Seems hard to believe the 810 Varsity Showcase is now in the mid-20s for events held, but the one-day exposure events for area basketball talent has punched the clicker to #24 this Saturday.

The event series, which started in 2015 in Municipal Auditorium, has seen many state champion teams, Division I college players and NBA players pass through the showcases.

810 Varsity features four events this year, with the first tipping off this Saturday, December 18 at Shawnee Mission Northwest.

The opening two games feature competitive matchups of Basehor-Linwood vs Barstow (girls) and Piper vs Shawnee Mission North (boys)

Action picks up with a solid St. James Academy girls team against an undefeated Park Hill South squad which lept into the 810 Varsity Top 10 after winning the Winnetonka Tourney.

At 2:30 pm, area legendary coach Ed Fritz returns to Kansas for the first time since leaving Blue Valley Northwest for North Kansas City. The Hornets will take on St. James Academy.

McPherson cruises into town for a girls-boys doubleheader, as the Lady Bullpups finished second in Kansas Class 4A last year, and will take on Blue Valley, which won the Olathe East Lady Hawks Classic last week. 

Afterwards, two area Kansas boys powers face with Basehor-Linwood taking on McPherson. The two faced off, with the Bullpups halting the Bobcats perfect season in the 2015 Class 4A title game. Both Mike McBride and Kurt Kinnamon patroled the sidelines during that contest.

Defending Class 6A girls state champion Shawnee Mission Northwest takes on St. Teresa's, followed by a Top 10 matchup of Shawnee Mission Northwest  and Park Hill South at 8:30 pm. The Cougars are ranked in Kansas Class 6A's top 3, while Park Hill South features top talent under Dan Parra, who won two state titles in Kansas to bring the count of state titles under the coaches on Saturday to 17.

"It should be another strong lineup with 5-6 boys teams in the top 25, and another 3-4 on the girls side," 810 Varsity's Chad Rader said. "A great lineup all under one roof."

810 Varsity Showcase 24
Saturday, December 18
Shawnee Mission Northwest

10 am: Basehor-Linwood vs Barstow (girls)
11:30 am: Piper vs Shawnee Mission North (boys)
1 pm: St. James Academy vs Park Hill South (girls)
2:30 pm: St. James Academy vs North Kansas City (boys)
4 pm: Blue Valley vs McPherson (girls)
5:30 pm: Basehor-Linwood vs McPherson (boys)
7 pm: SM Northwest vs St. Teresa's Academy (girls)
8:30 pm: SM Northwest vs Park Hill South (boys)

Tickets can be purchased at the door (cash or card) or online.

All-Day Pass
Adult: $7
Student: $5
5 and Under: Free