Jordan All-American Classic Game Notebook

A takeover in victory by Derrick Rose, a career pro and one of the quickest players in years

April 22, 2007

PLAYER PROFILES: Gary Johnson (Texas) I Durrell Summers (Michigan State) I Derrick Rose (Memphis)

Eric Gordon (Indiana) I Austin Freeman (Georgetown) I Chris Wright (Georgetown)

Chandler Parsons (Florida) I Nick Calathes (Florida) I Donte Greene (Syracuse)

Patrick Patterson I Jeff Jordan I Jerryd Bayless (Arizona)

THE WEEK: Who's Next I Playing in MSG I Favorite Jordans

Practice Highlights I More Practice I Dunk Contest

Donte Greene (Syracuse) and Corey Fisher (Villanova) were named MVPs of their respective teams in a game that saw the Yellow squad close out and protect its game-long lead despite a run from the Royal with the game on the line.

Greene finished with 20 points and Fisher had 12 with 10 assists.

"We had difficulty with their four exceptional guards and they killed us on the offensive glass," said the Royal team's coach Steve Smith of Oak Hill Academy (Va.).

Fisher, Derrick Rose (12 points - Memphis), Eric Gordon (16 points - Indiana) and Austin Freeman (16 points - Georgetown) combined for 56 points and 14 assists for the Yellow.

The Royal team took their first lead with just over three minutes to play, 111-110. Jerryd Bayless' (Arizona) super reverse alley-oop finish in front of the rim on a delivery from Chris Wright (Georgetown) put them up. Corey Fisher came back with a crossover on Bayless and a zip pass inside to Rose that deflected off him and into the hands of Kyle Singler (Duke) for two. Bayless came back with two free throws to put the Royal back up one, 114-113, but from there on out it was Rose who took control of the game on both ends and Singler scoring a big basket with contact that took him to the line for a good free throw, eventually giving the Yellow command en route to its 127-119 win.

Plenty of young pros came out to support: Chris Paul, Rudy Gay, Andre Iguodala, Charlie Villanueva and JR Smith.

As did the college players: DJ Strawberry (Maryland), Curtis Sumpter (Villanova), Herbert Hill (Providence) and Bobby Maze (Oklahoma).

Within The Game

Just a gifted player who deserves a bite of the tongue for what's ahead in his basketball career - just say it can all come to him. Rose didn't necessarily get wherever he wanted although he could have. Instead, he didn't force the issue and picked his spots. He posted up and scored, went by the bigs when the mismatch came, and delivered it in transition at times where his teammates had room or time to finish. But his rebounding and defense was at a premium in the final three minutes when he tore it off the rim and pushed it ahead for a transition basket on two occasions, and picked off two passes to the sidelines with one he saved while avoiding the line and then tossing ahead of the pack for Robinson's windmill sealer. A 12 point, 10 rebound, 5 assist and 2 steal effort tonight.

In what wasn't an overly physical game there were two instances that stood out and they came down the stretch: Donte Greene shaking free of Kyle Singler's hold of him and Blake Griffen (Oklahoma) posting and re-posting Patrick Patterson with the two trading positions with arms-flying and some hard-planting into each other. Some good fire from some passionate players.

Jeff Robinson (Memphis) and Austin Freeman each had big personal runs, with Freeman scoring six buckets in a row toward the end of the second half. Robinson hit consecutive three pointers and ran the floor for a dunk in transition, finishing with 17 points. Both are in ideal college spots.

Patterson showed one of his trademark up-and-downs when he scored on a power dunk inside and got back to catch a Yellow break-away with a block. He plays with fire and showed good reflexes with a quick interior pass and quick catch-and-dunks. Not just a huge get because it's spring - -he's a program staple as a fall signee. Finished with 12 points and 12 boards.

Kyle Singler was forced to defend the post, guarding 7-foot-3 Kosta Koufos much of the week and tonight. He played through it and tonight only had one foul, along with 17 points and six rebounds. Koufos went for 14 points and eight boards.

The Wright boys went to work, with Dayton's Chris scoring 10 points and 10 rebounds with a follow-jam to start the game that got the show started and made its mark on everybody post game as well. The Georgetown Chris had 14 points and nine assists bulling his way to the bucket.

The MVPs earned recognition, with Greene hitting a memorable face-up of Singler and sticking one from deep in his face while Fisher ripped through traffic and hit all the Royal guards with his crossover and deliveries right after the breakdown.

Notes

-On the team shoes...

"I think they're hot. I like the XXIIs and I like the color we got, with the CP25 on mine," Chandler Parsons (Florida) said.

But how was he going to get his hands on the Black & Yellow colorway?

"If Jai (Lucas) comes to Florida next year I might just have to steal his," he said.

-Pick Your Poison

Eric Gordon and Derrick Rose are summer legends for what they did last year as a tandem, but if Gordon had to play three-on-three with the guys at the game to pick from?

"I'd take Derrick and Kyle Singler," he said.

-Three Highlights

Derrick Rose

-Chris Wright's tip-dunk in the opening minutes

-Chris Wright's lay-up line

-Jerryd Bayless' reverse alley-oop slam

Chris Wright (Georgetown)

-Bayless' dunk

-Donte Greene's dunk contest

-Nick Calathes and Kyle Singler's shootout at the three-point contest

Austin Freeman

-His half-court shot

-Bayless' dunk

-Jeff Robinson's windmill