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ABCD: Walker dominates underclassmen game

6-foot-6 wing forward Bill Walker unfurled an amazing 11 dunks in a wild 124-121 White win over the Blue squad in the 2005 ABCD Underclassmen All Star Game on Saturday afternoon. However, Walker was not the only star, as Corey Stokes, Devin Ebanks, Kevin Love, and O.J. Mayo also played well in the finale.
Bill Walker scored 24 points, and physically dominated at times with his ability to jump over defenders and catch lob passes and offensive rebounds seemingly out of position and still convert. However, it was the steady guard play of O.J. Mayo down the stretch in the second half that preserved the win for the White. Mayo finished with 11 points and 7 assists with just 1 turnover. Kevin Love added 14 points, freshman Renardo Sidney had 10 points and 5 rebounds, and Olu Ashalou had 12 points and 6 rebounds.
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6-foot-7 junior forward Devin Ebanks from Bishop Loughlin HS capped off a brilliant camp with an MVP-worthy performance in the All Star Game, scoring 15 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Corey Stokes led the Blue team with 18 points. Tom Mazano added 14 points, and Corey Fisher had 13 points and 5 assists, looking very impressive with his poise and ball-handling ability.
Awards
Underclassmen Players of the Week were O.J. Mayo and Kevin Love
White team MVPs were Bill Walker and Renardo Sidney.
Blue team MVPs were Corey Stokes and Devin Ebanks
Notes
Mayo continued his one on one battle with 6-foot-4 rising freshman Lance Stephenson from Bishop Loughlin HS in New York. Mayo, perhaps looking to entertain the crowd, or possibly serving a little humble pie to the youngster, called Stephenson out a couple of times at the end of the game. The result? Let's just say that Stephenson, though talented, was a bit out of his league against the nation's #1 junior prospect.
Cole Aldrich got a bit of redemption against Kevin Love, who dominated their matchup last week in pool play. In one sequence, Aldrich blocked Love's shot, then came down and dunked one over him while getting fouled. Love took it in stride and even seemed to enjoy Aldrich's moment in the sun.
Corey Fisher's ability to get by the defender and pull up from mid-range is a lost art in the game of basketball. Fisher has lots of scoring tools, but he's most dangerous when he puts the ball on the floor and penetrates.
Corey Stokes cooled off a bit late in the camp after a fast start on day one, but came back with another big performance in the all star game. He was very effective in an up and down game, which was a bit of a question mark for the outstanding spot up shooter. Stokes seems to add new elements to his game on a weekly basis.
Taylor King, though he did not receive any of the camp awards, was deserving of MVP considerations for the week. He led the camp in scoring, an amazing feat when you consider that his normally deadly bombs from beyond the arc were not going down this week.
Although Bill Walker scored his 24 points on 11 dunks and a finger roll, he showed during the week that he could also knock down jump shots, including a game winner on Friday night in overtime. He is one of the best athletes to come along in the last 10 years, and if his basketball skills ever catch up.... Well, let's just say the thought is downright frightening.
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