#10 Denzel Ingram scored 17 points in Chapel Hill High School's 59-58 overtime victory against East Chapel Hill High School on Friday, Dec. 17. (photo by Will Okun)
Jul 16, 2012
Some of North Carolina's top high school basketball talent will be on display in Greensboro on Monday night.
The N.C. Coaches Association is hosting the annual boys and girls basketball all-star games at the Greensboro Coliseum on Monday night. The girls game will tip-off at 6:30, followed by the boys at 8:30.
Teams are made up of players from the east and west who were members of the Class of 2012.
Mike Rotolo of Southern Vance will coach the east boys basketball team, and he will be assisted by Dwight Taylor of Hunt. Alex Bradley (Pine Forest), Shi'Chee Moore (Millbrook), Elon Edwards (J.H. Rose), Denzel Ingram (Chapel Hill), Tyler Thayer (Hoggard), Josh Mellette (Southern Lee), Christopher Bennett (Seventy-First), Terrill Hilliard (Rocky Mount), Dominique Reed (Garner) and D.J. Mason (West Bladen) will represent the east.
At 5-foot-7, Alex Bradley averaged 22 points, five assists and three steals last season for Pine Forest. He made 75 3-point shots, and was an all-state, all-district, and all-region player. He will play college basketball at UNC-Pembroke next fall.
"It's an honor to play against the top high school players in the area and by playing with and against these players, I hope to get a glimpse of what college will be like," Bradley said.
Shi'Chee Moore was the team's most valuable player at Millbrook this past season at 5-foot-7 and 165 pounds. Moore helped Millbrook to a state championship appearance as a junior in 2011, and a regional appearance in 2012. He will attend Catawba Community College this fall.
"[Playing in the all-star game] is a great opportunity and I am very excited," Moore said. "What I expect to gain from participating is a great time."
Elon Edwards averaged 19.1 points, 5.4 assists, three steals and three rebounds last season for J.H. Rose. At 6-foot and 175 pounds, Edwards was an all-conference, all-district and all-area selection. Edwards will join Moore at Catawba Community College in the fall.
"I'm honored to have been selected to represent the east... I'm looking forward to meeting new friends and having a great experience," he said.
The best scorer in Chapel Hill High School history will also represent the east. Denzel Ingram broke the record for most career points at Chapel Hill, and will play college basketball at UNC-Charlotte this coming school year.
Ingram said he feels "very good, honored" to be playing in the event, and he hopes to gain "new friendships and great memories."
Hoggard's Tyler Thayer owns the Vikings' school record for most 3-pointers with 87. Last season, Thayer averaged 13.5 points and four rebounds, and also led the team with 32 steals. His performance earned him all-conference honors and he has signed to play college basketball at UNC-Pembroke.
"[It is] an honor to be selected as one of the best players in the east and to be able to represent Hoggard High," said Thayer. "I'm hoping to gain experience and knowledge from people involved this weekend."
Southern Lee's most valuable player Josh Mellette will join the east as well. At 6-foot-5 and 175 pounds, Mellette is one of the tallest players on the east squad this season. During his senior season, Mellette averaged 20 points, 18 rebounds and five blocked shots. He earned all-conference and all-district honors.
"It is a great honor and privilege to play in the all-star game. I expect a great experience playing with the other athletes," Mellette said.
Seventy-First's Christopher Bennett was a late addition to the roster after Aaron Tate of West Craven dropped out of the game. Bennett, a 6-foot-6 and 210 pound center, averaged 8.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and had 63 blocked shots last season. He was named the team's Defensive Player of the Year and received the Coaches Award. He will continue his basketball career in college at Lenoir Rhyne.
"It is an honor and privilege to be able to play and associate with great athletes from North Carolina," Bennett said.
Terrill Hilliard averaged 19.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season, leading the Rocky Mount Gryphons to the 3-A state championship. At 6-foot-6 and 189 pounds, Hilliard was an all-conference, all-area, all-district and all-state selection. He was named the team's Most Valuable Player and was selected to the NC-SEC All-Star Game. He will play college basketball at Wingate.
"I feel very proud to be considered one of the best in the east and be able to represent Rocky Mount," Hilliard said. "I'm expecting to get better from playing against high competition and gain more knowledge from the coaches and players."
At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Garner forward Dominique Reed has signed with Mount Olive College for next season. Reed was an all-conference, all-district and all-state selection his senior year at Garner.
D.J. Mason averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds last season for West Bladen. At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, the forward was an all-conference and all-region selection, and was named the team's Offensive Player of the Year. He will play college basketball at Campbell.
"Having the opportunity to play in the East-West All-Star Game is a great honor," Mason said. "To be able to compete against some of the best players in the state is exciting and hopefully an experience I will cherish for a lifetime."
The west team is composted of Nathan Jones (Davie County), Ke'Shun Sherrill (West Rowan), Pierre Givens (North Rowan), Shawn Lester (Mooresville), Justin Cousin (Graham), Diondre Pratt (Anson), Tracy Gathings (Ben L. Smith), Shannon Dillard (Davie County), Rob Noyes (Freedom) and Zeb Richardson (Ashe County).
Brad LeVine of East Rutherford will coach the west team while Mike Gurley of West Rowan will assist.
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