AABC senior all-star game to feature the best of the class of 2023 plus skills contests

Before they walk the stage to accept their diplomas next month, the top graduating basketball players from across the Last Frontier will put their skills on display at the 2023 Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches’ senior all-star game Saturday at Grace Christian High School.

All four of the prep divisions for boys and girls will be represented at the event, which will include two-time Gatorade and 4A Players of the Year Sayvia Sellers of Anchorage Christian School and Stewart Erhart of West Valley.

Other notable hoopsters that will be taking part include 3A Player of the Year Sloan Lentfer on his home court for the last time, 2A Player of the Year Joelian Lane of Tikigaq and his cousin Jadyn Lane, who is a two-time state champion and three-time state all-tournament team honoree for the Tikigaq girls team.

The action on the court gets started at 2 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. with fun festivities during halftime of each game.

Up first will be the 3A/4A senior girls all-star game at 2 p.m. with the finals for the 3-pointer competition wedged in between. Some sharp shooters to keep an eye on in that competition are Sellers, Joelian Lane, Jadyn Lane and their cousin, Tikigaq’s Benjamin Lane, Axel Carpio of Bettye Davis East, Luke Johnston of Dimond, Tyler Binder of Grace Christian and Jordan Zackery of West.

The 3A/4A senior boys all-star game will follow at 3:30 p.m. with the finals for the dunk contest at intermission. Some favorites to bring home the title include Lentfer (6′7″), teammate twin towers Xzavier Baker (6′5″) and Maguire Hamey (6′7″) of Dimond, Jaylin Scott (6′5″) of Ninilchik and Julius Adlawan (6′6″) of West.

The 1A/2A senior girls all-star game tips off two hours later at 5:30 p.m. and the AABC Hall of Fame class of 2023 will be inducted at halftime. Capping off the night will be the 1A/2A senior boys all-star game at 7:15 p.m. The finals for the free-throw contest will be at halftime of that game.