It was an all-star game of runs as the guys had fun but, still competed and looked to win. But let's go back some and prior to the game, Wesley Yates of FAB 50 ranked Beaumont United (Beaumont, Texas), who’s going to Washington to play for Mike Hopkins, took the Red Bull Run The Racks 3-point contest crown, beating out New Mexico Lobo pledge Tru Washington of AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) in the final round. Next was our highly anticipated slam dunk contest and Coen Carr (Legacy Early College in South Carolina) and Jahki Howard (OTE) put on a dunking exhibition. Just like the game, we needed to go extra rounds to decide a champion and Carr, who will be attending Michigan State, showed extraterrestrial vertical pop. Now, let's get to the game and a breakdown of our nine standouts.

Coen Carr, 6’7 Forward - Team Future (Michigan State Signee): Coen saw his stock grow from this past week as he dunked everything…. And I mean everything! During the game, he broke the rebounding record of Jordan Bell of Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) with 16 rebounds in 2013 with 18 boards himself (including 12 in the first half) to go with 23 points. We will hear more about him during his tenure at East Lansing, Mich. Carr's early play set the tone for the entire game.

Justin Edwards, 6’7 Wing - Team Future (Kentucky Signee): A lot to like about Edwards. Positional size, length to deflect passes and can score the basketball in a multitude of ways. He showcased his versatility on the offensive end and looks to bring some of his North Philly toughness to Lexington.

Jeremy Fears, 6’0 PG - Team Future (Michigan State Signee): Jeremy came with it from an intensity standpoint. Competed on the defensive end, made plays for others and showed off his explosiveness jumping off two feet. A natural leader that’s about winning, Fears finished with 11 points and 9 assists and the win. His defensive effort and intensity down the stretch made a difference and was refreshing to see in an all-star game setting.

Mikey Price, 6’2 CG - Team Future (Undecided): Hardworking guard that can make an impact on both ends. Defended, made open perimeter shots and got downhill. Liked his constant assertiveness with the ball in his hands and he finished with 21 points. 

Marcus Adams, 6’8 Wing-Forward - Team Elite (Kansas Signee): First time I got to watch him live and Adams’ game popped out to me during the practices. His journey to a record-breaking 44 points showed him utilizing his broad frame on drives to finish, connecting on step-back triples, jumpers in the fast break and the ability to attack closeouts and finish. 

Wesley Yates III, 6’4 SG - Team Future (Washington Signee): Wesley can get hot quick from deep and on Saturday he showed once he’s feeling it from three point land, Yates needs little space to launch and connect. The Beaumont, Texas native finished the game with 26 points and I project we will see performances like this during his tenure in Seattle, Wash.

Andrew Meadow, 6’6 SF - Team Elite (Boise State Signee): Leon Rice got him a quality player. Meadows fits right in with his play style, as he has good size for a wing, high IQ, plus motor and can shoot the ball from 3-point land. Andrew was efficient from the field (9-14 FG) on his way to 22 points and six rebounds.

Jared McCain, 6’2 CG - Team Elite (Duke Signee): Jared’s performance wasn’t talked about much, but he had a quiet 22-point, 8-rebound performance for Team Elite. He did struggle a little bit early with his shooting but he steadily grabbed rebounds, ignited breaks and made deep threes from the 2nd quarter on. He's someone that has grown as a playmaker and overall scorer throughout his high school career and impacts game with his strength and IQ.

AJ Johnson, 6’5 PG - Team Elite (NBL): Heading to the Australian Pro League, Johnson will play for the Illawarra Hawks. The same one Josh Giddy & Lamelo Ball played on. At the game he showed his tight handle, passing vision, finishing and shooting upside. Johnson finished the game with 17 points and I still don’t think he has scratched the surface of his ceiling.

