If you didn’t get enough college basketball, a preview of next season comes to the Smith Center tonight.
The 33rd Capital Classic features incoming freshmen for Maryland, George Washington, George Mason and Georgetown when the U.S. All-Star team meets the Capital All-Stars at 8 p.m. preceded by District versus Suburban all-star teams.
The highly-touted Eric Hayes of Potomac High (Va.) is supposed to become Maryland’s desperately-needed point guard this fall along with Montrose Christian guard Greivis Vasquez. Forward Louis Birdsong of Baltimore’s Mount St. Joseph’s is headed for Mason. Forward Damian Hollis will play for GW while guard Jeremiah Rivers (whose father, Doc Rivers, played in the 1980 game) is coming to Georgetown.
You love hoops? You gotta be there. It may not be the big deal it once was in the 1970s and 1980s when selling out Capital Centre behind Ralph Sampson, Magic Johnson and Patrick Ewing, but there has been a steady stream of great players in the series. LeBron James, J.J. Redick, Grant Hill, Walt Williams and James Worthy were just a few of the dozens who became college or NBA stars.
The NCAA diminished the event when ruling high school seniors could only play in two all-star games. The 24 best players automatically play in the McDonald’s All-American game. Sonny Vaccaro and Michael Jordan get the second game from many. This area’s two current McDonald’s All-Americans – Montrose Christian’s Kevin Durant and Herndon’s Scottie Reynolds – won’t play. Still, there are lots of top players, especially locals, who come to the Capital Classic.
“It was one of the great games of the day,” former DeMatha coach Morgan Wootten said. “The beauty of the Capital Classic and other games is there are more than 24 great players in this country and you’ll see guys that were missed. It will be a good game.”
Fairmont Heights coach George Wake has seen nearly every Capital Classic. Now he gets the chance to run the local team. Picking his starting five hasn’t been easy after just three practices. He knows fans want to see scoring more than defense.
“Offense makes people sit in the stands,” Wake said, “but you have to find a way to defend them and get rebounds. The hard part is you have to sell the kids that you have share the basketball. They’re used to people looking at them to score. They’re stars and want to show well, especially against a national team. It’s not about ‘You against them’ in an all-star team. It’s ‘Us against them.’”
Hayes is the prize of four recruits coming to Maryland. Hayes could help end the Terrapins’ two-year NCAA Tournament hiatus at point guard. Giving local fans a taste of the future was behind his decision to play in the all-star game.
“Being local had to do with it,” he said. “There will be a lot of Maryland people around to watch. I want to show Maryland what I have. The big thing is to share the ball and move the ball. I don’t have to show them I’m ‘The man.’”
But Wake said Vasquez has also impressed him as Maryland gets a pair of aces.
“Vasquez is going to find a way to play next year,” Wake said. “He’s much better than advertised. He has leadership skills; the kind of kid you can rally around. Hayes shoots the ball better than people think and is unselfish.”
Don’t straggle in late thinking the undercard game isn’t worth watching. Springbrook guard David Brewster and Magruder forward Elvis Ellis top the Suburban team. Riverdale Baptist guard Chris McFarland and Montrose Christian forward Ben Thomas play for the District.
Just six more months until Midnight Madness.
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
