The biggest week of recruiting begins

The college scouts take a couple of days away from their evaluation period before all the shoe companies fire up action in Las Vegas and AAU goes national in Orlando. The recruiting period starts up again on the 22nd. Here's what the local teams are doing.

• Howard Pulley - 17U Super Showcase in Orlando before going to the Kansas City Prep Invitational
• 43 Hoops - Adidas Super 64 in Las Vegas (includes 15U Carr and 16U)
  
• Net Gain - Adidas Super 64 in Las Vegas and then to Phoenix for the Desert Duel
• Magic Robertson - Adidas Super 64 in Las Vegas and then to Orlando for national 17U tournament.
• Magic Superfriends - 17U Super Showcase and national 17U tournament in Orlando
• MN Select (both DeKok and Kruger) - Reebok Summer Championships in Las Vegas
  
• ECI MN - Reebok Summer Championships in Las Vegas
• MN Magic 16U Elites - 16U Super Showcase and national 16U tournament in Orlando
• MN Xplosion (16U) - National 16U tournament in Orlando
• MN Heat Elite 15U - Main Event in Las Vegas
  

But before that there's a couple of interesting events going on this weekend right here in the metro. I think both of these are well worth it. And of course, they're on opposite ends, go figure.

• The Gopher State Prep Showcase put on by MYAS is out at Lakeville South. Bethlehem Academy and Concordia Academy in the A/AA bracket. Lakeville North, Eden Prairie, St. Cloud Tech, Armstrong, Champlin Park, Johnson, Apple Valley, Eastview just to name a few in the AAA/AAAA bracket. Schedules and pools can be found here.
• In Rogers, the Breakdown is putting on a summer showcase. The Gold Bracket in particular is loaded with Cooper, Osseo and Sibley from the metro. Quality non-metro teams here too with Monticello, St. Cloud Apollo and Pelican Rapids in the same bracket. Schedules and pools can be found here.