Twenty of the nation’s brightest high school basketball seniors were under the same roof Thursday night at New Albany High School for the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Night of Future Stars – a precursor to Friday’s main event.
Players from across the map took part in a two-on-two tournament, and a select number vied for 3-point and dunk contest crowns ahead of Friday’s KDF Basketball Classic, the oldest high school all-star game in the country.
GALLERY: KDF Night of Future Stars
Here are a few takeaways from Thursday’s event:
–Mr. Basketball backs it up: Owen County product and 2016 Kentucky Mr. Basketball Carson Williams was a late add to KDF rosters, but he looked as comfortable as any. Williams backed up his Mr. Basketball title, too, as he and teammate Auburn commit Jared Harper – another late add – took home the two-on-two crown over Taylor County’s Quentin Goodin, also a top selection for Mr. Basketball last season, and VCU signee De’Riante Jenkins.
Although the program listed Williams at 6-foot-5, 185 pounds, he bruised his way to a variety of scoring opportunities – pick-and-roll, post up and dribble-drive – while exhibiting sound fundamentals for a big man. He plays bigger than he is, as evidenced by a strong block at the rim on a soaring 6-foot-7 Matthew Moyer. Moyer, a Syracuse commit, went tumbling after the fact, but Williams stood his ground.
Williams, a Northern Kentucky pledge, averaged 26.7 points and 10.8 rebounds this past year. Owen County finished 29-4 after falling to South Oldham in the quarterfinals of the Eighth Region Tournament.
–Local flair in Friday’s contest finals: While the two-on-two competition culminated Thursday, the 3-point and dunk contests will conclude at halftime of Friday’s game, with Williams, Goodin and Eli Wright, an Owensboro native and former Apollo High standout who now attends 22 Feet Academy in South Carolina, all set to appear at Freedom Hall.
All three make up the group of dunkers, while Goodin and Wright will join Harper and Notre Dame signee Temple Gibbs in the 3-point shootout.
–State champs honored: With the event taking place at New Albany High, it’s only right that those in attendance paid homage to the Class 4-A Indiana state champion Bulldogs. Players, managers, assistants and head coach Jim Shannon – head man of the Maroon team Friday night – were each introduced to roaring applause.
In fact, before action even commenced Thursday, a fan belted out, “How about them state champions?” It’s safe to say the city will remain proud of its Bulldogs.
-Indiana commits draw heavy praise: Second to the applause garnered for the state champions was the anticipatory excitement for Indiana commits De’Ron Davis and Curtis Jones. The duo drew large cheers in their soon-to-be home state. Jones, considered a 4-star recruit by many services, wowed in the dunk contest, nearly hitting his head on the rim after several dunk attempts. Davis, also a 4-star, was the most physically imposing player among the group.
–Cardinals make an appearance: Before the dunk contest got underway Thursday, a familiar face made his way through the crowd to get a good seat: Louisville guard Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell took home the dunk contest crown last season.
In addition, ex-Cardinals Russ Smith and Damion Lee were judges for the dunk contest. Former Kentucky guard Derek Anderson, a former KDF basketball all-star, was also a judge.