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2010 MLK Classic Powered by Amar'e Stoudemire

By: Jeff Meadows

The 2010 MLK Classic was a very unique event from the stand point that it was held at two separate venues, Arizona States University’s Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe represented the Phoenix Metro area and Tucson’s University of Arizona’s McKale Center represented southern Arizona teams. While both venues had great basketball played we’re going to start off with the Phoenix Metro’s Wells Fargo Arena venue.  “There will be some exiting basketball games played here tonight that’s for sure” said event representative Marc Beasely “We’ve worked really hard to make this a one of a kind event” said Beasely.

The first game of the day featured Mesa Red Mt vs Scottsdale Chaparral. This game was never really close as Scottsdale Chaparral maintained a commanding lead throughout and went on to defeat Mesa Red Mt. 60-48. JR (G) Jarrett Upchurch led Scottsdale Chaparral in scoring with 17 pts. Mesa Red Mt’s star player Paul Newendyke was 1 of 9 shooting from the field but in all fairness, this was Newendyke’s first game back in almost a month after injuring himself in the VistaMesa.com Basketball Challenge the final week of December.

The second game featured two of the premier high schools (16-3) Phoenix Sunnyslope who was ranked #1 going into the game and also riding a 14 game winning streak vs (13-6) Tempe McClintock. This game also featured two of the top prospects in the state in last year’s Arizona High School Player of the Year and Kansas signee Royce Woolridge the 6’3 SR (CG) and the new and unproven 6’5 JR (WG) Cameron Forte out of Tempe McClintock. Going into this game Phoenix Sunnyslope were the favorites obviously because of Woolridge and because of team experience but once the game got under way it became more and more evident that it was not going to be Woolrdge and Sunnyslope’s night.  McClintock started fast but Sunnyslope was able to keep things from getting out of hand going into half down 29-27 but when play resumed in the second half McClintock went on a 15-2 run while their defense was able to hold Woolridge scoreless throughout the third quarter. Junior (WG) Cameron Forte was a thorn in Sunnyslope’s side all night long, from playing point center to getting key rebounds to hitting countless mid and long range jumpers, Forte owned the game. McClintock went on to thrash #1 Phoenix Sunnyslope 70-52. Royce Woolridge had a descent game scoring 26 pts but the game belonged to Tempe McClintock’s Cameron Forte. Forte led all scorers with 34 pts and 12 rebounds. Forte played out of this world making tough shot after tough shot but before I give Forte my stamp of approval as a PTB’r (Prime Time Baller) I have to see him again to make sure that his performance wasn’t a fluke. The loss broke Phoenix Sunnyslope’s 14 game winning streak.

The third and final game of the evening featured two of the best teams and lot’s of top prospects Mesa H.S. led by Arizona’s preseason Player of the Year 5’10 JR Dyno (PG) Jahii Carson, 6’9 SR (PF) Blondi Buruti, 6’5 SO (W) Danny Powell and Mesa Mt View led by 6’5 SR (W) Asaad Woods and 6’5 SO (PF) Caymon Boone. From the start this game was nothing like the two before it, no, no, no this game had star power and boy did the stars shine ever so brightly in this one. Mt View started the game off playing great defense that is until Jahii Carson took Mt. View's Tyson Lane off the dribble to score the games first basket and a few trips later Carson went to the basket to score yet another lay up giving Mesa an early 4-0. Mt View’s star SR (W) Asaad Woods scored on a deep jumper to put Mt View on the board and from that point on it was nip and tuck and at the end of the 1^st qtr the game was tied 10-10.

In the 2^nd qtr the excitement continued with Carson keeping the pressure on Mt View’s defense by continuously penetrating and keeping the defense honest and while doing so Blondi Buruti was the clean up man getting put backs and making aggressive moves to the basket and on the defensive end Buruti blocked a couple of big shots keeping the game close. Mt View's super sophomore (PF) Caymon Boone began to assert himself on the offensive scoring a couple of lay ups giving Mt View a 22-17 lead. Just when it looked as if Mt. View was in the process of running away with the upset Mesa’s Jahii Carson stole the ball at half court he then raced to towards the basket jumped off of two feet just inside the three pt line, cocked the ball behind his head and jammed the ball with authority. Carson throw down began a Mesa 4-0 spurt to end the half Mt. View 22- mesa 21.

The 2^nd half was action packed both teams were relentless and neither would budge as both teams continued to trade basket throughout the third and midway through the fourth that’s when Mt. View’s Caymon Boone went to work. Boone seemed to finish every time Mt. View needed a big basket. It was Mt. View’s ball with 5.2 sec remaining, Mt. View went to their SR (W) Assad Woods with hopes that the SR would score the basket and seal the win for Mt. View but his mid range jumper fell short as time expired sending the game into overtime tied at 46.

The overtime was a mini replica of regulation, both teams went back and forth and just like regulation, the overtime came down to the wire. With 11 sec. left on the clock and Mesa clinging to a 53-52 lead, Mesa’s 6’6 SR (F) Adam Milkovich inbounded the ball to Jahii Carson, Carson was then fouled by Mt. View’s Tyson Lane sending Carson to the free throw line him to the free throw line where Carson made the first free but missed the second Asaad Woods rebounded the miss then called time out with 7.9 sec remaining in the overtime giving Mt. View one last chance to either send the game into a second overtime or getting the victory. Out of the time out Tyson Lane inbound the ball to a wide open Jaron Sweeney who had a wide open lane took the ball to the basket and as he released the ball out of his hand out of no where came Mesa’s 6’9 (PF) Blondi Buruti to swat the ball to mid court as time expired giving Mesa the 54-52 victory and maintaining their #1 ranking. “It just seemed like everything was going in slow motion” said Blondi Buruti “ “I’m glad that I was able to make the game saving block” “Hopefully this game will show all the nay sayers around the state that we are foreal” said Jahii Carson. Carson had agame high 34 pts 12 assist and 8 rebounds "We've got to get him down to Corvales asap" said Oregon State assistant Coach Dave Grace "We've got to turn that verbal committment into a signed committment". One thing that I will point out that seems very obvious to me is that Jahii Carson is extremely underrated at the national level, from what I’ve seen this young man is a definite top 40- top 30 prospect in the class of 2011 and I’m sure that the rest of the country will feel the same way once the AAU season begans. Be sure to log on to www.hoopsreport.com tomorrow as we bring to you the MLK recap from the University of Arizona’s McKale Center down in Tucson and we will also be selecting our All-MLK Classic team as well.