The St. Louis Shootout is gone, at least for this year, but area basketball fans have another place to get their fix this week.

Terrell Ramey, who operates a website on St. Louis-area high school basketball, has organized a seven-game, one-day basketball event Saturday featuring St. Louis area teams, teams from four other states and three players in the rivals.com top 150.

Ramey also expects about 35 college coaches, including several from major college teams such as Cincinnati and Missouri, to attend the Midwestern Showdown Shootout, at the Mark Twain Building at UMSL.

Area teams competing are Hancock, Oakville, Normandy, Berkeley and Gateway Tech, but the real excitement comes from teams outside of St. Louis.

In the featured game, IMG Academy of Florida will face Urban Christian Academy of Georgia. Other top out-of-state teams are Memphis Melrose and Chicago Foreman.

"We didn't want to make it just a local event," said Ramey, who also runs a recruiting service and coaches a St. Louis-based AAU team. "So it's somewhat national with a local type of appeal. It's something I grew into."

After deliberating for two years about whether to start his own tournament, Ramey decided this fall to organize one when he heard the St. Louis Shootout might not return.

"It's a no-brainer," he said. "My pure heart and soul goes into basketball."

FACES TO WATCH

There will be basketball at the Mark Twain Building from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday. Here are some players to keep a close eye on:

Jared Swopshire, IMG (6-7, 195, forward)

The name may sound familiar because Swopshire attended Fort Zumwalt West for two years before transferring to IMG. Swopshire, who has committed to Louisville, is No. 149 on the rivals.com list of top prospects in the Class of 2008. As a sophomore, Swopshire was honorable mention All-Metro.

Kenny Kadji, IMG (6-10, 240, center)

Kadji is the nation's third-best center and 17th-most talented high school senior, according to rivals.com. He is headed to Florida next year. Kadji, originally from Cameroon, entered IMG in the fall of 2005. He combines a big body with speed and athletic ability.

Cashmere Wright, Urban Christian (6-0, 170, guard)

Wright, a point guard, already has signed a letter of intent at Cincinnati. Rivals.com calls him the nation's 73rd-best senior prospect and 11th-most talented point guard. He averaged 38 points a game last year.

Willie Reed, Milestone Christian Academy (6-9, 190, forward)

Reed is one of five players in Rick Majerus' first recruiting class at St. Louis University. He transferred this season to Milestone after averaging 17 points, nine rebounds and four blocks while playing at Bishop Miege (Kan). Rivals.com awards him three stars.

SCHEDULE

11 a.m.: Springfield, Ill., vs. Hancock

12:30 p.m.: Bloomington, Ill., vs. Oakville

2 p.m.: Nashville Christian Advancemen vs. Milestone Christian (Mo.)

3:30 p.m.: Memphis Melrose vs. Normandy

5 p.m.: Memphis Mitchell vs. Berkeley

6:30 p.m.: Chicago Foreman vs. Gateway Tech

8 p.m.: IMG Academy (Fla.) vs. Urban Christian Academy (Ga.)

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