Artist Fabolous Capped off the Games with a Legendary Performance
CHARLOTTE, NC (April 14, 2012) – UCLA-bound Shabazz Muhammad (Las Vegas, NV) earned co-Most Valuable Player honors tonight, as he finished with 20 points and four rebounds to lead the West All-Americans to the 99-95 victory over the East All-Americans at the 11th annual Jordan Brand Classic. Sharing the co-MVP honors was Rodney Purvis (Raleigh, NC/NC State) who had 22 points, two rebounds and three steals for the East All-Americans.
The Jordan Brand Classic not only featured future stars on the court, but many prominent celebrities such as Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Fabolous and Big Tigger. Past alumni Anthony Davis, Kendall Marshall, Harrison Barnes, James McAdoo and CJ Leslie also gathered courtside to take on the action. In addition to the post-game performance by artist Fabolous, the North Carolina A&T Cold Steel Drumline wowed fans at halftime and violinist Lee England, Jr. performed the National Anthem.
Other standouts in the game included Alex Poythress (Clarksville, TN/Kentucky) with 16 points, Rasheed Sulaimon (Houston, TX/Duke) with 13 points and seven rebounds, Kaleb Tarczewski (Southborough, MA/Arizona) with 10 rebounds and Kyle Anderson (Jersey City, NJ/UCLA) with 14 points and nine rebounds. The event concluded a week of activities around Charlotte, including a basketball clinic with the YMCA of Charlotte, an awards dinner at the Mint Museum Uptown, a tour of the Joe Gibbs NASCAR Racing Garage and the 2K Sports Video Game Challenge. The top two rated players, Muhammad (UCLA) and Nerlens Noel (Tilton, NH/Kentucky), also announced their college decisions during a special National Signing Day Show with all 22 players at ESPNU headquarters.
“We are thrilled to have celebrated the 11th anniversary of the Jordan Brand Classic in a community like Charlotte that is synonymous with top-ranked basketball talent,” said Keith Houlemard, President of Jordan Brand. “This year’s event continues the sensational play that we have come to expect from some of the best young basketball players from not only the country but the world.”
Other players in the 2012 Jordan Brand Classic include Steven Adams (Fitchburg, MA/Pittsburgh), (Brandon Ashley (Henderson, NV/Arizona), Isaiah Austin (Arlington, TX/Baylor), Anthony Bennett (Henderson, NV/Undecided), Kris Dunn (New London, CT/Providence), Archie Goodwin (Little Rock, AR/Kentucky), Jerami Grant (Hyattsville, MD/Syracuse), Gary Harris (Fishers, IN/Michigan State), Danuel House (Houston, TX/Houston), Grant Jerrett (La Verne, CA/Arizona), Brice Johnson (Cordova, SC/North Carolina), Ricardo Ledo (South Kent, CT/Providence), Marcus Paige (Marion, IA/North Carolina), Tony Parker (Lithonia, GA/Undecided) and J.P. Tokoto (Milwaukee, WI/North Carolina).
Previous Jordan Brand Classic MVPs have included Anthony Davis and James McAdoo in 2011, Kyrie Irving and Harrison Barnes in 2010, Derrick Favors and Renardo Sidney in 2009, Brandon Jennings and Tyreke Evans in 2008, Donte Greene and Corey Fisher in 2007, Kevin Durant and Thaddeus Young in 2006, Tyler Hansbrough and Andray Blatche in 2005, Dwight Howard in 2004, LeBron James and Shannon Brown in 2003, and Amar’e Stoudemire and Sean May in 2002.
The Jordan Brand Classic is an annual showcase of the top high school basketball players in the country, throughout North Carolina and internationally. The evening began with the International Game, highlighted by Lucas Silva Dias from Brazil who had 18 points and 12 rebounds and Marko Arapovic of Croatia with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
In the North Carolina Regional Game, the East Regional All-Stars defeated the West Regional All-Stars, 84-82, led by Most Valuable Player Montay Brandon (Wesleyan Academy/Florida State) with 12 points. He was joined by co-MVP Montrezl Harrell (Hargrave Military Academy/Virginia Tech) who had 22 points and 12 rebounds.
2012 National Box Score PDF
2012 Regional Box Score PDF
2012 International Box Score PDF