‘Most unheralded guard’ shoots N.Y. team to title

In a recruiting showcase, New York Gauchos shooting guard Chris Fouch showed why big-time colleges might be wise to recruit him.

Fouch made 6 of 9 3-pointers and finished with 23 points Thursday to lead the Gauchos to a 101-86 victory over Team Texas in the Main Event championship game before a crowd of about 1,500 at Durango High School.

Fouch is favoring Drexel and also being courted by Fordham, Manhattan, Siena and South Florida. The lack of a major program on that list barely bothers him.

"The schools that are recruiting me right now, I'm going to show them a lot of love," he said.

The 6-foot-2-inch Fouch, who will be a senior at Rice High in New York, turned the game around after the Gauchos trailed 50-43 at halftime.

Fouch hit three 3-pointers -- including one from 25 feet -- to help his team open the second half with a 16-6 run.

"When he hit those shots, we weren't over here celebrating. Chris is supposed to do that," Gauchos coach Emanuel Richardson said.

Kemba Walker, who also plays in the same backcourt with Fouch in high school, scored 19 points.

"We picked up the intensity after the half and we just played harder," said Walker, who has committed to Connecticut.

Fouch was not begging for more attention from major colleges, but his coach was making a statement for him.

"Chris Fouch is probably the most unheralded guard in the country because of what he does," Richardson said. "I think it's poetic justice that the unsung hero again becomes the hero. Guys are still trying to evaluate him, and I'm like, what more does he have to do?"

Team Texas, led by senior guard Willie Warren's 23 points, fell behind by 10 midway through the second half and faded fast.

"It all came down to legs and energy, and we had neither," Warren said. "They're a running team, and we just let them outrun us and get open 3s."

Several major programs are recruiting Warren, with Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas atop his list.

"Willie is an incredible talent, and he has all the tools to play at the highest level," Richardson said.

The Gauchos finished 9-0 in the Main Event and 17-0 in July tournaments. They also won the Nike Peach Jam Invitational two weeks ago as Fouch hit a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.