Prep hoop stars set for Roundball Classic

After helping Hales Franciscan bring home the Class A state boys basketball championship, Spartan star Nate Minnoy will look to add another trophy to his collection.

How about the MVP of the Roundball Classic?

Tonight at the United Center, Minnoy will join some of the top high school basketball stars in the 41st annual Roundball Classic at the United Center.

Tip-off for the game is at 7 p.m.

Joining Minnoy in the game will be other local prep stars including DeAndre Thomas of Westinghouse, Jerel McNeil of Hillcrest, Tony Freeman of St. Joseph's of Westchester and Bobby Frasor of Brother Rice.

"Playing in the Roundball Classic is something I've really looked forward to," says Minnoy, a 6-8 center, who is headed to Purdue in the fall. "For the last two years I was in the stands watching the game and now it's my turn to play in it."

Among those joining Minnoy, Frasor, Thomas, McNeal and Freeman on the East squad are Korvotney Barber of Manchester, Ga., Andray Blatche of Syracuse, N.Y., Daniel Green of North Babylon, N. Y., Gerald Green of Houston, Texas, Davon Jefferson of Hawthorne, Calif. and Brandon Rush of Kansas City, Mo.

Coaching the East team will be Roy Condotti of Homewood-Flossmoor, who is retiring after 33 seasons as a high school basketball coach.

Players on the West Squad will feature Wilson Chandler of Benton Harbor, Mich., Brandon Costner of Montclair, N.J., Eric Devendorf of Bay City, Mich., Luke Zellar of Washington, Ind., Byron Eaton Of Dallas, Texas, Monta Ellis of Jackson, Miss. and Amir Johnson of Westchester, Calif.

The head coach of the West squad will be Russell Otis of Dominquez High of Compton, Calif.

Otis was Bulls' star Tyson Chandler's head coach in high school.

With the NCAA Regionals being played at the Allstate Arena in suburban Rosemont beginning Thursday, you can be sure there will be plenty of college coaches on hand for the game tonight to watch the high school stars in action.

Minnoy would like to prove to them he is indeed to play a big role in college. Many of his critics have said he isn't big enough to play big time college basketball or the NBA.

"I don't really have an answer for people who think I'm too small," Minnoy says. "The only thing I can say is that my record speaks for itself."

That record includes two state championships at Hales in three years.

Among the present NBA stars, who have played in the Roundball Classic are Hall of Famers Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O'Neal of the Miami Heat, Vince Carter of the New Jersey Nets, Stephon Marbury of the New York Knicks, Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets, Rasheed Wallace of the Detroit Pistons and Eddy Curry of the Bulls.

Originally known as the Dapper Dan Classic and originating in Pittsburgh, Penn., the Roundball Classic is in its fifth straight season in Chicago.

"Chicago looks like it will be the permanent home for the game," Sonny Vaccaro, the founder and director of the Roundball Classic says. "I think that we are starting to see Chicago kids who know about the game and want to be in it. One father told me that they 'were praying' their son would get selected."

Two years ago, the Roundball Classic with LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers as the star attraction drew nearly 20,000. Last season, over 19,000 fans were on hand. A similar crowd is expected for tonight's game.

Article copyright REAL TIMES Inc.

Photograph (Nate Minnoy)