by Alex Schwartz

Sorry for the delay in posting. I was busy all weekend at the Providence Hoop Group Jam Fest (check out my audio blogs on Roundball Recruiting for info, though coverage will be here soon), but now I have some time to finally do some writing on the 2009 Jordan Brand Classic, which included an International Game, a Regional Game, and an All-American Game. I was able to watch a fair amount of the International contest, and much of the next two games as well. In addition, I caught up with a number of players after the Regional and All-American Games. Here's a rundown on the 09 Jordan Classic:

- Some of the people who I saw that made their way to Madison Square Garden for the event were move producer Spike Lee, rapper Fat Joe, NJ Nets executives Rod Thorn and Kiki Vandeweghe, former NY Knick Allan Houston, OKC Thunder Kevin Durant, CHA Bobcat DJ Augustin, Howard Garfinkel of Five-Star Basketball Camp, North Carolina-signee Dexter Strickland '09, Lance Stephenson '09, Jayon James '10, Isaiah Morton '11, Dean Kowalski '09, Josh Daniell '10, and Kevin Boyle, Jr. '10. In addition, rapper Akon performed at halftime of the All-American Game.

- The lone committed player in the International Game was Ismaila Douda '12, who has pledged to Miami.

- The only two school with multiple recruits in the Regional Game were George Mason with two, Paris Bennett '09 and Sherrod Wright '09—he decided the week before the game—and Rutgers with Austin Johnson '09 and Dane Miller '09, though Miller did not play.

- In the Regional Game, four players did not play, for three different reasons: Maryland-bound James Padgett '09 (already played in two all-star games), uncommitted Keith Spellman '09 (injury, though he was the only one of the four to go to the game),  Pitt-pledge Lamar Patterson '09 (attended the Senior Showcase in FL instead), and future Rutgers Scarlet Knight Dane Miller (injury).

- In the All-American Game, the following schools all had multiple commits playing, based off where the players were headed on game day: Duke (two), Kentucky (two), Oklahoma (two), Texas (two), and Villanova (two).

- Including all three games, the following schools all had multiple commits involved in the event: Duke (two), George Mason (two), Kentucky (two), Miami (two), Oklahoma (two), Pitt (two), Rutgers (two), Texas (two), and Villanova (two).

- The lone player who attended the Regional Game but did not play was Keith Spellman of Thomas Jefferson (NY), and I had the opportunity to chat with the native New Yorker after the game. "[I have] torn ligaments in my spine. . . . I'm going through physical therapy for my spine," said the 6'3 shooting guard on why he did not play. Spellman listed Manhattan (offer), New Orleans (offer), Iona (offer), Kent State (offer), and Marquette as schools he is considering, though he added, "I might be heading to prep school," continuing on to say, "I'm looking at South Kent [in CT] right now." The Big Apple star has no favorites amongst the colleges pursuing him, so it looks as though prep school may be where he ends up, especially because of his injury.

- Russ Smith '09 of Archbishop Molloy (NY) has been planning to head to prep school next year for quite some time, and he confirmed to a group of reporters that he will be at South Kent (CT) next year. The quick 5'11 combo guard listed Iona, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, USC, South Carolina, Rutgers, and DePaul amongst others as the schools recruiting him.

- There had been some speculation that Lance Brown '09 of Paterson Catholic (NJ) would try to get out of his NLI to Fordham, but he denied that rumor when we spoke last Saturday night. "That's not true, I'll be staying," said the ultra-athletic 6'3 wing. Why did he pick the Rams in the first place? "Well, I decided on Fordham because the A-10 is a great conference [and] I had a great relationship with the coaches. . . . [Also], [Chris] Gaston, [Jio] Fontan, [and Brian] Freeman led me in." Gaston and Freeman are fellow 09 pledges, while Fontan is a current freshman at the school, though it has been rumored that he will transfer. "I really wanted to stay close to home," added Lance. The dunking highlight machine said that George Mason and Robert Morris were his other finalists. Brown said that "every part" of his game "needs to get better," but he specifically mentioned his "handling" as needing improvement, while he said his "mid-range is good."

- Another player I caught up with after the Regional Game was Siena-bound OD Anosike '09 of St. Peter's (NY). The 6'8 power forward told me that he had 38 or 39 total offers, but picked Siena over Temple, George Mason, Hofstra, and Delaware. "They were one of my top five [and] one of my first ten offers," said Anosike on Siena. He went on to add, "Playing time [and the fact that] the coaching staff . . . loved me [and we had a good] relationship [were keys], . . . [as was] the location. It's only a couple hours away from home." Although OD does not attend a traditional Empire State power in St. Peter's, he said, "The key was to be able to play in the Catholic AAs."

- Tevin Baskin '09 of Trinity Catholic (CT) was one of a handful of uncommitted ballers in the Regional Game, and the 6'7 forward listed Missouri, Georgia Southern (offer), Providence (offer), Rutgers (offer), and George Washington (offer) as the schools he is considering, though he mentioned that "other schools can still come in." Baskin said "prep school is the last thing on my mind," when I asked if that was an option. He told me, "I'm looking for a mid-May, end of May [decision]."  Tevin also said "it was a great honor" to be a part of the Jordan Classic.

- Dan Jennings '09 of St. Thomas More (CT) was the final Regional Game participant I chatted with. The 6'9 power forward told me that West Virginia, Louisville, Rutgers, Minnesota, DePaul, Marquette, and Pitt were his finalists before deciding on WVU. "I loved the coach [Bob Huggins]. He is a guy that developed a lot of players like me . . . [and he] sends guys to the next level and gives guys discipline." The wide-bodied post player said of being in the Jordan Classic, "It was an honor. I'm happy to have played in the game."

I'll have more from the 09 Jordan Classic soon!