It has to be absolutely flattering and self-gratifying to not only see ballplayers on a professional basketball court wearing your brand of sneaker, but also have the ticket buyers—the spectators, the audience in the arena—sport your kicks as accessorized fashion statements like Ferragamo, Gucci and Louboutin. It has to be extremely rewarding, personally and financially, not to mention
the level of street cred.
Such is the Jordan Brand, the hosts of the Jordan Classic, the showcase of the best college-bound senior high school basketball players from across the country, as well as young athletes from around the world.
At Barclays Center in Brooklyn, with student athletes following in the footsteps of Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Maya Moore, several of the most notable pro players in the game competed in the International Game, which featured the top players from around the world; the Regional Game, which featured the top seniors from New York City; and the Girls National Game and the Boys National Game, which featured the top seniors in each category from across the United States. Anthony and Moore were on hand to present awards to the players of each of the games. Bronx area coaches, Dwayne Mitchell and Rudy King from Monsignor Scanlon High School, Billy Turnage and Michael Salvatore from Wings Academy, coached the two regional boys’ teams.
“We are thrilled to once again shine light on the next generation of basketball stars,” said Larry Miller, president of the Jordan Brand.
Brandon Randolph, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard from West Chester, Pa., who has committed to playing with Arizona, summed up the games and experience: “I thought it was not a lot of defense, but I still knew we just had to win, so I was just trying to get my buckets, and get this win. That’s what I do.”