4/26/08
Select below to view the 2008 Paradise Jam Team Overviews and Brackets:
Men's: Team Overview  |  Bracket
Women's: Team Overview  |  Island Div. Bracket  |  Reef Div. Bracket

6/11/07
Seattle, Washington -- The ten Division I women’s basketball teams competing in the 2007 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam basketball tournaments comprise the best field, from top to bottom, ever assembled in the eight-year history of the tournament. Duke, Connecticut, Purdue, Stanford, Old Dominion, Texas A&M, Indiana, Temple, Wake Forest and Wichita State will travel to St. Thomas to play at the University of the Virgin Islands Sport & Fitness Center from Nov. 22-26, 2007.

Seven of the ten tournament participants ended the 2006-07 season ranked in the final AP poll for 2006. Duke and UConn finished #1 and #2, respectively, followed closely by Stanford (#6), Purdue (#12), Texas A&M (#13), Old Dominion (#28) and Temple (#31). All seven teams earned NCAA tournament berths, with UConn and Purdue advancing to the Elite Eight. Indiana joined these seven teams in post season play with a berth in the WNIT.

The Paradise Jam consists of two separate tournaments. One is a four-team, three-game round robin event called the "St. John" tournament. The other is a six-team, three-game event called the "St. Thomas" tournament. Both are Multiple Team Event (MTE) tournaments. An MTE tournament counts as only two games against a team’s annual maximum of 29 games, despite playing three games at the tournament.

All six teams in the Paradise Jam “St. Thomas” tournament competed in the 2007 NCAA tournament. The St. Thomas event is split into two brackets of three teams each, the Reef division and the Island division. In the 2007 Reef division, Duke, Purdue and Temple will be pitted against one another. The Island division includes UConn, Stanford and Old Dominion. The tournament begins with three days of pool play within the two divisions on November 22-24, with each team playing two games. The order of finish within the divisions determines the placement for the final day of games on Sunday, November 25.

St. Thomas tournament competition opens on Thanksgiving Day, November 22nd at 7:00 PM, with Purdue playing Duke in the Reef division, followed by a 9:30 PM match-up between Stanford and UConn in the Island division. Games continue on November 23rd with a Reef division match-up between Duke and Temple at 7:00 PM and an Island division game between UConn and Old Dominion at 9:30 PM. Pool play concludes on November 24th when Temple and Purdue meet in the Reef division at 7:00 PM and Old Dominion and Stanford meet in the Island division at 9:30 PM. The order of finish within the two divisions determines the placement for the final day of games on Sunday, November 25. Play will tip off at 4:30 PM with a game between the 3rd place teams from each division. The 2nd place teams will square off at 7:00 PM and the championship game is set to begin at 9:30 PM. All game times are listed in Atlantic Standard Time, which is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Games will be played at the U.V.I. Sports and Fitness Center, the Caribbean’s premier basketball facility.

Duke returns to the U.S. Virgin Islands with brand new head coach, Joanne P. McCallie, at the helm. McCallie, who replaces legendary Duke coach Gail Goestenkoers, was formerly the head coach at Michigan State. At MSU, she led the Spartans to five straight NCAA Tournament appearances, four straight 20-win seasons and an appearance in the NCAA Championship game in 2005. Duke will be looking to fill the shoes of former standout Lindsey Harding, who was drafted as the No. 1 pick in the WNBA and is now starting for the Minnesota Lynx. Alison Bales (11.9 ppg), who will also be sorely missed, was taken in the first round as the No. 9 pick by the Indiana Fever. The Duke program will rely on three returning starters, as well as a bevy of talented newcomers. Junior guard Abby Waner averaged 14.1 points per game last season and was selected as one of fourteen finalists for the 2007 USA U21 World Championship Team. Senior guard Wanisha Smith averaged 9.4 points per game, and junior forward Carrem Gay, averaged 8.8 points per game this past season. Duke’s women’s basketball season came to an abrupt close with a heart-breaking 53-52 loss to Rutgers in the Sweet 16, bringing their final record to 32-2. The Blue Devils, ranked No. 1 in the final AP poll, finished off one of the most successful seasons in NCAA history, including compiling a perfect 29-0 record prior to the ACC conference tournament. The 2007-08 Duke program looks capable of another hugely successful season, in addition to the defense of their 2002 Paradise Jam title. Coach Joanne P. McCallie also returns to the islands, where she coached MSU to a third place finish in the 2005 Paradise Jam tournament.

