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If you have ever wanted to look into the future before, then the All American Shootout is just for you.
This Friday four of the premier high school basketball programs in the country will be playing in Freedom Hall. There is not a doubt in my mind that Louisville St. Xavier, Brooklyn’s Lincoln High School, Florida’s IMG Academy and Pennsylvania’s American Christian Academy could all give Gardner-Webb a run for their money.
More importantly for University of Louisville fans, future Cardinals will be on the court.
IMG Academy forward Jared Swopshire already signed a letter of intent to play for the Cardinals back in October. Don’t let the 6-foot-7 195 pound prospect’s old school afro fool you, he is the future of the Cardinals. Rivals ranks this lengthy forward in their top 150 prospects for 2008.
Swopshire possesses the ability to shoot the long ball as well as drive to the basket. He uses his long arms to play a disruptive defense and plays the game with a lot of poise. Once head coach Rick Pitino puts him in the weight room he will become a major contributor to the Cards.
Swopshire will be taking on American Christian Academy and the highest rated unsigned prospect in the class of 2008, Tyreke Evans.
The 6-foot-5 shooting guard currently lists his interest in Louisville and Villanova as “high” on Rivals. Pitino has coveted Evans for quite some time and if you watch video on him you can understand why. He is a wizard with the ball, a threat from downtown and shut down perimeter defender.
His ability to score anywhere on the court while still playing superb defense is reminiscent of Kobe Bryant, his ability to take a team to a national championship in his freshman year is reminiscent of Carmelo Anthony.
For those Louisville fans who enjoy math…
Tyreke Evans = Terrence Williams + 3 point shooting ability – turnovers.
Very rarely does a prospect get a chance to play at a potential future home in front of future fans who will wear one day wear his jersey. The All American Shootout is the city of Louisville’s chance to woo Evans into red and black.
All Cardinal fans should show up to Freedom Hall this Friday at 7 p.m. to make sure that Evans feels at home. Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster and at the Freedom Hall ticket office for $24 and $10. This investment seems well worthwhile to help secure the future of the basketball program. .
If everything works out right Evans and Swopshire could be adding decorations to the new downtown home of the Cardinals.
By decorations I mean banners and by banners I mean championships.
