Ellington, Jardine, dominate All-City Classic

Friday evening the best hoops prospects in the Philadelphia area got together at the old St. John Neumann high school gym for the Adidas Philly USA All-City Classic. The Classic, a three game event featuring the top rising seniors, juniors, and sophomores in Philly, is an annual event put together by Charles Monroe, and this year's talent laden field really raised the bar. Rivals.com was there with the coverage.

Ellington leads the Red Seniors

In a wild shootout in the nightcap, North Carolina bound rising senior Wayne Ellington from Episcopal Academy had 39 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists for the Red team to help stave a furious Blue comeback as the Red held on for a 138-137 victory.

The Red squad opened up a large early lead with Ellington and future Duke Blue Devil Gerald Henderson establishing control. The first half deficit for the Blue team was as large as 22 points in the opening 10 minutes. However, Blue began to cut into the margin, and it was a 16 point game at the half, 60-44.

In the second half St. Joseph's recruit Darrin Govens began to heat up from the perimeter, nailing several threes and pulling the Blue team to within single digits. 6-foot-5 swingman Kashief Carr from Philadelphia Lutheran was a madman around the basket, and it was a two point game, 119-117 heading into the 5 minute "coaches' corner."

In the extra session Govens and 6-foot-8 C/F Jason Love from Abington Friends made a valiant effort, but Ellington and 6-foot-4 guard Lewis Leonard answered each challenge and the Red team preserved the win.

Ellington led all scorers with 39 points. Leonard added 28 points and 5 rebounds, Henderson finished with 21 points and 9 rebounds, 6-foot-3 2G Devon McClendon had 18 points, and 5-foot-11 PG Malik Alvin had 10 points and 4 assists.

Govens led the Blue team with 30 points. Carr had 20 points and 5 rebounds, 6-foot-6 G/F Earl Pettis had 20 points and 10 rebounds, 6-foot-2 guard Derrick Rivera had 17 points and 4 rebounds, and Love finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks.

Jardine scintilating in Junior Game

Antonio Jardine, or "Scoop" as the 6-foot-2 guard from Neumann-Gorretti is known around the basketball circles in Philadelphia, returned to his old stomping grounds at St. John Neumann for the Philly USA All-City Classic and put on a shooting clinic. Jardine nailed 5 threes, many from beyond the NBA line, en route to a game high 28 points to lead the Blue team to a 122-101 victory over the White squad.

6-foot-8 C/F Richard Jackson had 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocks for Blue, and superb rising sophomore Tyreke Evans played up and contributed 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. 6-foot-8 forward Ervin Spruil had 13 points and 7 rebounds, and 6-foot-2 incredible athlete Rob Townsend from Cardinal Dougherty dunked his way to 10 points.

6-foot-3 guard Jeff Jones from Monsignor Bonner led the White team with 23 points including 3 threes. 6-foot-1 point guard Josh Martin from Cardinal Dougherty got into a bit of a one-on-one battle with Jardine in the second half and finished with 18 points, hitting a couple of threes as well. 6-foot-2 PG Malcolm Eleby from Franklin Learning Center added 13 points and 5 assists in the loss.

Robinson sparks White in Sophomore game

Nasir Robinson, a 6-foot-5 forward from American Christian, had 15 points to lead the White team to an 84-75 win over the Black team. 6-foot-4 Sammy Givens from Academy of New Church led the black team with 15 points in the loss.