LOS ANGELES, May 24, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- With the NBA playoffs kicking into high gear, get ready to watch some of tomorrow's superstars show off their basketball skills at the LAX Classic Basketball Tournament during this Memorial Day weekend.
The tournament, sponsored by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) in conjunction with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), will take place Saturday, May 28 through Monday, May 30 at three airport-area high schools: Hawthorne High at 14120 South Hawthorne Boulevard, Leuzinger High at 4118 West Rosecrans Avenue, and Westchester High at 7400 West Manchester Avenue. The first round of games will begin each day at 9 a.m. The games will feature some of the best and brightest young basketball players in Southern California.
Admission is $5 per person, $3 for children 5 to 12 years, and free for children under 5.
"Some of the kids who have participated in our program in the past have gone on to Division I schools and even to the pros," said the program's director Thaddeus McGrew. "This is a very successful program for our community's youth basketball players, but it has been even more exciting this year because of the support we have received from Los Angeles World Airports."
With support from LAWA, McGrew said the program can involve more players, particularly from the inner city.
"LAWA's support has increased the value of our program," he said. "Without their sponsorship, we would not be able to provide our services to so many kids. This gives our kids the opportunity to play bigger and better teams all over Southern California."
The Memorial Day weekend tournament will include more than 40 boy's teams in age divisions ranging from 10 years old and under to 14 years and under. The LAX Classic Basketball Tournament will be followed in July by another tournament that will provide an opportunity for top high school players from different cities and states to come to Los Angeles to compete in front of major college recruiters in an effort to earn an athletic college scholarship.
"These young athletes are the stars of tomorrow," said McGrew, "and LAWA's continued support of programs like this is giving more young athletes the chance to play organized sports and perhaps even learn the skills necessary to succeed in college and beyond."
McGrew said there are a "few team openings still available" and interested teams should contact him at (310) 916-3585 or Andre Arnold at (323) 687-8640, or by e-mail to ctsbasketball@earthlink.net.
Professional basketball players who participated in past tournaments include Trevor Ariza of the New York Knicks, Baron Davis of the Oakland Golden State Warriors, Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics and Robert Swift of the Seattle Sonics. Current college players include Jordan Farmar of UCLA and Brandon Heath of San Diego State University.
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer, sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs. The Independent All Stars Athletic Association (IASAA), a California 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with headquarters in Los Angeles, is organizing the tournament.
The LAX Classic Basketball Tournament provides a venue for Los Angeles World Airports to inform airport-area communities about its many community and educational outreach programs, including the summer Aviation Careers Education (ACE) Academy, which introduces middle and high school students to careers in aviation.