UConn returns their entire roster from the 2006-07 season, which saw the Huskies post a 32-4 record, win the Big East Conference regular season championship and receive a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament. UConn earned a trip to the Elite Eight, where they succumbed to Louisiana State in the Regional Final. UConn returnees include seniors Charde Houston and Mel Thomas, who were both selected among the 15 finalists for the 2007 USA Women’s Pan American Games team; sophomore Tina Charles, who was the 2007 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year; and junior Renee Montgomery, who was honored on the 2007 All-BIG EAST First Team. The Huskies will add consensus National High School Player of the Year, Maya Moore, who is a finalist for the 2007 USA Basketball Women’s U19 World Championship Team. UConn is coached by Geno Auriemma, who coached the Huskies to five national championships, eight Final Fours and 27 BIG EAST titles since his arrival in 1985.

Stanford enters the Paradise Jam after claiming their sixth straight 25-win season. The Cardinal posted a 29-5 record, won the Pac Ten Conference Title with a 17-1 record, won the Pac Ten Conference tournament and advanced to the NCAA tournament as a #2 seed, defeating Idaho State before falling to Florida State in the second round. The Cardinal lost a pair of starters and WNBA draftees to graduation, Brooke Smith and Kristen Newlin, but the Cardinal return a very deep roster of nine players, including three-time WBCA Kodak All-American and All Pac-10 Team selection, senior Candice Wiggins. Wiggins averaged 16.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. The Cardinal will also look to Pac-10 Freshman of the Year Jayne Appel, who also garnered Honorable Mention All-Pac Ten Honors, and averaged 13.2 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Cardinal. Other Stanford returnees include starter Jillian Harmon and All-Pac Ten Freshman Team selection, JJ Hones. The Cardinal will add freshman Kayla Pedersen, who was a finalist for the USA U19 World Championship Team. Stanford is led by Head Coach Tara VanDerveer, who enters her 28th year. VanDerveer’s tenure at Stanford boasts two national championships, 20 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and 16 Pac-10 titles.

Purdue comes to the island riding the momentum of a very successful 2006-07 season in which they posted a 31-6 record, and won the Big Ten Tournament Championship. Their efforts earned them a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament, where they advanced to the Elite Eight, losing to top-seeded North Carolina in the regional final. Purdue will have to replace WNBA rookie Katie Gearlds (19.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game) and teammate Erin Lawless (10.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game). To do so, they will look to Lyndsay Wisdom-Hylton and FahKara Malone. Wisdom-Hylton, who averaged 14.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, was one of fourteen athletes selected as finalists for the 2007 USA U21 World Championship Team. Malone, a 5’3” guard, averaged 8.4 points and dished out 148 assists. The Boilermakers are led by second year coach Sharon Versyp, who was named the Russell Athletic/WBCA Region VI Coach of the Year in 2006-07.

Old Dominion is coming off a successful season in which the Big Blue compiled a 24-9 overall record, and a 17-1 mark in Colonial Athletic Association games. Wendy Larry, who is entering her 20th year at the helm, coaches the Monarchs. Larry and the Monarchs have won an NCAA record 16 straight CAA tournaments. Larry recorded her 500th win as a head coach on December 9, 2006 with a win over Chicago State. Old Dominion returns nine players from its 2006-07 roster, including leading scorer, TJ Jordan, who averaged 14.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. The Monarchs will also look to junior forward Tiffany Green, who averaged 8.4 rebounds and 6.0 points for the Big Blue in 2006-07. This will be Old Dominion’s second trip to the Paradise Jam. The Monarchs finished third in the 2002 Paradise Jam.

