Sharette Dixon Classic Recap

By David Cordova

As the fall league season is about to come to a close and the high school season is about to start, a lot of players are getting the opportunity to strut their stuff in a lot of events and tournaments. But there’s this one event that isn’t your regular all-star game.

The Sharette Dixon Classic, an event that has been around for the last seven years has been one of the premier events in the tri-state area. However, this game isn’t truly just about the game of basketball, but merely a tribute to Dixon, the wife of the late University of Minnesota assistant coach Kimani Young and mother of three, who passed away on March 23, 2009.

Dixon was a professor at Kingsborough Community College and held a bachelor’s degree and Master’s Degree from Fresno State University in Fresno, California. Every year, the event honors her commitment to education by giving out the Sharette Dixon Academic Excellence Award to players who have the highest grade-point average, many of which range from 3.5 or higher.

As always, this game had the best of the best from New York and New Jersey. In the Underclassmen Game, it was a great battle between a lot of the best talent in the classes of 2020 (freshmen) and 2019 (sophomores), many of which have bright futures ahead of them and are bound to make plenty of noise in the next three to four years. New York emerged victorious in the first game, winning 108-103.

The MVP award went to Archbishop Molloy (Queens, NY) sophomore guard Cole Anthony, regarded as the No. 9 player in the country by ESPN in the Class of 2019 and the Sportsmanship award went to the Ranney School sophomore (Tinton Falls, NJ) guard/forward Scottie Lewis, regarded as the No. 11 player in the country by 24/7 Sports in the Class of 2019.

In the main event, which was the upperclassmen game, the best in the classes of 2018 (juniors) and 2017 (seniors). There was a huge crowd on hand, a sold-out crowd, to witness the most elite players in the tri-state area. There was crossover dribbles, jelly drives to the basket and dunks that made the crowd, “ooh” and “ahh.”

But when all was said and done, the Empire State emerged victorious, winning the game, 103-92, over the Garden State. Winning the MVP award for New York was St. Raymond (Bronx, NY) senior guard Isaiah Washington, regarded as the No. 97 guard in the country by ESPN, in the class of 2017. The sportsmanship award went to The Patrick School (Hillside, NJ) senior center Nick Richards, regarded as the No. 12 player by ESPN, in the Class of 2017.

All in all, the game was a great tribute to a special person, but also a great night for the tri-state area, and also a great show for everyone to see.

Outstanding Players for Sharette Dixon Classic:

Underclassmen Game:

Maxwell Lorca, Northfield Mount Hermon School (MA), Class of 2019, Forward

Lorca was like a man possessed when going to the rim. He showed plenty of aggressiveness when going to the rim and made his presence felt.

Kofi Cockburn, Christ the King High School (NY), Class of 2019, Forward

Made plenty of great slams at the basket and also had a couple of nice blocks. He played like a true center in this game.

Scottie Lewis, Ranney School (NJ), Class of 2019, Guard/Forward

Lewis was a walking human-highlight reel with plenty of amazing dunks. His game is reminiscent of a young Vince Carter.

Cole Anthony, Archbishop Molloy High School (NY), Class of 2019, Guard

Anthony showed plenty of scoring prowess in the game, as well as his athletic ability. He also displayed his ability to shoot from deep.

Ryan Myers, Christ the King High School (NY), Class of 2020, Guard

Myers looked like a true point guard in this game, as he looked to set up teammates for baskets rather than score.

Precious Achuiwa, St. Benedict’s Prepatory School (NJ), Class of 2019, Forward

Achuiwa showed a lot of versatility in this game and attacked the rim with plenty of highlight-reel slams.

Jabri Abdur-Rahim, Seton Hall Prepatory School (NJ), Class of 2020, Guard/Forward

A player with plenty of size, Abdur-Rahim displayed a great skills set, and lighted up the court with plenty of jumpers from the outside.

Bryce Wills, Iona Prepatory School (NY), Class of 2019, Guard

Wills showed a lot of athleticism in the game as well as his scoring prowess.

R.J. Davis, Archbishop Stepinac High School (NY), Class of 2020, Guard

Davis displayed the talents of a scoring point guard, using his diminutive frame to get to the basket and also the ability to shoot from long range.

Upperclassmen Game:

Isaiah Washington, St. Raymond High School (NY), Class of 2017, Guard

Washington had control of the game and sliced his way to the basket and used his patented “jelly roll” when going to the basket plenty of times.

Jose Alvarado, Christ the King High School (NY), Class of 2017, Guard

Alvarado didn’t stray away from his normal play as he set up teammates for baskets and also made many attempts to score.

Jahvon Quinerly, Hudson Catholic High School (NJ), Class of 2018, Guard

Quinerly showed that he was versatile as he powered his way to the basket while breaking down defenders in the process.

Luther Muhammad, Hudson Catholic High School (NJ), Class of 2018, Guard

Muhammad showed heart and played very competitively when it came to his scoring.

Nick Richards, The Patrick School (NJ), Class of 2017, Forward

Richards was very dominant in the paint, and dominated in the low post on both ends of the floor.

Moses Brown, Archbishop Molloy High School (NY), Class of 2018, Forward

Brown showed plenty of versatility for his large size with his ball handling skills, which are superb, but he also caught a few dunks, making him a legitimate point-forward.