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The 2023 Boys Ballislife All-American Game begins at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET and is preceded by The BIL Slam Dunk Contest and 3-Point Shootout presented by Red Bull beginning at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET and the inaugural Girls Ballislife All-American Game at 2 p.m. PT. There will be a FREE STREAM of the girls game on YouTube. For the dunk contest and 3-point Shootout free stream link CLICK HERE. For the boys free stream link CLICK HERE. ???

The 10th Annual Ballislife All-American Game (BILAAG) presented by Crossover Culture will feature many of the nation’s top high school boys basketball players in Cerritos, Calif. The national high school all-star game is set to take place May 6 at Cerritos College and will be lived streamed for FREE.?

A plethora of the nation’s best boys high school basketball stars are scheduled to participate in the annual event, including one who some national scouts feel is the best player in the country: Kentucky-bound Justin Edwards of FAB 50 No. 13 Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia, Pa.). 2013 Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Basketball Player of the Year Jared McCain of FAB 50 No. 23 Centennial (Corona, Calif.) will be playing in front of his vast local fan base and headlines the California participants.

The Ballislife All-American game will feature thee Michigan State recruits: Coen Carr of Legacy Early College (Greenville, S.C.), Jeremy Fears of Joliet West (Joliet, Ind.) and Gehrig Normand of Birdville (North Richland Hills).

“We’re excited to partner with our sponsor Crossover Culture to produce the most exciting and fan-friendly high school basketball all-star game in the country,” said Ballislife President Matt Rodriguez. “Not only is Crossover Culture delivering quality footwear to participants, we’re also grateful for the contributions of Red Bulls, the official 3-point contest sponsor, and grateful for our loyal fans after a three-year hiatus.”

For the first time ever, the event will feature a Ballislife All-American Game for girls. The girls game will tip at 5 pm ET and the Slam Dunk and 3-Point Shootout presented by Red Bull will take place at 7 pm ET. The highly-anticipated slam dunk contest will include Carr, Jahki Howard, Jason Jackson and Trey Parker. The 3-Point Shootout will include the top three boys and girls scores from all participants. ? ??

Past BILAAG MVPs include NBA players Collin Sexton (2017), Lonzo Ball (2016), Zach Lavine (2013), Donovan Mitchell (2015), Jordan Bell (2013) plus MLB pitcher Amir Garrett (2011). Other participants include Trae Young (Hawks), Donovan Mitchell (Cavs) and Dejounte Murray (Hawks).

This will be the first time the event takes place since 2019 because of COVID-19 restrictions in Los Angeles County.

General admission tickets for the BILAAG and Slam Dunk Contest are $15 each (plus an administrative fee) and VIP/Courtside seats range from $60-$65 (plus an administrative fee).

For ticket purchasing, ticket discounts and VIP details visit: ballislifeallamerican.com.?Here are some ticket promo codes for your convenience:

For $5 off tickets use the code: BIL5OFF

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The team rosters for the players scheduled to participate in the first annual Ballislife All-American girls game are announced below.

ORANGE/TEAM ELITE (GIRLS)

BLUE/TEAM FUTURE (GIRLS)

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The team rosters for the players scheduled to participate in the 10th annual boys game are announced below.

ORANGE/TEAM ELITE (BOYS)

BLUE/TEAM FUTURE (BOYS)

RELATED: Ticket Info?| Game Record Book | Game Alumni?| View Complete 2018 Game ?|?View Complete 2017 Game |?View Complete 2016 Game | View Complete 2015 Game?| View Complete 2014 Game?

About Ballislife All-American?

The Ballislife All-American Game was created in 2011 with the goal to bring a credible All-American type event to the West Coast with the goal of selecting the most deserving players regardless of geography, mainstream player rankings, or shoe affiliation. Past BILAAG participants include NBA players Collin Sexton (2017), Lonzo Ball (2016), Zach Lavine (2013), Donovan Mitchell (2015), Jordan Bell (2013) plus MLB pitcher Amir Garrett (2011). Other participants include Dejounte Murray, Mo Bamba, Stanley Johnson, Kelly Oubre, Tyler Dorsey, Thon Maker, Tyler Ulis, Marquese Chriss, Isaiah Briscoe, Kevon Looney, Nick Johnson, Jabari Brown, Cliff Alexander, Christian Wood, Jordan Adams, Dwayne Bacon, Jalen Adams, Derrick Jones, Malik Beasley and more.

