Pure talent, athleticism, and a look into Marion County’s basketball future – that and more are embodied in the Super Shootout City-County Boys & Girls’ All-Star Game.
“Oh, I think this year might be one of the best we’ve had,” said Johnny Carr, co-founder and vice president of Super Shootout City-County All Star Game. “It should be up there with some of the top games we have.”
The game will be held Saturday, April 25 at Warren Central High School Fieldhouse, 9500 East 16th St.
Super Shootout’s roots run deep as it began in 1991 “by a local group of basketball aficionados” to give Indianapolis’ urban youth a chance to excel to collegiate and professional levels in basketball. Carr states inner city kids weren’t well represented in the Indiana/Kentucky All Star Game, so he and others decided to change the game.
Beginning with the City-County Boys’ All-Star Team in 1992, the City-County Girls’ All-Star Team was added the following year.
The All Star game had a successful run with various presenters, including the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper and former Indiana Pacer Jermaine O’Neal. Now it’s back with a new crop of talent and a new presenter.
“We needed to reorganize. We named the team, but did not play the game,” said Brian C. Reeder, chairman of Super Shootout City-County All Star Game. “We worked hard to get it reinstituted this year and have gone back to the high school standards format.”
Once coordinating brass came together again, ballots could be cast out to city and county coaches to formulate the team. Each city and county basketball coach is sent a list of players and they decide who will play in the All Star game. The catch is, they cannot vote for their own players. Coaches must look beyond players they’ve molded and nominate others by talent.
While their main goal is to take city and county basketball elite and provide opportunities, one of Indianapolis’ most recent basketball success story has agreed to present the annual game ushering in the beginning of a new tradition. That new presenter is none other than former North Central high school player and Los Angeles Clippers’ Eric Gordon.
“I wanted to give back to the community. I was playing high school ball just two years ago,” said Gordon. “Indiana’s a place that gets good recognition and I wanted to be there to give other high school players that recognition.”
In addition to high school athletes coming together to play with and against one another, the Super Shootout organization also gives athletes scholarship opportunities and clinics open to Indiana and surrounding state athletes to shine in front of the country’s top colleges and universities.
Carr, also a former Indianapolis basketball player, states this year’s game is not only going to be presented by one of Indianapolis’ finest players, Gordon, is also one for the history books and it will simply be a great day for basketball.
“You’re getting to see the top players in the city and county in one gym. You don’t get to see that often. You’re talking about a good game,” said Carr.
For more information call (317) 430-8331 or visit www.SuperShootout.org.
2009 Eric Gordon Super Shootout Player of the Year
City Boys Player of the Year: Errick Peck – Cathedral
City Girls Player of the Year: Cierra Dotson – Northwest
County Boys Player of the Year: Patrick Bade – Franklin Central
County Girls Player of the Year: Alex Bentley – Ben Davis
2009 Eric Gordon Super Shootout Coach of the Year
City Boys Coach: Scott Hicks – Cathedral
City Girls Coach: Rick Risinger- Heritage Christian
County Boys Coach: Doug Mitchell – North Central
County Girls Coach: Stan Benge – Ben Davis
The 2009 Eric Gordon Super Shootout
All-Star game
When: Saturday, April 25
Where: Warren Central High School Fieldhouse, 9500 E 16th St.
Prices: $7 in advance, $10 at the door. Group tickets, $5 each for 20 or more, are available by e-mailing orders to GroupTickets@supershootout.org.
Time: Doors open at 11:30 a.m. with the Girls’ game tipping off at noon; boys will play at 2 p.m.
Girls’ game will feature the Boys’ Slam Dunk Spectacular and 3-Point Shootout and the Boys’ game will feature the Girls’ 3-Point Shootout and Hot-Shot Super Shoot.
Celebrity Guests include:
Eric Gordon
L.A. Clippers
George Hill
San Antonio Spurs
Mike Conley
Memphis Grizzlies
Rodney Carney Minnesota Timberwolves
Gred Oden
Portland Trailblazers
Josh McRoberts
Indiana Pacers
Courtney Lee
Orlando Magic
