BRIAN SANDIFER wanted to reunite the young African American boys’ basketball players who made the mark in the metro area over the past decade. The former football/basketball standout and Saint Agnes graduate (1986) did just that by holding the First Annual All Star Classic at Concordia University last Sunday afternoon.
Sandifer, CEO of GRASSROOTS Youth Foundation, coordinated the successful event by inviting a who’s who of past outstanding prep players to participate. There were a few players who stood out.
ROOSEVELT SCOTT (St. Paul Johnson): When the 6-3 guard wasn’t dunking, he was breaking people down and hitting the three.
UNDRE ELLIS (St. Paul Highland Park): The 5-9 dynamo put on a three-point shooting clinic.
A.J. WILSON (Concordia Academy): The 6-6 forward was on the receiving end of countless dunks.
TROY BELL (Holy Angels): The 6-1 guard, who is the Big East’s all-time leading scorer, was so dominant that it prompted Sandifer to continually ask (as he announced the action), “Is there anyone out there that can guard Troy Bell?”
TERRY CORNOYEA (St. Paul Johnson): The 5-10 guard converted a dunk after leaping from near the free throw to win the slam dunk contest.
LEMAR ANDERSON (St. Paul Johnson): The 6-3 guard was finalist in the dunk contest with Cornoyea.
LOUIS COX (Minneapolis Henry): The 5-11 guard also put on a three-point shooting clinic.
JERMAINE DAVIS (Robbinsdale Cooper): The 6-4 guard came late, and the first time he touched the ball he dunked.
Sandifer said he wanted to reunite players (among others) who were selected or played in the Inner City All Star Classic, a yearly event featuring the top high school seniors of color created by former Minneapolis North alums DEREK REUBEN and RALPH CROWDER in 1994.
Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mmcdonald@spokesman-recorder.com.
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