NPA NIT a gathering place for talented preps

High school basketball seasons are winding down with the top teams from coast to coast battling for their state championships. On the prep level several of the top national programs will be in one location to battle it out for titles on the prep and high school level.

Thursday-Saturday at Baylor University in Waco, Texas the National Prep Alliance National Invitational Tournament will tip-off and the competition is sure to be fierce over the course of the three-day event.

Some of the top talents from across the country will be on hand for the action as well as a few international prospects.

The tournament boasts one of the most highly sought after international prospects in the 2008 class Ater Majok who will play with Heat Academy out of Virginia. The 6-10, 220-pound forward has been attending American International School in Carlingsford, Australia, but recently joined the Heat Academy squad.

Over the last year Majok has become a hot commodity with offers pouring in from Baylor, Uconn, Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA, and West Virginia. He committed to Baylor following an August visit but backed off that commitment and is now favoring UConn along with the Baylor Bears.

Ater Majok is joined in the front court by 2009 forward prospect Majok Majok who like Ater has been attending school in Australia.

Heralded Harmony Community will make the trip from Cinncinati to Waco for the event and boasts a roster which includes three four-star prospects.

Shooting guard Bud Mackey is considered one of the top talents in the country ranked No. 35 in the country and the No. 5 shooting guard. He originally committed to Indiana but has de-committed and has a few hurdles to overcome to make it to the college level. With that said he is one to watch over the weekend.

Joining Mackey in the backcourt is Indiana point guard signee Terrell Holloway. The 6-0 175-pound guard actually took the scholarship that opened up when Mackey's offer was resinded following off the court issues. Mackey is regarded as the No. 100 prospect in 08 and the No. 20 point guard in the country.

Small Forward Jason Henry a 2007 four-star standout, gives Harmony another threat to go along with their talented backcourt. He has the ability to play three positions (PG, SG, SF) and the size (6-7, 190) to frustrate opponents.

IMG Academy may have the best frontcourt of the tournament with five-star center and Florida signee Kenny Kadji teaming up with three-star Rivals 150 prospect Teeng Akol.

Kadji is the No. 3 center in the country and has developed his outside shooting to go along with an already dominant inside game. At 6-10, 240 pounds he proved himself to be one of the top big men at the NBPA Camp this summer.

Akol is an impressive 6-10, 200 pounds and joined IMG this season after playing at Our Savior New American in Centereach, N.Y. and is one of the top uncommitted forward prospects in the country.

IMG's front court will be challenged by the MS Elite's (Miss.) Elite boasts New Mexico three-star signees Isaiah Rusher and Will Brown both of which were standout Texas high school prospects. In the middle MS Elite will go with 6-11, 296-pound center Melvin Oliver.

In the backcourt 2010 Kentucky commitment K.C. Ross-Miller will lead the way for God's Academy. Ross-Miller is considered one of the top point guards in the 2010 class and is known for his basketball savvy on the court. Humble Christian 2009 point guard Junior Cadougan is another underclassman to keep an eye on as he teams up with Oregon St. shooting guard commitment Chris Turner.

The list of talented prospects expected for the three-day event could go on even longer with nationally recognized prep schools Genisis One, Rise Academy, Atlanta Ware Academy, Houston University Park Academy, High Point Academy, and Progressive Christian Academy all making their way to the NPA National Tournament.

The action is sure to be fast paced and you will not want to miss a thing. So if you can't get out to check it out stay tuned to SicEmSports.com for the latest updates and photo galleries from the action.