One of my favorite All-Star events after the high school season is the Jordan Brand Classic, which will take place April 18, 2009 at Madison Square Garden. The event will begin with the International Game at 3:30, followed by the Regional (City vs. Suburbs) at 5:30 and the National Game at 8.
Recent participants include NBA stars LeBron James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Amaré Stoudemire, Dwight Howard and 2008 Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant, as well as current NCAA standouts Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina), Blake Griffin (Oklahoma), Kyle Singler (Duke), Jrue Holiday (UCLA), Tyreke Evans (Memphis) and Demar DeRozan (USC).
This year look for Lance Stephenson of Brooklyn Lincoln, the No. 1 senior in the nation according to Clark Francis of Hoop Scoop, North Carolina-bound guard Dexter Strickland of St. Patrick; Dominic Cheek of St. Anthony of Jersey City; and possibly Miami-bound Durand Scott of Rice to be invited to both the Jordan National Game and the McDonald’s All-American Game.
The participants won’t be chosen until the end of the season, but we think some of the local seniors who should be considered for the Regional game include Maryland-bound forward James Padgett of Lincoln; Fordham-bound Lance Brown of Paterson Catholic; St. John’s-bound guard Omari Lawrence of South Kent (Conn.); Xavier-bound wing Kevin Parrom of South Kent; Rice-bound Tamir Jackson of St. Benedict’s; St. Joe’s-bound guard Justin Crosgile of Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic; Robert Morris-bound Karon Abraham of Paterson Eastside; George Mason-bound Paris Bennett of St. Patrick; uncommitted guard Keith Spellman of Thomas Jefferson; and uncommitted wing Sherrod Wright of Mount Vernon.
