drafted #12), Seattle Sonics 4. Sebastian Telfair (2004 Drafted #13), Portland Trail Blazers 5. Josh Smith (2004 Drafted #17), Atlanta Hawks 6. J.R. Smith (2004 Drafted #18), New Orleans Hornets 7. Dorell Wright (2004 Drafted #19), Miami Heat
2002 1. Trevor Ariza (2004 Drafted #43), New York Knicks
2001 1. Carmello Anthony, Denver Nuggets 2. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
1999 1. Chris Duhon (2004 Drafted #38), Chicago Bulls 2. Gerald Wallace, Sacramento Kings 3. DeShawn Stevenson, Miami Heat 4. T.J. Ford, Milwaukee Bucks
1998 1. Jonathan Bender, Indiana Pacers 2. Curtis Borchardt, Utah Jazz 3. Nick Collison, Seattle Sonics 4. Mike Dunleavy, Golden State Warriors 5. Drew Gooden, Orlando Magic 6. Donnel Harvey, Phoenix Suns 7. DeMarr Johnson, New York Knicks 8. Jason Kapono, Charlotte Bobcats 9. Jason Richardson, Golden State Warriors
1997 1. Al Harrington, Indiana Pacers 2. Dan Gadzuric, Milwaukee Bucks 3. Mike Miller, Memphis Grizzlies 4. Joel Przybilla, Atlanta Hawks 5. Rasula Butler, Miami Heat 6. Keyon Dolling, Los Angeles Clippers 7. Luke Walton, Los Angeles Lakers
1996 1. Lamar Odom, Miami Heat 2. Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets 3. Britton Johnsen, Orlando Magic 4. Melvin Ely, Los Angeles Clippers
1995 1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers 2. Jason Hart, San Antonio Spurs
For more information, contact the tournament office in Las Vegas at 702.373.7007 or visit the official website of The Reebok Big Time at Big Time tournament.
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