Most experts agree that this year’s class of high school seniors are the best and most talented group of recruits that we’ve seen in some time, with upwards of 10 players having the potential to be outstanding NBA players in a few short years.
After watching every minute of the 2013 Jordan Brand Classic, held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, I can attest that the collegiate and pro ranks will be in good hands with players like the #1 rated Andrew Wiggins, top power forward Julius Randle, and all around talent Jabari Parker set to invade college basketball next season.
Many were excited to see a potential head-to-head match-up between the nation’s top 2 recruits Wiggins and Parker on opposite squads as both showed their elite potential with Wiggins wowing the crowd with four dunks and five rebounds, while Parker displayed his all-around game, snagging seven rebounds and dishing out two assists to go with 16 points.
Early on, the game was taken over by University of Florida commit Chris Walker, the winner of last week’s Powerade Jamfest Dunk Contest, as the 6’10 forward showed an amazing amount of athleticism along with a plethora of low post offensive spins and dunks, helping the West get out to an early lead.
But it was University of Kentucky recruit Julius Randle, the nation’s top power forward prospect, that took over the game in the 2nd half, finishing with a game high 19 points, mostly of the highlight reel variety in a losing effort.
With just over 28 seconds remaining, University of Washington point guard Nigel Williams-Goss(17 pts) converted an and-one driving layup to give the West a 3 point lead, as the West held on for a hard fought 102-98 victory.
Also impressive was Syracuse commit PG Tyler Ennis(14 pts, 6 ast, 5 reb) and Kansas’ incoming 7 foot center Joel Embiid, who had several spectacular blocks at the rim on Randle.
The players were treated to a concert from Drake immediately following the game, but the players seemed most impressed by a trio of NY Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, and JR Smith, a swell as the event’s founder Micheal Jordan, who could be seen from a luxury box overhead.
2013 Jordan Brand Classic Mixtape:
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 has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
