The adidas Derby Festival Basketball Classic will showcase some of the top high schools seniors in the nation, including power forward Uche Echefu, one of the few undecided blue-chip players in his class. Echefu is being recruited hard by the University of Kentucky and Duke University. Scheduled for Saturday, April 16, the Classic will feature four McDonald’s All-American players, as well as recruits from the University of Louisville, Kentucky and Indiana University. The Derby Festival is also pleased to welcome adidas as the new title sponsor of the Classic. The 33rd annual game will tip off at 7 p.m. at Freedom Hall.
Local hoops fans will get a preview of players committed to play at some of the top collegiate programs, including Duke, Syracuse, Mississippi State, UCLA and Arizona. Of special interest to area basketball fans will be UL-bound Chad Millard, Jonathon Huffman, Clarence Holloway, Andre McGee and Terrance Williams, as well as UK signee Jared Carter and IU-bound Joey Shaw.
“We are thrilled about our new partnership with adidas,” said Dan Owens, KDF Chairman and Basketball Classic Recruiting Chairman. “This year’s Basketball Classic will showcase some of the best basketball talent in the country. Several players from last year’s Classic played important roles for teams advancing to the NCAA Tournament. This is a great chance for local hoops fans to see these future stars up close and personal.”
The week’s roundball activities will kick off with the adidas Derby Festival Night of the Future Stars on Friday, April 15, at 7 p.m. at Bellarmine University’s Knights Hall. Admission is free with a ticket to the Basketball Classic. Some of the event’s most exciting moments have come during the Slam Dunk and 2-on-2 contests and the 3-point shootout. The competition will also feature an autograph-signing session immediately following the event.
ON SALE NOW, tickets are $12.50 and $8 at TicketMaster locations, Freedom Hall Ticket Office, or by phone (502) 361-3100 or (800) 487-1212.
adidas joins contributing sponsors: BellSouth, Delta Air Lines, Powerade and Radio One in presenting the 33rd Derby Festival Classic.
adidas Derby Festival Basketball Classic BLACK TEAM
PLAYER Position College
Mario Chalmers *PG Kansas
Andre McGee PG Louisville
Antonio Anderson 2G Memphis
Shane Clark 2G Maryland
Terrance Williams WF Louisville
Tyler Smith WF Tennessee
Ryan Ayers WF Notre Dame
Brandon Costner *PF NC State
Chad Millard PF Louisville
Jonathon Huffman PF Louisville
Clarence Holloway C Louisville
Luke Zeller *C Notre Dame
Coaches:
Ronnie Chalmers – Bartlett High School, Anchorage, AK
Dave Omer – Washington High School, Washington, IN
adidas Derby Festival Basketball Classic GOLD TEAM
PLAYER Position College
Greg Paulus *PG Duke
Dominic Tilford PG Undecided (TCU, South Carolina and others)
Darren Collison PG UCLA
Marcus Williams 2G Arizona
JP Prince 2G Arizona
Joey Shaw WF Indiana
Brandon Rush WF Undecided (UL, Illinois and others)
Alonzo Gee WF Alabama
Ryan Wright PF UCLA
Uche Echefu PF Undecided (UK, Duke and others)
Jared Carter C Kentucky
Vernon Goodridge C Miss. St.
Coaches:
Lloyd “Pinky” Gardiner – Fairdale High School, Louisville, KY
Billy Hicks – Scott Co. High School, Georgetown, KY
* McDonald’s All-American
