The 20th Annual Inner City All-Star Classic (ICASC), a basketball event held at the University of St. Thomas last Sunday, was certainly one to remember. The event featured the top girls and boys prep basketball players from the Class of 2013.
Girls’ game
SADE CHATMAN (St. Paul Central) led the way with 19 points, (DeLaSalle) added 16, and TAYLOR CUNNIGHAM (St. Paul Johnson) chipped in 10, leading Team Faith, coached by FAITH JOHNSON-PATTERSON (DeLaSalle), to a 61-50 victory over Team Truth, who got 11 points from TYRA JOHNSON (Eastview) and were coached by JOHN ROBINSON (Como Park).
Chatman, a 6’-2” center who’s headed to Clemson this fall, won the TAMARA MOORE MVP award for her performance. ALEXIS LOCKETT (Simley) won the three-point shooting contest. Auburn University signee ALLINA STARR (DeLaSalle) won the ANGEL ROBINSON Play of the Game award, and CHANEL SCOTT (St. Paul Johnson) received the KWAME MCDONALD Achievement Award for earning the highest gradepoint average.
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Boys’ game
XAVIER HALL (Tartan) scored 15 points, and DESHAWN JONES (Richfield) had 14, leading Team Knowledge, coached by ROBERT MESTAS (Minneapolis Roosevelt) to a 63-43 win over Team Wisdom, led by KYLE WASHINGTON’s (Brewster Prep) game-high 23 points and coached by BRODERICK POWELL (Park Center).
Hall’s performance earned him the DEREK REUBEN MVP trophy. DEMETRIUS CADY (Minneapolis Southwest) won the three-point shooting contest. DION BRADLEY (St. Paul Highland Park) won the ROBIN JACKSON Play of the Game award, and DEVIN BUCKLEY (Park Center) received the Kwame McDonald Achievement Award. TREYTON DANIELS (Park Center) won the dunk contest after leaping from behind the basket and touching the side of the backboard with the ball before slamming it home.
Class of 1994 honored
Reuben, who created the event with fellow Minneapolis North teammate RALPH CROWDER, honored players from the first game by presenting them with medallions during halftime.
Coaches recognized
LOUIS BOONE and DICK GHIZONI were recognized at halftime of the boys’ game. Boone led Minneapolis Washburn to the 1994 Class AA title. St. Agnes won the Class A title that same year behind Ghizoni’s guidance. They were the first to serve as coaches for the ICASC, which was originally a boys’ basketball event
Anderson recognized
Former DeLaSalle and Minneapolis Edison standout ALAN ANDERSON was honored at halftime for his continuous support of the ICASC. Anderson, who provided footwear for the each player and participated in 2001, went on to lead Michigan State University to the Final Four in 2005. He currently plays forward for the Toronto Raptors.
Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mmcdonald@spokesman-recorder.com.
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