SPRINGDALE — When Josh Floyd helped create the Southwest Elite 7-on-7 Showcase Tournament last year, he wanted the invitation-only field to be the best of the best.
It's a trend he doesn't want to see changed.
Sixteen teams from four states will converge in Shiloh Christian's Champions Stadium this weekend for the elite tournament, which is gradually becoming one of the best 7-on-7 tournaments in this region, Floyd said.
Besides five area teams, the tournament will feature squads from Oklahoma, Mississippi and Missouri, including Olive Branch, Miss.
The Conquistadors, who have won a combined 55 games the last three seasons, went 10-3 last fall under Scott Samsel and advanced to the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs.
"I think the field this year is really great, we've got some really talented teams with some big-time players," said Floyd, Shiloh Christian's seventh-year coach. "That was always the goal of this tournament, having the best teams available.
"I think for a tournament like this, if you want to be noticed, you have to compete with the best."
The two-day tournament will begin at 2 p.m. today with pool play, which will continue at 9 a.m. Saturday. After all teams have played seven pool games, a seeded single-elimination tournament will begin at 1:15 p.m. Saturday with the championship game at 3:45 p.m.
"Although this tournament is only in its second year, it's grown a lot," Floyd said. "We've had more interest, and teams want to play in this tournament. Hopefully that'll continue."
Shiloh, which went 13-1 last fall en route to its second straight Class 4A state championship, won last year's elite tournament.
Floyd said nearly every team will include players who've been highly recruited over the last year by Division I programs. Among the players include Shiloh's Kiehl Frazier (committed to Auburn), Fayetteville's Brandon Allen (Arkansas), Hillcrest's Dorial Green, who has offers from Arkansas, Oklahoma and Southern California.
Heritage Hall junior Barry Sanders Jr., who has offers from Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Tulsa and is the son of NFL Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, ran for 742 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman, helping guide Hall to the Class 2A state championship.
At A Glance
Southwest Elite 7-On-7 Showcase Tournament
When: Today and Saturday
Where: Shiloh Christian (football stadium and baseball practice field near All Star Sports Arena)
Schedule: Today, teams compete in pool play from 2-5:30 p.m.; Saturday, teams continue pool play until noon, when a seeded bracket is created. The single-elimination tournament begins at 1:15 p.m. with the championship game at 3:45 p.m.
Participating Teams: Pool A -- Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City); Bentonville, Olive Branch, Miss.; Arkansas Baptist; Shiloh Christian; Mayflower; Rogers Heritage; Springfield (Mo.) Hillcrest; Pool B -- Fayetteville; Central Arkansas Christian; Muskogee, Okla.; Greene County Tech; Little Rock Catholic; El Dorado; Springdale High; McAlester, Okla.
Today's Pool Play Games
Chick-Fil-A Field: Heritage Hall vs. Bentonville, 2 p.m.; Fayetteville vs. CAC, 2:30 p.m.; Heritage Hall vs. Olive Branch, 3 p.m.; Fayetteville vs. Muskogee, 3:30 p.m.; Shiloh vs. Heritage, 4 p.m.; LR Catholic vs. McAlester, 4:30 p.m.; Shiloh vs. Olive Branch, 5 p.m.; Fayetteville vs. LR Catholic, 5:30 p.m.
Right Guard Field: Olive Branch vs. Arkansas Baptist, 2 p.m.; Muskogee vs. GCT, 2:30 p.m.; Bentonville vs. Arkansas Baptist, 3 p.m.; GCT vs. CAC, 3:30 p.m.; Hillcrest vs. Mayflower, 4 p.m.; Springdale vs. El Dorado, 4:30 p.m.; Heritage vs. Bentonville, 5 p.m.; Springdale vs. Muskogee, 5:30 p.m.
Embassy Suites Field: Shiloh vs. Mayflower, 2 p.m.; LR Catholic vs. El Dorado, 2:30 p.m.; Heritage vs. Mayflower, 3 p.m.; LR Catholic vs. Springdale, 3:30 p.m.; Heritage Hall vs. Arkansas Baptist, 4 p.m.; GCT vs. Fayetteville, 4:30 p.m.; Arkansas Baptist vs. Mayflower, 5 p.m.; CAC vs. El Dorado, 5:30 p.m.
Best Sports Field: Heritage vs. Hillcrest, 2 p.m.; Springdale vs. McAlester, 2:30 p.m.; Shiloh vs. Hillcrest, 3 p.m.; McAlester vs. El Dorado, 3:30 p.m.; Bentonville vs. Olive Branch, 4 p.m.; Muskogee vs. CAC, 4:30 p.m.; Hillcrest vs. Heritage Hall, 5 p.m.; GCT vs. McAlester, 5:30 p.m.