savannahnow.com/sports/2010-03-22/north-boys-win-all-star-matchupNorth boys win all-star matchup
Posted: March 22, 2010 - 12:15am
Before they were all-stars, they were Kings.
Jordan McRae, Rion Brown, Keenan Ready, Jareal Smith, Brandon Mobley and Jibri Bryan all played for the South Georgia Kings - an under-16 AAU local basketball team. Sunday, as high school seniors, they formed half the South squad in the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association all-star game at Savannah State's Tiger Arena.
Although, the South lost, 109-97, the reunion of so many local players was memorable in a contest that attracted about 1,500 fans.
"I've played with all these guys before so it was fun getting together one last time," Mobley said.
"Especially in your hometown," Smith added.
Where does the time go? Soon the kids will be flying the coop. Four have already signed NCAA Division I basketball letters on intent. Mobley, on Sunday, said he will most likely sign with Indiana soon.
All six have left memories of stellar play in high school. They added to the memories Sunday in an event that has come to Savannah for seven straight years. Bryan broke ahead of the field for an uncontested layup only to lay the ball perfectly off the backboard for a trailing Brown to dunk.
Give up a shot in an all-star game?
No problem, Bryan said after the game.
It was a game that left players smiling. McRae displayed a variety of dunks, including a 360-degree slam, that drew the loudest "whoo" of the day.
McRae was involved in other showman antics. He put several moves on North defender Javon McKay before sinking a three-pointer. It spurred North coach Phil McCrary to yell, "Deny (McRae) the ball."
During a stoppage of play, as a South player prepared to go to the free-throw line, McRae walked to the North bench and put his arm around McCrary. Both laughed.
"I just told him, 'Com'mon you can't deny me the ball. This is an all-star game,'" McRae said.
"I've known these kids forever from AAU ball," McCrary said.
The show didn't stop at halftime. Former Harlem Globetrotter Larry "Gator" Rivers put on a ballhandling demonstration. According to the public address announcer, Rivers, who played locally at Beach High, competed in the GACA All-Star game 31 years ago and scored 20 points for the South.
The South could have used some of Rivers' offense Sunday. The North went on a 20-4 run midway through the second half to build an 89-71 advantage. The South fought back but couldn't get closer than three points the rest of the way.
McRae, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard who signed with Tennessee, finished with 25 points and earned the South's Most Valuable Player honor. Miami-bound Brown, McRae's teammate at Liberty County High School, added 21 points - 17 coming in the first half.
Smith finished with nine points, Ready seven, Bryan six and Mobley three. Mobley added 12 rebounds.
JerShon Cobb of Columbia High School had a team-high 15 points to earn the North's MVP.
NORTH (109)
Golden 8, JerShon Cobb 15, Lamb 8, McKay 8, Rod Rucker 10, Adamu 5, Grier 6, Houts 7, Chase 5, Trey Bussey 12, Trent Wiedeman 10, Williams 7, White 4.
SOUTH (97)
Rion Brown 21, Bryan 6, Ja. Smith 9, Jordan McRae 25, Jy. Smith 8, Arnold 4, Ready 7, White 6, Mobley 3, Davis 7.
Halftime-South, 50-49.
HOW LOCAL PLAYERS FARED
Name School FG FT R A PT
Keenan Ready Groves 2-4 3-3 6 1 7
Jareal Smith Johnson 4-11 0-0 1 1 9
Jibri Bryan Benedictine 2-9 1-2 4 2 6
Jordan McRae Liberty Co. 11-22 2-3 6 1 25
Rion Brown Liberty Co. 9-21 0-0 5 1 21
Brandon Mobley Groves 1-6 1-2 12 0 3