Future Stars Shine in Derby Classic

Louisville and Kentucky recruits showed their stuff on Saturday at the Wazoo Sports Derby Festival Classic, when the Gold team defeated the Black team 151-145 (defense anyone?). But the real stars of the night were the three players headed to play for Tom Crean at Indiana next season: Christian Watford, a 6-foot-8 SF, Maurice Creek, a 6-foot-5 SG, and Jordan Hulls, a 6-foot PG and Indiana's Mr. Basketball. Watford scored 26 points to go along with 7 rebounds, displaying the best all-around offensive game in the contest, while Creek dropped 21 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Hulls, who was also the night's 3-Point Contest winner, scored 6 points on 2 of 5 shooting. Both shots were three balls.

Top Louisville recruits Peyton Siva and Rakeem Buckles also had impressive showings. Siva continued to show that he is a true point guard, dishing out 11 assists while scoring 15 points. Buckles finished the night with a Black team high 26 points, he also pulled down 6 rebounds. Two other Louisville recruits, Stephan Van Treese and Mike Marra, scored 11 and 10 points repectively. Mike Marra also won the Derby Festival Dunk Competition, throwing down a windmill dunk off of the backboard.

Two Kentucky commits also competed in the Classic, Daniel Orton and Jon Hood. Hood finished the game with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Orton scored 12 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out 6 assists.

Other notable performances on the night included:

• 30 point, 7 rebound, 6 assist outing by Florida State signee Michael Snaer.
• 24 points on 5-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc by Oklahoma State commit Raymond Penn.
• 5-of-6 from the field for 11 points and 8 assists from Kansas signee Elijah Johnson. Johnson also threw down the dunk of the night in the final seconds...