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We now know who is going to play in end-of-the season events and just under 20 percent of the teams in this week's FAB 50 National Team Rankings powered by www.ebooksnet.com are still going and looking to close strong.

Among the state champs who wrapped up their season this weekend include Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division 4 champ Richmond Heights (Ohio), which finished unbeaten and as the state's top ranked team with a 70-26 stomping of Convoy Crestview (Convoy, Ohio) on Sunday afternoon. The Spartans led 31-22 at the half, but completely blew open the game with a massive third quarter run, as the program won its second consecutive state crown to move up six spots in this week's rankings. Dorian Jones, one of the better sophomores (2025) in the Midwest, went bonkers from 3-point range and nearly outscored Convoy Crestview by himself, making 7-of-10 3-pointers and finishing with 25 points.

One of the two newcomers is OHSAA D1 champ Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio), which took down defending D1 champ Pickerington Central (Pickerington, Ohio) on Sunday evening, 53-47, at the University of Dayton. Senior Logan Vowles led the way offensively for Hoban with 17 points, while senior Will Scott Jr. (13 points) and freshman Sam Greer (12 points) also hit double figures. In a game where points were at a premium, Vowles made five of the game's 10 3-pointers. Offensive rebounds were also a key to the game and Vowles and Greer came up with a combined nine, as the Knights grabbed 14 offensive rebounds to Pick Central's 11, even though the defending champions held the rebounding advantage by one (32-31).

Pick Central was looking to finish FAB 50 ranked for the second consecutive season, but had a rough go offensively, making only 3-of-16 3-point attempts and 4-of-7 free throws. Ohio Mr. Basketball Devin Royal scored a team-high 15 points, but made only 5-of-15 shot attempts.

Up three spots this week is No. 37 Warren Central (Bowling Green, Ky.), which only lost one game all season and captured the coveted UK HealthCare Sweet 16 title with a 64-60 victory over defending Kentucky High School Athletics Association (KHSAA) Sweet 16 champ George Rogers Clark (Winchester, Ky.) at Rupp Arena. In the single elimination, winner-take-all format, Warren Central looked to erase some of the painful memories of last year's final, when George Rogers Clark defeated the Dragons, 43-42, as a missed free throw late was a key factor in the outcome.

This time around, junior Kade Unseld hit two clutch free throws with 8.1 seconds remaining to seal with win for coach Will Unseld, his father. Unseld, who had a 26-point effort at the Sweet 16, was one of three Warren Central players to finish the championship game with 17 points. The others were Damarion Walkup and Omari Glover, both seniors. The Dragons' only other state crown came in 2004, when it won their last 21 games after seven regular season losses to finished No. 35 in the FAB 50 that season.

The two highest ranked teams looking to win state titles this week are unbeaten and No. 5 Ben Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.) and No. 11 Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia, Pa.). Ben Davis will play bubble club Kokomo (Ind.) on March 25 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) Class 4A state crown. Kokomo knocked off previous No. 22 Penn (Wishawaka, Ind.), 58-57, in the state semifinals. Imhotep Charter, meanwhile, is gunning for its second consecutive Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class 5A state crown. It will play Archbishop Ryan (Philadelphia, Pa.), the club that knocked off previous No. 41 Radnor (Radnor, Pa.) in the state quarterfinals, in the semifinal on March 20. The state championship game is set for March 24.

Teams marked with an asterisk by their won-loss record are still playing, including the six state champions that will participate in the second annual State Champions Invitational set for April 6-8 at McDonough Arena at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

No. 41 Curtis (University Place, Wash.) plays No. 20 Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.), with the winner of that game meeting No. 33 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) in one semifinal contest. No. 14 Sidwell Friends (DC) is already slated in the other semifinal and will take on the winner of No. 45 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) and bubble club Yazoo City (Yazoo City, Miss.). The SCI championship game is set for 12 pm ET on April 8.