Temple rounds out the St. Thomas tournament bracket. Three-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Dawn Staley, who is in her eighth year at the helm, coaches the Owls. Temple finished the season with a 25-8 record and are coming off their 4th straight NCAA tournament appearance. Temple edged Nebraska in the first round of the 2007 NCAA tournament, before suffering a season-ending loss to top-ranked Duke. The team returns nine players, including three starters. The Owls will try to fill the gap left by the graduation of AP All-American Honorable Mention selection and team MVP, Kamesha Hairston. Hairston led the Owls in both scoring (18.9 points per game) and rebounding (8.6 points per game). Coach Staley will look to senior center Lady Comfort, who averaged 12.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and Big 5 Rookie of the Year, Lakeisha Eaddy (6.7 points and 2.7 rebounds), to provide leadership in the early season.

The Paradise Jam “St. John” tournament is a three-game, four-team round robin competition that includes one NCAA tournament participant in Texas A&M and one Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) participant in Indiana. The 2007 tournament field is rounded out by Wake Forest and Wichita State. Competition begins on Thanksgiving Day, November 22nd at 2:00 PM with Wake Forest playing Indiana, followed by the 4:30 PM game where Wichita State will battle Texas A&M. Games continue on November 23rd with Indiana vs. Wichita State at 2:00 PM and Texas A&M vs. Wake Forest at 4:30 PM. The remaining match ups will conclude on November 24th at 2:00 PM (Wichita State vs. Wake Forest) and 4:30 PM (Indiana vs. Texas A&M). All game times are listed in Atlantic Standard Time, which is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Games will be played at the U.V.I. Sports and Fitness Center, the Caribbean’s premier basketball facility.

Texas A&M arrives in the US Virgin Islands with post-season momentum after their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Aggies, who finished with a 27-5 record, beat Texas Arlington in the opening round before falling to George Washington in the second round. The Aggies return 12 players from their 2006-07 campaign, including all five starters and a trio of players who were among 45 elite women’s collegiate basketball players to be invited to the USA Basketball Women’s National Team trials: Takia Starks, Morenike Atunrase and A’Quonesia Franklin. Starks, who led the team in scoring (14.2 points per game) and assists (84 total), grabbed 4.2 rebounds per game. Atunrase, a 5’10” senior who plays both guard and forward for the Aggies, averaged 10.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Franklin, a senior who stands only 5’3”, averaged 9.9 points per game and dished out 78 assists on the season. Texas A&M is coached by fourth-year Head Coach Gary Blair. Blair returns to the Paradise Jam for a second time after coaching then 10th-ranked Arkansas to a second place finish in the 2002 tournament.

Indiana finished the 2006-2007 campaign with a 19-14 record and advanced to the third round of the WNIT. Second year Head Coach Felicia Legette-Jack returns three starters, including Nikki Smith, who led the Hoosiers in scoring with 12.0 points per game, Whitney Thomas, who pulled down a team leading 8.5 rebounds per game, and Kim Roberson, who averaged 10.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Legette-Jack will also benefit from the return of sophomore guard, Jamie Braun, who was named the Big Ten Conference Sixth Player of the Year award. The 5’8” Braun made an immediate impact for the Hoosiers in her rookie season, averaging 10.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

Indiana loses two starters including All-Big Ten Third Team Sarah McKay, (11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game). Indiana returns for a second time to Paradise Jam. They finished fourth in the 2003 event.
Wake Forest arrives on the island with a roster that returns all 10 players from a squad that posted a 9-20 record a year ago. The returnees include junior guard junior guard Yolanda Lavender, who was named honorable mention All-Atlantic Coast Conference. Lavender finished the regular season as the ACC's second-leading scorer at 17.2 points per game. Lavender also finished among the league leaders in three-point field goals, three-point field goal percentage, minutes played and free throw percentage. Fourth year head coach Mike Peterson will also look to juniors Alex Tchangoue, who averaged 11.9 points and 7 rebounds per game, and Corinne Groves, the team’s leading rebounder, who averaged 10.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, as well All-Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman Mekia Valentine, to lead the Demon Deacons in their 2007-08 campaign.

