LYNN — The first annual Big Baller Basketball Showcase promises a pair of games pitting some of the North Shore’s best talent, according to Simmie Anderson, who conceived the event and will run it Thursday night at the Marshall Middle School gym.
Although there is no official MIAA connection with this event, Anderson said Wednesday that “this is the the best Division 1 talent on both sides of the North Shore.
Anderson, who bills this event as the “Sweet 16” of area basketball, has coached and played at both Classical and English. He said he created this event both to give fans some good basketball to watch, and to give players a chance to be seen.
The event kicks off at 6:30 with a game involving Lynn elementary school students, followed by the main event at 8 between selected players from the Northeastern Conference and Merrimack Valley Conference all-stars.
There will be eight players on hand from each conference.
The NEC team, coached by Craig High, consists of Jalen Johnson and Edwin and Erick Solis of Classical, Alonzo Linton, Javaris Hill and Ademide Badmus of English, Ghared Boyce of Everett and Tyler Whitney of Somerville.
Merrimack Valley’s players, coached by Kwam Rocker, are Chris Ruiz, Juan Rodriguez and Luis Reynoso of Lawrence, Kyle Rocker and Daejon Mills of Haverhill, Kevin Constant of Central Catholic, Alex Rivera of Lowell and Almando Marinez of Methuen.
The event is run by Lavar Ball 2.0.
Sponsors include Lynn City Councilors Brian LaPierre, Jay Walsh and Peter Capano, School Committee member John Ford, Advance Physical Therapy and Sports Rehab, the Lynn Teachers’. Union, Congress Insurance Agency, Perkins Properties, John’s Ol, Meet & Beef Enterprise, Lynn Auditorium, Wilks Skills and Drills, G&J Towing, Chatham World Winners Circle, Hood Ink, Ram Electrical Consulting and Contracting.
Organizers of the event are Anderson and Fred Hogan of Lynn. Admission is $5
