While the McDonald’s All-American Game offers the most prestige for high school basketball stars, it’s the Roundball Classic that has the most longevity.
Sonny Vaccaro started the game 41 years ago and it’s moved from Pennsylvania to numerous different locations, but now it appears as though Chicago will be the home for the showcase for a while.
This year’s edition will be heavy on the local talent.
A handful of Illinois products are included in a group headlines by potential preps-to-pros Gerald Green, Brandon Rush and Andray Blatche.
The five local products are Homewood-Flossmoor’s Julian Wright, who is headed to Kansas, North Carolina-bound Bobby Frasor of Brother Rice, Hillcrest’s Jerel McNeal (Marquette), St. Joseph’s guard Tony Freeman (Iowa) and unsigned Westinghouse forward DeAndre Thomas.
The following is the list of those chosen to compete in this year’s game, which will be held March 22 at 7:05 p.m. at the United Center:
WEST
Korvotney Barber, 6-7, 220, BF, Manchester High (Ga.) – Auburn
Andray Blatche, 6-11, 240, BF, South Kent (Conn.) – Undecided
Bobby Frasor, 6-3, 190, G, Brother Rice (Ill.) – North Carolina
Tony Freeman, 6-0, 185, PG, St. Joseph (Ill.) – Iowa
Danny Green, 6-5, 205, WG, St. Mary’s (N.Y.) – North Carolina
Gerald Green, 6-8, 195, WG, Gulf Shores (Texas) – Oklahoma State
Jerry Davon-Jefferson, 6-8, 205, WF, Lynwood (Calif.) – UNLV
Jerel McNeal, 6-2, 190, WG, Hillcrest (Ill.) – Marquette
Brandon Rush, 6-6, 210, WF, Mount Zion (N.C.) – Undecided
DeAndre Thomas, 6-7, 265, BF, Westinghouse (Ill.) – Undecided
Julian Wright, 6-8, 215, WF, Homewood-Flossmoor (Ill.) – Kansas
EAST
Wilson Chandler, 6-8, 190, WF, Benton Harbor (Mich.) – DePaul
Brandon Costner, 6-8, 225, BF, Seton Hall Prep (N.J.) – N.C. State
Eric Devendorf, 6-3, 175, G, Oak Hill (Va.) – Syracuse
Byron Eaton, 5-10, 200, PG, Lincoln (Texas) – Oklahoma State
Monta Ellis, 6-4, 190, G, Lanier (Miss.) – Mississippi State
Amir Johnson, 6-10, 230, BF, Westchester (Calif.) – Louisville
Marcus Johnson, 6-6, 200, WG/WF, Westchester (Calif.) – Connecticut
Josh McRoberts, 6-10, 240, BF, Carmel (Ind.) – Duke
Tasmin Mitchell, 6-7, 235, F, Denham Springs (La.) – LSU
Shawne Williams, 6-9, 230, BF, Laurinburg Institute (N.C.) – Memphis
Luke Zeller, 6-11, 245, C, Washington (Ind.) – Notre Dame