Wichita State rounds out the St. Thomas Division. The Shockers return ten players, including three starters, from their 2006-07 campaign in which they posted a 9-20 record. Coach Jane Albright, who is entering her fifth year at the helm, will look to a trio of seniors to provide early season leadership. Forward Kiki Stephens, the team’s leading scorer in 2006-07, averaged 13.0 points and 5.4 rebounds a game. Stephens will be aided in the backcourt by guards Taylor Steven, who averaged 6.6 points and dished out 80 assists, and Kyrie Kinder, who averaged 7.0 points a game. Wichita State loses two starters, including Antoinette Wells, who averaged 13 points and 10.4 rebounds for the Shockers in their 2006-07 season. This will be Coach Albright’s second trip to the Paradise Jam. Albright coached Wisconsin to a 3rd Place finish in the 2001 Paradise Jam.

Since its inception eight years ago, the Paradise Jam has always been one of the most competitive early season collegiate basketball tournaments in the nation. Tournament champions have never failed to earn berths to the NCAA post-season tournament, with several teams making it as far as the Final Four. The most notable accomplishment was the Maryland Terrapins winning the 2006 NCAA National Championship, becoming the first Paradise Jam participant to claim the title of national champion in the same season. Ironically Maryland did not earn the Paradise Jam championship, narrowly losing to the Tennessee Lady Vols in the game’s final seconds.

In 2006 Paradise Jam action, Marquette defeated Xavier 73-53 to take home the Paradise Jam St. John tournament crown. In the consolation game, Auburn overcame a large 2nd half deficit to defeat Western Michigan 96-85 for third place. The St. Thomas tournament championship game between Rutgers and Arizona State was cancelled due to an Arizona State team family tragedy that occurred in St. Thomas just prior to the game. Ironically, the two teams squared off in a rematch at the Greensboro Regional Championship game to determine who would advance to the NCAA Final Four. In the St. Thomas consolation game, Western Kentucky finished ahead of Penn State with a 74-64 win to earn to place third.

5/11/07
Seattle, Washington -- Eight division I men’s basketball teams will travel to St. Thomas to participate in the 8th annual U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam Tournament at the University of the Virgin Islands. Basketball fans can look forward to an impressive men’s field, with three of the 2007 participants earning berths to the NCAA tournament last March. Georgia Tech (20-12), Notre Dame (24-8), and Winthrop (29-5) each competed in the NCAA tournament, with Winthrop advancing to the second round with a win over fellow 2007 Paradise Jam participant, Notre Dame. Georgia Tech lost to UNLV in the first round. Although these three NCAA-hardened squads bring high expectations to the islands this November, they will be hard-pressed by the other five teams also seeking early season success. Wichita State (17-14), Baylor (15-16), Charlotte (14-16), Monmouth (12-18) and Illinois-Chicago (14-18) round out the eight-team Paradise Jam field, making it one of the most competitive, neutral court, early season tournaments in America. Three of the 2007 participants are returning to the islands for the second time to compete in the Paradise Jam: Winthrop (3rd in 2004), Wichita State (2nd in 2003), and Monmouth (3rd in 2003).

