The National All-Stars defeated a team of All-Stars from the St. Louis metro and surrounding areas 140-122 in last weekend’s Demetrious Johnson Charitable Foundation All-Star Game at Harris-Stowe State University.
The National team had four players score at least 20 points as they used their speed and quickness to run and shoot their way past the local All-Stars. Forward Preston Purifoy (Conway, Ark.) led the National All-Stars with 27 points. He was followed by Ricky Kreklow (Columbia Rock Bridge) and Quincy Taylor (Kansas City, Kan.) with 25 points and Phil Pressey (Dallas, Tex.) with 20 points.
University of Missouri fans will be pleased with the duo of the 6’5” Kreklow and 5’9” Pressey, who both will begin their careers at Mizzou in the fall. Kreklow was one of the most impressive shooters ever to play in the DJCF All-Star Game while Pressey is a smooth floor general and a national Top 50 recruit for Mike Anderson’s Tigers.
The local team was led by Trey Starks of Springfield Hillcrest, who had 18 points. Guard Eric Clark of Class 3 state champion Cardinal Ritter added 17 points while Mike Messer (Lafayette) and Ryan Pierson (CBC) added 15 points each. Messer signed with SIU-Edwardsville while Pierson is headed to Northeastern.
*Former McCluer South-Berkeley track and field athlete Terry Robinson has enjoyed quite a collegiate track career at Missouri Science & Technology (formerly UM-Rolla). Robinson was the Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Robinson was also named the Midwest Region “Track Athlete of the Year” by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Robinson earned All-American honors by finishing fourth in the 400-meter hurdles at the recent NCAA Division II Championships in Charlotte, N.C. Only a sophomore, Robinson earned four first-place medals at the GLVC meet in May. He finished first in the 110- and 400-meter hurdles while anchoring the 4×100- and 4×400-meter relay teams to conference championships. Robinson also won individual titles in the 60- and 400-meter hurdles at the GLVC Indoor Championships during the winter. He was a Division II indoor All-American after his fifth-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles. A Civil Engineering major, Robinson was also a standout on the Missouri S&T’s football team in the fall. He was a first-team All-GLVC selection on defense as a cornerback.
*The Net Rushers Tennis Organization will be presenting its special “Kids Day” on Friday, July 9 at the Ferguson Sports Complex and Forestwood Park from 10 a.m. to noon. The event is sponsored by the United States Tennis Association (USTA). It will introduce more than 200 youths to the sport of tennis. For more information, contact Mary Hudson at (314) 495-0918, Willie Rodgers at (314) 389-6208 or Erma Owens at (314) 265-7916.
*Congratulations to former Jennings High basketball stars Darren Brooks and Nick Benson, who recently had their high school numbers retired at an awards banquet at the school. Both Benson and Brooks led the Warriors to two Class 3A Final Four appearances while in high school. Benson was a junior college All-American at Moberly and a collegiate standout at Tennessee-Chattanooga. Brooks went on to become one of the top all-around players in the history of the Southern Illinois basketball program. Brooks led the Salukis to four NCAA Tournament berths and two Sweet 16 appearances in 2002 and 2005. He was the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005.
*Cardinal Ritter College Prep junior basketball standout Cameron Biedscheid continues to climb up the national charts with his excellent play this summer. The 6’6” Biedscheid is now ranked No. 38 in the Class of 2012 in the latest ESPN Top 100 national rankings. In the Class of 2011 rankings, Chaminade’s Bradley Beal is now No. 6 with former Wellston star Ben McLemore at No. 9 and McCluer North’s B.J. Young at No. 44. O’Fallon High standout Roosevelt Jones is just on the cusp of the Top 100, according to the site.
*The Mel Gray Sports Legends Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, July 6 at the Norwood Hills Country Club. The tournament will benefit the Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center and the NAACP St. Louis County Youth Council. For more information, contact Teri Bascom at teri.bascom@sbcglobal.net. The cost is $150 per player or $600 for a foursome and $75 for high school and college students.
(You can follow Earl Austin Jr. daily on his basketball website, www.earlaustinjr.com. You can also follow Earl on Facebook).
