Iverson Classic returns to Souderton
The Allen Iverson Roundball Classic is coming back to Souderton in a few weeks, this time with a local twist.
Last year, the inaugural event brought some of the top high school boys’ basketball seniors from around the country to Souderton High School for a weekend of hoops. While the event drew a good crowd and produced a few viral highlights, it lacked a true local connection.
This year’s main event doesn’t have any players from the southeastern part of Pennsylvania, but the issue has been addressed thanks to the addition of a local all-star game to kick off the week.
Play-By-Play Classics, which hosts a number of showcases locally during the high school season and RAW Sports, which highlights and promotes up and coming athletes across the state, joined to together to set up a game for local talent on April 22. It’s a perfect lead-in for the Iverson Classic, which features a skills competition on April 24 before the actual game on April 26.
Like last year, the main event features some top-tier names. Headlining the list is Georgia recruit Anthony Edwards, a five-start shooting guard ranked top three nationally by most recruiting services and already projected as an NBA lottery pick.
Edwards is joined by Khalil Whitney (Kentucky) and CJ Walker (Oregon) on Team Honor, which will be coached by former NBA All-Star Baron Davis.
Opposing Team Loyalty, which will be coached by former NBA standout Stephen Jackson, features University of Arizona commit Nico Mannion and Cole Anthony, a fivestar prospect and son of 11-year NBA veteran Greg Anthony.
Bryan Antoine, a top-15 national recruit from New Jersey who has signed with Villanova, is slated to play for Team Loyalty.
Last year’s event gained national attention during the midweek skills night thanks to video posted by Overtime. Mac McClung, currently a freshman at Georgetown, went viral during the slam dunk contest with a little flair and a shoutout to
the event’s namesake.
He also got an assist from a Souderton student in the stands. McClung spotted him wearing an Iverson Georgetown jersey in the stands, borrowed the jersey and proceeded to impress the former Sixers great with a couple ridiculous dunks.
Kevin Porter, projected to be drafted in the lottery in June’s NBA Draft, managed to one-up McClung however, dunking over Iverson to win the contest.
Monday’s local showcase isn’t limited to just seniors and features plenty of recognizable names. Five athletes from the Reporter/ Montgomery/Times Herald area have been selected to be a part of the event.
Pennridge senior Sean Yoder, Abington senior Eric Dixon and Plymouth Whitemarsh senior Naheem McLeod will get a last chance to play in front of a local crowd while Germantown Academy sophomore Jordan Longino and Archbishop Wood sophomore Rahsool Diggins will also participate. All four are coming off strong high school seasons headlined by Yoder, who helped the Rams reach their first state championship game.
A Navy recruit, Yoder averaged roughly 21 points per game while breaking the school’s all-time scoring record and setting a singleseason scoring record.
Dixon, a 6-foot-8 forward who has signed with Villanova, was unstoppable for most of the year. The Ghosts senior averaged 29 ppg, broke Abington’s scoring record and became the first player in program history to surpass 2,000 career points as the Ghosts won their third straight District 1-6A title.
With injuries constantly changing the lineup around him, McLeod was a constant for the Colonials. A 7-foot-3 center bound for Florida State, McLeod continued to show his stillimproving game and remained a factor on the defensive end with his rebounding and shot blocking ability.
Despite being a sophomore, Longino has already established himself as a top player in the Inter-Ac and has already scored more than 1,000 points. After averaging more than 20 points a game this year, the combo guard made first team AllInter Ac, no small feat in a very stacked league.
Likewise, Diggins didn’t need long to make his name in the loaded Philadelphia Catholic League. The 6-foot-1 point guard helped the Vikings reach the PIAA 5A title game after averaging 19 points per game and making first team AllPCL in his second year as a starter.
The rest of the field is equally impressive. Roman Catholic is represented by senior Penn State recruit Seth Lundy and senior Hakim Hart. Bonner-Prendergast senior Isaiah Wong (Miami) and NeumannGoretti senior Chris Ings (Rider) will also represent the PCL.
Coatesville’s electric junior point guard Jhamir Brickus, who helped the Red Raiders to the District I final and the PIAA 6A semifinals has accepted an invitation to play.
Joining Longio from the Inter-Ac are Malvern Prep’s Deuce Turner, who averaged 26 points per game this season and Jameer Nelson Jr, who helped the Haverford School to an undefeated season plus Inter-Ac and PAISAA titles.
Tickets for the April 22 local all-star game can be purchased at https://www. eventbrite.com/e/the-playby-play-invitational-atthe-iverson-classic-tickets-59143998291
Tickets for the skills night and Iverson Classic game, which is expected to sell out, can be bought at www.iversonclassic.com.