The 19th Annual Sun Stroke All V.I. Hoop Classic will be held on Saturday, April 15. There will be a Celebrity Basketball game beginning at 5 p.m. in the Ronald Charles Gym at St. Croix Central High School. There will be a Women’s High School All Star game at 6:30 p.m. and a Men’s High School All Star game beginning at 8 p.m.
The Celebrity Game will be highlighted by Brandon Royal of this year’s NBC “The Voice,” Paebak along with other Virgin Islands artists and media personalities.
The special guest of the evening will be the return of 2005 Pro Bowl selection and Crucian Hanik Milligan.
This tournament has been successfully used to showcase the best high school basketball players in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands since its inception. This year, Sun Stroke has solicited the services of Max Ivany of D1Nations from Arizona to provide professional evaluations of the players that could lead to scholarship opportunities.
In addition to Saturday night’s activities, there will be an Open Run at noon in the presence of Max Ivany for talented underclassmen who were not selected to the All Star game and players just out of high school. This emphasizes the purpose of the event, which is to give talented basketball players an opportunity for athletic scholarships.
The event is also fun; so in that vein, the Miami Heat mascot, Burnie, will perform, and there will be giveaways from the tournament’s primary sponsor: Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat.
This event has also highlighted the biggest names in V.I. music as well as the best basketball players in the territory. Two of the best young bands on St. Croix, Hypa Aktiv and In-Stylez, will work together to entertain the crowd in the post-game Jam Session that will end at midnight. The band that gets the crowd most involved will get a bonus. Admission for this event is $10. Everything is covered by the event organizers at no cost to the players and coaches.
The event is sponsored in part by Tim Duncan, Adidas, The Department of Education, Banco Popular, Bates Trucking, United Sporting Goods and Sun Stroke Promotions.
This year’s High School All Star selections include:
St. Croix Women’s Selections
Jendeyi Williams, St. Croix Central High
Rashanika Williams, St. Croix Central High
Jahnyra Donovan, St. Croix Central High
Ah’Zyah Lake, St. Croix Central High
Sydney Fleming, Good Hope Country Day
Parissa Terrell, St. Croix Educational Complex
Sedeja Fieulleteau, St. Croix Central High
Shanyce Horsford, Educational Complex
Breyanna Roberts, Educational Complex
Shania Barnes, Central High
Coached by: Head Coach Donald Bough, Central High
St. Thomas Women’s Selections
Jahnia Simmonds, Ivanna Eudora Kean High
Nailea Nicolas, Ivanna Eudora Kean High
Delma Baron, Ivanna Eudora Kean High
Shauliqua Fahie, Elmore Stoutt High (Tortola)
De’Jah Vigilant, Charlotte Amalie High
Tecoya Martin, Ivanna Eudora Kean High
Rhea Benjamin, Charlotte Amalie High
Taylor Robinson, Antilles School
Replaced by Da’Jah Vigilante, Charlotte Amalie High
Taria Southwell, Charlotte Amalie High
Laresha Martin, Eudora Kean
Coach Derek Heyliger, Eudora Kean
St. Croix Male Selections
Shakeem Alcindor, Educational Complex
Zion Jones, Central High
Kahdeem Horsford, Educational Complex
Ashoy Simmonds, Central High
Christian Rassmussen, Good Hope Country Day
Jakeem Auguste, Central High
Diante Brooks, Good Hope Country Day
Trejon Ali, Central High
James Richardson, Educational Complex
Darian Dowling, Home School
Replaced by Kimani McIntosh, Central High
Coach Earl Baker, Good Hope Country Day
St. Thomas Male Selections
Devon Freeman, Eudora Kean
Akil Greig, Eudora Kean
Dwayne Lynch, Charlotte Amalie
Emari Howe, Eudora Kean
Replaced by Terrell Lake, Charlotte Amalie
Cam Newton, Antilles School
Clail Dieudonne, Charlotte Amalie
Issa Tatem, Charlotte Amalie
Lestin Wiltshire, Elmore Stoutt
Ty Massaquoi, Gifft Hill
Joshua Farell, Antilles School