This year Jefferson's Terrence Jones is ready to make his mark.

The family and friends of Terrence Jones were just a little dismayed last season at the Nike Global Showcase. The talented 6’8 Jefferson post had a front row seat playing for the USA II team that won it all last season. The key word is ‘seat’ as his minutes lagged those of his teammates. This season when three elite U-19 USA teams take on top national teams from Senegal, Canada, Asia, Brazil and Serbia, chances are you’ll find him out on the floor a whole lot more. It’s his turn to shine.

The Nike Global Showcase runs August 7-9 at Liberty High School. Four games every day beginning at 2pm. Maybe the most astounding thing about this high caliber event is the cost. Each session is $5. It is without question, the best sporting ‘bang for the buck’ of the summer. Do the math. That’s a buck and a quarter a game. As Vizzini in “Princess Bride” would say…”inconceivable!”

Last years showcase had all the fireworks and flash a hoop fan could desire. Both Grant’s Mike Moser and Jones were on rosters but the Seattle running mates of Abdul Gaddy and Avery Bradley helped steal the show. In the Saturday Night semifinal, seen as the best game of the tournament, FMP-Serbia, who is returning again after recently capturing the European U-19 championship was leading USA II with Gaddy, Bradley and Jones when a bench clearing brawl erupted which finally ignited the USA team to get the come from behind win. New to the tournament this year is an all-star team from Asia consisting of players from China, Korea and Australia.

Players to watch: Last year, Harrison Barnes electrified the crowd with silky smooth moves, an ability to dominate around the glass and a deadly jumper. The 6’6 Ames, Iowa senior is back again playing for the USA Midwest Team and looks like a surefire NBA player. On the same squad is Phil Pressey, just a lighting quick point guard who can take over a game. Pressey’s father is ex-NBA’er Paul Pressey. Speaking of bloodlines, joining Jones on the South-West USA squad is Austin Rivers, a 6’4 Florida junior who may end up being better than a dad named “Doc.” Another stellar point guard is Kendall Marshall who will be on the floor with Rivers and Jones. If you like the ‘beef’ then look no further than 6’8 and 285 pound sophomore post Dajuan Coleman who will team with sensational 6’2 point guard Kyrie Irving to lead the East USA squad. Coleman as the 'youngster' of the tournament is already turning heads on the country’s top college programs with his smarts, maturity and hoop skills. Then there is Jones, one of the best 'bigs' to come through Jefferson in quite a while. Possessing both inside and outside skills, he returns to Oregon after leading his AAU team I-5 Elite to a very successful summer campaign and a growing list of scholarship offers from schools such as Kansas, Washington, Maryland and Georgetown, to name a few. Don’t look for Terrence to be a role player this year. In addition to Jones, Jesuit's Kyle Wiltjer rounds out the list of Oregon players. The 6'9 junior, who is already drawing a lot of interest from West Coast D-1 schools will be playing for Team Canada.

And remember, just a ‘fin’ gets you in.