Competition begins on November 16 with consecutive-day action culminating in the championship round on November 19. The 2007 Paradise Jam will tip off with Georgia Tech playing Charlotte at 2:00 pm on the 16th. The day’s other matchups include Illinois Chicago vs Winthrop at 4:30 pm, Baylor vs Wichita State at 7:00 pm and Monmouth battling Notre Dame at 9:30 pm. All game times are Atlantic Standard Time (one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time). Two games will be played daily on November 17 (losing teams from the 16th) and November 18 (winning teams from the 16th) at 7:00pm and 9:30pm. The final day of competition on November 19 will be structured similarly to the first day. The game times are set for 2:00 pm, 4:30 pm, 7:00 pm with the championship game at 9:30 pm. All games will be played at the state-of-the-art University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.

Notre Dame comes to St. Thomas following a very successful 2006-07 season. The Irish posted a 24-8 record that merited Coach Mike Brey Big East Conference Coach of the Year honors. The Irish earned a #6 seed, making their first NCAA Tournament appearance in three years. Their season ended at the hands of the Winthrop, who held off a valiant Notre Dame comeback to win 74-64. Notre Dame will rely on returning starter and senior captain Rob Kurz (12.6 points per game, 8.0 rebounds per game) for early season leadership on the court. The Irish will also look to a pair of sophomores, Tory Jackson and Luke Harangody, as well as junior Kyle McAlarney to help fill the gap left by the graduation of co-MVPs and First Team All-Big East selections, Colin Falls and Russell Carter. During the 2006-07 season Jackson averaged 7.8 points per game and 4.3 assist per game and was named, along with Harangody, to the All-Big East Rookie Team. Harangody averaged 11.2 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game. McAlarney, will return to the Irish squad after sitting out more than half of last season. The junior point-guard averaged 10.3 points per game and 5.1 assists per game in the first 12 games last season.

Georgia Tech will also arrive on island following a successful 2006-07 campaign. They recorded a 20-12 record and advanced to the NCAA tournament as a #10 seed. Their season came to an end when they lost to 7th seeded UNLV in the opening round of the tournament. However, due to possible NBA early entry losses, the roster Coach Paul Hewitt will arrive in St. Thomas with next fall is in limbo. Freshman superstars Javaris Crittenton, the most highly regarded point guard to attend Georgia Tech since Stephon Marbury, and Thaddeus Young, who was ranked by Rivals as the 5th best player in the Class of 2006, declared for the NBA draft. They have until June 18 to withdraw from the draft and maintain their collegiate eligibility. Crittenton and Young averaged 14.4 points each (tied for the team high), logged about 30 minutes playing time per game, and passed the ball well. If the Yellow Jackets arrive on the island without Crittenton and Young, they will look to rising juniors Anthony Morrow (9.9 points per game), Jeremis Smith (8.3 points per game/5.9 rebounds per game) and Ra’Sean Dickey (8.1 points per game/5.3 rebounds per game). They are joined by incoming freshmen Gani Lawal, ranked the 10th best power forward in the country by Scout, and Maurice Miller, ranked the 14th best point guard nationally by Scout.

Winthrop is one of two Paradise Jam participants that come to the islands with a new coach at the helm. Randy Peele was named Winthrop head coach after serving as former Winthrop Coach Gregg Marshall’s top assistant four years. Under Coach Marshall, the Eagles posted a 29-5 overall record and went 14-0 in the Big South Conference. They won the Big South Conference Tournament for the sixth time in nine years and were seeded 11th in the NCAA tournament, where they beat Notre Dame before losing to Oregon in the second round. This is the second trip to the Paradise Jam for the Eagles, who placed 3rd in the 2004 tournament. Winthrop lost three starters, including NBA prospects and All-Big South selections Craig Bradshaw (13.5 points per game/6.5 rebounds per game) and Torrell Martin (14.5 points per game/5.7 rebounds per game), as well as starter, Phillip Williams (8.2 points per game/5.5 rebounds per game). This year, new head coach Peele will look to returning starting seniors Chris Gaynor (7.8 points per game/3.2 rebounds per game) and First Team All-Big South selection Michael Jenkins (14.8 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game), as well as key reserve Taj McCullough (7.9 points per game/3.8 rebounds per game) and junior college transfer, Chris Buechart.

