RAINIER BEACH – Rainier Beach High School has been deemed one of the best basketball teams in the country.

On behalf of MaxPreps.com and the Army National Guard, the Rainier Beach Boys Basketball team was selected as an honoree for the 6th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard.

Of more than 20,000 high schools that field varsity basketball teams, only 10 are being recognized across the United States of America on the 2011-12 MaxPreps Tour of Champions.

The school was honored last month with an Army National Guard National Ranking Trophy presentation.

“Coach Bethea is an inspiration to Rainier Beach High School and his players,” said Betty Patu, Seattle School Board Director for District 7. “The passion he instills for our students’ manifests through lifelong mentoring and those he has given opportunities to be placed in college. He has built a legacy of his own.”

Photo/Rainier Valley Post