March 19, 2014. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival will host some of the top basketball recruits in the country for the 41st annual Derby Festival Basketball Classic presented by Papa John’s on Friday, April 18. The roster includes three McDonald’s All-Americans, as well as University of Louisville signees Chinanu Onuaku, Quentin Snider and Jaylen Johnson and Indiana recruits Robert Johnson and Max Hoetzel. The game features 10 players ranked in the Top 30 nationally by recruiting services Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247sports.com. Nearly all of the players scheduled to participate are ranked among the Top 50 nationally. The players will also participate in the Horseshoe Foundation Night of the Future Stars on Thursday, April 17, at Floyd Central High School.
“It is a testament to the college basketball fans of this area that we are able to recruit the highest level of players each year,” said Mike Gandolfo and Keith Conrad, the event’s co-recruiting chairs. “Our attendance is one of the main recruiting tools that resonate with players and their families. These guys can’t wait to play in front of the most dedicated fan bases in college basketball. This roster has names you may not recognize now, but they will dominate college basketball’s headlines next season.”
40 former KDF Basketball Classic players will participate in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Recent alums include Russ Smith, Dominique Hawkins, Tyler Ennis, Quinn Cook, LaQuinton Ross, Branden Dawson, Marcus Smart, Semaj Christon, Sam Dekker, Markel Brown, Jordan Adams & TJ Warren.
Admission to the Horseshoe Foundation Night of the Future Stars is free with a ticket to the Basketball Classic. Some of the event’s most exciting moments have occurred during the Slam Dunk, 2-on-2 and 3-Point Shooting competitions. There will also be a one-hour autograph-signing session following the event, with a two-item limit for signing.
ON SALE NOW, Basketball Classic tickets are $13 and $18 (includes $1 facility fee) and are available at TicketMaster locations (www.ticketmaster.com), by phone (800-745-3000) or the Freedom Hall box office (502-367-5144).
First held in 1973, the Derby Festival Basketball Classic is the oldest high school all-star game in the nation. The game has featured such players as Jamal Mashburn, Rex Chapman, Moses Malone, Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins, Eric Bledsoe, Deron Williams and Nolan Smith, among many others.
The Basketball Classic is presented by Papa John’s, with Contributing Sponsors Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County, Under Armour, 99.7 DJX and B96.5 FM. Media Partner: SLAM Magazine.
2014 KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL BASKETBALL CLASSIC ROSTER
WHITE TEAM
| # | NAME | POS | HT/WT | HS | COLLEGE |
| Keita Bates-Diop | F | 6-7/185 | University (IL) | Ohio State | |
| Leron Black | F | 6-7/215 | White Station (TN) | Illinois | |
| Trevon Bluiett | G | 6-5/185 | Park Tudor (IN) | Xavier | |
| Chris Chiozza | G | 5-10/155 | White Station (TN) | Florida | |
| Bonzie Colson | F | 6-5/210 | St Andrews (RI) | Notre Dame | |
| Brandone Francis | G | 6-4/205 | Arlington Country Day (FL) | Florida | |
| Jaylen Johnson | F | 6-9/215 | Ypsilanti (MI) | Louisville | |
| Chinanu Onuaku | C | 6-10/232 | Riverdale Baptist (MD) | Louisville | |
| Devin Robinson | F | 6-8/200 | Christchurch (VA) | Florida | |
| Quentin Snider | G | 6-1/170 | Ballard (KY) | Louisville | |
| Coaches: Jesus Patino – White Station & Louis Wilson – Riverdale Baptist | |||||
GREEN TEAM
| # | NAME | POS | HT/WT | HS | COLLEGE |
| Jonah Bolden | F | 6-8/190 | Brewster Academy (NH) | UCLA | |
| Angel Delgado | F | 6-8/220 | The Patrick School (NJ) | Seton Hall | |
| Isaac Copeland | F | 6-8/200 | Brewster Academy (NH) | Georgetown | |
| Max Hoetzel | F | 6-7/205 | Wilbraham & Monson Academy (MA) | Indiana | |
| Robert Johnson | G | 6-3/170 | Benedictine (VA) | Indiana | |
| JaQaun Lyle | G | 6-4/210 | Huntington Prep (WV) | Undecided | |
| Dwayne Morgan | F | 6-7/195 | St. Francis (MD) | UNLV | |
| Goodluck Okonoboh | C | 6-9/210 | Wilbraham & Monson Academy (MA) | UNLV | |
| Romelo Trimble | G | 6-3/185 | Bishop O’Connell (MD) | Maryland | |
| Dion Wiley | G | 6-4/195 | Potomac (MD) | Maryland | |
| Coaches: Chris Sparks – Wilbraham & Monson Academy & Jason Smith – Brewster Academy | |||||
For more information, contact: Derby Festival Press Office at (502) 584-FEST.
