Florida International University men's basketball coach Isiah Thomas will deliver the keynote speech to high school coaches Thursday night at the Tournament of Champions, Inc., College Coaches Clinic at the Miramar Cultural Arts Center.

Thomas will make his first face-to-face connection with the South Florida high school basketball community and some leading coaches, including Fort Lauderdale Dillard's Darryl Burrows, a five-time state champion, Miami Norland's Lawton Williams and Miami Dr. Krop's Shakey Rodriguez, who used his five state titles at Miami High as a springboard to the FIU head-coaching position in 1995.

Keeping some of the area's top prep players home could help Thomas turn around a program that lacked a national identity before Thomas came on board and hasn't had a winning record since the 1999-2000 season.

Georgia Southern head coach Charlton Young will precede Thomas at 6.

The event is a kickoff to the T.O.C. South Florida Summer Team Camp league, which starts Friday at five high school venues: Miami Edison, Miami Central, Miami Northwestern, Norland and Krop.

Reigning 6A state champion Miami Coral Reef, Dillard, Norland, Palm Beach Dwyer and Krop lead the 40-team field.

The top 16 teams advance to the playoffs, with the championship game set for 1 p.m. Sunday at the Miramar Youth Center.

Several of the state's top players will be showcased, including Coral Reef 6-4 guard Charles Hankerson Jr., Dwyer 6-5 forward Jacoby Brissett, Miramar scoring star Xavier Martin, Dillard 6-5 forward Fred Landers, Palmetto guard Tim Hardaway Jr., Boyd Anderson 6-8 center Travis Elliot and Miami Norland 6-6 forward Marvin Baynham.

Those players likely will be among the 30 selected for the Dwyane Wade and Alonzo Mourning camp being held July 8 at the Miami Overtown Youth Center.

Admission is $8 with no re-entry (one gym) and $25 for all games, which includes a ticket to the Heat's home opener. For more information call Wesley Frater at 954-618-7612.

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