Jordan Classic showcases NBA, college hopefuls
Lottery hopeful Blatche has 26, UNC signee Hansbrough also shines
 | College basketball |
 Love in 2008 NBA draft April 18: Kevin Love and his coach Ben Howland talk about Love's decision to join the NBA draft. |
NEW YORK - Andray Blatche, a 6-foot-11 center from South Kent Prep School in Connecticut who plans to enter the NBA draft, had 26 points and 16 rebounds Saturday night to earn co-MVP honors in the Jordan Classic high school All-Star game.
Blatche shot 12-for-17 in 28 minutes and led all scorers, but his team lost 127-126.
The other MVP was Tyler Hansbrough, a 6-9 forward from Poplar Bluff, Mo., who will attend North Carolina in the fall. He scored 24 points and was credited with the game-winning basket for the Gray team when a missed free throw by Calvin Miles was mistakenly tipped in by the White team with 9.1 seconds left.
Emanuel Mayben of Troy, N.Y., had a chance to put the White team ahead, but he missed two free throws with 3.8 seconds left. Mayben was a last-minute addition to the roster after Monta Ellis of Jackson, Miss., withdrew because of a leg injury.
Hansbrough scored 24 points, and Martell Webster of Seattle, who plans to attend Washington but is considering entering the NBA draft, had 22 points.
Point guard Louis Williams, who committed to Georgia but will enter the NBA draft, had 20 points and four assists but shot just 1-for-7 from 3-point range. Mike Mercer of Gwinnett, Ga., who plans to attend Georgia, had 19 points on 8-for-10 shooting with nine assists and three steals.
The Gray team had 25 steals, led by Julian Wright of Chicago Heights, Ill., with four.
Blatche may have helped improve his stock for the NBA draft, where he is currently projected as a middle to late first-round pick.
“My performance, the best part that went well was I showed I’m a big man who can run the floor, and I rebounded,” Blatche said. “As far as my stock rising, I’ll have to wait and see what I hear.”
NBA players Vince Carter and Jamal Crawford attended the game, as did scouts from several NBA teams. Jordan also attended but did not speak with reporters.
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