For the 35th year, GlaxoSmithKline will be hosting their High School Basketball Invitational at Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of NC State University. From December 27-29, the tournament will showcase some of the nation's top teams, as well as top teams from the state of North Carolina. Today on High School Hoops, we will take a look at each team, and what they will bring to the tournament.

St. Raymond's Ravens (Bronx, NY)
The Ravens will feel at home in Raleigh, having sent both Julius Hodge and Gavin Grant to the Wolfpack. Top players from last season, along with Coach Oliver Antiqua, will return to try and win the 2006 GSK Invitational. Last season, the Ravens were ranked nationally, and they may be a little better this season. The athleticism and speed of St. Raymond's allows them to run the floor for the entire game. A pair of two highly rated guards doesn't hurt the Ravens either, in fact, some believe they are among the top 10 teams nationally.

Broughton Capitals (Raleigh, NC)
Broughton has had some good players cycle through over the years, including former Duke player and current 76er Shavlik Randolph. Earlier this season, I spoke with Coach Jeff Ferrell. I asked what was different about this years' team, and he said, "They are a looser bunch of guys. They work hard, but don't take themselves to seriously." The Caps are led by Brock Young, a 5-10 guard who is the nephew of former Wake Forest and NBA player Danny Young. Young averages 19 PPG, including a 31-point performance against Fuquay-Varina and a 30-point game against Cape Fear.

Kinston Vikings (Kinston, NC)
The Vikings have one of the strongest Junior classes in the state, and possibly the country. The '08 class features 6-7 forward Quinton Coples (also a football prospect), and 6-4 swingman Donovan "Bo" Ingram. Ingram recently said he hopes to play for the Wolfpack one day. Coach Wells Gulledge looks to win the GSK Tourney this season after finishing second last year.

St. Benedict's Prep School (Newark, NJ)
This may be the most loaded team in the tournament this season. Coach Danny Hurley's team is led by the 6-8 Junior, Samardo Samuels. Samuels is the 7th ranked player in his class (according to Scout.com) and is being heavily recruited by Duke and UNC. 6-5 Senior Guard Corey Stokes, who has committed to Villanova, and 6-3 Chris Smith, the brother of JR Smith, make up the St. Benedict's impressive backcourt. Down low, St. Benedict's has one of the best sophomores in the country in 6-9 Greg Echenique.

William Howard Taft (Woodland Hills, CA)
UNC recruit Larry Drew, a 5-10 Junior, is the point guard leading Coach Derrick Taylor's team. Drew, son of former NBA player Larry Drew, is a top 30 player in the class of 2008. Drew isn't the only highly rated prospect though; 6-8 Garrett Green, 6-1 Justin Hawkins, and 6-1 Oscar Bellfield are all very good players. I expect to see a fast paced, up-and-down type game with William Howard Taft's team.

Riverside Pirates (Durham, NC)
In North Carolina, we all remember the Priates' miracle playoff run this past football season, but can Coach Tim Ross take the basketball team to the GSK Championship? 6-6 Wesley Saunders, a highly recruited football prospect, is the star for the Pirates. Saunders owns the paint, and will help Riverside defend it's PAC-6 conference championship.

Apex Cougars (Apex, NC)
The Cougars finished fifth in the 2004 GSK Tourney, and 6-4 wingman Yorel Hawkins was a 6-man on that team. Hawkins, an extremely athletic player, is now leading Coach David Neal's team, along with point guard Forrest Moog. Moog is also very athletic, participating in a total of four sports. Apex has won back-to-back Tri-Seven Championships.

Middle Creek Mustangs (Cary, NC)
The Mustangs, undefeated at home, are led by 6-8 power forward Marcus Kitts. Kitts, a William & Mary recruit, averages 13.5 PPG. Kitts doesn't do it by himself though. Kip Kelley, the Mustangs' point guard, averages 8.5 PPG, but has come through several times when the Mustangs have needed a big shot. Coach David Kushner will need big games from Kitts and Kelley if he wants to win the GSK this year.

Goldsboro Cougars (Goldsboro, NC)
The Cougars have one of the best inside-outside duos in the state with 6-7 DaQuan Joyner and 6-2 Tim Kornegay. Coach Randy Jordan will bring his team back to Raleigh, after competing in the GSK last season. Look for an athletic showcase with the Cougars, as they compete to win a GSK championship.

Knightdale High (Knightdale, NC)
In just their third-year of existence, Battle Watkins has coached his youthful team to the top of North Carolina High School Basketball. On defense, the Knights pressure their opponents non-stop, but on offense, they are fast paced and upbeat. With one of the best sophomores in the area in 6-7 Dijon Manns (PF), along with their 6-4 swingman Stanley Okoye the Knights' interior defense and offense is one of the best in the state. Add to that the 509 Darryn Brown and the 6-3 sharpshooter Malcolm Jones, and you get an extremely explosive backcourt. Jones, who averages 16 PPG, has started every game in school history.

Southern Durham Spartans (Durham, NC)
Last season, Coach David Pyper led his team to a 19-10 record and a sectional finalist finish in the school's first year competing at the 4A level. Julian Gamble, the 6-9 Miami Hurricanes recruit, is the key to the Spartans' defense and offense. Gamble averages 17.6 PPG, but he can't do it all by himself. Gamble, and the rest of the team, relies heavily on 5-10 point guard Jamal Washington to get them the ball.

Starmount High School (Boonville, NC)
Starmount is no stranger to big time basketball nor the GSK Tournament. Last year in the GSK, Starmount played Oak Hill, the best team in America, twice. Victor Davila, the highest rated junior in North Carolina, led them against Oak Hill last season, scoring 28 points. Davila is being recruited by several ACC schools, including Wake Forest. Starmount is a team that is easy to overlook since they are a 2A school, but they are no stranger to the bigger competition. Just remember, last years' Oak Hill squad included UNC player Tywon Lawson on the roster.

There is also a four team girls tournament and an Independent School Showcase. The girls tournament includes Apex, Smoky Mountain, Wakefield, and Wake Forest-Rolesville. In the showcase, American Christian Academy (Aston, PA), Durham Mount Zion, and Hope Christian (Kings Mountain, NC).

Stay with us throughout the GSK Invitational for the latest information and updates day-by-day. The tournament will be from December 27-29. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for youth.