The 2010 Deveroes Summer League is now in the books, and the playoffs are around the corner. It looks like some late-season additions (Anthony McClain, Rashad Bishop, Eric Taylor, Danny Horace) and subtractions (Yancey Gates, James Cripe, Paul McMillan) will play huge roles in deciding a champion.

#4 Clovernook Health Care (6-3) vs #5 McCluskey Chevrolet (5-4)
6:30 p.m. Wednesday

Clovernook could be one of the favorites to claim the DSL championship despite the four seed due to its inside strength led by Xavier’s Jamel McLean and Cincinnati’s Anthony McClain.

Two of the three Clovernook losses came without McLean in the lineup, and the midseason pick-up of McClain has really boosted the Clovernook front line. McClain started the season with S.I. Pool Care, but was transferred to Clovernook. If you add the backcourt of Xavier’s Dante Jackson and another last season addition, Cincinnati’s Rashad Bishop, Clovernook is loaded. They also have talented wings Kierre Greenwood and Tyrone Bradshaw.

McCluskey has lost three of its last four games and will be without seven-footer James Cripe, making them very small. They could also be missing center Erik Stenger and forward Corey Sorrell for the playoffs. However, it’s a team loaded with shooters that can single-handedly take over games, including Dennis Gagai and Tony Rack. Ethan Faulkner is a stabilizing point guard, while Chris Knight is an athletic playmaker. Nick Wolf, added after his Deer Park team was eliminated for playoff contention, will give the team some more toughness.

#2 Raeshon M. Mansoor Law Office vs #7 S.I. Pool Care
7:30 p.m. Wednesday

This could be the biggest upset of the tournament as Raeshon M. Mansoor Law Office enters the tournament without the services of Yancey Gates and Paul McMillan. Both players have been suspended for the remainder of the season due to their on-court actions. That leaves Dwayne McNeal as the lone inside force for a law office team that will face a new-look S.I. Pool Care team.

The Pool Care team that struggled throughout the regular season looks nothing like the team that enter the tournament as wily veteran forwards Danny Horace and Brandon Russ enter the fray during the waning weeks of the regular season. They provided veteran leadership to James Madison signee Rayshawn Goins inside.

James Millen, Jerrell Redden and Andre Pogue provide an electric backcourt with explosive scoring ability.

Hopefully for Mansoor, the regular season finale is nothing like the tournament opener as Pool Care destroyed them, 93-64.

PREDICTION: S.I. Pool Care uses its wave of players to eventually wear down Mansoor Law Office and post the decisive victory.

#3 SuperiorCars.com vs #6 Western Hills Chick Fil-A
6:30 p.m. Thursday

This game could be decided on which SuperiorCars.com team dons the team t-shirts Thursday. If it could it full squad dressed for the game, they should pose a daunting task for Western Hills Chick-Fil-A.

Xavier alums C.J. Anderson and B.J. Raymond join Norm Plummer to form possibly the best frontcourt this season. Add Adrion Graves and Mark Lyons to the backcourt and SuperiorCars.com can put up points in a hurry.

However, Western Hills Chick-Fil-A has added veteran workhorse Eric Taylor to frontcourt mate Pierre Darden and a long wing in Scott Donald.

PREDICTION: Providing a full squad shows up, SuperiorCars.com will come out victorious.

#1 Goodies Barbecue vs #8 SLATS
7:30 p.m. Thursday

SLATS has been boosted by the presence of Xavier Terrell Holloway and former UC big man Steve Toyloy. The addition has really taken the scoring pressure off Cincinnati’s Sean Kilpatrick, who has flourished with additional weapons.

Incoming freshman Justin Jackson and Justin Gaines has added defense and rebounding to the SLATS frontcourt giving them balance.

Antonio Ballard, Allen Roberts and Kenny Hayes have done a bulk of the heavy lifting for the regular season champion Goodies Barbecue team. Ballard has been the best player in the league this season, on both ends of the court.

PREDICTION: I really like what Ballard brings to the court, but Holloway and Kilpatrick have really put SLATS on their backs. SLATS in a nail-biter.