MLK Classic showcases top talent
An A-list of Broward girls' basketball players headline the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Classic starting Friday at Blanche Ely.
BY FABIAN LYON
flyon@MiamiHerald.com
Take the best players in Florida outside of Broward County and they would have a hard time matching up against the A-list scheduled to compete in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Girls' Classic starting Friday at Blanche Ely.
The Broward ''dream team'' starts with American Heritage's dynamic tandem of LSU-signee Bianca Lutley, ranked No. 24 in the 2009 class by ESPN Hoopgurlz, and Sandra Garcia. Together, they have led the Patriots to a school-best No. 2 rank in 3A.
As her national ranking indicates, the 5-11 Lutley is considered the most talented player in Florida. She uses her strength to overpower smaller guards under the basket and can beat a double-team with pin-point passing. The 6-2 Garcia, who has signed with Wake Forest, has a near-unstoppable post game to go with her improved range beyond the three-point arc.
South Broward (ranked No. 2 in 6A), which takes on Heritage in a highly anticipated rematch Saturday, have their own talented inside-out side combo in 6-4 junior center Alicia DeVaughn, the No. 2 ranked junior in Florida, and sharp-shooting junior guard Krystal Saunders.
Two point guards alone worth the price of admission is Dillard junior Dawnn Maye, who leads the Panthers (ranked No. 2 in 5A) against Orlando Bishop Moore (No. 1 in 4A) in a prime-time matchup at 7 p.m. Saturday and Parkway Academy's Erica Wheeler, a Miami Herald Broward two-time Class 1A-3A Player of the year.
Maye's specialty is running the break and finding teammates with a wide array of passes while the silky smooth Wheeler, a Rutgers signee, takes a no-nonsense attitude to the court and can finish in traffic with the best of them.
Wheeler will go head-to-head against Ely's Joanna Harden in one of several tantalizing matchups throughout the two-day event. Harden, a Florida Atlantic signee, brings versatility and toughness to the guard position as she matches skills and wits with Wheeler and the reigning Class 3A state champions Saturday.
Nova's charge to the No. 4 rank in 5A has been led by 6-2 center Jassany Williams. A rising prospect in the 2010 class, Williams is very athletic for her size and plays with a high intensity motor. That combination should pose matchup problems for Hialeah on Friday.
Hollywood Christian, a rising power in 2A, have their own rising star in freshman guard Ariah Osceola. The Eagles enjoy a No. 2 rank in the state polls and Osceola's explosiveness in the open court is a big reason why.
IF YOU GO
What: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Girls Classic.
When: Friday starting 4 p.m., Saturday starting 1 p.m.
Where: Blanche Ely High School
Admission: $8 each day.
Schedule: Friday, 4 p.m.: Dr. Krop vs. Hollywood Christian; 5:30 p.m.: Hialeah vs. Nova; 70 p.m.: Miami Norland vs. Delray Atlantic. Saturday: 1: Miami Pace vs. Boynton Beach; 2:30: Rockledge vs. Pompano Beach; 4: Palm Beach Central vs. Miramar; 5:30: American Heritage vs. South Broward; 7: Orlando Bishop Moore vs. Dillard; 8:30: Parkway Academy vs. Blanche Ely.
Players to watch: Erica Wheeler, G, Parkway Academy; Ariah Osceola, G, Hollywood Christian; Jassany Williams, PF/C, Nova; Sandra Garcia, C, Bianca Lutley, G/F, American Heritage; Dawnn Maye, PG, Dillard, Joanna Harden, G/F, Blanche Ely.
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