Location. Location. Location. It's always on the mind of Dennis Bettis, director of the Deveroes Summer Basketball League, which begins its 17th year of play today.

        This is the third year the popular summer league will play its games at Oak Hills High School in Bridgetown. “The school itself and the community have opened their arms up to us,” Bettis said.

AT A GLANCE

• What: 17th annual Deveroes Summer Basketball League.     • When: Today-July 28.     • Where: Oak Hills High School, 3200 Ebenezer Road, Bridgetown.     • Admission: Free; $2 donation requested at door.     • Defending champion: Cintas defeated Stan Litz Law Office 99-86.     • 2001 tournament MVP: Cain Doliboa.     • 2001 regular-season MVP: Paul McMillian.

        The gym is likeable for its air conditioning and comfort. But Bettis still hears complaints about the long drive for east siders and those coming from the north.

        The league moved to Oak Hills when construction began at Purcell Marian High School, its previous home. Though there were few complaints about the location then, Purcell's gym was known for its sweltering heat because it lacked air conditioning.

        “Ideally, it'd be nice to have a gym as nice as Oak Hills and put it right where Woodward High School is — that's where the league originated from,” Bettis said.

        He is considering rotating the league to different sites each summer, perhaps using gyms at Oak Hills, Purcell and Moeller.

        “That would give people in other parts of the city a chance to have it in their community,” Bettis said. “That's just something we may look into. But it could very well be at Oak Hills again next year.”

        This year's competition is starting two weeks later than usual.

        Bettis said he faxed his application for certification to the NCAA in April, and when he didn't hear back in the next four weeks, he called and found out the NCAA never received it.

        The application has to be in 45 days before the start of the league. He again faxed the application, but the beginning of play had to be moved back.

        The good news, Bettis said, is the majority of Xavier and Cincinnati recruits are in town for summer-school classes and plan to participate. The league often has provided a sneak peak of new Bearcats and Musketeers.

        E-mail mperry@enquirer.com

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