RELATED:  2023 GEICO Nationals Field Announced |  Updated 2022-23 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker | |   

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

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RELATED: All-Time Mr. Basketball USA Winners?| Preseason?2022-23 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker?| How To Make A HS Version Of March Madness?

Just as there is no dominant team in this season's FAB 50 National Team Rankings powered by www.ebooksnet.com, there is no one dominant player in the country who outshines the rest as the latest Mr. Basketball USA Tracker powered by www.ebooksnet.com shows. The nation's elite individual talent has been identified, as far as having the most productive 2022-23 season is concerned, but among the 19 top national player of the year candidates there is no consensus as to whom is the best or most dominant.

Of the 19 candidates who appeared on the ballots of the 10-man Mr. Basketball USA Panel, eight received a first place (10 points) or second place vote (nine points). Six players earned at least one first place vote, with sophomore forward Cameron Boozer of FAB 50 No. 6 Columbus (Miami, Fla.) the top vote-getter with 70 overall points, besting USC-point senior point guard Isaiah Collier of FAB 50 No. 36 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) by two points and Kentucky-bound shooting guard D.J. Wagner of FAB 50 No. 10 Camden (N.J.) by eight points. Wagner was the leading vote-getter in the preseason (with 71 points) when garnered four of the 10 first place votes. He earned two in the latest voting, two second place votes and 62 total points.

The other candidates to receive first place are Texas-bound forward Ronald Holland of FAB 50 No. 4 Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas), Kentucky-bound Justin Edwards of Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Michigan State-bound forward Xavier Booker of Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.). Holland came in fourth place over all with 54 points, Edwards in fifth with 52 votes overall, while Booker appeared on two overall ballots, finishing first on one and third on the other for 18 total points.

Three things stand out with the voting results. One, Boozer is a sophomore and no tenth-grader has ever been named Mr. Basketball USA or a consensus national player of the year. Not Lew Alcindor, not LeBron James, no one, so the company Boozer is keeping is worth nothing. Two, Boozer's point total would represent a number significantly lower than the average total of the eventual annual honoree, who is often above 90 points overall. Not one single candidate, not even Boozer or Collier, appeared on all ten ballots. Three, the senior class still hasn't established a true pecking order and the ones who are most popular on social media, particularly Bronny James of Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) and Mikey Williams of San Ysidro (Calif.), did not receive any votes. James was named a McDonald's All-American, to the 13-man USA Team for the Nike Hoop Summit and is being pegged by ESPN as a 2024 NBA lottery pick.

One player who is certainly being rewarded for his senior season of high school is Oregon-bound point guard Jackson Shelstad of FAB 50 No. 20 West Linn (West Linn, Ore.). He did not appear on any preseason ballots, but appeared on four ballots this time around, including a second-place vote, for 25 overall points. Shelstad has been selected for the Nike Hoop Summit.

"With the obvious conclusion that this 2023 class has not met expectations, it is apparent that the creme of the current high school talent rests with several talented underclassmen with Cameron Boozer being exhibit A," said panel member Dinos Trigonis, Nothing But Net Magazine publisher and Pangos All-American Camp director. "While Boozer does not give max effort 100 percent of the time, his displays of dominance signals the arrival of a special player to track.

"What's also apparent here, as the voting results show, is the obvious disconnect between the day-to-day regional and local scouts and some of the national media, particularly ESPN. They have anointed players to "can't miss" status based on celebrity rather than accomplishment."

It's no secret that the 2023 class has been considered one of the weakest ones nationally in recent memory, in terms of NBA Draft prospects and projected collegiate impact. That is reflected in the voting totals of the latest Mr. Basketball USA Tracker. What is also apparent is the end-of-season playoff games and the national all-star circuit will hold as much importance as it has had in many seasons, in terms of individual accomplishment and honors and deciding whom are the best bets to standout at the next levels of the game.

