Raleigh, N.C. — The GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational will change its format for the 2008 tournament, which will be held at Broughton High School's Holliday Gymnasium.

The 2008 Invitational will include two eight-team boy's tournaments, and one four-team girl's tournament.

In an e-mail to WRAL, Bill Sewell, the tournament director, said Wednesday that he is very excited about the upcoming tournament.

"I think we  have a very good field this year," Sewell said, "There is so much talent in the state of N.C. now!"

In order to accommodate the additional teams and games, the tournament will be stretched over four days – Dec. 26-29. The seventh- and eighth-place games for the boy's tournaments will also be dropped.

Sewell told WRAL that three of the four spots in the girl's tournament have been filled. Broughton, Enloe, and Hillside will be participating in the tournament, but tournament officials are still trying to get a fourth team. Sewell said a local team would probably fill that spot.

As for the boy's tournaments, 16 teams have already been announced.

Defending GSK Champions Word of God will return to the tournament with N.C. State recruit C.J. Leslie and John Wall, the top-ranked point guard in the class of 2009. Wall has offers from a number of schools, including N.C. State, but his interest appears to be geared toward Kentucky, Memphis and Oklahoma State.

Ravenscroft will also return to the tournament with ACC target Ryan Kelly.

The N.C. High School Athletic Association 4-A runner-up, Apex, will be in attendance at the tournament after their incredible post-season run, as will their conference foes Panther Creek and Middle Creek.

North Carolina recruit Reggie Bullock will bring his Kinston team back to Broughton. Roy Williams was in attendance last year when Bullock and 2008 recruit Larry Drew (Taft, Woodland Hills, Calif.) played in the tournament.

Knightdale will attend the tournament once again this year, and Enloe will bring its team, led by Melvin Tabb.

Other schools from North Carolina attending the tournament include North Mecklenburg, Rocky Mount and Southern Lee, as well as Christ School, home to Duke recruit Mason Plumlee.

Four non-North Carolina teams will attend the tournament this year.

N.C. State target Lorenzo Brown will bring his Centennial High School (Georgia) squad to Raleigh, and Tar Heel target Dennis Nolan will do the same with Richland High School (Texas).

Fr. Henry Carr out of Toronto will be the first international team to participate in the tournament.

The last out-of-state team will be St. Raymond from New York City. The team is projected to be one of the top teams in that area, led by guard Omari Lawrence.

The 2008 tournament will feature seven of the top 70 players in the class of 2009, as well as recruits and prospects for Duke, N.C. State, and North Carolina.