Philly
USA All-City Classic
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This high-quality quadrupleheader was played June 7,
2003, at La Salle University.
***Go to bottom of this file for a
nice story done by Jon "Duck" Gray.***
SPORTS VISIONS has available tapes of three games:
sophs and both juniors.
For info on obtaining these tapes and to see listings of other basketball tapes
that are available, go to http://www.gametape.com.
Or call DJ at 718-219-8568.
Click here for link to the 2001 tripleheader.
Click here for link to the 2002 tripleheader.
Following is a report by Jon "Duck" Gray:
Media/Camp
Directors: Tom Konchalski (HSBI), Allen Rubin (Hoopscoop), Mike Rice (Eastern Invitational
Basketball Camps), Norm Eavenson (Bob Gibbons All-Star Report), Steve Keller (HoopGroup),
Rob Matera (Hoopmasters.com/NBA Players Association Camp), Brian Merrick (Pangos
All-American Camp), Chris Lawlor (USA Today)Littel Vaughn (Brotherly Love Roundball
Report) and others.
Freshman Game
Non-Public- 106 Public-72
MVP- Wayne Ellington, 6'4 Episcopal
Academy
MVP-Eugene Moss, 6'1 Strawberry Mansion
UnSelfish -Gerald Henderson, 6'5
Episcopal Academy
Defensive Player -Kenneth St. George,
6'4 Central High School
Sophomore Game
Non-Public 105 Public 75
This
game was dominated by the unselfish play of the Non-Public team in most part. Harris Mansell, a 6'2 combination guard from
Cheltenham High was very impressive bringing home the MVP trophy with 13 points and 9
assists. He has excellent hands and a good feel for the game. Also shining bright was
Germantown Academy's two stars in 6'5 Brian
Grimes and 6'5 Ryan Ayers. Grimes had some
serious baseline moves when he went up, around and over defenders. Ayers, is always in the
right place to score and has an excellent basketball mind. Also, 6'7 Carlos Monroe (Monsignor Bonner) was impressive,
16 points and 8 rebounds. The Public squad was led by Martin Luther King High's 5'9 point
guard, Jamar Bruce who scored 9 points and
distributed 6 assists. 6'4 Southern High guard, Kashif
Carr had 21 points, two coming on a high rising breakaway jam. Also playing well above
the rim, was Chester High 6'3 Devon McClendon who slammed home two wicked jams en route to
13 points. Also, Non-Public guard, Aron Cohen really raised his stock by playing
unselfishly and intelligent.
MVP- Harris Mansell 6'2 Cheltenham High
MVP- Kashif Carr, 6'4 Southern High
Unselfish-Aron Cohen, 6'2 Abington
Friends
Defensive Player- Amir Ryan, 6'2
Southern High
Junior Game I
Public 101, Non-Public 86
This
game was dominated by the play of Timber Creek NJ's Kyle Hines who just was a beast downlow. He
tallied 27 points and 13 rebounds, he was just bullying everybody who tried to guard him
on the low block. Also, his fellow Jersey resident - Albert Fisher displayed his excellent scoring
skills. He is a 6'1 combo guard who can
really fill it up, in more ways than one. Also, looking good for the winning Public squad
was FLC point guard Michael Scott, who really
excelled on the defensive end of the court. He basically didn't let anybody get into a
rhythm while he was guarding them. And also making an impression was high-flying former
Edison wing, Timothy Young who can score at
will. Young still undecided on Prep School or Junior College is going to be a major factor
when he arrrives on the college scene. Another player, alternate James Pope from Edward Bok Tech, looked good. The
late-blooming 6'3 wing guard, showed that he can consistently hit the outside jumper and
slash to the rack with equal skill. For the Non-Public squad, Shane Clark was I guess …. Shane Clark. Clark
had some breathtaking moves: passing and finishing. He had 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5
assists. He took home the UnSelfish Award. The other top player for Non-Public was St.
Joe's Prep, Chris Clark. Clark made three treys and was nearly
perfect from the field. Playing good defense for this bunch was Roman Catholic's Brett
Johnson. Former, University City guard, Tasheed
Carr now at Mt. Zion Christian Academy had moments as well. Carr has blossomed into a
coveted Division I prospect. Father Judge's Steve
Wolf impressed with his competitiveness.
MVP-Kyle Hines, 6'6 Timbercreek, NJ
MVP-Chris Clark, 5'9 St. Joseph's Prep
Unselfish- Shane Clark, 6'7 Cardinal
Dougherty
Defensive Player- Michael Scott, 5'10
Franklin Learning Center
Junior Game II
Non-Public 124 Public 104
This was thoroughly entertaining game throughout. The
Non-Public squad was paced by Bilal Benn who
looked really good. He tallied 21 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. He was
everywhere. Also playing well for Non-Public were his Dougherty teammates, Kyle Lowry and DeSean White. White faced up a Public player and
went by him for a hard dunk. Then he got back on defense and rejected a Public player's
dunk attempt. DeSean looks like he is in better shape and is more focused on the court.
