Hoop Fest brings top talent to state

As college basketball begins to heat up this winter, so does high school basketball. And plenty of targets that will be making a big impact at the next level hope to showcase their stuff this weekend in the Marshall County Hoop Fest.

The star-studded event starts Thursday night and goes through the weekend.

It will be UK fans' first chance to see commit Skal Labissiere, but there are plenty of uncommitted players that Kentucky has an interest in landing.

Five-star Carlton Bragg's Cleveland Villa Angela St. Joseph team will play Saturday, and Bragg is no stranger to playing in western Kentucky.

"It's a well-run tournament," Bragg's guardian Michael Graves said. "The fan base is great. It's a great atmosphere. It's a friendly atmosphere, and Marshall County has been good."

The Marshall County Hoop Fest has also been good when it comes to landing top talent. Besides Bragg and Labissiere (Reach Your Dream Prep), Kentucky targets include Thomas Bryant (Huntington Prep, 2015), Cheick Diallo (Our Savior New American, 2015), Malik Newman (Callaway, 2015), Miles Bridges (Huntington Prep, 2016) and No.1 in 2016, Thon Maker (Orangeville Prep).

All excluding Bridges have offers to UK and Newman, Diallo and Bragg have been atop of UK's wish list for months.

The event will also feature plenty of talent that will go elsewhere for college basketball.

UNLV commit Derrick Jones (Archbishop Carroll, 2015) will play. Jones and Kentucky had some interest in one another but had other favorites mutually.

Oak Hill's Dwayne Bacon (Florida State, 2015), Daniel Giddens (Ohio State, 2015), and Braxton Blackwell (uncommitted, 2016) will also be featured, along with Mario Kegler (Arlington Country Day, 2016).

Fans will get a chance to decide for themselves their preference in players, but coaches will too. Expect John Calipari to be present in Benton, Ky., Saturday night to check out Bragg and some of the other stars.

Graves said fans, and Calipari, may be surprised with changes to Bragg's game.

"They'll will be surprised how versatile he is," Graves said. "He's a team player. He's learned the game more and he's been working on driving to the basket. He's versatile because he's a big that has some guard and small power forward skills."

For Bragg and Villa Angela St. Joseph's, Saturday's game against Jones and Archbishop Carroll will be the first of the season.

"We're ready to get the season started," Graves said. "It sets him up to have a big showing from all the offseason work he's done. He's been working out and putting time into his game. This is the stage Carlton loves to play on."

And Bragg loves to play in Kentucky. Graves remembered all the autographs signed last year and how popular Bragg was when he officially visited the Cats in October.

"We went to UK in October and had a great time," Graves said. "Kentucky is a good place. Everybody is friendly and everyone is knowledgeable of who Carlton is and what he can do and they want him to go to UK. We're going to welcome everything and go down there and get the big W. We'll enjoy the moment. It's the last go-around for Carlton."

Marshall County Hoop Fest

When: Thursday-Saturday

Where: Marshall County High School, 416 High School Rd, Benton, Ky.

How do I get in? Tickets will be available at the door. The arena seats 5,200 so tickets should be available. All-session pass costs $35, $10 for single-sessions.

Schedule:

(All times Eastern)

Thursday, Dec. 4

Session 1

5 p.m. - Marshall County vs. Massac (Ill.) girls

6:15 p.m. - Marshall County vs. Dyersburg (Tenn.)

7:30 p.m. - Sunrise Christian (Kan.) vs. Orangeville Prep (Can.)

8:45 p.m. - Graves County vs. Massac (Ill.)

Friday, Dec. 5

Session 2

5 p.m. - Sunrise Christian (Kan.) vs. Quality Ed (N.C.)

6:30 p.m. - Oak Hill (Va.) vs. Carlisle School (Va.)

8 p.m. - Callaway (Miss.) vs. Archbishop Carroll (Pa.)

9:30 p.m. - Huntington Prep (W.Va.) vs. Arsenal Tech (Ind.)

11:00 p.m. - Arlington Country Day (Fla.) vs. Reach Your Dream Academy (Tenn.)

Saturday, Dec. 6

Session 3

9:30 a.m. - White Station (Tenn.) vs. Arsenal Tech (Ind.)

11 a.m. - Marshall County vs. Madisonville North Hopkins girls

12:30 p.m. - Marshall County vs. Owensboro

2 p.m. - Hopkinsville vs. Lausanne (Tenn.)

3:30 p.m. - McCracken County vs. Lincoln County

5 p.m. - Christ Presbyterian (Tenn.) vs. La Lumiere (Ind.)

Session 4

6:30 p.m. - Archbishop Carroll (Pa.) vs. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Ohio)

8 p.m. - Oak Hill (Va.) vs. Our Savior (N.Y.)

9:30 p.m. - Orangeville Prep (Can.) vs. Callaway (Miss.)

11 p.m. - Huntington Prep (W.Va.) vs. Arlington Country Day (Fla.)