Top 100 EXPO Invite

Minnesota Basketball News &
Pacesetter Basketball
TOP 100 EXPO SHOWCASE
Thursday, July 8 • College of St. Ben’s • St. Joseph, MN
 
 
PLAYER INVITATION
 
Name:
School:
 
Dear :
 
Congratulations! You have been projected by the editors of Minnesota Basketball News as one of the top players in Minnesota for the 2021-2022 season. We would like to invite you to attend the MBBN Top 100 Expo Showcase on Thursday, July 8, at Clemens Field House on the campus of the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota.
 
This first-class four-court facility is also the site of the Pacesetter Varsity MIT and the Pacesetter “Sweet Sixteen” (Minnesota’s top four teams in each class).
 
Minnesota Basketball News will be projecting a pre-season Top 100 Player List in each class for 2021-2022 season, consisting of the Top 50 boys and Top 50 girls. With this selection process, 400 players will be recognized.
 
Selected boys will also be in attendance. Each Expo roster will be limited to the first 80 boys and first 80 girls to accept their invitation. This event often fills quickly.
 
Players will be divided into teams of 7-10 players and be coached by college coaches in a three-game schedule that will involve an Expo championship Thursday afternoon.
 
A 10-player All-Star team will also be selected along with an over-all Most Valuable Player.
 
General Information is copied in below. Players should register online by June 11 to receive a commemorative jersey ($50 value/cost). Top 100 Registration Link
 
Players are also encouraged to attend the Pacesetter College Prep Camp on Wednesday, July 7, the day before the Top 100 Expo Showcase. Paul McDonald, former head men’s coach of Vermillion Community College, a long-time Top 100 director and camp clinician, will conduct a one-day 7-hour camp, along with the coaches on the Exo staff, to direct players in the best ways to become a college player.
 
Over 200 players are being invited, and a maximum of 80 players can be accepted. We hope you can be one of them.
 
Questions? Call Tracey at 320-243-7460, email Tracey at tracey@pacesetternet.com, or email me at jeff@pacesetternet.com.
 
We wish you success in your future plans, and we hope to see you in St. Joseph this summer!
 
Jeff McCarron
Director, Pacesetter Basketball
Publisher, MN Basketball News
 
 
 
General Information
 
 
Minnesota Basketball News 2021 Top 100 Expo Showcase
& College Prep Camp
College of St. Benedict · St. Joseph, MN · Wednesday-Thursday, July 7-8
 
Information
Top players are being invited from Minnesota and nearby states to participate in a two-part program: The College Prep Camp on Wednesday, July 7, and the Top 100 Expo Showcase on Thursday, July 8. The College Prep camp is optional, but it will be conducted by the Top 100 Expo college coaching staff, so it is highly recommended for all players.
 
Players/Parents – IMPORTANT!
A first-class Player Profile booklet for college coaches to review will be prepared, highlighting information on every player. Please complete your questionnaire by June 11: https://pacesettersports.redpodium.com/top-100-player-questionnaire-2021
 
Incomplete or ABSENT information in your Player Profile would not look good to the college coaches reviewing it – so PLEASE make this a priority. The questionnaire link will also be sent with your confirmation email.
 
Commemorative Jersey
Each player registered by June 11 for the Top 100 Expo will receive a commemorative Top 100 Expo Showcase reversible jersey (value: $50) with numbers on both sides. Every effort will be made to provide requested sizes.
 
Registration – Players attending the College Prep Camp
Players should park in Lots 10 and 13 and check in at the Clemens Field House at 9:30 am. on Wednesday, July 7. The Clemens Field House is located in the Haehn Campus Center building. The first meeting of all players for the camp will be held at 10:00 a.m.
 
Registration – Players attending the Top 100 Expo only
Players checking in for the Top 100 Expo on Thursday, July 8, should park in Lots 10 and 13 and check in at Clemens Field House in the Haehn Center at The College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph between 8:30-9:15 a.m. 
 
Players attending both events
There will be no housing provided at St. Ben’s for players staying overnight on Wednesday, July 7. Players will be on their own to arrange accommodations for an overnight stay. Let us know if you are not able to arrange a place to stay.
 