Lowry had a couple of classic exchanges with Kashif
Payne (formerly of Carroll). The Public squad was led by Mark Tyndale, who flirted with a triple-double 18
points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. Southern's Antoine
Brown and Shawn Sabb were very active as
well. Sabb had 23 points, while Brown played defense and got his teammates involved. Also,
looking good was Bok's Chris Seaborn who went
at it and shined against more known players all game. Another performer who made a name
for himself was Olney High's Erik "Ugs"
Adams. Adams, a 6'5 mobile three man, can dig in on defense. Adams is the best player
in the city at jumping constantly he gets up for his second jump easily. Archbishop Ryan's
Joe Mullin looked promising with some nice
moves to the hole, also he can step out and hit the deep jumper. E&S 's backcourt
partners, Tremaine Jackson and Kechan Myers had positive moments as well.
MVP-Bilal Benn, 6'5 Cardinal Dougherty
MVP- Mark Tyndale, 6'4 Simon Gratz
Unselfish-Antoine Brown, 6'2 Southern
High
Defensive Player- Kyle Lowry, 5'11 Cardinal Dougherty
Many
All-City Classic Alumni were in attendance: Ronald "Flip" Murray, Rasual Butler,
Donnie Carr, Lynn Greer. Also, Jeff Myers, Rashid Bey and Marc Jackson were on hand.
Thanks to all media who atttended and listened to Amar, Littel and myself take turns
gtrying to get kids in camp.
ROSTERS
(Subject to change)
Eugene Moss 6’2 G Mansion
Matthew Johnson 5’8 G
Mansion
Rodney Green 6’4 G Prep
Charter
Kenny St. George 6’4 G/F Central
Jamal Watson 6’3 F Gratz
Rockeed McCarter 6’3 F
Northeast
Jermaine Pierce 6’5 F
Norristown
Dan Geriot 6’7 F Springfield
(D)
C.J Hanikman 6’0 G Hatboro
Horsham
Alternates
Zahir Carrington 6’5 F
Masterman
Nate Edwards 6’0 G Central
Mike Nealis 6’8 C Upper
Darby
Tyrone Blassingame 6’2 G
Northeast
"From the All-City Classic to the Final Four"
Hakim Warrick and Gerry McNamara jumped for joy as the last
college
basketball game of the year 2002-2003 came to an end. The
championship game of the NCAA
Division I men's basketball tournament was over, and the two
natives of the
Keystone State were national champions. And there was an event
that helped get
them both there....
As a junior at Friends Central High School in Wynnewood,
PA, Warrick was
basically a blip on the recruiting radar screen of many
Division I colleges.
Warrick selected to the Philly USA All-City Classic as an
alternate made good on an
opportunity to change that. Given a chance to shine in front of
top scouts
such as Tom Konchalski, top scout on the East Coast, who
publishes HSBI a
recruiting guide that is used by many of the country's top
basketball programs,
Warrick unfurled an amazing aerial assault on the awestruck
spectators. "You could
tell that he had the makings of a high major player from the
moment he took
off for his first dunk," says respected local talent
editor, Littel Vaughn, of
the Brotherly Love Roundball Report.
Vaughn promptly placed a phone call to get the 6'8
forward invited to the
prestigious Nike All-American Camp in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Once there, Warrick
attracted big time attention by repeating his performance in
the All-City
Classic. Hakim Warrick was well on his way to the Final
Four.......
For McNamara, the All-City Classic was a chance to play against
city kids.
The Bishop Hannan of Scranton PA prospect always seemed
to enjoy playing against
Philadelphia talent. Each year he came down and played well but
also had the
chance to play against guys with top level ability as well.
McNamara played
with and against players like Mustafa Shakur ( McDonald's
All-Arnerican headed
for Arizona), David Bell (LaSalle University), Matt Walsh
(University of
Florida) and Lee Melchionni (Duke University). "Gerry
McNarnara always seemed to
pick up something and add it to his game every time he played
in the All-City
Classic," said Allen Rubin of Hoopscoop, a national
scouting service. McNamara
proved that he could play with and outplay the best. Gerry
McNamara was well on
his way to the Final Four........
The All-City Classic has been a stage for the likes of
Kobe Bryant, Richard
Hamilton, Donnie Carr, Rasual Butler, Eddie Griffin, Victor
Thomas, Ronald
Murray and numerous others.
Many players have become prominent college or NBA players. It is without a
doubt the reason why the best young players in the Philadelphia
area want and
demand to play in this high level event. "I've been
bombarded with requests from
players, fans, parents and coaches, who all want their guy to
play in this
event," says talent director Amauro Austin. "They
know what can happen with a
good showing in front of all those top scouts and camp
directors," adds Austin.
This year's All-City Classic will be held at LaSalle
University's Tom Gola
Arena and will consist of four games: freshmen, sophomores and
two junior games.
Each game will pit Non Public teams versus Public teams.
The approximate
starting time will be 1:OOpm. This year's Philly USA
AIl-City Classic will be
sponsored by Mnerichoice, PUREGAME, Philadelphia Daily News,
Redrum Records etc.