What would happen if the Indianapolis Colts added Reggie Bush to their roster?

If Barry Bonds suddenly joined the Yankees' lineup?

If Bill Gates won the lottery?

When it comes to an embarrassment of riches, one could say the Montrose Christian School (Rockville, Md.) boys basketball team has entered that category.

The Mustangs, No. 1 in USA Today's latest Super 25 rankings, begin play in the 22nd annual Iolani Prep Classic tonight against defending state runner-up Kahuku. Tipoff is set for 8 at Iolani gym.

Montrose Christian (3-0) is a perennial national power and returns 10 players from last year's team that finished 23-3. And as if the Mustangs needed any more firepower, they gained 6-foot-10 senior transfer Kevin Durant, whom some consider to be the best player in the country.

"We were already going to be a strong team on the national level before he joined us, but now Kevin takes us to the elite level where we could finish No. 1 in the nation," said Montrose Christian coach Stu Vetter, who recently earned his 700th career victory. "Potentially, this could be one of the best teams I've ever coached; it's just a matter of if they live up to that potential."

Durant, who is averaging 26.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, already has experience playing on a No. 1-ranked team. He transferred from Oak Hill Academy, which finished atop USA Today's 2004-05 Super 25 rankings. Durant has signed a letter of intent with Texas, though some think he may have been a top prospect for the NBA draft.

"He would have been one of those (high school) players that has a chance to go straight to the NBA, but he's looking forward to playing for Texas," Vetter said. "He just turned 17, so he should go to college and develop himself mentally and physically into becoming a man, before he actually goes out and plays against (professional) men."

Talent-wise, Vetter compares Durant favorably to one of his best-known former players, Dennis Scott. After an All-America career at Georgia Tech, Scott played 11 seasons in the NBA.

And according to Vetter, Durant's heralded arrival did not upset the Mustangs' team chemistry, as some feared it might.

"The thing about Kevin is even though he's 6-10, he can play all five positions on the court," Vetter said. "He's very similar to Dennis Scott — he can handle the ball, he can shoot from outside ... By being able to do so many different things, he can blend in well. And he's surrounded by a lot of good players."

One of those is 6-5 small forward Greivis Vasquez, who has signed with Maryland. Vasquez averaged 12.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game last season. Point guard Taishi Ito (10.1 ppg, 6.5 apg) and shooting guard Adrian Bowie (11.7 ppg, 2.1 steals per game) give Montrose Christian a veteran, high-scoring backcourt tandem.

Ito broke the hearts of Hawai'i fans two years ago when he swished a 22-foot shot at the buzzer to lift the Mustangs to a 42-41 overtime victory over Iolani in the Prep Classic quarterfinals.

Senior forward Ben Thomas (6-7) has signed with James Madison, and 6-5 swingman Terrell Vinson is regarded by some as one of the top freshmen in the country.

As loaded as Montrose Christian is, the Mustangs face more than one big challenge in this week's Classic. Three other teams are ranked in USA Today's Super 25: No. 9 Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.), No. 14 Mount Vernon (N.Y.) and No. 21 Fairfax (Los Angeles).

"No other tournament has this many talented teams," Vetter said. "(Classic director) Glenn Young doesn't get enough credit locally, because on the Mainland people recognize this as the best tournament in the country."

As a testament to that, this will be the 16th team Vetter has brought to the Classic. Fairfax, another perennial national power, is here for the ninth time and Mount Vernon for the second time in three years.

"When Glenn Young first called our school 20 years ago, I answered the phone and I said, 'Who? From where?' " Vetter said. "I never heard of Glenn or Iolani. But this was a dream for him to bring all these great teams here and try to help improve basketball in Hawai'i. Now everybody on the Mainland knows about the Iolani Classic. We didn't come last year, and I felt like I missed everyone here."

Vetter says Montrose Christian gets invited to tournaments all over the country — many times with offers of all-expenses paid. Yet the Mustangs are willing to pay their way to the Iolani Classic.

"It costs us $20,000 to come here, but it's well worth the effort," said Vetter, who added his team holds four car washes among other fund-raising efforts. "This is the most competitive, best-run tournament.

"And I've been to them all."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.