Jordan Brand Classic: Preview

Tomorrow night is another high school showcase event in the 2010 Jordan Brand Classic. It is one of the premiere high school events in the country along with the McDonald’s All-American game, partly because it is sponsored by Michael Jordan. It is now the event that most high school playes covet, giving them a chance to show off their best on national television in front of millions of viewers, along with being in the presence of many celebrities and the game’s greatest himself in Jordan. Many former participants include LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Ty Lawson, and Greg Oden, along with plenty of the best college players of the past decade. Past Kentucky participants include: Kelenna Azubuike, Rajon Rondo, Joe Crawford, Patrick Patterson, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Daniel Orton.

This year’s edition of the classic features some of the best players in the country, most of whom were in the All-American game in March. A few Kentucky recruits are playing in this game, such as: Josh Selby, CJ Leslie, Terrence Jones, and Doron Lamb, and one UK player in Brandon Knight. I mentioned earlier today that DIME Magazine had reported that Lamb had in fact given his committment to UK, which is what many people have been expecting to hear amidst many recent reports that he would be a Cat next year. I believe he is most likely headed to UK, because high school players always have a tendancy to pull a rabbit out of their hat and surprise some people. Ralph Sampson is a name that comes to mind about that. But if anything, Kansas is still right there for his services so we will find out tomorrow evening. The other player committing tomorrow night, Josh Selby, is expected to commit to Kansas, which has seemed so for quite some time. With the addition of Knight to the Cats, it seems hard to believe he is considering UK and vice-versa. Kansas and Tennessee, the school he decommitted from, are the only two schools that have maintained contact with him. CJ Leslie was going to make a decision tomorrow, but it appears that he may have pushed it back because he has a visit to Florida tomorrow. Things have been back and forth on the Leslie camp, but I still think he’s Kentucky’s to lose. He is a very talented player and would fit in well with the DDMO with his athleticism. I still wouldn’t be surprised though if he went ahead and made his committment tomorrow night despite his visit to UF. The only other player who could rival Leslie is Terrence Jones, who is planning to make a decision on April 23rd along with Terrence Ross, another UK recruit. Both are considering UK, Washington, and Oregon.

East Team: (Red)
0 Jared Sullinger C 6-9 Ohio State
1 Kyrie Irving G 6-2 Duke
2 Dion Waiters G 6-4 Syracuse
3 Perry Jones C 6-11 Baylor
5 C.J. Leslie F 6-8 Undecided
11 Brandon Knight G 6-3 Kentucky
12 DeShaun Thomas F 6-7 Ohio State
22 Roscoe Smith F 6-8 Connecticut
35 Reggie Bullock G 6-6 North Carolina
45 Jelan Kendrick F 6-7 Memphis

West Team (Blue)
1 Terrence Jones F 6-8 Undecided
5 Will Barton G 6-6 165 Memphis
12 Tobias Harris F 6-8 Tennessee
13 Tristan Thompson F 6-9 Texas
14 Kendall Marshall G 6-4 North Carolina
15 Cory Joseph G 6-3 Undecided
20 Doron Lamb G 6-4 Undecided
32 Josh Selby G 6-3 Undecided
34 Joshua Smith C 6-9 UCLA
40 Harrison Barnes F 6-8 North Carolina

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