Gilchrist, Beal, Wiltjer highlight Catholic high schoolers chosen

Jordan Brand, a division of NIKE, Inc., announced today that the top-five ranked ESPNU 100 players – No.1 Austin Rivers (Winter Park, FL/Duke), No. 2 Anthony Davis (Chicago, IL/Kentucky), No. 3 Michael Gilchrist (Elizabeth, NJ/Kentucky), No. 4 Quincy Miller (High Point, NC/Baylor) and No. 5 James McAdoo (Norfolk, VA/North Carolina) - will headline the nation’s best high school senior basketball talent at the 2011 Jordan Brand Classic, presented by Foot Locker, at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte on Saturday, April 16 at 8:00 PM ET. 

This year’s event, which marks the game’s 10-year anniversary, will once again be nationally televised live on ESPN2.  This year’s Jordan Brand Classic will also include a Regional Game, showcasing the top prep players from the state of North Carolina in an East vs. West showdown. 

In its fourth year of the event, an International Game will feature 16 of the top 17-and-under players from around the world.  The tripleheader will begin with the International Game at 3:30 PM followed by the Regional Game at 5:30 PM, and the All-American Game at 8:00 PM. The International and regional rosters will be announced at a later date.   

"As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Jordan Brand Classic, our goal remains to provide the student-athletes with a platform that will enhance their skills on and off the court," said Keith Houlemard, President of Jordan Brand. "Charlotte’s Time Warner Cable Arena is the perfect venue for capturing the talent and energy of these elite players."

Also selected for this year’s event are Bradley Beal (St. Louis, MO/Florida), Khem Birch (Fitchburg, MA/Pittsburgh), Jabari Brown (Oakland, CA/Oregon), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Greenville, GA/Georgia), Michael Carter-Williams (Providence, RI/Syracuse), Rakeem Christmas (Bryn Athyn, PA/Syracuse), Michael Gbinije (Richmond, VA/Duke), P.J. Hairston (Chatham, VA/North Carolina), Myck Kabongo (Henderson, NV/Texas), Johnny O’Bryant (Cleveland, MS/LSU), Sir’Dominic Pointer (Winston-Salem, NC/St. John’s), Otto Porter (Sikeston, MO/Undecided), Shannon Scott (Alpharetta, GA/Ohio State), Marquis Teague (Indianapolis, IN/Kentucky), Adonis Thomas (Memphis, TN/Memphis), Kyle Wiltjer (Portland, OR/Kentucky) and Tony Wroten, Jr. (Seattle, WA/Washington). 

Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, the Jordan Brand Classic alumni roster boasts some of basketball’s most recognizable names, including Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Amar’e Stoudemire, Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose.

Below are players who are choen from Catholic high schools around the country.

East Team

• Khem Birch, Notre Dame Prep (Fitchburg, MA); committed to Pittsburgh
• Michael Carter Williams, St. Andrew's School (Providence, RI); committed to Syracuse
• Mike Gbinjie, Benedictine High School (Richmond, VA); committed to Duke
• Michael Gilchrist, St. Patrick High School (Elizabeth, NJ); committed to Kentucky

West Team

• Bradley Beal, Chaminade High School (St. Louis, MO); committed to Florida
• Kyle Wiltjer, Portland Jesuit High School (Portland, OR); committed to Kentucky