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Christopher Lawlor

BROOKLYN BOUND: Jordan Brand Classic debuts girls’ national all-star game on quadruple-header bill

NEW YORK — Beware Brooklyn, a tidal wave of talent is coming ashore in April.

Now in its 14th year, the Jordan Brand Classic will return to the hip borough on April 17 with games showcasing the top boys, girls and international basketball players in a quadruple-header event, featuring the first-ever girls’ game.

The boys’ national game will be televised nationally on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. EST. 

The International Game, now in its eighth year, will tip off the event by featuring elite 16-and-under basketball players from around the world at 1:30 p.m. 
 
At 3:30 p.m., Maya Moore — Team Jordan athlete, reigning WNBA MVP and decorated champion at every level — will host the inaugural competition featuring the best senior female basketball high players in the country.
 
“I am thrilled to be able to host such an incredible group of talented women at the Jordan Brand Classic’s inaugural girls game,” Moore said. “The support from Jordan Brand to showcase more high school talent further establishes what a premier game the Jordan Brand Classic has become.”
 
Local talent will take the floor, at 5:30 p.m., in the annual New York City Regional Game in a City vs Suburbs boys’ showdown. The headlining contest featuring the top young male basketball players in the nation tips at 8, rounding out the blockbuster day.  
 
The top 26 prospects are organized into teams based on geography and matchups. The International team will be revealed in late March. The rosters are listed alphabetically, featuring the player with their high school location and college choice in parenthesis.

2015 Jordan Brand National Boys’ Teams

WEST TEAM

Dwayne Bacon (Mouth of Wilson, VA/Florida State), Malik Beasley (Alpharetta, GA/Florida State), Antonio Blakeney (Orlando, FL/LSU), Deyonta Davis (Muskegon, MI/Michigan State), Tyler Davis (Plano, TX/Texas A&M), Tyler Dorsey (Pasadena, CA/Oregon), Austin Grandstaff (Rockwall, TX/Ohio State), Dedric Lawson (Memphis, TN/Memphis), Malik Newman (Jackson, MS/Undecided), Ivan Rabb (Oakland, CA/Undecided), Ben Simmons (Montverde, FL/LSU), Allonzo Trier (Henderson, NV/Arizona), Stephen Zimmerman (Las Vegas, NV/Undecided).

EAST TEAM

Isaiah Briscoe (Roselle, NJ/Kentucky), Jaylen Brown (Marietta, GA/Undecided), Jalen Brunson (Lincolnshire, IL/Villanova), Thomas Bryant (Huntington, WV), Jalen Coleman (La Porte, IN/Illinois), Eric Davis (Saginaw, MI/Texas), Cheick Diallo (Centereach, NY/Undecided), Henry Ellenson (Rice Lake, WI/Marquette), Luke Kennard (Franklin, OH/Duke), Skal Labissiere (Memphis, TN/Kentucky), Charles Matthews (Chicago, IL/Kentucky), Malachi Richardson (Trenton, NJ/Syracuse), Caleb Swanigan (Fort Wayne, IN).

2015 Jordan Brand National Girls’ Teams

 WEST TEAM

De’Janae Boykin (Springdale, MD/Connecticut), Taja Cole (Chesterfield, VA/Louisville), Te’a Cooper (Powder Springs, GA/Tennessee), Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, MO/Missouri), Kiah Gillespie (Hartford, CT/Maryland), Jordan Hosey (Manvel, TX/Texas), Kyra Lambert (Schertz, TX/Duke), Beatrice Mompremier (Miami, FL/Baylor), Taylor Murray (Severn, MD/Kentucky), Arike Ogunbowale (Milwaukee, WI/Notre Dame), Katie Lou Samuelson (Santa Ana, CA/Connecticut), Destinee Walker (Orlando, FL/North Carolina)

 EAST TEAM

Kristine Anigwe (Phoenix, AZ/California), Kalani Brown (Slidell, LA/Baylor), Napheesa Collier (St. Louis, MO/Connecticut), Asia Durr (Atlanta, GA/Louisville), Brianna Fraser (Brooklyn, NY/Maryland), Ashley Hearn (Sachse, TX/UCLA), Lashann Higgs (Round Rock, TX/Texas), Brianna Jones (N. Babylon, NY/Louisville), Marina Mabrey (Manasquan, NJ/Notre Dame), Teniya Page (Chicago Heights, IL/Penn State), Ali Patberg (Columbus, IN/Notre Dame), Stephanie Watts (Matthews, NC/North Carolina).

Senior Writer and national analyst for Blue Media and compiles the Blue Star Elite 25 national boys and girls high school basketball and football rankings during the season. Lawlor, an award-winning writer, is a voting committee member and advisor for several national high school events, including the McDonald’s All-American Games. He previously wrote for USA TODAY and ESPN.com, where he was the national preps writer, while compiling the national rankings in four sports.

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