Mlk Hoopfest Scouting Reports

Martin Luther King Hoopfest

-- What - Six ranked high-school boys basketball teams playing three games in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.

-- When / where - Tomorrow at KeyArena.

-- Game times - 3 p.m. - Mercer Island (12-0) vs. Bellarmine Prep (9-2). 5 p.m. - Mariner (7-3) vs. Cascade (Everett) (10-2). 6:30 p.m. - Tribute honoring Martin Luther King Jr. 7 p.m. - Garfield (9-2) vs. Rainier Beach (8-3).

-- Tickets - $10 for all three games.

-- Television / radio - Garfield-Rainier Beach game will be telecast on KONG TV and broadcast on KJR (950 AM) at 7 p.m., with Kevin Calabro and Marques Johnson handling play-by-play.

Mercer Island (12-0) vs. Bellarmine Prep (9-2)

Key players - Mercer Island: Josh Fisher, 6-3, senior, forward (13.8 ppg, 4 rpg, has signed with Pepperdine); Elliott Prasse-Freeman, 6-3, senior, guard (9.5 ppg, 6 rpg; Seattle Times all-area as a junior, has committed to Harvard); Matt Logie, 6-5, senior, guard (17.5 ppg; one of state's best perimeter shooters, has committed to Lehigh); Tyler Besecker, 6-6, senior, forward (15.8 ppg, 10 rpg; MVP of prestigous Florida tournament in late December; committed to Stanford). Bellarmine Prep: Tyler Brown, 6-11, senior, forward (playing in third game since recovering from dislocated knee; has signed with Pepperdine); Jesse Keely, 6-8, senior, forward (10.0 ppg, 6 rpg; wants to play basketball and baseball in college); Brendon Merritt, senior, guard (17.4 ppg; attracting Division I

interest, but probably will end up in junior college); Kenny Williams, 5-10, senior, guard (11.3 ppg, 3.5 assists).

Notable - This game features more likely Division I players (at least 6) than most games will all season. Mercer Island finished sixth after losing heartbreaker to Olympia in semifinals at the Class 3A state tournament last season. Bellarmine Prep lost in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament last season. Mercer Island is ranked No. 1 in Class 3A and No. 16 n

What to look for - Great contrast in talent. Bellarmine Prep has one of the state's biggest frontcourts in 6-11 Brown and 6-8 Keely. Mercer Island is led by four Division I players who play on the perimeter and has no player taller than 6-6.

Free throws - Logie, who didn't start last season for Mercer Island, received the first basketball scholarship in the history of Lehigh University. He is the grandson of Islander Coach Ed Pepple. . . . Brendon Merritt's father, Jim, played for Pepple at Fife High School.

Cascade (11-2) vs. Mariner (7-3)

Key players - Cascade: Ross Benson, 6-9, senior, center (signed with St. Mary's College of Moraga, Calif., averaging 15 points, 6.5 rebounds); Tony Auckland, 6-4, senior, guard-forward (averaging 10 points but is lethal from three-point range when he gets hot); Taylor Matson, 6-0, senior, point guard (assist to turnover ratio of 2-to-1 in recent weeks). Mariner: Teyo Johnson, 6-7, junior, forward (one of state's best junior athletes averages 15.3 points); Amon Gordon, 6-4, junior, forward (big-bodied inside presence averaging double-double, scored a career-high 27 points against then-No. 8 Class 3A Jackson last week).

Notable - Benson has been able to tower over most of the competition so far this season, but how will the future St. Mary's player handle Mariner's twin-tower combination of Johnson (6-7, 238) and Gordon (6-4, 240)? As Jackson Coach Greg Garrison said Tuesday, "We don't match up with (Mariner) physically. I don't know who does." Teams play in different classifications, but game could be an unofficial indication of who's the best, at least early in the season, of the 20 teams in the Western 3A and 4A Conferences. To date, Cascade is in first of the WesCo 4A; Mariner is top dog in the WesCo 3A South Division. Cascade could have some tired legs; the Bruins played Friday and last night.

What to look for - Mariner's frontcourt and Cascade's backcourt. Whether he's sinking three-pointers, driving for finger-rolls or dunking, Johnson can take over a game, and Gordon can put on a show in the paint. Cascade's guards, meanwhile, can score from anywhere and are deft ballhandlers.

Free throws - Cascade, ranked ninth in the 4A, established itself early on as one of the state's best after beating Eastlake 68-66 in overtime in Dec. 2 season-opener. . . . Mariner, ranked No 7 in 3A, suffered a slim loss to unbeaten and 3A's No. 2-ranked Mount Vernon.

Rainier Beach (8-3) vs. Garfield (9-2)

Key players - Rainier Beach: Jamal Crawford, 6-5, senior, guard (1998 state player of the year, averaging 27 points; Garfield: Ricky Frazier, 5-9, point guard (quickness personified); Roy Smiley, 6-4, junior, forward (Division I potential); Ed Roy, 6-6, junior, forward (all-tournament pick last year, scored 19 against tough Franklin Tuesday); Ira Davis, 6-0, senuior, guard (one of city's best multi-sport athletes).

Notable - This is matchup between 1998 state 3A champion Rainier Beach and 4A champion Garfield. Burning question after both won titles last year was which team was better? Both graduated key players so this game, while entertaining, won't answer that question. . . . Garfield is ranked No. 2 among 4A teams by The Times and Rainier Beach is the No. 4 Class 3A team.

What to look for - Crawford is considered among best high-school players in state history and can put on a show. Garfield's junior Roys - Roy Smiley and Ed Roy - are among state's top juniors. A Garfield victory will give Bulldogs at least a temporary claim to title of best team in Seattle. That's because Garfield has beaten Franklin, which has defeated O'Dea and Beach.

Free throws - Garfield has lost to the defending state champions of Alaska (Juneau Douglas) and British Columbia (Richmond). . . . Beach has lost to O'Dea, Franklin and Mount Vernon High of Illinois (game played in St. Louis).