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News » Event Reports2008 Boost Mobile Elite 24 By: C.J. Watson The 3rd annual Elite 24 game was held at world famous "Rucker Park" in Harlem, NY this past Friday night. This game brings together 24 of the most elite high school players country regardless of shoe affiliation to go head-to-head in this all-star game. On this night the blue squad "Skip to my Lou" earned a 135 to 121 victory over the white squad "The Goat".
The players who were awarded the MVP's were Lance stephenson (Lincoln, NY) aka "Born Ready" with a game high 29pts, Joh Wall (Word of God, NC) aka "Ammo", aka "Make 'em Fall" with 10pts and 6ast, Dominic Cheek (St. Anthony's, NJ) aka "Peek a Boo" with 23pts, 7rebs, and 3stl, and Maalik Wayns (Roman Catholic, PA) aka "So Unique" with 10pts and 8ast.
John Wall really stood out in this contest with his lightning quick speed and his flashy play making ability along with being able to jump out of the gym. In the 1st half he tried to get everyone involved but in the 2nd half he began to search for his offense and play to the crowd with several explosive dunks and Brandon Jennings like handles. About half-way through the 2nd half is when Wall had the play of the game when he went coast to coast and down the lane for a left handed tomahawk dunk that had the park going crazy.
Lance Stephenson was playing on a tweaked hip which had him sidelined the day before during the practice and scrimmage but yet was Co-Mvp for the 2nd straight year and lead this game in scoring. This should come as no suprise though as Lance always steps up when the bright lights are on him and it doesn't get much brighter than Rucker Park on a warm summer night. He came out from the beginning and looked to dominate and answer any challenge that the other players posed to him. On one play in the 2nd half when he was dueling it out with CO-MVP Dominic Cheek he came down the court and put not one one but two "Killer Crossovers" on Cheek then hit him with a perfectly timed spin move then got to the basket for an and-1. Lance has definitely added some muscle to his frame since the end of the high school season and has the ability to bully his way to the basket even more than before.
It was a typical All-Star game in which defense was as much a part of the game as free throws and finger rolls. Both teams had numerous fast breaks and plenty of chances to show off their handles and hops. This lead to several interesting one on one duals like Wall and Stephenson seeking each other out at the beginning and going at it. Then it was Stephenson and Cheek going back and forth with each other and then there was 6'0 PG Malik Waayns against everyone as for a few minutes in the 1st half the creative guard put on a scoring clinic and looked like he had spent some serious time on the playground
growing up. As most people know All-Star games are mostly guard dominated but there were a couple of big men who managed to have a nice impact on the game. Derrick Favors (South Atlanta, GA) aka "Sure Thing" who is considered by some as the #1 player in the 09' class finished with 16pts, and 9rbs. Favors did all a big can do in a game like this and that is to get a rebound and put it back with authority. Another impressive big was 2010 standout Josh Smith (Kentwood, WA) who had a solid double-double with 11pts and 11rbs. He used his large frame and nice touch to make space inside and finish near the basket.
The local guys had a nice showing also as Durand Scott (Rice, NY) finished with 15pts on a good balance of jumpers and drives. Doran Lamb who will be the newest member of the Oak Hill Warriors showed his big-time scoring ability as he got to the basket at will. Dexter Strickland (St. Patrick's, NJ) was playing in his 3rd Elite 24 had a nice game as he totaled 17pts and also won the 1st annual ESPN Rise slam dunk contest as he defeated Jordan Hamilton in the final.
The North East wasn't the only part of the country that was well represented in this game as Florida had a pair or studs in Kenny Boynton and Brandan Knight. Both players just came off a tremendous AAU circuit where they won several tournaments including a 2nd straight AAU National Title. Boynton finished with 16pts and Knight added 12pts but most importantly these two teammates represented their state to the fullest on the big stage.
There were several young guns in this game as 2011' stars LaQuinton Ross (Murrah, MS) and Tony Wroten Jr. (Garfield, WA) tried their luck at playing with the big boys and on several occasions you couldn't tell the youngsters apart from their elders on the court. Ross played in this game last year as an incoming freshman and this year he finished with 9pts. He is a very smooth player who at 6'8 has guard like skills but needs to add some weight to his frame. Wroten is ranked #1 in the 11' class by many people and just had an outstanding freshman year at Garfield HS where he averaged 20.2 pts, 8.8rbs, and 4ast per game. He became the 1st freshman in Washington history to be named to the Seattle Times Star basketball team. Wroten showed some city like toughness in this game as he did a good job of checking Lance Stephenson when needed. He finished this game with only 4pts.
The star power in the crowd was somewhat lacking this year but did include New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson who was in attendance to root for his cousin Tony Wroten Jr. Adam Yauch of the beastie boys was also on hand to watch the game. Yauch directed a documentary based on this all-star event that came out in June of this year and is called "Gunnin for that #1 spot".
Check out the links below for some highlights of the 2008 Boost Mobile Elite 24.
POSTED: 8-25-2008 [ RETURN ]
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