Jordan Brand Classic: A Full Preview of Prep Star Event
One of the most exhilarating events in all of athletics has been scheduled, as the 2013 Jordan Brand Classic will take place on April 13 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The rosters were announced and the East and West sides were set (via ESPN).
Prepare for a game for the ages.
Andrew Wiggins, Aaron Harrison and Julius Randle will lead the East team. Jabari Parker, Andrew Harrison and Aaron Gordon will lead the West.
International Game
Date: April 13, 2013
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York
City vs. Suburb Regional Game
Date: April 13, 2013
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York
All-American Game
Date: April 13, 2013
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York
"All-American East Team Roster
Point Guards
Tyler Ennis, Syracuse Orange (No. 7 PG, No. 44 Overall)
Kasey Hill, Florida Gators (No. 2 PG, No. 9 Overall)
Shooting Guards
Aaron Harrison, Kentucky Wildcats (No. 1 SG, No. 5 Overall)
Wayne Selden, Kansas Jayhawks (No. 3 SF, No. 16 Overall) [True Shooting Guard]
Small Forwards
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arizona Wildcats (No. 4 SF, No. 17 Overall)
Kuran Iverson, Memphis Tigers (No. 7 SF, No. 29 Overall)
Andrew Wiggins, Undeclared (No. 1 SF, No. 1 Overall)
Power Forwards
Bobby Portis, Arkansas Razorbacks (No. 5 PF, No. 11 Overall)
Julius Randle, Undeclared (No. 1 PF, No. 4 Overall)
Chris Walker, Florida Gators (No. 4 PF, No. 10 Overall)
Centers
Kennedy Meeks, North Carolina Tar Heels (No. 2 C, No. 20 Overall)
"
"All-American West Team Roster
Point Guards
Andrew Harrison, Kentucky Wildcats (No. 1 PG, No. 3 Overall)
Nigel Williams-Goss, Washington Huskies (No. 9 PG, No. 50 Overall)
Shooting Guards
Matt Jones, Duke Blue Devils (No. 8 SG, No. 36 Overall)
James Young, Kentucky Wildcats (No. 2 SG, No. 6 Overall)
Small Forwards
Jabari Parker, Duke Blue Devils (No. 2 SF, No. 2 Overall)
Troy Williams, Indiana Hoosiers (No. 9 SF, No. 33 Overall)
Power Forwards
Aaron Gordon, Undeclared (No. No. 2 PF, No. 7 Overall)
Marcus Lee, Kentucky Wildcats (No. 11 PF, No. 30 Overall)
Noah Vonleh, Indiana Hoosiers (No. 3 PF, No. 8 Overall)
Centers
Joel Embiid, Kansas Jayhawks (No. 11 C, N/A Overall)
Dakari Johnson, Kentucky Wildcats (No. 1 C, No. 12 Overall)
"
Notable Alumni
"Guards
Eric Gordon, New Orleans Hornets
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Forwards
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Amar'e Stoudemire, New York Knicks
Centers
Andrew Bynum, Philadelphia 76ers
Dwight Howard, Los Angeles Lakers
"
Past Game MVP Award Winners
"2002: Sean May and Amar'e Stoudemire
2003: Shannon Brown and LeBron James
2004: Dwight Howard
2005: Andray Blatche and Tyler Hansbrough
2006: Kevin Durant and Thaddeus Young
2007: Corey Fisher and Donte Greene
2008: Tyreke Evans and Brandon Jennings
2009: Derrick Favors and Renardo Sidney
2010: Harrison Barnes and Kyrie Irving
2011: Anthony Davis and James Michael McAdoo
2012: Shabazz Muhammad and Rodney Purvis
"
MVP Prediction
When the East and West sides were constructed, the directors of the Jordan Brand Classic were clearly looking to pit the best of the best against one another. That's exactly what we'll see when these two sides clash.
At the forefront will be Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins—the top two prospects in the nation.
Kasey Hill and Andrew Harrison will have a legendary battle at the point guard spot. Julius Randle and Aaron Gordon should do the same at forward.
What the world is waiting for, however, is Parker and Wiggins.
These two men are commonly referred to as the future LeBron-Durant rivalry. We're going to get our first glimpse at that at the JBC.
Both men will dominate and eventually share the JBC MVP award.
Game Prediction
Both of these rosters are flat-out stacked. Each possess top prospects at their respective positions and both have their advantages.
While the West may win inside, it's the East that will take home this crown.
Andrew Wiggins will dominate as his talent suggests, while Kasey Hill will be looking to prove a point as the forgotten point-guard prospect. Paired with Julius Randle's high-flying heroics, the Eastern All-Americans will hold on.
Just don't expect the West to go down without a fight.
East 126, West 120
All rankings come via ESPN's Top 100.
