full media release immediately below:

For immediate release: (4 December 2003) Miami, Florida

Move over Lebron James - the next high school basketball superstar is set tospring from the Zoned-Out Shootout High School Basketball Tournament hosted at AmericanHigh School in Hialeah, Florida.

On Thursday, December 18^th through Saturday, December 20^th, 2003, check out eight (8) of the best high schools touting their most promising players at the Zoned-Out Shootout Basketball Tournament hosted at American High School, (18350 NW 67^th Avenue, Hialeah, Florida).JoinBrickell Avenue-based In the Zone Sports, Inc. and the South Florida Sports League (both non-profit, community based organizations) in support of this dynamic, pre-holiday season display of basketball prowess at the newly refurbished AmericanHigh School gymnasium and athletic center.

This 1st annual 3-day "Zoned-Out Shootout" all-boys high school basketball tournament, (12/18-12/20), has already drawn the invaluable support of several S. Florida communities, businesses and sports enthusiasts statewide. Join local celebrities, high-profile citizens and political officials at this uniquely spirited tournament to further support the non-profit, tax-deductible mission of In the Zone Sports, Inc. and the South Florida Sports League. 

There will be numerous college coaches in attendance and will include some the best teams in the state of Florida and a state champion from outside of Florida. The tournament will also provide players a chance to showcase their skills in front of numerous collegiate coaches.  “This tournament will provide an effective marketing tool sponsoring companies and organizations as it will be promoted in South Florida and beyond,” said Willie Chacon, President of the South Florida Sports League. The tournament is also listed in Eddie Oliver’s National Tournament book a tournament resource guide considered essential to college coaches all over the country.

In The Zone Sports, Inc. and the South Florida Sports League are dedicated to evolving, enriching and supporting local student-athletes in the fiercely competitive academic and athletic arenas via integral educational enrichment seminars, SAT/ACT prep, a rigorous journalism program and much more.

Rudy Rodriquez-Chomat, President of In the Zone Sports, Inc, remarks, “As a first year tournament, the field is fantastic.” Key West is a perennial state contender and is again this year in Class 3A. They were state runner-up two seasons ago. Pahokee is a state contender in Class 3A, lost to last season’s eventual state champion by 1 point on a buzzer beater in the playoffs. Calusa Prep is a state contender in Class 1A. South Dade, North Miami Beach and American rank among the top 10 in DadeCounty. American is the defending county champion. Southridge is always strong and Kennett was a state champion in Pennsylvania just two seasons ago and is coming off a season with 20 wins – this promises to be an aggressive 3 days of high school basketball.”

Tournament field/participating high schools:

American High School (Hialeah, FL), South Dade High School (Homestead, FL), Southridge High School (Miami, FL), North Miami Beach High School (North Miami Beach, FL), Pahokee High School (Pahokee, FL), Key West High School 

(Key West, FL), Calusa Prep (Miami, FL) and KennettHigh School (Kennett, PA)

First-round tournament schedule (Thursday, December 18, 2003 & championship game Saturday, December 20):

4:30pm Southridge vs. Calusa Prep

6:00pmSouth Dade vs. North Miami Beach

7:30pm American vs. Key West

9:00pm Pahokee vs. Kennett (PA)

Players to watch:

PahokeeHigh School

Antonio Wilson, 6’2’, 215, G

Wilson is ranked in among the top 20 seniors in the state in virtually every player ranking including BreakdownMagazine.com and FloridaVarsity.com. He averaged 18 points per game as a junior. He is a Division I prospect, not only in basketball, but in football as well.

Charles Bouie, 6’8”, 200, F

Bouie was spectacular for Team Breakdown during AAU summer ball and got rave reviews from numerous college coaches. He is a sure-fire Division I prospect. He has incredible jumping ability and a great defender. Ranked among the top 30 seniors in the state.

SouthDadeHigh School

Jamari Maduro, 6’1”, 180, G

BreakdownMagazine.com ranks Maduro as the # 3 sophomore in the state of Florida. He started as a freshman for South Dade and is one of the top players in DadeCounty, regardless of grade. He will be a top-level Division I prospect when he reaches his senior year.

Tremayne Russell, 5’10”, 160, PG

BreakdownMagazine.com also ranks Russell among the top ten sophomores in the state of Florida. He was the Bucs starting point guard as a freshman. He will be a Division I prospect when he reaches his senior year.

AmericanHigh School (Hialeah- host school)

Steve Gaulden, 5’9”, 160, PG

Gaulden is one of the best point guards in DadeCounty and was the starting point guard for American last year as a sophomore. That team won the GMAC championship and advanced to the Elite 8. He started at point guard for the Supreme Court 16U team that advanced to the 16U and 17U Division I National Championship in Orlando this past summer.

North Miami BeachHigh School

Gerrysen Monestime, 6’5”, 230, PF

Monestime averaged over 22 points per game and pulled down 14 rebounds per game as a junior. He is the best back to the basket post-up player in the county. He has a very nice jumper and will be the heart of the Chargers this season. His height is something that hurts him in recruitment because he falls into the category called a “tweener”, which is someone who is in between being a guard and forward, but he will most likely sign on with a Division II team.

CalusaPrep School

Dennys Clemente, 6’0, 150, G

Clemente is a lighting-quick guard who played this past summer for the Miami Tropics AAU team as Clemente just arrived from Puerto Rico. His AAU coach, Art Alvarez, rates him as one of the best guards in the state. He has an incredible jumper, has quick hands and is a great ball handler. Alvarez expects Clemente, a junior; to be a Division I prospect next season when college recruiters see him this year.

There are no stats for this season because the season does not start until December 1, 2003. Pahokee does not play its first game until the tournament because 10 of its basketball players are on the football team that is expected to win the football state championship.

Key WestHigh School

Eric Brown, 6'6, 210, F

Brown is a high-flying forward who was a starter as a sophomore on Key West's state runner-up team. He averaged over 15 points per game last season as a junior and was the leading scoring for his AAU squad, Team In the Zone. He is a senior this year and has been recruited by numerous Division I schools and is expected to sign with Lehigh.