Among those expected to play are top uncommitted juniors  DaJuan Coleman (pictured), Kyle Anderson and Omar Calhoun; St. John’s signee Maurice Harkless; Rutgers commits Eli Carter and Myles Mack; Villanova-bound Achraf Yacoubou; Cincinnati signee Jermaine Sanders; and West Virginia-bound Jabarie Hinds.

Game time is at 8 p.m. Doors will open at 7. Admission is $10 for adults & $5 for children. All proceeds go to the development of grassroots basketball in our community. TDYCC is located on 32 Manhattan Ave. in Greenburgh.

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Savon Goodman

The 6-foot-5 Villanova-bound wing will run with the Playaz Basketball Club U17 team this summer instead of Team Philly.

“Savon brings a sense of toughness to the team,” Playaz coach Kyle Anderson Sr. said. “With his size, athleticism and high motor, we will be able to play him at the two, three or four. At times, we will be able to have five guards on the floor (Kyle Anderson, Darrick Wood, Myles Davis, Dallas Anglin or Chris Jones) and with Kyle and Savon’s rebounding ability, we will still be able to compete at a high level.”

Goodman, out of Academy of the New Church, committed to Villanova in November.

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To review:

**Nike moved the Jordan Classic to North Carolina for April 2011 because of the ongoing renovation at Madison Square Garden.

**Kris Stone, founder of the Boost Mobile game, took that event to Venice Beach, Calif., in 2010 after the 2009 game was rained out and moved inside to the Gauchos Gym.

**Sonny Vaccaro’s legendary ABCD Camp departed Fairleigh Dickinson in 2006 when he retired from the sneaker business, and Chris Rivers briefly held the Reebok All-American Camp in Philly for a couple of years afterward.

Now New York has nothing.

With a huge vacuum occupying the Big Apple, the time is right for some sneaker company to strike.

If Nike was smart, they would move the LeBron James Skills Academy – their marquee summer event – to New York from Akron.

Have you ever been to Akron?

There’s a reason LeBron left. There’s nothing there. Nothing.

Imagine if 80 of the top high school prospects – and 20 of the elite college players – spent a week in July in New York City, or at nearby Fairleigh Dickinson University, site of Vaccaro’s famed ABCD Camp?

Imagine the publicity such a camp would draw.

Dozens of sportswriters from The New York Times, Daily News, New York Post, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, SNY and other outlets would cover the event, just as they did during the heyday of the ABCD Camp that featured Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Tracy McGrady, O.J. Mayo, Sebastian Telfair and Lance Stephenson.

Aside from Major League Baseball, the summer is generally a slow time in the sportswriting world, so there would be plenty of journalists looking to cover the top players and stories of the summer.

Holding an event in the New York City area is expensive, to be sure, but somebody with deep pockets, like Nike, could afford it.

And such an event would enable Nike to parade its stars – Kevin Durant, Paul Pierce, Steve Nash, etc. – in front of the press in the biggest media market in the world.

If not Nike, what about Li Ning, Under Armour or Five Star?

Vaccaro is going back and forth with Li Ning, the Chinese apparel company, about a potential return to the sneaker business.

What better way for Sonny and Li Ning to make a splash than to hold a big-time camp in the New York area in early July?

“I believe there are going to be opportunities for me to be involved in things next summer,” Vaccaro said this fall. “I don’t know exactly if I will do them or how I’ll do them, but I do know there’s a lot of interest and I’m going to listen.”

Under Armour and Five Star, which is undergoing an ownership change, would also do well to think about bringing back an event to the Big Apple.

Somebody needs to do it.

And they need to strike while the iron is hot.

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Here is a preliminary list; click on the name of the event for schedule and details.

If I’ve missed anything, shoot me an email at zagoria@hotmail with the tourney info and link.

CITY OF PALMS CLASSIC, Dec. 17-22, Fort Meyers, Fla.

KREUL CLASSIC, Dec. 17-21, Coral Springs, Fla.

BIG APPLE BASKETBALL CHALLENGE, Dec. 18, Baruch College (Manhattan)

HOOP GROUP TIP-OFF, Dec. 18-19, Plainfield, N.J./ South Orange, N.J.