Top 100 Expo Showcase – approximate schedule – subject to change
The morning session will run from 9:40 a.m.-12:00 noon. The second session will run from 12:10-2:30 p.m. A “Coaches’ Talk” will be held at 2:30 p.m. The third round will be held from 2:40-5:00 p.m. The closing program will be held from 5:10-5:40 p.m.
 
Health/Medical Concerns
Players with special medical concerns should mention this to the staff at check-in or in correspondence prior to the first day. The St. Cloud Regional Hospital is 10 miles from the college. A trainer will be on staff at all times during the Top 100 Expo. The St. Ben’s security staff is always available in an emergency.
 
Exposure: MN BB News Staff
The Top 100 Expo Showcase is an exposure camp which provides all players with exposure to the members of the Minnesota Basketball News staff who select the Top 100 Players List for the 2020-2021 season. It should be understood that players are getting exposure for potential selection to the Top 100 List, which is the reason for the “Top 100 Expo” title of the event. This program is not suggesting the players who attend are “the Top 100 Players” in Minnesota, which would be a misunderstanding, as there is no guarantee the Top 100 players would attend. The event is limited to 80 boys and 80 girls. Minnesota Basketball News will be selecting a Top 100 Player List for every class, consisting of the Top 50 girls and Top 50 boys.
 
Exposure: College Coaches
All head college coaches in the 6-state area nearest Minnesota are also being invited. There is no guarantee how many will attend. In the past a range of 15-30 college coaches have attended. The number of college coaches that attend is often related directly to the quality of college prospects that make up the Expo roster. Expo players can also influence the attendance of college coaches by inviting all coaches who have contacted them to watch them play three games in one day at the Expo against other college-bound players.
 
Expo Program
Players will be assigned to teams of 7-9 players and assigned a coach. Coaches will hold a short practice to install an offense and cover any special teaching areas. Teams will play three games with each game being four 9-minute stopped time quarters. Players will be rotated throughout each game for balanced playing time. Teams will be competing for the over-all Expo championship, which will be held at 3:50 p.m. on Thursday.
 
Contests and Awards
If court space is available, players may participate in one-on-one and shooting contests. If these contests are held, winners and high performers will be recognized at the awards ceremony.
 
A 10-player All-Star team and a Most Valuable Player for both genders will also be honored with a photo and all names posted at www.pacesettersports.net.
 
All players should plan to stay through the conclusion of the final ceremonies at 5:40 p.m.
 
Meals/time between sessions
Players will receive lunch each day – either catered or in the dining hall. Meals will not be provided to parents and other spectators. Restaurants are available nearby in St. Joseph. Parents and others attending may bring in small coolers with beverages and snacks.
 
College Prep Camp
The one-day Pacesetter College Prep Camp will be offered to all players on Wednesday, July 7. Paul McDonald, former head men’s coach at Vermilion Community College and a long-time Expo director, will be the camp director. Coach McDonald has taken teams to the Minnesota community college state tournament 22 years in a row and is the son of Bob McDonald, who is the winningest coach in Minnesota high school history. Paul also played on Minnesota high school state championship teams in 1973 and 1975 and played college basketball at the University of Nebraska and South Dakota State. His two daughters also played high school basketball.
 
The rest of the coaching staff will be comprised of the other college coaches on the staff, so the player-coach ratio and college-prep instruction will be excellent.
 
Players will be guided through the coaches’ program designed to teach the most important skills to prepare players for college basketball. Players will also be given repetitions and competition to help them warm up for the Expo without making the program too physically draining. 
 
Fees:
College Prep Camp only: $90 (includes lunch)
Top 100 Expo Showcase only: $140 (includes lunch & $50 jersey)
College Prep camp and Top 100 Expo: $230 (includes lunch both days & $50 jersey)
 
Parents and families
Parents, coaches and families are invited and encouraged to attend all sessions of both the College Prep Camp and the Top 100 Expo Showcase. Seating will be available at each court.
 
Contact Information
In case of an emergency, parents may call Jeff McCarron (cell) 320-290-3497 or Pacesetter (office) 320-243-7460. The general phone number for the College of St. Benedict is 320-363-5011. 
 
 
Jeff McCarron
Director
Pacesetter Sports
“Serving hometown teams since 1980″