The Derby Festival's roundball activities kick off with Derby Festival Night of the Future Stars.  The event is held every year on the  night before the Derby Festival Basketball Classic.  NEW in 2011, the Night of the Future Stars will be held on a Thursday night - April 21st.

Admission is free with a ticket to the Classic. Some of the event's most exciting moments have come during the Slam Dunk, 2-on-2 contests and the 3-point Shootout.  The competition also features an autograph-signing session. The Night of Future Stars is broadcast live on B96.5 FM.

In 2010, the team of Trey Zeigler and Ray McCallum won Friday night's 2-on-2 finals at Bellarmine University's Knights Hall during the Derby Festival Night of the Future Stars.

Jordan Hulls of Indiana University won the three-point shooting competition.  University of Louisville recruit Mike Marra won the Slam Dunk competition.

Players such as Moses Malone, Jamal Mashburn, Derek Anderson, Rex Chapman, Dominique Wilkins, Pervis Ellison, Isiah Thomas, Darrell Griffith and Dajuan Wagner have appeared in the Classic.