JINGLE BELLS JUBILEE, Dec. 26-29, Hudson Catholic (N.J.)

BEACH BALL CLASSIC, Dec. 27-31, Myrtle Beach, Fla.

HOOPS IN OVERDRIVE SHOOT-OUT, Dec. 30-Jan. 1, Atlanta

NEW YEAR’S JUMP-OFF, Jan. 2, Teaneck, N.J.

4th ANNUAL VILLA HOLIDAY CLASSIC, Jan. 2, St. Joe’s University (Philly)

CANCER RESEARCH CLASSIC, Jan. 8, Wheeling, WV

SFIC BOYS BASKETBALL FESTIVAL featuring ST. BENEDICT’S vs. ST. PATRICK, Jan. 9, Kean University (N.J.)

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS, Jan 13.-15, Springfield, Mo.

SPALDING HOOPHALL CLASSIC, Jan. 14-17, Springfield, Mass.

DAN FINN CLASSIC, Jan. 15, Jersey City, N.J.

BOARDWALK SHOWCASE, Jan. 15, Monmouth University

BIG APPLE BASKETBALL INVITATIONAL, Jan. 15/17, Baruch College (Manhattan)

FREEDOM FIGHTERS HOOP CHALLENGE, Jan, 17., Paterson, N.J.

PRIMETIME SHOOTOUT, Jan. 21-22, Morgantown, WV

NEWARK NATIONAL INVITATIONAL, Jan. 28, Prudential Center, Newark, N.J.

PRIMETIME SHOOTOUT, Jan. 28-30, Philadelphia

SNY INVITATIONAL, Jan. 28-29, LIU-Brooklyn

PRIMETIME SHOOTOUT, Feb. 11-13, Kean University (N.J.)

RUCKER SHOWCASE INVITATIONAL, Feb. 19, Wadleigh High, N.Y.

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Here are the game times and rosters:

Sophomore Game – 3 p.m.

Junior Game – 4:30 p.m.

Senior Game – 6 p.m.

New Jersey Seniors

LaQuinton Ross     Life Center Academy (Ohio State)

Myles Mack           St Anthony (Rutgers)

Sterling Gibbs        Seton Hall Prep (Maryland)

Desmond Hubert    New Egypt HS (Uncommitted)

Jarelle Reischel    Point Pleasant (Uncommitted)

Derrick Gordon       St Patrick (Western Kentucky)

Vaughn Gray         St. Benedict’s (Uncommitted)

Tyler Harris           St. Benedict’s (Uncommitted)

Khalid Lewis-El      Trenton Catholic (Delaware)

Mario Moody           East Orange HS (Wagner)

Alternate: Rob Poole Paul XI (Siena)

New Jersey Juniors

Kyle Anderson         St Anthony

Jaylen Beckham      St Benedict’s

Rashad Andrews      St Anthony

Brandon Taylor        Trenton Catholic

Jerome Frink            St Anthony

Jameel Warney        Roselle Catholic

Dallas Anglin            Seton Hall Prep

Dom Hoffman            Gil St Bernard

Tariq Carey               Newark Eastside

Neville Fincher          St. Benedict’S

Alternate:  Da’shawn Suber – St. Patrick

New Jersey Sophomores

Austin Colbert          St Patrick

Jaren Sina               Gil St Bernard

Shacore Edwards     Irvington

Josh Brown              St Anthony

Mike Young              St Benedict

Jason Boswell            St Patrick

Reggie Cameron       Hudson Catholic

Kavon Stewart          Hudson Catholic

Tyler Roberson         Union

Spencer Weicz         Seton Hall Prep

Alternates: Jordan Forehand St Anthony and Jarrett Hall  Newark Tech

Philly Seniors

Aquil Younger               West Catholic  (Drexel)

Juanya Green                Arch Carroll (Niagara)

Aaron Brown                 Penn Wood (West Virginia)

Jerrell Wright                 Dobbins Tech (La Salle)

Devin Coleman              Friends Central (Uncommitted)

