Former South Side standout Rapheal Davis will compete with LaPorte La Lumiere School in the fourth annual ESPN Rise National High School Invitational at Georgetown Prep in Bethesda, Md., later this month.
Eight teams have been selected to play in the three-day showcase of the best teams in the country.
Six of the eight teams are currently ranked in the POWERADE FAB 50. The field includes; No. 2 Findlay Prep (NV); No. 10 St. Benedict's Prep (NJ); No. 11 Montrose Christian (MD); No. 14 Montverde Academy (Fla.); No. 16 Blanche Ely (Fla.) and No. 10 La Lumiere. Also invited are Ravenscroft (NC) and Coolidge (Washington D.C.).
La Lumiere has already played one of the seven other teams competing in the tournament. In late December, La Lumiere defeated Findlay Prep.
Quarterfinal games will be played on March 29 at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. and will be aired on ESPNU. The semifinals will be played on March 30 at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and can be viewed on ESPN2. The championship game will air on ESPN on March 31 at 2 p.m.
"This is a great opportunity for our kids, for our program and for our school, said La Lumiere headmaster Michael Kennedy said in a written statement. "Playing in this national tournament is consistent with our pursuit of excellence."
Coach Alan Huss agreed.
"The kids have worked hard on and off the court," he said. "They have excelled in and out of the classroom, and have given up their spring break to prepare for the biggest test of the year. Rapheal is as gifted a natural scorer as I've ever seen. He can score form the mid-post, the wing, and in transition."
The Purdue recruit played for South Side for three years before transferring to the LaPorte prep school for his senior season.
"Rapheal is the first 20 point per game scorer in my 8 years as a coach," Hess said. "His overall game has made great strides this year. He has learned to trust his teammates and has drastically improved as a rebounder and defender. Rapheal gave up a lot when he made the choice to transfer to La Lumiere as a senior. We are certainly glad he did, without him we would have been unable to compete at the national level. The NHSI will be a wonderful way to cap off a great high school career."
