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AYDEN – Eighty of the best Class of 2022 high school basketball players in the 919 and 252 area codes plus many top area coaches will take part in the inaugural 919 vs 252 Showcase Basketball Games sponsored by ENC Elite Sports and Run With it Sports, LLC on March 26 at Ayden-Grifton High School in Ayden.

The players selected are seniors who have ambitions to participate at the college level once they have graduated. These players have achieved many area and state accolades and will have the opportunity to compete against each other in front of numerous college coaches who are looking to add to their rosters.

Hertford County High School senior teammates Desiree Askew and Ashley Jenkins are part of the 252 Cherry team coached by Andre Cherry of Elizabeth City Northeastern and Chris Jordan of Bertie High School.

Bertie High School seniors Jessica Stokes and Yazmonasia Boone, part of a Lady Falcons squad fresh off a runner-up finish in the state finals, are teammates on the 252 Pittman team coached by Antwon Pittman of North Pitt.

Longtime Hertford County High School varsity boys coach Charles Simmons will be at the helm of the 252 Simmons team. He will be joined on the bench by one of his former assistant coaches, Jeff Ramsey, now at Northampton High School.

The format is that there will be two teams of 10 players from each area code (boys and girls). They will play both teams from the other area code that day (see schedule below).

Also, at 7 p.m. on Friday night, March 25, there will be an All-Star event held at South Creek High School in Robersonville where some of the players will be participating in a skills competition: 2 Ball mixed hot shot, 3-point shoot-out, and Slam Dunk contest. There will also be a local cheerleading exhibition in between events.

Gates open at 9 a.m. for Saturday’s event and it will be $15 general admission at the gate only for all eight games.

Schedule

Girls Session

10:00 am Team 919 Faison vs Team 252 Pittman

11:30 am Team 919 Williams vs Team 252 Cherry

1:00 pm Team 919 Faison vs Team 252 Cherry

2:30 pm Team 919 Williams vs Team 252 Pittman

Boys Session

4:00 pm Team 919 Ackles vs Team 252 Williams

5:30 pm Team 919 Paye vs Team 252 Simmons

7:00 pm Team 919 Ackles vs Team 252 Simmons

8:30 pm Team 919 Paye vs Team 252 Williams