2006 Jordan Classic Showcase Future College Stars
by Matthew Moll
NEW YORK – In the latest installment of the Jordan Classic, thoughts of making the jump a la Andre Blatche and Louis Williams are replaced with aspirations of NCAA freshman of the year Tyler Hansbrough, last year’s other MVP.
Georgia Tech-bound Thaddeus Young (Jordan White) and Texas recruit Kevin Durant (Jordan Black) took the first step to such a distinction by sharing MVP honors in the 108-95 exhibition win for Jordan White over Jordan Black.
Young wowed the Madison Square Garden crowd, which included hip-hoppers T.I., L.L. Cool J, NFL Pro-Bowler Warren Sapp, and of course MJ, with a 28-point, 13-rebound (10 of which were offensive) performance. Young showed his athleticism with an array of dunks, the most eye-popping was an open court windmill which gave his team an 11-point lead. While he proved he was a special athlete, Young said he hoped to show he could do more. The “more” included some nifty fade-aways and hitting from beyond the arch.
The 6’10” Durant ended the contest with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Durant, the McDonald’s All-American game MVP, starts hinted at potential ceiling, “I try to pattern my game after the versatile players in the NBA, because that is how I want people to look at me.”
New Yorkers Edgar Sosa (Louisville) and Curtis Kelly (UConn) received the loudest applause during introductions. Sosa, Rick Pitino’s most recent New York City point guard, hit two threes and scored 13 points for the White team. Kelly finished with six points and five rebounds, including a thunderous early first half dunk.
Perhaps the largest contingent of fans was for Syracuse-bound Mike Jones. When native South Carolinian’s name would be announced over the PA system his fans would chant in unison which would reverberate through the Garden. Jones finished with 16 points.
Future Kansas point guard Sherron Collins received the most positive reinforcement from the crowd with his ankle breaking finesse and precision passing. Early in the first, Collins started the crowd with a no look hook-shot-like alley-oop to DeShawn Sims. In the second, Collins spilt three defenders after cycling through a series of crossover and between the legs dribbles momentarily delighting the MSG crowd. Collins finished the game with 14 points and six assists.
The Jordan White team also received help from future Tar Heel Wayne Ellington, who scored 11, and Michigan recruit Sims with 10 on 5-6 shooting.
Bob Cimmino coached Jordan White to the victory. Cimmino lead Mount Vernon High School in New York to a Class AA state championship, and has coached UConn great Ben Gordon and most recently Florida signee Jonathan Mitchell, who scored 17 in the Jordan Regional game.
A crowd of 9,641 witnessed the all-college exhibition.
