First the Bonds, Then Baskets
All-Stars Soak In The Friendship, VIP Treatment

By Steve Yanda
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, March 27, 2008

MILWAUKEE, March 26 -- Lynetta Kizer stood in the concourse underneath Section 227 at Bradley Center, clutching a pink stuffed bunny and recounting the past five days. At the moment, that bunny meant more to her than the game that had just finished.

Kizer's East team lost the McDonald's All American High School Game, 80-64, but she seemed unconcerned with the final score. It was the experience she had gained in the days leading up to the game that made the deepest impact.

The smile the senior center from Potomac (Va.) wore as she spoke of the little girl in the hotel lobby who exchanged a stuffed bunny for an autographed ball and some attention told you her 0-for-3 shooting performance and three turnovers Wednesday night wouldn't cause her to lose much sleep.

The smile told you her three blocks and four rebounds in 12 minutes of play were a nice accomplishment against some of the top prep talent in the nation but not one that would top the feeling of watching that little girl walk away giddy over the tall new friend she had just made.

"That little girl was such a sweetheart," said Kizer, who will play for Maryland next season.

Kizer's smile returned when she was asked how prepared she felt for the speed of competition she will face as a Terrapin. "I have some time," she said.

The East shot 27.9 percent (24 for 86), so many of Kizer's teammates may be thankful time is still on their side, as well.

The experience had an effect on Brooke Point senior Chay Shegog the moment she stepped off the plane. Players were ushered to the team hotel, where they were flooded with goody bags unlike anything they received as children at a McDonald's birthday party: new shoes, warmups with their last names stitched on the back, black backpacks, uniforms and dresses to be worn at the Tuesday night banquet.

"It was a long process," Shegog said.

It was also just the beginning. The teams then were taken to a photo shoot, where each player posed for a shot that would be turned into a Topps trading card. They also were asked for their ring size.

Shegog, who played 17 minutes, scored six points and grabbed seven rebounds, doesn't want to sound as though she's complaining. She just didn't expect such a big fuss to be made over high school basketball players.

Asked what she thought of having her very own trading card, as well as having people ask her to sign it, Shegog replied, "It's tight."

There were a few players who appeared ready for play at the collegiate level. Shekinna Stricklen, who will attend Tennessee, scored a game-high 17 points. Brooklyn Pope (Rutgers) recorded 13 points. Elena Delle Donne (Connecticut) posted a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds.

East assistant coach Corry Irvin said the big stage has a lot to do with what makes this all-star contest different from all the rest.

"It's such a high-profile game," Irvin said of the nationally televised event. "It's the same players but the atmosphere is so different."

Both Kizer and Shegog, who will play for North Carolina, said the best part of the experience may have been the trip to the local Ronald McDonald House on Sunday. Kizer and Shegog helped the kids make T-shirts and key chains. They gave out hugs and high-fives, too.

"To see what those kids and their families go through, just to interact with them was heartwarming," Kizer said.

The next night the players were allowed to participate in skills contests ranging from a coed 2-ball challenge to a three-point shooting showdown. Kizer paired up with soon-to-be North Carolina Tar Heel Tyler Zeller in the 2-ball challenge and took fourth. Shegog wanted to enter that event, but "everybody already had a partner. I don't know any of those boys."

For all the fun Kizer and Shegog had and for all the perks they received -- the rings they were awarded at Tuesday night's banquet for making the all-star team were "real big," Shegog said. "Real big." -- the game, for once, may have taken a back seat.

"I cared about the game and I wanted to win, but nothing can match this whole experience," Shegog said. "The friendships and bonds that were created over the past couple of days is amazing."