2008 - Junior College Games Come Aboard

Following the terrific success of the high school games at ASU and UA, the MLK Basketball Classic added four junior college games at Mesa Community College. Chandler/Gilbert faced off vs.South Mountain while MCC took on Cochise. As with previous games, the event was a big success. Everyone involved was very appreciative of their involvement and were whole-heartedly in support of continuing the junior college games.

At ASU, Gilbert Highland featured a balanced attack to defeat Tempe Marcos de Niza and highly-recruited Joy Burke (Arizona State-commit). Gilbert Highland would continue the tradition of MLK participants by winning the state championship in 5A Divison I. In other girls game at ASU, Phoenix Xavier Prep made their initial appearnce in a match-up vs. Mesa Dobson. Xavier, coached by former Phoenix Mercury standout Jennifer Gillom, held off a pesky Mesa Dobson squad, 59-52.

On the boys side, two up and coming teams, Chandler Basha and Phoenix North, squared off in the first boys game of the day with the Mustangs coming out on top, 67-59. In the third game of the day, Mesa High went up against Phoenix Pinnacle. The Jackrabbits' Aaron Fuller (University of Iowa), who was voted state player-of-the-year, and the Pioneers' Taylor Rohde (ASU) went head-to-head in a titantic matchup.  Behind Fuller's leadership, Mesa High won, 70-58. In the final boys game, Laveen Chavez used this game as a springboard to a fantastic finish of their season by beating a young Mesa Dobson squad, 67-54.

Attendance at ASU was 5100 spectators  for the five games.  Overall, it was great day of high school basketball and the related activites that keeps the MLK Basketball Classic as one of the top high school sporting events in Arizona.

In Tucson, Cox TV broadcast the final two games live. The Mesa Mountain View vs Tucson High game was the featured contest. Mountain View brought future UA Wildcat Brendan Lavender to his future home against the pesky Badgers. Tucson High upset the 3-time defending state champs, 54-47.

AT MCC, the junior college games were a big hit. With four schools participating, (South Mountain, Chandler-Gilbert, Cochise, and Mesa), the games were well-played and well-attended. Fantastic halftime activities and the continuation of honoring individuals for their work in unifying their communities were celebrated as well.

2008 Year Five