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Starting 5: St. Xavier to host top prospects for hoops tourney honoring Derek Smith, more

Brooks Warren, Louisville Courier Journal
·4 min read
Louisville native Tyran Stokes, who plays for Prolific Prep in California, is scheduled to return to his hometown Dec. 2-3 for the Derek Smith Invitational at St. Xavier.
Louisville native Tyran Stokes, who plays for Prolific Prep in California, is scheduled to return to his hometown Dec. 2-3 for the Derek Smith Invitational at St. Xavier.

St. Xavier will host the inaugural Derek Smith Invitational on Dec. 2-3 to honor the late Louisville legend, MADE Hoops announced.

"It means so much to be able to keep dad's name alive, through the sport he loved, in a city he called home," Smith's daughter, Cherry Pickin' juice bar owner Sydney Smith, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The event is scheduled to feature 14 top-100 recruits and includes homecoming games for Louisville native Tyran Stokes and Versailles star Jasper Johnson.

Stokes, a 6-foot-7 power forward who plays for Prolific Prep in California, is considered the 2026 class' No. 1 prospect. Johnson, a 6-4 combo guard who plays for Branson (Missouri) Link Academy, is the ninth-ranked player in the 2025 class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

St. Xavier will be joined by Bardstown, Seneca and DeSales as the only Kentucky representatives.

Tickets for the event cost $25.

More: Louisville football commit Joseph Stone Jr. looking forward to playing in city he loves

Around the city: LouCity FC's Sean Totsch named to USL All-League team

Louisville City FC's Sean Totsch (4) was named to the USL Championship All-League second team.
Louisville City FC's Sean Totsch (4) was named to the USL Championship All-League second team.

Louisville City FC defender Sean Totsch was named to the USL Championship All-League ranks for the fourth straight year, making the second team after first-team recognition from 2020-2022, the soccer team announced.

Totsch earned "Iron Man" status for the second time in his career after playing every minute this season. Totsch scored six goals, helped LouCity post a USL-high 12 shutouts and led the team in duels won (149), clearances (86) and interceptions (44).

High school recruiting: Male RB/WR Shammai Gates commits to Louisville as preferred walk-on

Male High School's Shammai Gates has had a strong senior season and recently committed to Louisville as a preferred walk-on.
Male High School's Shammai Gates has had a strong senior season and recently committed to Louisville as a preferred walk-on.

Male High School senior running back/receiver Shammai Gates committed to Louisville as a preferred walk-on Nov. 6.

Gates carried 18 times for 159 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs to a 34-14 victory over Fern Creek in a second-round Class 6A playoff game Friday night.

Performance of the week: U of L's Sander Roed posts hat trick to upset Notre Dame in ACC Championships

Junior midfielder Sander Roed recorded the first hat trick for Louisville (11-5-3) since 2017 in a 4-3 win Nov. 5 over top-seeded Notre Dame in the second round of the ACC Championships. Roed has tallied five goals and seven assists this season.

The Cardinals, who lost to Clemson in the tournament semifinals, are scheduled to learn whether they made the NCAA Tournament on Monday.

More: Louisville football stays in ACC hunt. With Miami up next, what we learned from Virginia

Mark your calendars

Play of the week: Gray Schmittel's one-handed catch lands him on SportsCenter's 'Top 10 Plays'

North Oldham wideout Gray Schmittel's one-handed catch against Jeffersontown landed him the eighth spot on SportsCenter's "Top 10 Plays" last weekend. Schmittel had 10 catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns to help the Mustangs defeat J'town, 43-14. Before Friday's football games, Schmittel's 85 receptions were second best in Kentucky.

Reach sports reporter Brooks Warren at bwarren@gannett.com and follow him on X at @Broookksss.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville's Tyran Stokes, Jasper Johnson to play in tourney at St. X