Arguably the top two HS All Star games every Spring are the McDonald’s All American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic. While the McDonald’s Game is the more prestigious and historic event, true elite level high school hoops fans favor the Jordan Classic since they usually feature a more potent line-up with the inclusion of 5th year seniors. So with the Jordan game, fans truly get to witness the absolute best collection of HS seniors that will be stars at the collegiate level next season.
The big discussion leading up to the 2011 McDonald’s Game was more about who wasn’t selected for the contest rather than for who was participating. Top notch players like former #1 ranked Tony Wroten Jr, Jabari Brown, and Top 5 rated Quincy Miller were somehow overlooked when selecting this year’s final McDonald’s rosters. That’s not the case with the ’11 Jordan Classic since those snubbed players will take part in the game. On big change is the game’s location as it is moving from New York’s famed Madison Square Garden to the Time Warner Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina for 2011.
The selection committee’s most interesting choice had to be Quincy Miller, who almost immediately after committing to play at Baylor next season, unfortunately sustained a devastating ACL tear and is still on the mend. He arguably has the most talent as any player in the ’11 Class and has already drawn comparisons to NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant as early as his junior year. Kudos to the Jordan Brand for showing the class to include an obvious big time player on the roster despite the injury.
Without further ado, here are the 2011 Jordan Brand Classic rosters:
EAST
Khem Birch, C, 6’9, 210 lbs
Pittsburgh
ESPN Rank: 11
Michael Carter-Williams, SG, 6‘5, 185 lbs
Syracuse
ESPN Rank: 18
Rakeem Christmas, C, 6‘9, 230 lbs
Syracuse
ESPN Rank: 16
Michael Gbinije, 6‘6, 195 lbs
Duke
ESPN Rank: 28
Michael Gilchrist, SF, 6‘7, 210 lbs
Kentucky
ESPN Rank: 3
P.J. Hairston, SG, 6‘6, 220 lbs
UNC
ESPN Rank: 13
James McAdoo, PF, 6‘8, 215 lbs
UNC
ESPN Rank: 5
Quincy Miller, PF, 6‘9, 210 lbs
Baylor
ESPN Rank: 4
Austin Rivers, SG, 6‘4, 190 lbs
Duke
ESPN Rank: 1(#1 SG)
Shannon Scott, PG, 6‘2, 170 lbs
Ohio State
ESPN Rank: 29
Marquis Teague, PG, 6‘2, 175 lbs
Kentucky
ESPN Rank: 8(#1 PG)
West
Bradley Beal, SG, 6‘3, 175 lbs
Florida
ESPN Rank: 7
Jabari Brown, SG, 6‘3, 200 lbs
Oregon
ESPN Rank: 24
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, 6‘4, 190 lbs
Georgia
ESPN Rank: 22
Anthony Davis, PF, 6‘10, 195 lbs
Kentucky
ESPN Rank: 2(#1 PF)
Myck Kabongo, PG, 6‘2, 165 lbs
Texas
ESPN Rank: 9
Johnny O’Bryant, PF, 6‘10, 265 lbs
LSU
ESPN Rank: 30
Dom Pointer, SF, 6‘6, 195 lbs
St. John’s
ESPN Rank: 34
Otto Porter, SF, 6‘9, 200 lbs
Undecided
ESPN Rank: 42
Adonis Thomas, SF, 6‘7, 210 lbs
Memphis
ESPN Rank: 10
Kyle Wiltjer, PF, 6‘9, 225 lbs
Kentucky
ESPN Rank: 15
Tony Wroten Jr, PG, 6‘4, 205 lbs
Washington
ESPN Rank:14
If you remember, last year’s contest which featured Harrison Barnes, Tobias Harris, and Kyrie Irving, was a bit overshadowed by the timely commitments by Josh Selby and Doron Lamb to Kansas and Kentucky respectively during halftime. Barnes and Irving shared Co-MVP honors while other stand-out stars included Texas’ Tristian Thompson who pulled down 13 boards.
This year’s event is again star-studded as recording artist J.Cole will perform post-game as the G.O.A.T himself, Michael Jordan, as well as a number of other past participants will be in attendance for the event. In celebrating its 10-year Anniversary, the Jordan Brand Classic alumni roster boasts some of basketball’s most recognizable names, including Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Amar’e Stoudemire, Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose.
Don’t forget to check out the 2011 Jordan Brand Classic airing on ESPN2 next Saturday, April 16th at 8 PM.
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