This wide open Mr. Basketball USA race will be fun to track over the next month and a half.

Stay logged in to www.ebooksnet.com?to track the progress of the nation's top individual players and the nation’s Top teams.

Editor's Note: Click on the "+" sign next to each player's number to view how many first, second, third or fourth place votes he got and his overall point total.

Rank	Prev.	Name	High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
1	4	Cam Boozer (9)	Columbus (FL)	2	1	2	1	70
2	2	Isaiah Collier (9)	Wheeler (GA)	3	1	1	1	68
3	1	D.J. Wagner (8)	Cathedral (IN)	2	2	1	0	62
4	5T	Ronald Holland (7)	Duncanville (TX)	1	2	2	0	54
5	5T	Justin Edwards (7)	Imhotep Charter (PA)	1	2	0	2	52
6	8T	Cooper Flagg (5)	Montverde Academy (FL)	0	0	1	1	28
7	NR	Jackson Shelstad (4)	West Linn (OR)	0	1	0	0	25
8	10	Tre Johnson (4)	Lake Highlands (TX)	0	0	0	1	20
9	3	Xavier Booker (2)	Cathedral (IN)	1	0	1	0	18
10	11	Flory Budunga (2)	Kokomo (IN)	0	1	0	1	16
11T	11T	Jeremy Fears (2)	Joliet West (IL)	0	0	0	0	11
11T	NR	DeShawn Harris-Smith (1)	Paul VI (VA)	0	0	0	1	11
11T	21	Jared McCain (2)	Centennial (CA)	0	0	0	0	11
11T	19	Matas Buzelis (2)	Sunrise Christian (KS)	0	0	0	0	11
15	NR	Dylan Harper (1)	Don Bosco Prep (NJ)	0	0	1	0	8
16T	14	Aaron Bradshaw (1)	Camden (NJ)	0	0	0	1	7
16T	12T	Baye Fall (1)	Accelerated Schools (CO)	0	0	0	1	7
18	16T	Isaiah Elohim (1)	Sierra Canyon (CA)	0	0	0	0	6
19	8T	Mackenzie Mgbako (1)	Roselle Catholic (NJ)	0	0	0	0	5

About Mr. Basketball USA Tracker Panel
www.ebooksnet.com's panel of 10 experts, which includes five McDonald’s All-American selection committee members, casts its vote for the top national player of the year candidates. Each panelist lists his top seven candidates regardless of class. The votes are then tabulated on a 10-point scoring system with a first-place vote equaling 10 points, a second-place vote earning nine points and down to four points for a seventh-place vote. The number in parenthesis refers to the numbers of ballots on which a player appeared and previous rankings refers to position in last season's final tracker.

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In this piece we take a closer look at some of the best wings on the teams who to make the Top 15 cut in Ronnie's preseason FAB 50 rankings. Check the full player breakdowns below and make sure to dive further into each player in our?profiles database!

Chris Livingston

6'6"   -   SG   -   2022

Chris Livingston, No. 6 Oak Hill Academy - Livingston has an impressive combination of size, length, athleticism and off-the-bounce skill that you see in a high major college wing, which is obviously his projected level as he signed with Kentucky. The 6-foot-6, 200-pounder is an explosive leaper both in space and in traffic and uses that trait to finish above and through contact in the lane. While Livingston is best when getting out and filling the lane in transition, he has the ball skills to break down a defender in the half-court setting and get to the rim where he finishes with power and highlight-reel dunks.

Chris Bunch, No. 15 Wasatch Academy - Bunch is a smooth and explosive wing who uses his fluid three-point and mid-range shooting strokes to open up driving lanes. The 6-foot-7 Syracuse-signee has shown the ability initiate offense with the ball in his hands when needed, but is most effective in a fast break setting where he can slash his way to the bucket for an above-the-rim finish.

