Perry Cohen
ASU Student Journalist

Talking Stick to host all-star basketball showcase

March 15, 2017 by Perry Cohen, Arizona State University


For the first time in it’s 16-year history, The Show, hosted by Biokats sports, will be played in Phoenix.
Biokats Sports was created in 2003 to help educate, prepare, and showcase student-athletes to play in college. 
The company hosts showcases for baseball, basketball, football, soccer and volleyball. The Show is a high school basketball all-star game that originated in Denver in conjunction with the Denver Nuggets.
During a press conference Wednesday morning, event director Jerry Howard announced that the two game event will be played at the Talking Stick Resort Arena March 30. The girl’s game kicks off at noon, and the boys tip off at  1:30 p.m.
The Show will be live-streamed in HD on Stream it Sports. Last year's event had approximately 4,000 viewers online, according to Biokats Sports.
The Arizona event will feature a lot of the top players in the state. Howard said The Arizona Republic helped compile the list of participants. 

After nominations were made, the list was narrowed down to the top-40 players in the state. He also said the event was strategically scheduled right before the NCAA Final Four, which Glendale will host.

The expansion of The Show all-star game happened by chance. 

“Well what was interesting is last summer I ran into one of the folks with the Phoenix Suns and they heard what we were doing up in Denver,” Howard said. “We got together and talked about the game, and they actually invited us to come down and we were able to work it out.”
Suns president Jason Rowley said it is a pleasure to host this year’s competition. The Mercury also are helping stage the Biokats event.
“As the epicenter of basketball in Arizona, it is a thrill for us to host the best young talent our state has to offer,” Rowley said. “Success on and off the court is at the heart of the Suns’ mission, so we hope fans will come out and support these student-athletes for accomplishing just that.”
In past years, Biokats Sports had notable participants such as Chauncey Billups (University of Colorado, Detroit Pistons, L.A. Clippers), Calais Campbell (University of Miami (Football), Arizona Cardinals, and Abby Waner (Duke University, USA Basketball).

Apollo coach Jacob Marin will coach one of the teams on March 30 was in attendance Wednesday and said the all-star game has sentimental value for him.

“It’s a blessing to coach this talented roster,” Marin said. “I get to coach my guards (Holland Woods, Dre Marin) one last time.”
Both head coaches participating in the girls game, Willow Canyon's Rachel Matakas and Mesquite's Candace Gonzales, won state championships in their respective divisions.
The coaching matchup in the boys game is a rematch of the 5A state championship, which #3 Sunnyslope defeated #1 Apollo.
This year’s rosters and coaching staffs for each team are as follows:

Blue Team- BoysIan Burke (Brophy Prep), Wesley Harris (Desert Vista), K.J. Hymes (St. Mary’s), Colton Kresl (Chaparral), Dre Marin (Apollo), Jared Martin (Saguaro), Gabe Mcglothan (Basha), Nigel Shadd (Tri-City Christian), Trey Wood (Anthem Prep), and Holland Woods (Apollo).
Coaching StaffJacob Marin (Apollo) and Paul Brown (Tri-City Christian).

White Team- BoysJaxson Baker (Brophy Prep), Robert “B.J.” Burries (Globe), Majok Deng (Salpointe Catholic), Nate Graville (Gilbert Christian), Nikc Jackson (Sunnyside), Nico Mannion (Pinnacle), Bryce Fowler (Agua Fria), Max Moses (Arcadia), Chris Orozco (Sunnyslope) and Trevor Thompson (Moon Valley).
White Team coaching staffRay Portela (Sunnyslope) and Matt King (Sandra Day O’Connor).

Blue Team- Girls: Ellie Baker (Saguro), Caitlyn Bickle (Cactus Shadows), Jenay Borjorquez (Sierra Linda), Shauna Bribiescas (Dobson), Lauren Green (Cienega), Shaylee Gonzales (Mesquite), Lauren Gustin (Mesquite), Lindsey VanAllen (Mesquite) and Makayla “MJ” Roe (Anthem Prep).
Coaching StaffCandace Gonzales (Mesquite) and Justin Hagar (Mountain Pointe).

White Team- GirlsMaya Banks (Hamilton), Haley Cavinder (Gilbert), Hannah Cavinder (Gilbert), Taylor Chavez (Valley Vista), Kira Edwards (Valley Vista), Maddie Frederick (Hamilton), Bryce Nixon (Arcadia), Dominique Phillips (Millenium) and Megan Timmer (Valley Christian).
Coaching Staff: Rachel Matakas (Valley Vista)