Central Mass. Showcase to Feature Top 40 Players
For those who thought the high school basketball season was over, think again!
What has undeniably been a historic 2022-2023 season in the Worcester area, concludes in dramatic fashion with the first-ever Central Mass. Basketball Showcase on Wednesday, March 29 at Assumption University.
The event, presented by sponsors American Pyramids and Blueprint Basketball, features two all-star games with the area’s best players, a slam dunk contest and a three-point shooting contest. The games will feature four teams in two divisions: the top 20 seniors and juniors (two teams of 10) and the top 20 sophomores and freshmen (two teams of 10). No Excuse Produce founder and CEO Robert Hunter will coach one of the teams in the sophomores/freshmen game. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m. and coaches from more than 30 colleges and universities are expected to be in attendance.
The rosters for each team are provided below:
North High, the 2023 Division I State Champions, will be well-represented in the games with junior guard Tahlan Pettway, recently named the 2022-23 MaxPreps Massachusetts High School Basketball Player of the Year, leading the way. Other Polar Bears participating are: Teshaun Steele and Joe Okla in the seniors/juniors game; and Amir Jenkins, Ty Tabales, Amaren Minor and Nalajah Christopher in the sophomores/freshmen matchup.
Also of note, the sophomores/freshmen game will feature No Excuse Produce clients James McKinney (Nipmuc Regional), Cheyton Marshall (Main South) and Gabe Huss (St. Paul’s).
The contestants in the three-point contest will be Pettway (North), Jordan McFadden (Auburn), Tabales (North), Minor (North), Harrison Miles (St. John’s), Ryan Hulecki (Oakmont), Joseph Bowden (Doherty), Kenny Donnelly (Millbury), Terrence McCormack (Leominster) and Braden White (David Prouty).
The dunk contest will be a high school versus college setup with Omar Rodriguez (Fitchburg High) and Steele (North) going up against Brendon Hamilton (Westfield State) and Julius Goines (Framingham State).
Admission to this event is $15 for adults and $10 for students via $CMASS2023 on Cash App.