Dariq Whitehead, No. 1 Montverde - Whitehead has really nice feel and basketball instincts both on and off the ball. At 6-feet-6 with a strong 190-pound frame, the Duke-signee is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenders because of his first-step explosiveness and quick twitch athleticism. Whitehead is a relentless downhill attacker of the basket, but can also keep defenses honest with a smooth pull-up jumper and catch-and-shoot consistency from three-point range. Perhaps Whitehead’s ticket to being a long-term pro is his defensive potential on the wing. 

Dillon Mitchell, No. 1 Montverde - Mitchell is a freaky transition and vertical athlete whose length and explosiveness make him a poster dunk waiting to happen. At 6-feet-7 and a long, wiry 180 pounds, the Texas-bound wing is great when moving off of the ball and finding a weak spot in the defense where he can finish off a lob with a dunk. Mitchell is one of those high motor guys who rarely takes a play off, which will pair well with Chris Beard’s style of play at Texas.

Isaiah Elohim

6'4"   -   CG   -   2024

Isaiah Elohim, No. 9 Sierra Canyon - The 6-foot-5 wing will have to sit out until Dec. 27th for the Trailblazers due to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) transfer rules and when he’s eligible to play it will add another versatile offensive piece to a loaded Sierra Canyon Roster. Elohim is a smooth three-level scorer with advanced feel for the game. The surefire national recruit is just a sophomore, but already has a polished scoring package complete with deep three-point range and a sweet pull-up mid-range jumper.

Jarace Walker, No. 2 IMG Academy - Walker has a body and skill-set that’s kind of in that in-between space of a wing and power forward type of prospect. The 6-foot-8, 220-pounder is an athletic specimen who dominates the offensive and defensive boards. He has the ball skills and basketball IQ to push the break and make a good decision and can get to the rim off of dribble-drives for power finishes. The Houston-signee can hit face-up mid-range shots, but it will be interesting to see how he’s used at the next level and if he can develop a consistent perimeter shot.

Jett Howard, No. 2 IMG Academy - Howard will be heading to play for his father, Juwan, at Michigan and really has the type of game you’d expect from a former NBA player’s son. At 6-feet-7, the senior is a lethal three-point shooter both off the catch and off the bounce, has the ball handling, vision and passing IQ to initiate offense if needed, and is a multi-positional offensive player who can create mismatches on the court.

Justin Edwards, No. 10 Imhotep Charter - The Top-15 ranked junior is one of those guys who is just wired to score. At 6-feet-7 with a long, rangy frame, Edwards is a crafty left-hander who looks to break defenders down off the dribble and get into his mid-range scoring package. The five-star prospect is also a catch-and-shoot threat from behind the arc and is especially consistent from the either wing or either corner. 

MacKenzie Mgbako, No. 11 Gill St. Bernard - Mgbako is such a tough cover for opposing defenses because of his versatility on the offensive end. The 6-foot-7 wing is a three-level scorer who hits three-point shots from multiple spots and ranges, but can also hit fadeaway jumpers at the mid-range level or take a straight-line drive and finish around the cup. What sets Mgbako apart from others in the 2023 class is his feel with his back to the basket and ability to capitalize on a size advantage in the post.

Noah Batchelor, No. 2 IMG Academy - Batchelor is probably the most pure shooter on this list. The 6-foot-6 Memphis-bound senior is one of those guys opponents try to run off the line because he doesn’t need much time or space to get his shot off. With his size, combined with his quick release and fundamental shooting mechanics, Batchelor is the perfect floor spreading wing at the next level. 

Scotty Middleton, No. 3 Sunrise Christian Academy - Middleton is a long, wiry, bouncy and shifty wing who has great scoring feel. The 6-foot-6 junior has a consistent catch-and-shoot three-point shoot, can attack bad closeouts and score above the rim, or create offensive looks for himself off the dribble. One of Middleton’s best attributes is the way he gets out and runs in transition, helping his team get an easy bucket on the break.

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