Ebanks impresses in Elite 24 Classic

BY ALEX LANG

Thursday, August 30, 2007 12:25 PM EDT

Every time Devin Ebanks touched the ball, the crowd’s anticipation built - and for good reason. The Long Island City native did not disappoint, wowing those in attendance with alley-oop dunks or ferocious drives to the basket at the Boost Mobile Elite 24 Hoops Classic, a showcase at Rucker Park in Harlem featuring the nation’s top talent.

“I felt it went really well,” the Indiana University-bound Ebanks said. “It felt good to get out and run.”

This was not the first time Ebanks took part in the All-Star game. He was in the inaugural event, scoring just 12 points. Like last August, it was a star-studded event - rapper Fat Joe attended and Golden State Warriors star Baron Davis was the celebrity coach for Ebanks’ team.

However, while some were awe struck, the circus-like atmosphere was nothing new to Ebanks, a soon-to-be senior at St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Connecticut). This time he rose to the occasion, finishing with 26 points and four assists and displayed his potential throughout the evening. His team, The Goats, coached by Lincoln’s Dwayne “Tiny” Morton, won 169-164 on the famed green and red asphalt.

“The first year I had a lot of butterflies,” said Ebanks, the second best small forward in the country for the class of 2008 and No. 13 overall, according to Rivals.com. “But not this year. It definitely helped out a lot.”

Morton, who knows a thing or too about talent, having coached NBA point guards Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair, was impressed with the 6-7 forward’s versatile game. He called Ebanks one of the team’s most valuable players, although that official title went to guards Tyreke Evans and Brandon Jennings.

“I think he’s got a great college career ahead of him,” Morton said. “I don’t know how long he is going to be there, that is how good I think he is.”

Also participating in the Boost Mobile Elite 24 Hoops Classic, Laurelton native Samardo Samuels scored 19 points and Holy Cross’s rising senior Sylven Landesberg added 10 points.