Now that the NCAA has crowned the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team as champions, the focus is on the future of the sport. Some of the world’s future basketball stars will be on full display at the annual McDonald’s Capital Classic at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Southeast, Washington on April 13.
The 51st Capital Classic returns as a doubleheader. After being dropped last year, the preliminary contest between the District seniors against the Suburban All-Stars is back, and then will be followed by the main attraction: the stars of seniors from all around the country against the top seniors from the DMV area.
“We felt that it was important to bring this back because it too has a legacy,” said Capital Classic Chief Operating Officer Ricky Goings, in reference to the preliminary game. “The preliminary game is designed to provide exposure to those seniors who may not have scholarship offers.”
This year’s Capital Classic is themed the “Legacy Game,” in honor of some of the fathers who are former all-stars and their sons who are current players.
Highlights will include a special presentation to former All-Met and Capital Classic member Curt Smith for his dazzling performance against Kenny Anderson, which remains in the lore of the game.
The honorary coach will be Dennis Scott, a former standout at Flint Hill Prep and Georgia Tech before having a stellar career later with the NBA’s Orlando Magic. A former player in the game, Scott’s son, Dennis Scott III. (Georgia State) will be a member of the team, following this year’s “Legends” theme.
The District team will be coached by Friendship Tech Head Coach Dwayne Shackleford while the Suburban team will be coached by former University of Maryland standout and current Head Coach at Lanham Christian School Byron Mouton.
The Capital All-Stars will be coached by David “Tee” Johnson, the highly successful head coach at D.C.’s Jackson Reed.
As for the main attraction, fans will bear witness to future college players and possible NBA stars. Thirteen of the players in the game are headed to Power Five programs and 10 of the 26 players from the headlining teams are ranked in the Top 100 including Jalil Bethea, the number six-rated player in the country. Bethea is headed to the University of Miami.
In addition to Bethea, the U.S. team, composed of some of the top seniors in the nation, features Paul McNeil, headed to North Carolina State, and Daquan Davis, who is undecided.
The game will also feature undecided player Baron Bellamy, son of comedian and actor Bill Bellamy, rapper Master P’s son Mercy Miller, headed to University of Houston, and Oliver Riuox, a 7-foot-7 talented center, who is on record as officially the tallest player to ever play college basketball, who committed to University of Florida.
There is added intrigue as Georgetown commits Caleb Williams of Sidwell Friends and Thomas Sorber go against one another, and future Villanova players Matthew Hodge and Malcolm Thomas face off.
The talented Capital All-Stars will showcase Paul VI’s Isaiah Abraham, attending University of Connecticut, Khani Rooths, who has committed to University of Michigan and Jaeden Mustaf, headed to Georgia Tech.
Mustaf is also a part of the Capital Classic legacy. His father, Jerod Mustaf, played in the game before going on to have an outstanding career at the University of Maryland and later in the NBA.
“This is all about the legacy,” said the senior Mustaf, director of U.S. Elite Basketball, based in Mitchellville, Maryland. “What makes it so amazing to me is that I now get to see my son play in this Capital Classic on that stage.”
“It is something we never expected so we are honored,” added the younger Mustaf, “To be selected to play in a game that my father played in is a special honor. I am excited for the opportunity.”
Source: Washington Informer