Jaylen Bond                  Penn Wood (Pittsburgh)

Jabril Trawick                Abington Friends (Georgetown)

John Johnson               Life Center (Pittsburgh)

Eric Copes                    Imhotep  (George Washington)

Ameen Tanksley            Imhotep (Niagara)

Alternates: Eddie Joiner-Mitchell  60   LaSalle HS   Rider  and  Joey Gripper  62 Abington frds  Undecided

Philly Juniors

Jeremiah Batts         Communications Tech

Khyree Wooten       Imhotep Charter

Ryan Arcidianano    Nehamany HS

Savon Goodman      Academy of the New Church (ANC)

Daiquan Walker       Constitution Charter

Jordan Reed            Wisahickon HS

Brendan Kilpatrick     Malvern Prep

Maurice Watson        Boys Latin

Derrick Stewart         Neumann-Gorretti

Amile Jefferson         Friends Central

Philly Sophomores

Brandon Austin          Imhotep Charter

Rondae Jefferson       Chester

Steve Vasturia           St Joesph Prep

Miles Overton             St. Joesph Prep

Britton Lee                Roman Catholic HS

Johnny Davis             Neumann – Gorretti

Shafeek Taylor          Roman Catholic

Yosef Yacoub            Arch Bishop Carroll

Karon Davis              Friends Central

Jeremiah Worthem    Math-Civics-Science

Alternate:  Rasheed Jordan   Vaux HS

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Vaccaro, who turns 71 Thursday, declined to mention specific potential partners, but says he has appointments Monday with “people who would like to get totally involved.”

“I believe there are going to be opportunities for me to be involved in things next summer,” Vaccaro said Wednesday night by phone from his home in Carmel, Calif. “I don’t know exactly if I will do them or how I’ll do them, but I do know there’s a lot of interest and I’m going to listen.”

CBSSports.com first reported the development last month.

Vaccaro already has an informal network of travel coaches and summer power brokers in place, including Keith Easterwood in Memphis and Gary Charles in New York City.

“I’m gonna do whatever Sonny does,” Easterwood said by phone.

Easterwood said he’s already spoken with some AAU programs currently affiliated with Nike and wouldn’t be surprised if they “jumped ship” to join Vaccaro.

“It’s going to shock me if some of these programs don’t jump ship,” Easterwood said. “That’s a distinct possibility. I’ve talked to people outside of the city [of Memphis] who have traditionally had Nike programs.

“Because their contracts expired last month they’re going to listen to what’s best for them and their basketball team.”

Vaccaro’s comeback could include the return of the vaunted ABCD Camp – which was held at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Hackensack, N.J. until 2006 and featured Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Tracy McGrady, O.J. Mayo, Sebastian Telfair and Lance Stephenson.

“That’s a great location for media to get in and out of,” Easterwood said. “Everything that goes on in New York seems to be magnified. LeBron played there. Kobe and McGrady and Marbury and Telfair played there. All that is there and more. In the Internet age, kids are geeked into the history of the game and who did what.”

Vaccaro revolutionized grassroots basketball and the marketing of hoops stars by signing Bryant and Michael Jordan to multi-million dollar sneaker deals. He pioneered the practice of paying college coaches to outfit their teams in shoe company apparel while working for Nike and Phil Knight. In 1992, he declared war on Nike when he joined rival adidas, taking his Roundball Classic, Big Time tournament and summer camp with him. He later left adidas for Reebok before retiring from the summer scene in 2006.

“It’ll never be what it was,” Vaccaro said. “It won’t be ABCD Camp, Roundball Classic, Big Time tournament. It will be situations like that that will allow a lot of kids to be involved. There are a lot of lot people who run these things who with a little help can do what was done in the ‘80s and ‘90s. But it will be different.”

Since he departed the scene, Nike has virtually dominated the summer landscape and Vaccaro is once again taking aim at the sneaker giant.

He said he hoped to provide a forum for other, lesser-known players to display their potential.

“While they [Nike] took care of the chosen ones, they let the less fortunate get away,” Vaccaro said. “You always need your stars, but you need your guys who want to be your headliners and that’s what summer basketball is.”

