1999 Nike National Las Vegas Summer Classic

10 August 1999 --

At the 1999 Nike National Las Vegas Summer Classic the NorCal Magic Basketball team captured the title in the boy's varsity division. It was their second consecutive championship. But it wasn't that easy the team touched down in Vegas with only five players, 2 players missed the airplane, and no pt. guard. The five that arrived were 6'4 Paul Marigney from Castlemont. He is the OAL scoring leader. At 29.7 per game and) a Super Star Camp Top 10 performer, as well as all ANG Best of the Best. Next is Marquinn Chandler of Newark memorial at 6'7 he was the MVAL's most valuable player and all ANG Best of the Best.  Two players from St. Mary's in Berkeley 6'4 Ebon Glenn and 6'5 Kellen Dixon. Both are all league and are listed on the all-Metro honorable mention list (SF-OAK). The fifth player was Jamal Hill a 6'5 gd-fwd. From El Cerrito his only claim to fame was that he scored 23 pts in the El Cerrito State Championships game. With all the big name players at El Cerrito Jamal didn't get much run. But this young man is a major talent and I rank him in the top 8 players in the East Bay. By the way he was named MVP and Paul Marigney was named to the all tournament team. Nate Haynes from the eighth grade team, a pt. guard helped with relief when needed,and that wasn't much. So we went to a double point forward offense with Marigney and Hill running the show. We ran one of three offenses almost every time down court, in fact they ran it to perfection there was no run and gun, just precise execution. There was no margin for error and everybody on the team was aware of that fact. We made few turnovers and played above the rim. All five players are tremendous leapers. All five scored in double digits Marigney (18.5) Hill(18.0), Dixon(15.0), Chandler(14.8) and Glenn(13.5). Top rebounders were Dixon and Chandler. On the way to the national championship NorCal beat Rosemead (East Los Angeles)88-68, Southern Idaho(84-55), Los Angeles future stars 75-65 and the championship game over the Las Vegas heat 75-70.

NorCal Basketball, Inc. is sponsored by Cheetah Athletic Gear, Mervyn's of California, and coached by Rick Lynch and Capus Hope.