Kentucky / Ohio All-Star Game

[skip-zip]

@skip-zip, you are correct that Ohio's roster for this game is clearly not as loaded with top 10 and top 20 recruits as Kentucky's, at least by the most recent Bolus rankings. I'm not sure that anyone without direct knowledge of this game and its history can do much more than speculate. I'll speculate that all-star games between adjacent states typically generate more interest close to the border between the two states. The game is played in Kentucky just south of Cincinnati. The gym it's held in seats only 1,200, so it's not a huge spectator event. Kentucky's main basketball hotbeds, the Louisville and Lexington metropolitan areas, are both reasonably close to the Ohio border. The Cleveland area and all of northern Ohio are pretty far removed from the Kentucky border. Many of Ohio's top HS senior recruits (Marc Loving, Mark Donnal, Nigel Hayes, etc.) are from northern Ohio. It may just be that the game is bigger for Kentucky than it is for Ohio. Maybe someone else will have more specific information.

Thanks for providing a little more information.

Yes, it would seem that geographic proximity may be the only factor that's getting players to travel to this game. There must be little incentive for the top recruits to make that the trip to this particular game. My first thought would be that any major recruit would jump at the chance to showcase their talent and test themselves. It could be a domino effect, whereby they see that other major players aren't going, so they decide to forego the trip themselves. What a shame.

[LZIp]

Thanks for providing a little more information.

Yes, it would seem that geographic proximity may be the only factor that's getting players to travel to this game. There must be little incentive for the top recruits to make that the trip to this particular game. My first thought would be that any major recruit would jump at the chance to showcase their talent and test themselves. It could be a domino effect, whereby they see that other major players aren't going, so they decide to forego the trip themselves. What a shame.

The best players probably play in higher profile games (McDonalds All American). Pretty sure there is a limit to the number of all-star games you can participate in as well.

[ZachTheZip]

Pretty sure there is a limit to the number of all-star games you can participate in as well.

I believe it's two.

[LZIp]

I believe it's two.

I know football is two and I imagine it would be the same for others.

[johnnyzip84]

I think a better question MIGHT be, why do any of the top recruits, the vast majority of whom know where they are going to college already, bother playing in a game like this? What, other than possibly jilting the school to which you're currently committed, is the motivation? What happens when a kid gets hurt in one of these games? Do schools pull scholarships in these situations? Perhaps I'm underestimating how much some of these kids want to represent their state versus another.

[LZIp]

I think a better question MIGHT be, why do any of the top recruits, the vast majority of whom know where they are going to college already, bother playing in a game like this? What, other than possibly jilting the school to which you're currently committed, is the motivation? What happens when a kid gets hurt in one of these games? Do schools pull scholarships in these situations? Perhaps I'm underestimating how much some of these kids want to represent their state versus another.

Good question.

Why do people play in the Army All American games, Under Armour games, McDonald's games, North-South Ohio All-star games, Big 33 game,etc, etc. Maybe because its an honor to be selected.