Published: July 16, 2008 01:12 am      

COLUMN: Jam Fest a sight to behold

The collection of basketball talent seen at Fairmont State University is rarely assembled under one roof.

I’ve not been to too many large AAU tournaments, but if you missed the Triple S Harley-Davidson/Buell Hoop Groop Jam Fest at FSU Monday and Tuesday, then you missed some spectacular hoops action.

And if you were there, then you still might have missed some spectacular hoops action.

There were so many basketball games going on over the course of the tournament that it was easy to miss a contest if you weren’t paying attention.

With seven courts going, there was enough action for any one.

While most of the college coaches were in Morgantown to take in the 17-U division of the tournament, Fairmont hosted its fair share of NCAA guys.

From Duquesne head coach and Fairmont native Ron Everhart to West Virginia University assistants to coaches from national champion Kansas and beyond, plenty of coaches were here to watch the stars of tomorrow.

Teams from as far away as Canada came to Fairmont to take part in the tournament. Players who will eventually end up on Division-I rosters played at Joe Retton Arena in front of FSU head coach Tim Murphy.

That’s who could benefit the most out of this tournament, being played for the first time in Fairmont.

Murphy just got a free recruiting visit by hundreds of potential prospects without having to do anything but watch.

Outside of the state, stereotypes still exist.

Whether they be on a T-shirt from some trendy fashion store or spewed out of the mouth of a politician, West Virginia gets a bad rap most of the time from people who have no idea what they are talking about.

So now all these players get firsthand look at the facilities and communities available to them in West Virginia.

As Triple S’s Cliff Sutherland said before the tournament, it’s a lot easier to call a recruit in Los Angeles who’s seen Fairmont State already than someone who hasn’t.

Don’t forget word of mouth.

These players go home to their high school teams and pass along their experiences here in West Virginia. More players gain interest, and schools like Fairmont State and West Virginia University benefit.

And the quality of players here was spectacular.

From Nick Kellogg, the son of CBS NCAA hoops analyst Clark Kellogg, obliterating opponents off the dribble to the six-man Team Kobe jumping out of Colebank Hall against the West Virginia Mohigans, the athletes on display were awe inspiring at times.

So whether the teams won or lost or a recruit decides to come back to West Virginia to continue his hoops career at the next level, each and every player, from Hedgesville to Canada and all points in between, will remember this trip to Fairmont.

And that is more valuable to Murphy and Fairmont State than any phone call, letter or text message they can offer.

E-mail Mike Bowen at mbowen@timeswv.com.