Wichita State (17-14) also travels to the Virgin Islands with a new coach at the helm, ironically the former Winthrop head coach Gregg Marshall. Marshall inherits a team that lost three key players to graduation, including starters Kyle Wilson (13.7 points per game/5.2 rebounds per game) and Ryan Martin (7.6 points per game/5.8 rebounds per game) and reserve Karon Bradley (8.0 points per game/2.1 rebounds per game). The Shockers could face the additional loss of PJ Couisnard (11.8 points per game/5.8 rebounds per game/3 Assits per game), who declared for the NBA draft as an early entry and Sean Ogirri (9.5 points per game/2.7 rebounds per game), who requested a release to transfer. Coach Marshall will look to the lone returning starter, Matt Braeuer (6.1 points per game/2.1 rebounds per game), to provide early season leadership. The Shockers will also look to reserves Phillip Thomason (6.1 points per game/3.7 rebounds per game), point guard Gal Mekel, the team’s most improved player and Wendell Preadom. Marshall is counting on an immediate impact from junior college transfers Mantas Griskenas, who was rated by JucoJunction.com as the 22nd best Junior College prospect in the nation, and Ramon Clemente, an NJCAA 3rd Team All-American. This is the 2nd trip to the Virgin Islands for the Shockers, who were defeated 84-81 by Boston College in the 2003 Paradise Jam championship game.

The Baylor Bears finished 15-16 last season. The only question mark on the Bears roster is Aaron Bruce (11.7 points per game/4.2 rebounds per game), who declared himself eligible for the NBA Draft as an early entry prospect. Bruce did not hire an agent and could return to college prior to the draft. If he does, Head Coach Scott Drew will bring the most seasoned roster to the US Virgin Islands. Baylor will return 12 of 14 players from the 2006-07 season. The Bears will return all five starters, including Bruce, leading scorer Curtis Jerrells (15.0 points per game/4.7 rebounds per game/ 3.8 Assist per game), Henry Dugat (11.7 points per game/4.2 rebounds per game), Kevin Rogers (12.8 points per game/7.6 rebounds per game) and Mamadou Diene, one of the Big 12 conference’s best shot blockers. Also returning is sophomore Tweety Carter, who started 13 games for the Bears and is the most highly regarded recruit to ever attend Baylor. Carter averaged 8.7 points per game in the 2006-07 season. Baylor signed three players to Letters of Intent, including Lacedarius Dunn, who is ranked the 18th best high school prospect in the nation by Scout.com.

Charlotte travels to the Paradise Jam after posting a 14-16 mark in the 2006-07 season. They are coached by 10th year coach Bobby Lutz, who has guided them to seven post season appearances in nine years. They lost six players (two starters), including leading scorer, De’Angel Alexander to graduation. Coach Lutz will look to Leemire Goldwire (14.5 points per game/3.1 rebounds per game) to provide leadership on the court. The 49ers also return Carlos Williams, who started 12 games, and Ian Anderson, who started 14 games. Additionally, Coach Lutz will look to his recruiting class, ranked 13th in the nation, to provide an immediate impact. The 49ers’ incoming class includes Charlotte native and North Carolina all-state selection Javarris Barnett, and Lamont Mack, a junior college all-American. Charlotte has boasted four top-20 recruiting classes in the last eight years.

