Another chance to impress colleges

By JOEY KNIGHT
Published March 9, 2007

TAMPA - More than 60 of the county's top boys and girls prep players will convene at Jefferson High tonight for the 22nd annual Wilkes and McHugh United Negro College Fund All-Star basketball game.

Action begins at 6 p.m. In addition to the boys and girls all-star games, the evening will feature a boys slam-dunk contest, boys and girls 3-point shootout and live entertainment.

Admission is $5, with all proceeds benefiting the United Negro College Fund.

According to a UNCF release, the event began more than two decades ago to provide a "last-resort opportunity" for young student-athletes to showcase their talents to college recruiters.

But at least two girls college signees, Academy of the Holy Names guard Catriana Messina (University of Tampa) and Riverview forward Ashley Milian (Saint Leo), are slated to play.

Fast Facts:

UNCF All-Star rosters

East Boys: Armwood - Jason Anthony; Bloomingdale - Tommy Brown, Rashad Simmons; Brandon - Mike Brown; East Bay - Rudy Jean; King - Josh Kinser, Treece Lynch; Middleton - Phillip Young; Newsome - Kevin Dunn, Justin Gist; Plant City - Jeff Knight, Tim Lovett; Riverview - Shelton Jones, Marquise Shorter; Tampa Bay Tech - Marcel Collins, Derrick Hernandez; Wharton - Omar Garcia, Unzo Givens, Leonard Simmons; Coach - Adrian Johnson, Tampa Bay Tech

West Boys: Blake - James Borders, Resha Brown; Chamberlain - Schuyler Gray; Jefferson - James Jones, Marcelino Rodriguez; Leto - Patrick Boyle, Luther St. Luis, Bryan R. Venzen; Plant - Ryan Brown, Lyndel DeVeaux, Ben Powers; Robinson - Chris Soriano; Coach - Todd Price, Leto

East Girls: Armwood - Asia Goodman, Alexis Walker; Cambridge - Amber James; East Bay - Taja Robinson; King - Shardrecka Collins, D'Arra Williams; Middleton - Ronesha Reid; Riverview - Belle Benitez, Ashley Milian, Marissa Trugilla; Tampa Bay Tech - Jerrany Tanner; Wharton - Alycia Honeyghon, Christine Raffoul; Coach - Jeff Pafunda, Armwood

West Girls: Alonso - Meranda Maley, Lisette Perez; Blake - Robyn Williams, Bernisha Wilson; Gaither - Aixita Del Toro; Hillsborough - Sara Trayner; Holy Names - Catriana Messina; Jefferson - Amani Edwards, Danielle Flowers, Gwen Jackson; Leto - Maryssa Clark; Plant - Alex Caro, Kiersten Hanna; Sickles - Stephanie Green; Coach - April Lindsey, Blake

[Last modified March 9, 2007, 00:52:28]