In what is likely the final high school game of some of the nation’s top high school hoop stars, the Jordan Brand Classic, was filled with the usual mix of turnovers, highlight reel dunks, and 2nd half drama that you would come to expect from a high school all-star game where dueling coaches only strategy usually resorts to, “If we hold the opponent under 125 points, we’ll have a chance to win.” That exact thought ran true as the White Jerseys, led by the #1 rated HS player Harrison Barnes, held on for a 129-125 victory over the Black Jerseys, who featured the #2 rated recruit and Ohio State bound Jarred Sullinger and Brandon Knight, who will be the heir apparent to run the point at Kentucky next season.
But the game took a backseat to two 5 star players, Josh Selby and Doran Lamb, who ended weeks of speculation by announcing where they will be playing their college ball next season. In what appeared to be staged events, Josh Selby, who previously won the McDonalds All American Game Dunk Contest, and who had 21 points and 7 assists in this game, officially declared that he will be playing for Coach Bill Self at Kansas next season. Selby brings a brilliant mix of elite level point guard skills, an above the rim game, and a bit of attitude and toughness, which the Jayhawks sorely missed last year. Once Brandon Knight declared for Kentucky earlier in the week, Selby to Kansas, to replace the graduated Sherron Collins, was the next piece to the HS recruiting puzzle to fall into place. Selby, a Baltimore native, averaged 32 ppg, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds for Lake Clifton HS during the regular season. A full scouting profile and write-up on Selby can be seen here.
In a bit of a surprise, Top 40 recruit Doran Lamb, also revealed that he will be joining Knight and playing for Coach Calipari at Kentucky next season. Lamb, who was not selected for the McDonalds Game because 5th year seniors aren’t eligible to participate, is widely considered one of the Top 5 shooting guards in the nation. The former Queens, NY native played the past two seasons at the prestigious Oak Hill Academy in Virginia where he put up some pretty eye popping numbers like 22 ppg, 5,3 rebs, and 4 assists, while playing both the point and shooting guard. Lamb will now form a highly potent back-court in Lexington, replacing John Wall and Eric Bledsoe, whom are off to the NBA.
As for the actual game, the White Jerseys got out to a nearly 20 point lead by halftime, led by Co-MVP Harrison Barnes and his impressive double-double consisting of 20 points and 15 rebounds. But in the second half, the Black Jerseys, led by Duke commit Kyrie Irving, parlayed his excellent all around performance of 22 points, 7 assists, and 4 boards into sharing MVP honors with Barnes. Other standout performances came from the previously mentioned Sullinger, who had 4 blocks, and Texas bound big man Tristian Thompson, who grabbed 13 rebounds.
The event was of course highlighted by the appearance court-side of the event’s sponsor and arguably the NBA greatest player of all-time, Michael Jordan, whom every player was quoted as saying that meeting the hoops icon was the highlight of the event. Halftime featured a spirited performance by rap legend Common, as a number of celebrities and NBA stars were in attendance like Chris Paul, Jadakiss, DJ Clue, and MC Lyte.
With the plethora of talent on display for this event at the “Mecca of Basketball,” Madison Square Garden, the future of college basketball and the NBA seems in good hands. Now that Jordan is the official majority owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats, maybe in 2 years, he was witnessing some of his future All-Stars?
I doubt it, since Coach Larry Brown doesn’t like to play rookies.
Allen Moll is an avid NBA and College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen is a regular columnist for thehoopdoctors.com, Bleacherreport.com, UpperDeckblog.com, and his own site, Hoops Haven.
