ESPNU, ESPN and ESPN2's 2007-08 High School Boys Basketball Schedule

- Coverage Begins Dec. 6

- Top-Ranked Teams and Players Featured

Nov. 2007 -- ESPNU, ESPN and ESPN2, in conjunction with Paragon Marketing Group, will present 15 high school basketball games this season in the returning ESPNU Old Spice High School Showcase. The series will include teams from 11 states, including 12 teams currently ranked in the ESPN High Elite 25.

The series will open on ESPN2, Thursday, Dec. 6, with #25 Campbell Hall (Calif.) vs. #11 St. Edward (Ohio) at 9 p.m. ET. The regular-season schedule concludes Thursday, Feb. 21, when American Christian (Pa.) takes on #6 St. Anthony (N.J.) on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. In all, ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network, will televise 11 games, ESPN2 will air three matchups and ESPN will showcase one contest. In addition, ESPN360.com, ESPN’s broadband digital sports network, will simulcast every game on ESPN and ESPN2.

This season, at least 26 players from the ESPN 150 Class of 2008 are expected to participate in the series, highlighted by a matchup featuring Oak Hill’s (Va.) #1 Brandon Jennings against St. Benedict’s (N.J.) #3 Samardo Samuels on ESPN2, Thursday, Dec. 13 at 9 p.m. St. Anthony (N.J.) leads the way with four players ranked in the ESPN 150, followed by Oak Hill (Va.), St. Edward (Ohio), American Christian (Pa.) and Montverde (Fla.) with two players apiece.

Other prospects from the ESPN 150 expected to appear in the series include: #2 Tyreke Evans, American Christian (Pa.); #4 Greg Monroe, Helen Cox (La.); #5 Jrue Holiday, Campbell Hall (Calif); #6 B.J. Mullens, Canal Winchester (Ohio); #7 Delvon Roe, St. Edward (Ohio); #11 William Buford, Toledo Libbey (Ohio); #13 Al-Farouq Aminu, Norcross (Ga.); #14 Kemba Walker, Rice (N.Y.), #18 Mike Rosario, St. Anthony (N.J.); #26 Yancy Gates, Cincinnati Withrow (Ohio); #27 Eloy Vargas, American Heritage (Fla.); #30 Drew Gordon, Archbishop Mitty (Calif.); #31 Larry Drew, Taft (Calif.), #45 Sylven Landesberg, Holy Cross (N.Y.), #51 Dashan Harris, Montverde (Fla.), #65 Steve Tchiengang, Montverde (Fla.); #78 Malik Story, Oak Hill (Va.); #88 Quintrell Thomas, St. Patrick (N.J.); #90 Tyshawn Taylor, St. Anthony (N.J.); #97 Darryl Bryant, St. Raymond (N.Y.); #98 Travon Woodall, St. Anthony (N.J.); #105 Tom Pritchard, St. Edward (Ohio); #108 Jiovanny Fontan, St. Anthony (N.J.) and #150 Martez Walker, American Christian (Pa.).

ESPNU will supplement the game schedule with a weekly 30-minute show, ESPNU Recruiting Insider, which evaluates the top high school basketball recruits and their classes based on research and analysis provided by ESPN’s Scouts, Inc. The show will be aired Fridays at 6:30 p.m. throughout the season with ESPNU signature anchor Lowell Galindo hosting alongside ESPN’s Scouts, Inc. recruiting analyst John Carroll.

Old Spice returns to the series as title sponsor. Nike, Progressive and the U.S. Marine Corps will serve as presenting sponsors.

2007-08 ESPNU, ESPN & ESPN2 High School Basketball Schedule

Date - Game - Time (ET) - Network

Thu., Dec. 6 - #25 Campbell Hall (Calif.) vs. #11 St. Edward (Ohio) -
9 p.m. - ESPN2

Thu., Dec. 13 - #1 Oak Hill (Va.) vs. #9 St. Benedict’s (N.J.) - 9 p.m. - ESPN

Sat., Dec. 29 - #2 St. Patrick (N.J.) vs. TBD (Houston Team) - 9 p.m. - ESPNU
Sat., Dec. 29 - #1 Oak Hill (Va.) vs. TBD (Houston Team) - 11 p.m. - ESPNU

Thu., Jan. 10 - Helen Cox (La.) vs. #18 Norcross (Ga.) - 7 p.m. - ESPN2

Thu., Jan. 12 - #11 St. Edward (Ohio) vs. Toledo Libbey (Ohio) - 5 p.m. - ESPNU
Thu., Jan. 12 - Canal Winchester (Ohio) vs. Cincinnati Withrow (Ohio) - 9 p.m. - ESPNU

Tue., Jan. 15 - American Heritage (Fla.) vs. Pace (Fla.) - 9 p.m. - ESPNU

Mon., Jan. 21 - #16 Archbishop Mitty (Calif.) vs. Holy Cross (N.Y) - 11 a.m. - ESPNU
Mon., Jan. 21 - St. Raymond (N.Y.) vs. #20 Taft (Calif.) - 1 p.m. - ESPNU
Mon., Jan. 21 - Scott County (Ky.) vs. #6 St. Anthony (N.J.) - 3 p.m. - ESPNU

Sat., Feb. 9 - #12 Rice (N.Y.) vs. #13 Lincoln (N.Y.) - 8 p.m. - ESPNU
Sat., Feb. 9 - #1 Oak Hill (Va.) vs. #2 St. Patrick (N.J.) - 10 p.m. - ESPNU

Thu., Feb. 21 - #5 Montverde (Fla.) vs. #9 St. Benedict’s (N.J.) - 7 p.m. - ESPNU
Thu., Feb. 21 - American Christian (Pa.) vs. #6 St. Anthony (N.J.) - 9 p.m. - ESPN2

High School Sports on ESPN

The ESPN networks have covered high school sports since the 1980’s, including boys’ and girls’ basketball, football and lacrosse competitions. Notable prep events televised in recent years by the ESPN networks have included top athletes such as LeBron James (St. Vincent-St. Mary’s), Dwight Howard (Southwest Atlanta Christian), Greg Oden (Lawrence North), O.J. Mayo (Huntington) and top 25 football programs such as De La Salle High School (Calif.), Southlake Carroll High School (Texas) and Miami Northwestern High School (Fla.). Other featured events have included the McDonald’s All-American High School Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Games, the Jordan Brand All-American Classic and the Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic.

ESPNU has also increased coverage of high school sports with more live games and college recruiting studio shows, including ESPNU Recruiting Insider and its annual National Signing Day show in February. In 2006, ESPN acquired Scouts, Inc. to produce more in-depth scouting information primarily for high school, college and pro football across ESPN’s media assets. In addition, year-long recruiting coverage is available at Recruiting Insider on ESPN.com, which provides in-depth national news and information about the top prep athletes from across the country and the collegiate athletic programs recruiting them.

Source: ESPN