While Under Armour and other companies have reached out, Vaccaro has already met with representatives of Li Ning, sources said.

The meetings were delayed when Vaccaro’s wife, Pam, was hospitalized for a medical issue. But she is now home and resting comfortably.

The Chinese company, founded in 1990 by the former Chinese gymnast for whom it is named, recently signed Philadelphia 76ers rookie Evan Turner to a multi-million dollar sponsorship deal and is making an aggressive push in the U.S. to counter Nike’s move into China.

“This is truly a game-changing moment for the Li Ning brand,” the China Daily quoted Li Ning’s brand director for basketball, Brian Cupps, as saying.

“Adding a supreme young talent like Evan Turner sends a message to the global basketball community that Li Ning basketball is committed to being a player on the global stage.”

Still, many questions surround a potential Vaccaro/Li Ning partnership.

First and foremost is that Li Ning is a virtually unknown entity in the U.S.

“Li Ning has almost zero American recognition,” one industry source said. “The product line would have to be substantially revamped.”

Second, the source said, Vaccaro might have to get used to working on a smaller budget than he enjoyed at Nike, adidas or Reebok.

“His definition of camp is a $250,000 camp,” the source said. “There are a lot of things that have changed since he left.

“I think he wants to come back in a big way and is Li Ning going to allow him to come back in that big way or can he compromise and come back with less? The new economy is doing more with less. I’m not sure he’s used to doing that or is gonna be happy with that.

“He wants to do things first-class. He might have to put the kids at the Days Inn instead of the Four Seasons. You might have to pay coaches $300 instead of $500. Those days are over. You might have to do a three-day event instead of six days.

“He’s used to spending everybody’s else’s money. He thinks that money’s still out there. He can do what he did before and he can do it for less if he’s more crafty and smart about it. That’s gonna be the issue.”

Time is another concern.

“It may take him two or three years,” the source said. “And then again, Sonny’s not young anymore, either. Do they have the money? Do they have the patience? It may take four or five years.”

Still, after three years away from grassroots basketball, Sonny Vaccaro remains a force to be reckoned with.

“If he comes back,” the source said, “there could be some casualties.”

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Standouts on the winning squad included Texas-bound guard Myck Kabongo, who had a double-double of 13 points and 10 assists, and the team’s high scorers Kyle Wiltjer and Kentavioius Caldwell-Pope, who both had 20 points.

Kabongo and Wiltjer were the winning team’s co-MVPs, along with the losing team’s Austin Rivers (15 points) and the North Carolina-bound James Mcadoo (10 pts, 11 rebs).

Rivers overcame a wrist injury in the game.

“I’m good,” he said by text.

Wiltjer verbally committed to Kentucky during the live telecast, joining a powerhouse recruiting class that includes Anthony Davis, Michael Gilchrist and Marquis Teague.

DeAndre Daniels, who will spend a year at IMG Academy in Bradenton, added 13 points for the winners and Deuce Bello tallied 12.

For the losers, Oakland Soldiers teammates Jabari Brown and Nick Johnson scored 16 points apiece; Ohio State commit LaQuinton Ross added 14 points; and Alex Murphy, LeBryan Nash and Adonis Thomas tallied 12 apiece.

Bello and Bradley Beal won the Under Armour Slam Dunk & Skills Competitions, respectively. The slam dunk contest was judged by Boost Mobile Elite 24 alums John Wall, Brandon Jennings and Tyreke Evans.

(Photo courtesy ESPNRise)

RELATED CONTENT

**Miller wants to join Bello in college

**DeAndre Daniels staying 2011, going prep

**LeBryan Nash down to 3, will announce Oct. 21

**Garrett says St. John’s, Oregon top list

**Cook to cut list

**Bello wins dunk contest; Wiltjer to announce

**Adonis Thomas cuts list to 6

**Kyle Wiltjer to Kentucky

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NBA players John Wall and DeMar DeRozan were among the judges for the dunk, which was actually suggested by Quinn Cook.

