New York Skyriders loaded with talent in Vegas

More than 600 teams will be flying, driving and hooping their way to Las Vegas this week for the summer's biggest set of high school basketball tournaments. While much of the summer is split for talented basketball prospects between Nike events, Reebok tournaments and Adidas showcases, Vegas is different. For one week, the hoops world comes together for the biggest event of the summer.

With all those teams, it can be tough for college coaches to decide which team to circle on the schedules to watch. For college coaches looking for talent in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 classes, the New York Skyriders playing in the NIKE Main Event are certainly one of the best teams to scout.

"We'll have Curtis Kelly with us, and we're going to bring Terry McKenzie and Avery Jackson and Aleek Pauline," Skyriders head coach J.R. Rembert said Monday. "Curtis will be coming off injury, but I just want to make sure all of our kids get exposure to these coaches so they can possibly get college scholarships."

New York City AAU and travelling basketball teams have always been known for stellar point guard play. From Sebastian Telfair to Felipe Lopez to 2006 stars like Edgar Sosa and North Jersey's Eugene Harvey. The New York Skyriders are no exception, with at least four players who could handle the point at the college level in the near future.

One of the stars of the show could be Derrick Williams, a 2007 point guard prospect on the high major level. McKenzie, a 2007 prospect who will attend Shores Christian next season, and Jackson, a 2008 prospect, are also players to watch for the future. Jackson recently said he is looking for a college in the ACC, Big East or Big Ten and named Duke and North Carolina as a couple schools he'd like to hear more from.

The Skyriders will not be travelling with 2008 star point guard Darius Gabriel however, as the speedy court general is likely going to play with the New York Lightning. The 6-foot-1 star is being reclassified into the class of 2008 and will attend Boys to Men Prep School in Chicago next season.

Rembert will also be without 6-foot-8 manchild Papa Dia who moved to the Houston area this summer and will be playing with Team Texas in Las Vegas. As loaded as New York City backcourts can get, Coach Rembert says his team isn't just about the guards and the dribble drive.

"Coaches will hopefully come to watch our guards, because you know we'll always have some guards who can play," Rembert said. "We'll always have that New York swagger and our guard play sets us apart, but I am sure they'll be impressed with Jamine and Curtis too after they see us play."

And just who is this Jamine? When we first met Coach Rembert in Bloomington, Ind. earlier this summer, he said he couldn't wait for people to see "Greedy". Jamine "Greedy" Peterson will be travelling with the New York Skyriders to Vegas and his coaches and teammates hope he can put on a show.

"Wait until you see him jump," Rembert said. "Greedy can really get up, and he is one of the best athletes I've seen in the city this year."

The Skyriders will also be bringing 6-foot-6 super soph Afam Muojeke to Las Vegas with them to play at the small forward spot and will likely get the services of Marcus Cox, a 2007 point guard formerly of New York Cordozo.

For more updates on the world of basketball recruiting, stay logged on to the nation's best website for prep hoops, Rivals.com. CardinalSports.com's Howie Lindsey will be in Las Vegas later this week to cover the major shoe company tournaments and provide scoring updates and pictures of the future U of L stars.