Garland, a 6-foot-1 point guard who will be a senior at Bartram High, had a lot on his mind. He made an oral commitment to play at Virginia Tech, choosing the Hokies over La Salle.

"I was thinking about it," Garland said.

Perhaps fearful that he would change his mind, Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg and assistant James Johnson were stationed in the first row of the bleachers. Their eyes were glued to Garland's every move.

La Salle coach John Giannini sat behind them in the second row.

For the coaches, it was a final attempt to show support before the big announcement. For Garland, it was overwhelming.

"I wasn't trying to look at them that much," he said of the coaches.

Garland finished with seven points on 2-for-6 shooting - both three-pointers. He also had an assist to help lead Team Yao Ming to an 80-58 victory over Team Eddie House.

It was one of the 16-year-old's few off days at the camp.

Garland repeatedly outdribbled, outshot and outplayed some of the nation's top players during the four-day scholastic basketball showcase that concludes today. He was so impressive that one college coach offered him a scholarship on the spot.

"He's the one," said the coach, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "I would put the ball in his hands and let him take over."

According to NCAA rules, college coaches are not permitted to comment on recruits.

Coaches were not the only ones impressed with Garland.

"He's the best senior in the city," said Allen Rubin, a recruiting analyst for Hoop Scoop, a recruiting newsletter. "He is a very good passer, penetrator and disher. And he's also a very good outside shooter."

But impressing recruiting analysts and college coaches was not Garland's goal. Nor did he come to the camp to garner national rankings in the recruiting lists of Scout.com, Rivals.com and ESPN.com.

He said he just wanted to play against elite competition in the camp that features more than 100 elite players.

"I'm just really worrying about getting better right now," Garland said. "I learned that I can play with the elite players."

He'll get his chance in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Garland said he also considered Temple and Nevada.

"Virginia Tech just seemed like a good fit right now," Garland said. "I like the coaches. And it seems like it's a place I can focus at, and just focus on basketball and not anything else."

Garland, a second-team selection on The Inquirer's all-Southeastern Pennsylvania team, competed in an elite camp at Virginia Tech last month. Shortly afterward, Garland made up his mind that he would become a Hokie.

"What really made me decide was that my family and everybody thought that was a good fit for me," Garland said. "And I liked them. So I just said, 'Go for it.' "

He considered holding off on making his decision public until after this camp. But the attention that came with his stellar play forced Garland to make an announcement. To him, it was the only way to let coaches know that he no longer wanted to be recruited.

But that didn't stop Greenberg, Johnson and Giannini from attending his next game, after he had made his choice. This time, though, it was more relaxed. Greenberg and Giannini sat together and chatted. A couple feet to the left, Johnson leaned back while watching the game.

Perhaps that was his subtle way to celebrate winning a recruiting war.

or kpompey@phillynews.com.