For some of the talented Baltimore All-Stars, Sunday?s Charm City Challenge was a simple goodbye before heading off to impending collegiate stardom. For others, it was a final chance to impress coaches and scouts before making their choice.
Examiner Player of the Year and Virginia Tech-bound guard Malcom Delaney (Towson Catholic) was a part of the aforementioned goodbye brigade. All-Examiner first team swingman Aric Brooks (St. Frances), however, had not made his decision, and had some media members calling him “the best player on the court.”
“It was my last high school game, and a lot of my family and friends were out here,” Brook said. “I just wanted to come out and play my hardest.”
Brooks scored 24 points in the Baltimore All-Stars 116-113 win over the U.S. All-Star team. The game was wide open throughout, with end-to-end play and an array of dunks.
But the game tightened up late in the fourth quarter, when the Baltimore team came back to claim the lead.
“This was the last time the people in Baltimore would have a chance to see me,” Delaney said. “I just wanted to put on a show for them.”
Delaney, who did not get the awards or the All-Star showcase offers of his teammate, Syracuse-bound McDonalds All-American forward Donte Greene, put on an early show from long-range.
He went into the half leading all scorers with 14 points and also found Maryland-bound forward and All-Examiner first-teamer Dino Gregory on an alley-oop. He finished with 27 points and the tournament MVP award. He will play in Thursday?s Capital Classic at the Comcast Center.
Prized Maryland recruit and All-Examiner first-team forward Braxton Dupree (Calvert Hall) left in the first half with a sprained ankle. He reappeared on crutches behind the Baltimore bench shortly after halftime.
“I wanted to be out there so bad,” he said after the game.
Dupree was scheduled to play in Thursday?s Capital Classic at Maryland?s Comcast Center, but won?t play after rolling the ankle trying to pull down a rebound.
Darnell Dodson of Eleanor Roosevelt in Prince George?s County led the U.S. team with 20 points.
Charming team
» Tournament MVP: Malcolm Delaney, Baltimore (Towson Catholic), Virginia Tech
All-Tournament Team
» Jeff Allen, U.S (Chatham, Va.), Virginia Tech
» Aric Brooks, Baltimore (St. Frances), Undecided
» Darnell Dodson, U.S. (Eleanor Roosevelt), Pittsburgh
» Rick Jackson, U.S. (Philadelphia, Pa.), Syracuse
» Shane Walker, Baltimore (Montrose Christian), Maryland
