Elite 24 Hoops Classic

By Bruin Basketball Report

The first annual Elite 24 Hoops Classic will take place at Harlem's Rucker Park on September 1.

The Elite 24 Hoops Classic features 24 of the best high school basketball stars in the nation, regardless of graduating class or sneaker affiliations, playing in the most historic playground in basketball - Rucker Park, a place where playground legends have been born.

Elite high school players including Kyle Singler, O.J. Mayo, Brandon Jennings, and UCLA-bound Kevin Love are scheduled to play in the game.

“It is probably the first time anyone will see the best 24 kids in the country at one place,” Kevin Love said. “What’s crazy is that it’s in the Mecca of basketball: New York City at Rucker Park."

Love is looking forward to playing against some players he doesn't have a chance to compete against over the summer due to sneaker affiliations.

"I am definitely excited to be playing against kids that I don't normally play against like a lot of those adidas and Nike guys. I am so used to playing only against the Reebok kids," Love said. "This is huge for me. It is going to be fun to show my talent against the best of the best."

Teams will be split into an East vs. West format. Ben Gordan of the Chicago Bulls will coach the East team (Goat Squad) and Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets will coach the West (Skip To My Lou).

"The Goat" and "Skip To My Lou" squad names are a tribute to two former Rucker legends, Earl "The Goat" Manigault and Rafer Alston, aka Skip to My Lou.

Neither Derrick Rose or Eric Gordon will be playing in the event due to their own state's regulations which prevent them from playing in the New York event.

Rosters:

East Team (Goat Squad)
O.J. Mayo G 6-5/210 (Huntington, WV) 2007
Corey Fisher G 6-2/180 St. Patrick (Elizabeth, NJ) 2007
Bill Walker F 6-6/235 North College Hill (Cincinnati, OH) 2007
Donte Greene F 6-9/210 Towson Catholic (Towson, MD) 2007
Kevin Love C 6-10/260 Lake Oswego (Lake Oswego, OR) 2007
Brandon Jennings G 6-2/165 Oak Hill Acad. (Mouth of Wilson,VA) 2008
Kyle Singler F 6-8/200 South Medford (Medford, OR) 2007
J.J. Hickson F 6-9/235 Wheeler (Marietta, GA) 2007
Chris Allen G 6-3/190 Meadowcreek (Norcross, GA) 2007
Samardo Samuels F 6-9/235 St. Benedict's (Newark, NJ) 2008
Rick Jackson F 6-9/225 Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, PA) 2007
Corey Stokes G 6-6/210 St. Benedict's (Newark, NJ) 2007

West Team (Skip To My Lou)
Jerryd Bayless G 6-3/190 St. Mary's (Phoenix, AZ) 2007
Lance Stephenson G 6-5/195 Lincoln (Brooklyn, NY) 2009
Tyreke Evans G 6-4/200 American Christian (Aston, PA) 2008
Michael Beasley F 6-9/230 Oak Hill Acad. (Mouth of Wilson,VA) 2007
DeAndre Jordan C 6-11/235 Christian Life Acad. (Humble, TX) 2007
Senario Hillman G 6-3/180 Wilkinson County (Irwinton, GA) 2007
Devin Ebanks F 6-7/205 The Patterson School (Lenoir, NC) 2007
Nolan Smith G 6-3/170 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA) 2007
Gary Johnson F 6-6/220 Aldine (Houston, TX) 2007
Cole Aldrich C 6-11/245 Jefferson (Bloomington, MN) 2007
Anthony Randolph F 6-10/200 Woodrow Wilson (Dallas, TX) 2007
Austin Freeman G 6-5/215 DeMatha (Hyattsville, MD) 2007

(BruinBasketballReport.com)