The 2018 Frankie Williams Classic
Archbishop Stepinac High School was this years host for the The 9th annual Frankie Williams Classic. The charity showcase benefited a great cause and was something that the entire community enjoyed. The festivities consisted of three games, including a girls National game, which was a new edition to the fold. In the 9 years of its existence, the showcase has garnered more and more attention each year. Once thought of as just a game that only included local talent from the surrounding area, the Frankie Williams Classic has seen several NBA players grace their Showcase such as Kemba Walker, Hassan Whiteside, Tobias Harris and Lance Stevenson just to name a few.
The Frankie Williams Classic Boys Regional Game featured some of the best talent in the area. Photo Johnnie Photography
The packed house would be in for a treat as there were three games scheduled for the day, a boys regional game, a girls national game and a boys national game. All three games were action packed with division 1 college prospects everywhere you looked. The Frankie Williams Classic was a party atmosphere with DJ Authorize on the 1’s and 2’s. If you are a fan of High School basketball then there was no other place to be to enjoy the show.
The days festivities included three action packed games that left the crowd beyond satisfied. Photo Johnnie Photography
The boys regional game featured some great talent from the New York/New Jersey Metro area. These types of All Star games are fun because it gives players the opportunity to enjoy themselves without all the pressures that come with competing for their school teams. I saw these kids having a lot of fun but at the same time being competitive. Majur Majak won the MVP and showcased what he will bring to St. Peter’s next season. The 7’1 Center from The Patrick School showed both his offensive and defensive prowess during the game and even displayed some ball handling skills toward the end of the game. St. Peter’s head coach Shaheen Holloway should be excited about Majak being one of his first recruits. He will definitely be a difference maker next season. William Lee of Bishop Loughlin snatched the sportsmanship trophy for the regional game.
Kadaja Bailey Soaring in for a layup on her way to the National girls game MVP. Photo Johnnie Photography
For many, including myself, the girls National game was probably one of the most entertaining games of the night. Featuring some of the best young women basketball players in the country the game started out fast and kept that same pace for its entirety. The star studded event showcased Kae Satterfield of Christ The King, Aubrey Griffin of Ossining, Maddy Siegrist of Our Lady of Lourdes and Kaila Harris of Ossining to name a few. The game was highly entertaining with MC extraordinaire Mic Larry calling the shots on the mic. The girls were pulling out all the stops with dazzling moves and some intense defense on the other end. It is rare that an all star game really be as competitive as this game was. Each of the girls trying their very best to put on a show. At the conclusion, there was one girl who shined brighter than the rest and that was St. John’s bound guard Kadaja Bailey. She had the total package to her game and it was on full display all evening. She is a true scorer with great length at the guard position and will give the Big East a problem to deal with as soon as she steps foot on campus.
Seton Hall bound Anthony Nelson flies in for an uncontested dunk at the Frankie Williams Classic. Photo Johnnie Photography
The main event of the evening would be the boys National game. The star studded main event would feature some major players who are nationally recognized. Some of the young men who suited up were McDonald’s All American and LSU bound Forward Naz Reid of Roselle Catholic (NJ), Rutgers bound Ron Harper Jr., Seton Hall bound Anthony Nelson, and New York State Mr. Basketball himself Savion Lewis who is headed to Quinnipiac, to name a few. At halftime the players from Stepinac High School, who happened to be on their home court, were celebrated. This team was recognized because they had won the City and State Championship and represented New York Basketball with pride. The Stepinac big 3 were honored by the Frankie Williams Classic and received a standing ovation from the packed house as their names were announced before the game started. RJ Davis from the Class of 2020, AJ Griffin (2021) and Alan Griffin (Headed to Illinois) are all players to be reckoned with and for them, this would be the last time they played together as a collective. When it was all said and done, Savion Lewis of Half Hollow Hills East picked up the Most Valuable Player award. He is a lightning quick guard who brings his lightning quick game and athleticism MAAC. It’s going to be fun watching him mature as a player at the next level. Anyone going against Lewis has a big problem on their hands. The game was action packed from start to finish and if you blinked too long you might’ve missed a highlight.
The boys National game was the main event of the Frankie Williams Classic. The rosters were jam packed with talent including McDonald’s All American Naz Reid who is headed to LSU. Photo Johnnie Photography
A huge thank you is in order to the staff of the Frankie Williams Classic, the Aces team and everyone who worked hard to put this event together. This was a top notch event and everything flowed smoothly. We appreciate your hospitality and hope that this event is something that will live on forever! Salute?