Slam-n-Jam Event to Begin Saturday in Long Beach With 40 Teams Invited

Team Long Beach is the favorite in the seventh annual Reebok Slam-n-Jam National Invitational Tournament for top high school players that starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at Cal State Long Beach.

Forty teams from the United States, the Bahamas and Canada will compete in the 105-game tournament that will conclude with the championship game at 8:15 p.m. July 19. More than 150 college coaches and recruiters are expected to attend.

Defending champion Team Long Beach (formerly Victoria Park) will be led by Tyus Edney of Poly, Pat Thacker of Millikan, Darryl Bryant of Jordan and All-American Cherokee Parks of Marina High in Huntington Beach.

Other top teams will include New York’s Riverside Church and Team Los Angeles, for which Joaquin Hawkins of Lynwood will play.

Tickets can be bought from Ticketmaster or at the door of the CSULB gym during the tournament. Dunking and three-point shooting contests will precede the title game.