“He didn’t know what to do for his second dunk,” Cook told ESPNRise.com. “I showed him the video on YouTube. It used to be our go-to dunk for me and [former DeMatha teammate] Victor [Oladipo]. But I’ve never seen anyone do it with a windmill.”

Bello and Miller will visit Louisville together Sept. 4 and hope to play college ball together.

Also competing in the dunk contest were runner-up Stephen Maxwell of Taft (Woodland Hills, Calif.), Nick Johnson and Amir Garrett, both of Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), Jahii Carson of Mesa (Phoenix, Ariz.), LeBryan Nash of Lincoln (Dallas, Texas), Norman Powell of Lincoln (San Diego, Calif.) and Gabe York of Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.).

Tonight (Saturday) Kyle Wiltjer will announce his college choice during the game on ESPNU.

The 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward from Portland (Ore.) Jesuit is considering Gonzaga, Cal, Kansas, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, and Texas.

Wiltjer had a tremendous summer with the Drew Gooden Soldiers, winning the Las Vegas Fab 48 and the Pumps event in California.

Adonis Thomas, the No. 6 small forward in the Class of 2011, has cut his list and will announce later Saturday. Check back here later to see it.

FREE THROWS

Good news for the Memphis Tigers: Chris Crawford and Hippolyte Tsafack were both declared eligible…St. John’s will have a home visit with Jabari Brown of the Oakland Soldiers Sept. 30, per his father David…N.C. State non-qualifier Luke Cothron has a final four of UTEP, UMass, Charlotte and ECU, per Jacey Zembal. UTEP leads.

RELATED CONTENT

**Miller wants to join Bello in college

**DeAndre Daniels staying 2011, going prep

**LeBryan Nash down to 3, will announce Oct. 21

**Garrett says St. John’s, Oregon top list

**Cook to cut list

(Photo courtesy Kelly Kline/Nike)

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After a 15-year hiatus, the Golden Hoops basketball tournament returns Saturday to Edmond’s Playground in Fort Greene, Brooklyn from noon to 8 p.m.
Among those expected to participate are NYC basketball legend and Queens native Kenny Anderson (Team NYC), Brevin Knight (Team Jersey), John Wallace (Team Empire State), Kyle Lowery (Team Philly) and Cappie Pondexter (Girls Team NYC).

“Golden Hoops was a tournament I looked forward to playing in every summer,” Anderson said. “It brought together all the best players from the New York City metropolitan area for a great competition in a great atmosphere. I am excited Golden Hoops is coming back and I look forward to being a part of it this summer as an Honorary Coach.”

THE MATCHUPS

Noon Team NYC vs.Team Philly 2 p.m.

Team Jersey vs. Team Empire 4 p.m.

Team NYC vs.Team Jersey (girls) 6 p.m.

