Justin Edwards, Reed Sheppard headline Kentucky Play-By-Play Classic
Clear your schedules for mid-December — you’ve got some future ‘Cats to go watch.
On Sunday, Dec. 11 the Kentucky Play-By-Play Classic will come to Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY (one of five national sites for the event), where eight programs will battle it out across a four-game slate. Most notably, a pair of Kentucky men’s basketball commits in Imhotep Charter’s (PA) Justin Edwards and North Laurel’s (KY) Reed Sheppard will go head-to-head in the final game of the day.
Edwards is considered the No. 3 ranked recruit in the class of 2023 and a five-star prospect. Sheppard is a four-star ranked No. 27 overall in the country. Kentucky’s ’23 recruiting class features three consensus five-stars and one four-star, good enough for best in the nation.
Tickets for the Play-By-Play Classic can be purchased through the link here. Below are the four matchups in place:
1:30 PM: Woodford County (KY) vs. Buchtel (OH)
3:15 PM: North Oldham (KY) vs. Spire (OH)
5:00 PM: Trinity (KY) vs. Huntington Prep (WV)
6:45 PM: Imhotep Charter (PA) vs. North Laurel (KY)
North Laurel was originally scheduled to take on Kentucky commit Robert Dillingham and his Donda Academy (CA) team. However, shortly after the Classic was announced, Donda was removed from the event and replaced with Imhotep Charter (PA). Donda Academy is owned and operated by rapper Kanye West, who has been in the news constantly for making anti-Semitic remarks (among other controversies); West has lost several major sponsorships in recent days and now Donda Academy is feeling the repercussions.
“In light of recent anti-Semitic statements by Kanye West, we will no longer be hosting Donda Academy at this year’s Play-By-Play Classics events, including the Kentucky Play-By-Play Classic scheduled for December 11, 2022 at Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY. Kanye’s words and actions violate our values as a company and a country, and what we seek to ensure at all of our events—a spirit of diversity, sportsmanship, inclusion, equity, and mutual respect.
“While we are firm in our reasonsing for this decision, it does not diminsh our heartache and regret for Donda’s hardworking student-atheltes who will lose out the most as a result of Kanye’s actions. By all accounts, they are an exemplary group of young men. Unfortuantely, we cannot in good conscience host an organization founded and directed by Mr. West at our events.”
Statement from Play-By-Play Classics on Donda Academy
Setting aside the situation with Donda and Kanye, the rest of the tournament will feature plenty of high-caliber players, most of them from the Bluegrass State. Woodford County (KY) sophomore SG Jasper Johnson is already considered a four-star recruit and a Top 30 prospect in the nation, per On3. Kentucky has expressed early interest in Johnson.
Trinity (KY) freshman PG Jayden Johnson is likewise considered a young up-and-comer. He already holds multiple Power 5 scholarship offers. North Oldham (KY) senior CG Dallas Roberts is poised for a big season and will be one of the state’s top guards. Four-star ’24 PG Del Jones will suit up for Huntington Prep (WV), as well.
DJ Wagner, Justin Edwards set to face each other
First, it’ll be Sheppard vs. Edwards. A month later, it’ll be Edwards vs. DJ Wagner, Aaron Bradshaw, and the rest of the Camden (NJ) High School team.
According to The HS Circuit‘s Samad Hines, Edwards and Imhotep Charter will go up against Camden on Jan. 28 with a location and time set to come at a later date. Wagner is still undecided on his college decision but is trending heavily toward the ‘Cats. Bradshaw, his longtime high school and AAU teammate, committed to UK ahead of Big Blue Madness earlier this month.
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