Mustapha Heron posted a game-high 32 points and 11 rebounds to lead the White Team to a 144-132 victory over the Maroon Team in the Kentucky Derby Festival Basketball Classic Friday night at Freedom Hall.
Mario Kegler’s 3-pointer with 5:50 left to play broke the tie at 116 and the White Team never trailed again. Heron, a 6-5 guard who will play next season at Auburn, scored 10 points in the final 4:54 to help the victors pull away.
“Getting invited to a game like this and being able to show what you can do, showcase your skills, it means a lot,” said Heron.
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While Kentucky and Louisville fans may have paid more attention to Friday night’s Jordan Brand Classic, where the more star-studded recruits showcased their talents, the local event also included a future Wildcat and a future Cardinal.
Brad Calipari, son of UK coach John Calipari, finished with nine points and four rebounds for the White Team. Calipari came out to a smattering of boos from the announced crowd of 4,017, which included several U of L and Indiana fans. Yet, he still took home the fan favorite trophy at the end of the game.
“They’re going to be everywhere, but Kentucky fans travel everywhere,” Calipari said about the boo birds. “So there’s going to be a mix wherever I go, except for probably in Rupp.”
Former Bullitt East standout Tyler Sharpe finished with three boards and a steal for the Maroon Team. Sharpe, who will walk on at U of L, said while he’s played AAU ball, this was the first time he’d played against players at this level.
“It’s great,” Sharpe said. “Some of the guys will be going to the ACC, so we’ll be able to keep in touch.”
Other area players of interest stood out as well. Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball Carson Williams won the two-on-two completion and finished with 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting and nine boards for the Maroon team.
“I hoped I could have played a little bit better there and do a little better in the dunk contest, but it was fun — a great experience,” said Williams, who will play at Northern Kentucky next season. “I’m happy I got the chance to do it.”
Taylor County guard and Xavier signee Quentin Goodin won the slam dunk contest at halftime and also finished 14 points while dishing out six assists for the White Team.
“I was just trying to come here and put on a good show,” said Goodin, a 6-3 guard.
Eron Gordon won MVP honors for the White Team, finishing with a team-high 29 points and 10 rebounds. Gordon, a standout at Indianapolis Cathedral, was the game’s only uncommitted player, and while he expects to make his decision in the next couple weeks, he declined to say what schools he’s considering.
Gordon said it was an honor to play in what he called the second greatest high school all-star game in the country.
“I feel like a lot of these guys got snubbed from the McDonald’s All-American Game, so it was really fun being able to go at the guys and play with some of the guys,” said Gordon, whose brother Eric was a star at IU and just finished his eighth season in the NBA.
Indiana signee Curtis Jones added 25 points, six boards and four assists for the Maroon side. His future IU teammate, De’Ron Davis sat out because of an injury.