The rosters for the 2020 Hoopsfix All-Star Classic Class of 2020 game have been revealed, despite its cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The annual event – supported by Nike and 5or6 – would have brought together the top male and female junior players of their generation to play in three All-Star games across two days (find the Underclassmen game rosters here and Under-19 Women’s game rosters here).
With countless national titles and a wealth of international experience between them, the Class of 2020 game would have shined a spotlight on players who are heading to university next season.
In a testament to the level of talent that would have been on display, 17 of the 24 players have signed for athletic scholarships in the US next season.
“Though we are absolutely gutted to have had to cancel the event this year, we felt announcing the selected players is a small gesture to show recognition of those who would have been suiting up,” said Sam Neter, owner of Hoopsfix.
“Despite the event not happening, we will class those selected this year as alumni as with every other year, and they will be listed on the new website – launching soon – with player profiles.
“Congratulations to all those selected, and massive respect to all the clubs, coaches and people who contributed to their development. We look forward to following their progress and development in the coming years.”
The selection is headlined by no less than six NCAA Division One bound players, with GB U18 Josh Ogundele, signed to Iowa after completing prep school at Worcester Academy, Seattle-bound Vasja Pandza from The Hotchkiss School, Drexel-bound Amari Williams from Myerscough, Barking Abbey’s Theo Hughes, heading to Northern Colorado, Nebraska-bound Eduardo Andre, and his former Southwark Legends teammate, East Tennessee State bound Richard Amaefule.
Tomiwa Sulaiman, last year’s Underclassmen game MVP, returns, preparing for a season at Indiana University of PA, along with Eljay Morris who has just completed high school at Governer’s Academy in the US, whilst Matthew Marsh, who has just made the switch to French side ASVEL after being with Barcelona for two seasons, makes the selection as the final internationally-based representative.
All-EABL First Team, Charnwood’s Blaize Sagna, who just missed out on an EABL MVP award this season, heading to JUCO Howard College next year, makes the cut, along with his backcourt running mate Greg Durand, who will be joining him at Howard.
Fresh off his co-EABL Championship season, where he picked up EABL First-Team honours, Bradley Kaboza gets a second selection, along with his Myerscough teammate, big man, Sanmi Fajana.
All-EABL First team teammates David Chive from JMA, Ben Winter from Ipswich, and Barking Abbey’s Louis Norton join the rosters, along with Norton’s BA teammates Chris Feeney – heading to NCAA D2 Flager College, and big man Tom Sowoolu, heading to Oklahoma Baptist University.
Canterbury’s Chester Morrell – heading to Loughborough University this season – one of the best shooters in the country, makes the selection, along with fellow sharpshooter Lewis McGlasson from Myerscough, heading to Blinn College this season.
He will be joined at Blinn by his 6’11” Myerscough teammate Sam Chigbo, who also makes the cut.
Meanwhile, a trio of All-EABL Second team members in point guard Charlie Brown, the EABL Northern Defensive Player of the Year, JMA’s Asher Ndah, who also saw minutes with Reading in NBL Division 1 men this season and is heading to Canada’s University of Regina, and Itchen guard, Taiga Forster, who heads to Spain to Canarias Basketball Academy this season.
Name, Height, Position, 2019-20 Programme
Team Black
David Chive, 6’0”, Guard, John Madejski Academy
Chris Feeney, 6’2″, Guard, Barking Abbey
Bradley Kaboza, 6’2″, Guard, Myerscough
Charlie Brown, 6’3″, Guard, Derby
Lewis McGlasson, 6’4″, Guard, Myerscough
Asher Ndah, 6’4″, Guard, John Madejski Academy
Eljay Morris, 6’4″, Guard/Forward, Governor’s Academy (USA)
Richard Amaefule, 6’9″, Forward, Bishop Lynch (USA)
Sanmi Fajana, 6’8″, Forward, Myerscough
Amari Williams, 6’10”, Forward/Centre, Myerscough
Josh Ogundele, 6’11”, Forward/Centre, Worcester Academy (USA)
Matt Marsh, 7’0”, Forward/Centre, FC Barcelona (Spain)
Team White
Blaize Sagna, 6’2″, Guard, Charnwood
Louis Norton-Cuffy, 5’10”, Guard, Barking Abbey
Ben Winter, 6’3″, Guard, Ipswich
Chester Morrell, 6’2″, Guard, Canterbury
Taiga Forster, 6’1″, Guard, Itchen
Greg Durand, 6’5″, Guard, Charnwood
Vasja Pandza, 6’8”, Guard, The Hotchkiss School (USA)
Tomiwa Sulaiman, 6’6” Forward, West Nottingham Academy (USA)
Tom Sowoolu, 6’8″, Forward, Barking Abbey
Eduardo Andre, 6’10”, Forward, AZ Compass Prep School (USA)
Sam Chigbo, 6’11”, Forward/Centre, Myerscough
Theo Hughes, 7’0″, Centre, Barking Abbey
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