Boys championship

BOYS

TEAM NYC

NAME                   POS                 SCHOOL  YEAR

Omar Calhoun         G     Christ the King    2012

Kareem Canty         G  Wilbraham & Monson    2011

Daniel Dingle           F         St. Raymond    2012

Corey Edwards        G     Christ the King    2011

Tyquan Goodlett     G               Jefferson    2011

Maurice Harkless G/F            South Kent    2011

Kadeem Jack            F            South Kent    2011

Sidiki Johnson          F        Oak Hill (Va.)    2011

Kamari Murphy         F                  Lincoln    2011

Kerwin Okoro      F         St. Raymond    2012

Jermaine Sanders G/F                       Rice    2011

Mike Taylor             G          Boys & Girls    2011

Coaches: Kenny Anderson, Dermon Player

TEAM JERSEY

NAME                   POS                 SCHOOL  YEAR

Kelvin Amayo          G                NIA Prep    2011

Kyle Anderson         G           St. Anthony    2012

Reggie Cameron  G/F   Hudson Catholic    2013

Myles Davis             G     St. Peter’s Prep    2011

Sterling Gibbs          G     Seton Hall Prep    2011

Derrick Gordon        G             St. Patrick    2011

Vaughn Gray           G         St. Benedicts    2011

Tyrone Johnson       G   Montrose Christian    2011

Myles Mack             G           St. Anthony    2011

Derrick Randall        F            South Kent    2011

Kavon Stewart       G   Hudson Catholic    2013

Coaches: Derrick Bobbitt, Brevin Knight

TEAM EMPIRE

NAME                   POS                 SCHOOL  YEAR

Jordan Allen         G/F             Bay Shore    2011

Terry Brutus             F          L.I. Lutheran    2011

Galal Cancer            G                       CBA    2011

DaJuan Coleman      F Jamesville-DeWitt    2012

Sheldon Hagigal      G              Westbury    2011

Tyler Harris              F   Half Hollow Hills    2011

Derek Millinghause G         Schenectady    2011

Daouda Samoura     C                     OSNA    2011

Tavon Sledge           G   Half Hollow Hills    2011

John Wallace Jr.      G      Greece Athena    2011

Stan Weir                G      Nichols School    2012

Achraf Yacoubou     G          L.I. Lutheran    2011

Coaches:             Steve Treffiletti, John Wallace

TEAM PHILLY

NAME                   POS                 SCHOOL  YEAR

Jaylen Bond              F Plymouth-Whitemarsh    2011

Devin Coleman        G     Friends Central    2011

Erik Copes                F   Imhotep Charter    2011

Malcolm Gilbert       C                       ANC    2011

Savon Goodman       F                       ANC    2012

Joey Gripper            G  Abington Friends    2011

Amile Jefferson        F     Friends Central    2012

John Johnson           G            Life Center    2011

Daniel Ochefu          F  Westtown School    2012

Jibril Troutwick        G  Abington Friends    2011

Yilret Yiljep              F  Westtown School    2013

Coach: Terrell Myers

GIRLS

TEAM NYC

NAME                   POS                 SCHOOL  YEAR

Siera Calhoun      G/F     Christ the King    2014

Cori Coleman          G             Bergtraum    2011

Bianca Cuevas         G               Nazareth    2014

Jazmine Davis      G/F        Francis Lewis    2012

Taylor Ford               F               Nazareth    2011

Tiffany Jones           F               Nazareth    2011

Diani Mason            G           Bishop Ford    2011

Nia Oden              G/F     Christ the King    2011

Fannisha Price          F          South Shore    2012

Janera Roper           G                  Lincoln    2013

Bria Smith                G     Christ the King    2011

Coaches: Lauren Best, Kym Hampton,Ron Kelley, Apache Paschall

TEAM JERSEY

NAME                   POS                 SCHOOL  YEAR

Syessence Davis      G                Neptune    2011

Chyna Golden          C                Neptune    2011

Sarah Halejian         G                 Ramapo    2011

De-Asia Jones          F                Shabazz    2013

Alicia Lovette          G                Shabazz    2011

Teana Muldrow        F    E. Orange Campus    2013

Zaire O’Neil              F                Shabazz    2014

Sakeena Richardson G               Neptune    2011

Bridget Ryan            F  Mount St. Mary’s    2011

Brianna Sykes         G             University    2012

Amber Thompson    C             University    2011

Coaches: Keith Jefferson, Cappie Pondexter

* Rosters subject to change

(Photo courtesy Daily News)

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All of the players will also compete this weekend in the Battle of the Boroughs and then play a Chinese youth team on Friday night at Rucker Park.

*Sidiki Johnson, Oak Hill

Jermaine Saunders, Rice

Daniel Dingle, St. Raymond’s

Corey Edwards, Christ the King

Jevon Thomas, St. Benedict’s

Kamari Murphy, Lincoln

Mike Taylor, Boys & Girls

Derrick Randall, South Kent

Moussa Kone, FDA III

Tyquan Goodlett, Jefferson

Ryan Rhoomes, Cardozo

Kerwin Okoro, St. Raymond’s

*Due to School obligations Johnson will only play in the game vs China but will not travel with the team to Turkey.

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS

Monday – Individual team practices

Wednesday - Individual team practices

Friday — Brooklyn vs. The Bronx, 3-5; Harlem vs. Queens, 5-7; New York All-Stars-China, 7:10-8:25, Rucker Park

Saturday — New York vs. New York final, 4:45-6, Rucker Park

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