Event Preview: A-Town All-Star Game
(Photo credit: Aurora Sentinel)
There are few people on the high school sports scene in Colorado who work harder than Courtney Oakes.
So it should be no surprise that, on top of all his other duties as the sports editor of the Aurora Sentinel, Oakes also played a key hand in organizing the first-ever A-Town All-Star Game, which will tip off at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Aurora Central High School (11700 E 11th Ave).
The rosters are loaded with talent from the state’s top hoops hotbed. At least one player from all 11 of Aurora’s high schools is represented. It should truly be a one-of-a-kind, exciting event that will be well worth the $5 cost of admission.
Below is a list of the rosters, as well as our take on five things to watch for during the exhibition.
TEAM WEST
Jervae Robinson, 6-foot-2, sr., Overland
Jaizec Lottie, 6-foot, jr., Cherokee Trail
Kyle Colen, 6-foot, jr., Smoky Hill
Alex Hawkins, 5-foot-11, sr., Vista PEAK
Elijah Coleman, 6-foot-2, sr., Aurora Central
Elijah Blake, 6-foot-2, jr., Rangeview
De’Ron Davis, 6-foot-10, sr., Overland
DeMario Williams, 6-foot, sr., Gateway
Alijah Halliburton, 6-foot-2, sr., Overland
Te’Rae Johnson, 5-foot-11, soph., Vista PEAK
Elijah (EJ) Reed, 6-foot-3, sr., Rangeview
Ikenna Ozor, 6-foot-3, jr., Eaglecrest
Coach: Shawn Palmer, Rangeview
TEAM EAST
Reggie Gibson, 5-foot-10, sr., Overland
Colbey Ross, 6-foot-1, jr., Eaglecrest
Ladarius Thomas, 6-foot-1, sr., Aurora Central
Jalen Guidry, 6-foot-1, sr., Rangeview
Michael Wambsganss, 6-foot-2, sr., Regis Jesuit
Tyrei Randall, 6-foot-5, sr., Rangeview
David Thornton, 6-foot-4, sr., Cherokee Trail
Lechaun Duhart, 5-foot-11, jr., Grandview
Geoff Kelly, 6-foot-5, sr., Regis Jesuit
Kenny Foster, 6-foot-4, fr., Smoky Hill
Gaige Prim, 6-foot-7, jr., Grandview
Solomon Proctor, 6-foot-2, sr., Hinkley
Coach: Michael Rogers, Grandview
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
— Davis bids goodbye. This will be the last high school game for Overland’s De’Ron Davis, our inaugural Prep Hoops Colorado Mr. Basketball. Davis has been a great ambassador for the game in the state, and it will be great to see him play one more time in this kind of format.
— Unsigned seniors take the court. There are handful of talented unsigned seniors who are still trying to show what they’ve got to a prospective college program. Several will be playing in this game, including two of our top 10 players in the 2016 class in Tyrei Randall and David Thornton. Reggie Gibson, Jalen Guidry and LaDarius Thomas are among the others who have the talent to play at the next level and are still searching for an opportunity.
— Homecourt advantage? It will be fun to see how close-bonded backcourt mates LaDarius Thomas and Elijah Coleman fare of opposite teams. Outside of practice, times they’ve gone head-to-head in a game are probably few and far between. Here’s hoping we see some good battles between the two.
— Will the young guns show their stuff? Only two underclassmen are playing in the game — Smoky Hill freshman Kenny Foster and Vista PEAK sophomore Te’Rae Johnson. Neither of these players got to this position by shying away from competition, so let’s see how they embrace being on the court with some of the state’s best players.
— MVP watch. All-star games can be interesting in terms of how seriously certain players take the games. But this game is loaded with great talent, and here’s hoping each player seizes the opportunity to go hard at one another. But who will be the player of the game? Our best guess: David Thornton or LaDarius Thomas will bring home the title.