Monmouth returns to the Paradise Jam coming off a 12-18 season. The Hawks played in the 2003 Paradise Jam and placed third by coming back from a tournament-record 18 point deficit in the second half to beat Hampton 64-52. Guided by head coach Dave Calloway, Monmouth hopes their 2007 Paradise Jam experience will be the start of a very successful season that culminates in an NEC Tournament Championship and NCAA tournament berth, just as it did in the 2003-04 season. The Hawks lost three starters Dejan Delic (14.6 points per game/3.6 rebounds per game), Corey Hallett (7.1 points per game/3.5 rebounds per game) and Marques Alston (11.5 points per game/3.5 rebounds per game) to graduation. Coach Calloway will look to Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year Jhamar Youngblood (12.3 points per game/3.5 rebounds per game) to pick up some of the slack. Starter Whitney Coleman (9.1 points per game/3.1 rebounds per game) and key reserve Mike Shipman (5.4 points per game;/3.6 rebounds per game), who started 10 games for the Hawks, will also help provide early season leadership for the team.

Illinois Chicago completes the eight-team Paradise Jam field. After finishing the season 14-18 and losing only one starter, Jovan Stefanov (9.9 points per game/5.7 rebounds per game), and one key reserve, Illinois Chicago will look to a strong returning squad for some early season success. Head Coach Jimmy Collins expects 6-5 senior guard Othyus Jeffers to provide an early season spark for the Flames. Jeffers, a first team all-Horizon League selection, led the Flames in scoring (15.7 points per game), rebounding (8.9 rebounds per game) and steals (1.6 per game). The Flames will also benefit from the return of all-Horizon League Defensive Team selection, Scott VanderMeer. The 6-11 VanderMeer racked up a Horizon League and UIC record 105 blocked shots, which was more than the total for six of the Horizon League teams during the 2006-07 season. The Flames also return junior guard Josh Mayo and senior guard TJ Gray. Mayo averaged 12.2 points in 24 games and Gray averaged 11.1 points in 31 games for Illinois Chicago.

In 2006 Paradise Jam action, Alabama defeated Xavier 63-56 to take home the Paradise Jam crown. Villanova beat Iowa to take third place (89-60), Toledo captured fourth place with a 60-59 win over Virginia Commonwealth and College of Charleston finished ahead of Middle Tennessee State with a 64-56 win.

Contact:
Jennifer Ashby
Paradise Jam Tournament Director
Basketball Travelers, Inc
425.776.2775 | 425.776.4094 FAX
Email: Jenn@BasketballTravelers.com

1/5/07
Twenty-five Champions Crowned in 2006 BTI College Tournaments

In November and December of 2006, Basketball Travelers, Inc. coordinated twenty-one Division I and four Div. II/III/JC tournaments across the nation and the Caribbean. Some of the nation’s top teams showcased their talent with impressive early-season efforts. Final tournament placements are as follows:

MEN:
U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam (St. Thomas, USVI) Nov. 2006
CHAMPION: Alabama (followed by Xavier, Villanova, Toledo, Iowa, Virginia Commonwealth, College of Charleston, Middle Tennessee State)
MVP: Alonzo Gee

Duel in the Desert (Las Vegas, NV) Dec. 2006
CHAMPION: UNLV (followed by Texas A&M-C.C., S. Florida, Norfolk State)

BP Top of the World Classic (Fairbanks, AK) Nov. 2006
CHAMPION: Utah State (followed by Weber State, Troy, Rhode Island, Drake, Centenary, Southeast Missouri, Alaska-Fairbanks)
MVP: Jaycee Carroll, Utah State

Basketball Travelers Classic at Oregon (Eugene, OR) Nov. 2006
CHAMPION: Oregon (followed by Cal. State-Northridge, Portland State, LeHigh)
MVP: Tajuan Porter, Oregon

Basketball Travelers Classic at Old Dominion (Norfolk, VA) Nov. 2006
CHAMPION: Clemson (followed by Old Dominion, Monmouth, Arkansas State)
MVP: James Mays, Clemson

Basketball Travelers Classic at Fresno State (Fresno, CA) Nov. 2006
CHAMPION: Fresno State (followed by S. Alabama, U.C. Irvine, Winston-Salem State)
MVP: Dominic McGuire, Fresno State

