Capital Classic Coming to Upper Marlboro This Weekend

The 38th annual Capital Classic High School All-Star Game is set for Sunday at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro. The annual game is the nation’s longest running high school basketball all-star game and features the stars of tomorrow.

The Capital Classic, which began in 1974, has provided a showcase for dozens of high school players over the years including NBA legends Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing and current NBA stars like Grant Hill, Carmelo Anthony, Lebron James, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard.

This year’s game will feature several highly-touted players including Dorian Finney-Smith (Norcom HS, Portsmouth, VA/Virginia Tech) and Malcolm Gilbert (Academy of the New Church, Bryn Athyn, PA/Pittsburgh) of the United States All-Stars.

The Capital All-Star team is headlined by Tyrone Johnson of nationally ranked Montrose Christian and Georgetown recruit Greg Whittington of Oakland Mills. The locals also feature Marcus Thornton (McNamara), Mikael Hopkins (DeMatha) and Timmone Whatley (Douglass).

“I feel very privileged and honored [to coach in the Capital Classic],” said Wise head coach O.J. Johnson, who was selected to coach the Capital All-Stars. “I think they are a very good group of guys [who are] very talented.”

The 3 p.m. game will be preceded by a 1 p.m. contest between the District All-Stars and Suburban All-Stars. National Christian’s Javon Moore and Jerome Tolson of Riverdale Baptist have been selected to participate for the District All-Stars. Meanwhile, Brandon Bailey (Largo), Raymond Baldwin (Surrattsville), Prince Okoroh (Eleanor Roosevelt) and Brandon Ford (Gwynn Park) are among the players who have been invited to play for the Suburban All-Stars.

For more information visit the website, www.TheCapitalClassic.com.