The Joint Effort Hoops Festival has been nothing short of an effort of love and devotion for John Bailey.

Bailey's 30th annual event for boys and girls basketball will be staged Tuesday through Saturday at the Hiawatha Davis Recreation Center and Regis University.

As always, the event will not only bring together many of the top boys and girls basketball players from Colorado, but from several states. This year's event will feature a senior girls team from New Jersey and two senior boys teams from Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The festival also will get a new name, in honor of one of Joint Effort's outstanding athletes: Detroit Pistons star Chauncey Billups.

"He has put much more into Joint Effort than just having grown up with us, and we want to recognize his efforts and what his efforts mean to our community," said Bailey, 57, noting Billups' participation in the game before and during his career at George Washington.

The high level of competition always has been a staple of the now Chauncey Billups Joint Effort games, but the event has meant much more to the local youth basketball community, as the name change indicates.

While athletics always have played an important part in Bailey's life, he is the first to tell young players to not let sports rule their lives. The event helps provide information on college recruitment, player development programs and summer camps.

"Only one in a million will reach the professional ranks," Bailey said. "All the others have to live day by day. I want kids to think about being on time with their commitments, to compete hard in whatever they chose and share their success with others. To hustle, have enthusiasm, good attitudes and desire is what I've tried to give to kids.

"Over the years, I look back at young people (who have played in the games) who have made their contributions as coaches, teachers, doctors, lawyers, businessmen and women - that's what I'm happy about," said Bailey, who was a late cut of the Indiana Pacers of the old American Basketball Association after college in 1972.

The list of people and businesses who have worked with Joint Effort though the years is extensive. Bailey singled out his wife, Sharon, who is running for Denver City Council, and former Denver East assistant Mark Perlmutter for their efforts.

" 'Perl' and Sharon have always played an important role for me," Bailey said. "But there are so many who have helped. You have the likes of Don Wilson, Stan Reynolds, Chauncey's dad (Ray) and mom (Faye), Charlie Cousins, the corporations and business who have helped - just so many. The (Colorado High School Activities Association) has been very supportive, and that, too, is important."

Bailey is inviting those who have participated in any Joint Effort basketball or youth leadership program to attend the event to be recognized in a ceremony April 7 at 3 p.m. at the Regis Field House.

Saturday is the final tryout day at the Davis Recreation Center (3334 Holly St.) for players attempting to make the various squads. Ninth/10th- grade boys, noon; 11th/12th boys, 1:30 p.m.; all high school girls, 3 p.m.

Tryout and schedule information: Bailey, 303-745-9649, or Perlmutter, 303-820-1300.

ETC.: Former Denver North head coach and Fairview assistant Mike Marquez has been selected as the new head football coach at Northglenn. . . . Ponderosa senior Jon Major and Nigel Carr, of Jacksonville, Fla., have been rated the No. 1 national prospects at outside linebacker by ESPN.com. . . . Lindsey Licht (Grandview), Katie Mills (Grandview) and Danielle Minch (Sterling) were selected among the top 50 seniors nationally by Volleyball magazine. Licht and Minch have committed to Nebraska, while Mills has signed to play at UCLA. . . . Terri Ward, who has been the president of the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports since 1999 and the girls basketball coach at Niwot for 17 years, was selected the CCGS Helen McCall Coach of the Year. The CCGS also honored the Ruby Miller Scholarship winners at its recent all-state basketball dinner. The scholarship is presented to senior girls who have expressed a desire to coach in the future. The honorees were Amanda Brown (Limon), Christine Hormann (Cherokee Trail), Danika Jostes (Stratton) and Crystal Loch (Alamosa). Each will receive a $750 scholarship. . . . Chaparral baseball coach Steve Eaton recently earned his 300th career victory. . . . Mullen sophomore Andrew Berberick won the 800 meters last Saturday at the Chandler (Ariz.) Invitational with a time of 1 minute, 56.35 seconds. . . . Grand Junction's Geoff Baldwin hit two homers and had eight RBI in a 17-13 victory against Doherty on Tuesday. Baldwin also was the winning pitcher. . . . Dexter Price of Air Academy fired a five-inning perfect game last week in a 10-0 victory against Mitchell. The junior recorded 11 strikeouts among the 15 outs. "I've never seen a perfect game before; it was pretty cool to watch," Kadets coach Glenn Millhauser said. . . . Cañon City senior Cameron Maldonado has struck out 25 batters in 12 innings during his past two starts, both victories.

Rocky Preps poll

• Last week's question: How would you characterize your interest in high school spring sports when compared with the fall and winter seasons?

45.5% Less interested

29.2% Same interest

25.3% More interested

• This week's question: Should newspapers select all-state teams?

Steinmark Award

• Nominations for the 36th boys and 34th girls Fred Steinmark High School Student/Athlete of the Year Award are due at the Rocky Mountain News by May 1. Any coach, athletic director or school administrator can nominate an athlete from any school.

• There are four requirements for an athlete to gain a nomination: The athlete must be a senior, have carried at least a 3.0 grade-point average through his/her high school career and have played a minimum of two sports each year. The nominee must have been selected all-state in one sport and at least all-league in another.

• There is no formal nomination form. Please submit a short letter or e-mail stating that the athlete has met or will meet the requirements by the end of the spring season.

• Send nominations to: Fred Steinmark Award, c/o Scott Stocker, 101 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 500, Denver, CO 80202, or e-mail stockers@RockyMountainNews.com.

• In addition, coaches, athletic directors and administrators are needed for the Steinmark selection committee. Representatives from schools submitting nominees are not eligible.

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