Jordan Brand Classic 2017: Rosters, TV Schedule, Live Stream and Preview
The prep hoops showcase season continues on Friday with the 2017 Jordan Brand Classic, which puts together four different exhibition games featuring national boys and girls teams, a regional American game and an international contest.
Fans will recognize many of the names on the boys national roster from the McDonald's All-American Game, the most well-known high school basketball exhibition. Top-ranked players such as centers DeAndre Ayton and Mohamed Bamba, as well as the coveted, unsigned point guard Trevon Duval will be in the game, along with 21 other potential future stars.
The American games are set up as East vs. West showdowns, while the global showcase mixes in a few kids from the United States with players from countries such as Canada, Germany and Brazil.
The games are slated for Friday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. ESPN 2 will be televising the boys East vs. West game at 8 p.m. ET, with live streaming available at WatchESPN.
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Here's a rundown of the American boys' showcase, followed by a quick preview of some of the unsigned players to watch during the game.
| DeAndre Ayton | C | 7'0" | 220 | Hillcrest Academy (Phoenix, AZ) | Arizona |
| Mohamed Bamba | C | 6’11” | 210 | Westtown School (West Chester, PA) | Undecided |
| Brian “Tugs” Bowen II | SF | 6’7” | 190 | La Lumiere School (La Porte, IN) | Undecided |
| Troy Brown Jr | SF | 6’7” | 215 | Centennial High School (Las Vegas, NV) | Oregon |
| Wendell Carter, Jr. | PF | 6’9” | 254 | Pace Academy (Atlanta, GA) | Duke |
| Matt Coleman | PG | 6'1" | 174 | Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA) | Texas |
| Trevon Duval | PG | 6'3" | 183 | IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) | Undecided |
| Jalek Felton | SG | 6'3" | 180 | Gray Collegiate Academy (West Columbia, SC) | North Carolina |
| Quade Green | PG | 6’1” | 170 | SS. Neumann Goretti High School (Philadelphia, PA) | Kentucky |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | PF | 6’11” | 225 | La Lumiere School (La Porte, IN) | Michigan State |
| Kevin Knox II | SF | 6’8” | 203 | Tampa Catholic High School (Tampa, FL) | Undecided |
| Brandon L. McCoy | C | 6’11” | 244 | Cathedral Catholic High School (San Diego, CA) | Undecided |
| John Petty | SG | 6'5" | 185 | Jemison High School (Huntsville, AL) | Alabama |
| Michael Porter Jr. | SF | 6’10” | 212 | Nathan Hale High School (Seattle, WA) | Missouri |
| Billy Preston | PF | 6’10” | 230 | Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA) | Kansas |
| Nicholas Richards | C | 6’11” | 250 | The Patrick School (Hillside, NJ) | Kentucky |
| Mitchell Robinson | C | 6’11” | 215 | Chalmette High School (Chalmette, LA) | Western Kentucky |
| Collin Sexton | SG | 6’3” | 175 | Pebblebrook High School (Mableton, GA) | Alabama |
| Gary Trent Jr. | SG | 6’5” | 200 | Prolific Prep Academy (Napa, CA) | Duke |
| Jarred Vanderbilt | PF | 6’8” | 200 | Victory Prep Academy (Houston, TX) | Kentucky |
| Lonnie Walker IV | SG | 6’4” | 192 | Reading High School (Reading, PA) | Miami |
| PJ Washington Jr | PF | 6’8” | 225 | Findlay Prep (Henderson, NV) | Kentucky |
| Tremont Waters | PG | 5'11" | 165 | Notre Dame High School (West Haven, CT | Undecided |
| Trae Young | PG | 6’2” | 170 | Norman North High School (Norman, OK) | Oklahoma |
Here are the links to the American girls, regional boys and international game rosters.
While Ayton, the top overall player and center according to Scout.com, has already committed to Arizona, the next best center in the 2017 class is yet to make a decision.
Bamba, along with Michael Porter Jr., put up a game-high 17 points in the McDonald's All-American game while also racking up four blocks and two steals.
His overall performance no doubt had the big-time schools salivating, but it looks like the race might be coming down to Kentucky and Texas, at least per Rivals.com's Corey Evans:
"Touching back on the Mo Bamba front, Duke remains a viable landing spot for the New York native. A five-star center is down to the Blue Devils, Texas, Michigan and Kentucky. It would be hard to place Duke ahead of either Texas or Kentucky and as it sounds in recent weeks, the Longhorns may be the leader.
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Bamba would be a massive coup for Texas coach Shaka Smart, and he would elevate the Longhorns' standing on the national stage next season. Kentucky already has a recruiting class bursting at the seams with talent, and four of those soon-to-be freshmen are playing in the Jordan Brand Classic with Bamba.
If you're wondering where Bamba might fit in a loaded class, the center/forward looks comfortable away from the rim, per DraftExpress' Mike Schmitz:
Just like at the McDonald's game, they will have Bamba's ear and could nudge him toward the Wildcats, though it should be noted Texas recruit Matt Coleman is also in the game.
Right behind Bamba in the Scout.com rankings is Duval, coveted by several schools including Duke, Kansas, Seton Hall and Arizona. While Bleacher Report's Scott Phillips predicts Duval will be a Blue Devil, it appears Kansas has a plan for the point guard to share time alongside Devonte Graham, according to journalist Adam Zagoria:
Graham is an excellent player who averaged 13.1 points and 4.1 assists per game last season for the Jayhawks. His return to the program eases the pressure on Kansas to land another blue-chip recruit, but if they can snag Duval, the team would have an embarrassment of riches in the backcourt.
Kevin Knox is the No. 2 small forward in the nation behind Porter Jr. The latter has already committed to Missouri, and it's quite possible Knox could join him there. ESPN's Jeff Borzello reported Knox was set up for a recent visit to Missouri with fellow recruit Blake Harris, a possible recruiting double-swoop that would make the Tigers one of the more fearsome teams in the nation next year.
Knox, who scored 15 points in the McDonald's All-American game, said he could see himself playing alongside Porter.
"Yeah, me and Mike would be unstoppable on the wings, so that's a lot of help. Me and him were talking a lot. We're actually roommates out here. So, me and him get along really well," said Knox, while at the Nike Hoop Summit, per 247Sports' Andrew Slater.
Several other schools appear to still be in the running for Knox, so it stands that college fans from all over will be watching him intently in the Jordan Brand Classic, hoping that he eventually dons their colors.
McDonald's All-American game stats courtesy of RealGM.com. Recruiting info and rankings courtesy of Scout.com unless otherwise noted.
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