Basketball Travelers Classic at Iowa State (Ames, IA) Nov. 2006
CHAMPION: Iowa State (followed by Louisiana Monroe, UC Riverside, E. Illinois)
MVP: Mike Taylor, Iowa State

Basketball Travelers Classic at Washington (Seattle, WA) Nov. 2006
CHAMPION: Washington (followed by N. Iowa, Pepperdine, Nicholls State)
MVP: Justin Dentmon

Basketball Travelers Classic at BYU (Provo, UT) Nov. 2006
CHAMPION: BYU (followed by Oral Roberts, Seton Hall, Liberty)
MVP: Keena Young, BYU

(Div. III) Phoenix Cactus Jam (Phoenix, AZ) Dec. 2006
CHAMPION: Simpson (followed by Edgewood, Baldwin Wallace, Mount Union, Ramapo, Linfield, Roanoke, Colorado College)
MVP: Ryan Hittenmiller, SimpsonWOMEN:

U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam – St. John Division (St. Thomas, USVI) Nov. 2006
CHAMPION: Marquette (followed by Xavier, Auburn & W. Michigan)
MVP: Christina Quaye

Junkanoo Jam (Freeport, Grand Bahama Island) Nov. 2006
LUCAYA DIV. CHAMPION: Baylor (followed by South Dakota State, Virginia, Central Florida)
MVP: Angela Tisdale, Baylor

Junkanoo Jam (Freeport, Grand Bahama Island) Nov. 2006
FREEPORT DIV. CHAMPION: Maryland (followed by Mississippi, Northwestern, Gardner-Webb)
MVP: Shay Doron, Maryland

Duel in the Desert (Las Vegas, NV) Dec. 2006
CHAMPION: Purdue (followed by Boise State, Texas-San Antonio, UNLV)
MVP: Katie Gearlds, Purdue

WBCA Metro Sports Classic (Kansas City, MO) Nov. 2006
CHAMPION: Iowa (followed by Kansas, Seton Hall, Missouri State)
MVP: Megan Skouby, Iowa

Women’s Sports Foundation (Lexington, KY) Nov. 2006
CHAMPION: Indiana (followed by Kentucky, Wake Forest, Washington State)
MVP: Jamie Braun, Indiana

Basketball Travelers Classic at LSU (Baton Rouge, LA) Nov. 2006
CHAMPION: LSU (followed by Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Howard)
MVP: Sylvia Fowles, LSU

Basketball Travelers Classic at Texas (Austin, TX) Nov. 2006
CHAMPION: Texas (followed by Louisiana Lafayette, Texas State, Maryland-Eastern Shore)
MVP: Tiffany Jackson, Texas

Basketball Travelers Classic at Maryland (College Park, MD) Nov. 2006
CHAMPION: Maryland (followed by George Washington, Arizona, TCU)
MVP: Shay Doron, Maryland

Surf ‘N Slam at USD (San Diego, CA) Dec. 2006
CHAMPION: Texas (followed by San Diego, Oregon State, Holy Cross)
MVP: Tiffany Jackson, Texas

Surf ‘N Slam at SDSU (San Diego, CA) Dec. 2006
CHAMPION: George Washington (followed by San Diego State, Georgia, Brown)
MVP: Kimberly Beck, George Washington

Div. II Surf ‘N Slam (San Diego, CA) Dec. 2006
CHAMPION: Bentley (followed by Shippensburg, Shaw, Adelphi)
MVP: Vanessa Lux, Bentley

Div. III/Small College Surf ‘N Slam (San Diego, CA) Dec. 2006
CHAMPION: DePauw (followed by Point Loma Nazarene, Simpson, Luther, Medaille, Kenyon, Suffolk, Salve Regina)
MVP: Liz Bondi, DePauw

Junior College Surf ‘N Slam (San Diego, CA) Dec. 2006
CHAMPION: UW-Waukesha (followed by Whatcom, South Puget Sound CC, San Diego CC)
MVP: Sara Bergner, Whatcom