The Real Deal is celebrating its seventh year in central Arkansas, and the nationally renowned basketball tournament continues to draw the nation’s top talent.
According to event founder Bill Ingram, 40 of the nation’s top 60 high school players and approximately 280 teams will be in Little Rock this weekend to showcase their talents.
“It’s another loaded classic,” Ingram said. “There will be a ton of talent here this week. It’s going to be one of the best we’ve ever had.”
Basketball fans wanting to catch a glimpse of several future major college and NBA players should get an eyeful in 6-7 forward Josh Jackson of Southfield, Mich., and 6-10 Marvin Bagley of Gilbert, Ariz.
Jackson, who played for Prolific Prep Academy in Napa, Calif., this season as a junior, was a member of the 2014 USA Under-17 World Championship Team that posted a 7-0 record and captured the gold medal in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He was also a member of the USA Basketball Men’s Under-16 National Team that went 5-0 en route to winning the gold medal at the 2013 Under-16 Championship in Maldonado, Uruguay. He started all five games and averaged 11.4 points and 5.6 rebounds a game.
Bagley is considered the No. 1 player for the Class of 2018. He has already received offers from Connecticut, UCLA, Arizona and Arizona State. As a freshman, Bagley led Corona del Sol High School to a 33-1 record and to a state championship in Arizona’s largest classification.
This year’s Real Deal is being played during the same weekend as the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four and on Easter, but Ingram said that wasn’t an issue for most teams.
“We’ve gone through this before,” Ingram said. “It’s actually better for the teams because they have an extra day to travel and hotel rates are usually lower. It’s not a big deal for most teams because they’re going to be playing somewhere on Easter anyway.”
Before the majority of the participants arrive for the tournament, University of Arkansas fans will be able to get an early look at some future Razorbacks in tonight’s Mike Conley Jr. All-Star Game at Little Rock Hall High School.
Jimmy Whitt of Columbia (Mo.) Hickman High School and Ted Kapita of Huntington (W.Va.) Prep Academy will play for the Arkansas team against the Tennessee All-Stars. Whitt, a 6-3 point guard, has signed to play at Arkansas. Kapita, a 6-8 power forward, is listed as committed to the Razorbacks.
Among those joining Whitt and Kapita on the Arkansas roster are North Little Rock’s KeVaughn Allen, the 2015 Gatorade Player of the Year from Arkansas, McClellan’s Keith Hayes and Episcopal Collegiate’s Mahlon Martin and Justin Gooseberry.
“It will be great to see Whitt and Allen in the same backcourt,” Ingram said. “I think a lot of fans will see that as a treat.”
The Real Deal begins Friday night with eight showcase games at PARK on Geyer Springs Road. One of Friday’s biggest games features the Colorado Hawks against We All Can Go, a program that draws players from Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia.
The Colorado Hawks’ feature player is De’Ron Davis, a 6-9 power forward from the Class of 2016 who Ingram said has ties to Arkansas.
“He’s an NBA lock,” Ingram said. “You might see him play college for two years, but he’s another talented player who’s got a great future in front of him.”
Pool play will continue Saturday morning and bracket play is scheduled to start at 3:35 p.m. Saturday.
The championship game of the under-17 division is scheduled for 1:25 p.m. at P.A.R.K.
Mike Conley Jr. All-Star Game
WHO Arkansas All-Stars vs. Tennessee All-Stars WHERE Little Rock Hall High School WHEN Girls: 5:30 p.m.; Boys: 7 p.m. TICKETS $7
ARKANSAS ROSTERS
BOYS KeVaughn Allen, North Little Rock Devin Campbell, Jacksonville Sam Dunkum, North Little Rock Justin Gooseberry, Episcopal Collegiate Ted Kapita, Huntington (W.Va.) Academy Richard Knox, Clarendon Keith Hayes, Little Rock McClellan Mahlon Martin, Episcopal Collegiate Jimmy Whitt, Columbia (Mo.) Hickman GIRLS Jordan Danberry, Conway Terralynn Dominick, Little Rock Hall Shakyla Hill, Little Rock Hall Justina Lanigan, Little Rock McClellan Malica Monk, North Little Rock Alex Otwell, Pulaski Academy Kamry Orr, Little Rock Central Natalia Ready, Little Rock Parkview Kianna Speight, Conway
Real Deal in the Rock
WHEN Friday-Sunday WHERE 19 sites around Pulaski County PLAYERS 9 divisions from 9U to 17U
FRIDAY’S SHOWCASE GAMES
AT P.A.R.K.
COURT 1 Team Penny vs. 1 Nation, 6:25 p.m. COURT 1 Colorado Hawks vs. We All Can Go, 7:30 p.m. COURT 1 New Heights vs. MBA Hoops, 8:35 p.m. COURT 1 Urban DFW vs. Mo Williams Elite, 9:40 p.m. COURT 2 Rashard Lewis Elite vs. Arkansas Hawks, 6:25 p.m. COURT 2 Team Penny (Cotton) 16U vs. 1Nation 16, 7:30 p.m. COURT 3 Arkansas Hawks vs. Middle Tennessee Impact, 6:25 p.m. COURT 3 Arkansas Hawks vs. X-Factor, 8:35 p.m.
17U CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
1:25 p.m. Sunday