ESPN released it’s High School Basketball Showcase which will feature the top seven teams in the ESPN 25 Power Rankings and 36 ranked players in the ESPN 100, Super 60 and Terrific 25 in 14 games across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU from Dec. 13, 2012 through Feb. 10, 2013.
The schedule tips off on Thursday with a doubleheader on ESPN featuring: No. 7 Aaron Gordon (No. 12 Archbishop Mitty) facing Kentucky-bound No. 5 Aaron Harrison (No. 7 Travis) in Houston at 8 p.m.
Fellow Wildcats signee Andrew Harrison is doubtful for the game with a hamstring injury, Ben Roberts reported.
Gordon is considering Washington, Arizona and Kentucky and will sign in the spring.
Following that game, No. 2 Jabari Parker (No. 1 Simeon) will face Duke-bound No. 36 Matt Jones (No. 19 DeSoto) in Dallas at 9:30 p.m.
The Chicago Tribune reported that after missing more than four months with a fractured right foot, Parker returned to full contact in practice Sunday for the first time this season.
“He still has to get his timing down, but that will come with time,” Simeon coach Rob Smith told the paper. “We still have a couple of days before we play to get that down. … We were more concerned with his conditioning than anything, and he looked pretty good today running and getting up and down the court.”
As we covered in this column, Parker faces a complicated recruiting situation because he may take a Mormon mission at some point.
January’s games are highlighted with the 2013 Spalding Hoop Hall Classic on ESPN and ESPNU January 20-21. The event brings together top teams and players from across the nation and this year’s rosters includes: No. 1 Andrew Wiggins (No. 3 Huntington Prep) vs. No. 8 Noah Vonleh (New Hampton School), No. 61 Nick Emery and No. 76 Eric Mika (No. 10 Lone Peak) vs. No. 7 Aaron Gordon (No. 12 Archbishop Mitty), and No. 2 Jabari Parker (No. 1 Simeon) vs. No. 33 Troy Williams (No. 6 Oak Hill).
In total the two-month schedule will feature seven Top 10 seniors in the country: No. 1 Andrew Wiggins, No. 2 Jabari Parker, No. 3 Andrew Harrison, No. 5 Aaron Harrison, No. 7 Aaron Gordon, No. 8 Noah Vonleh, and No. 9 Kasey Hill.
2012-13 GEICO ESPN High School Basketball Showcase Schedule:
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Site | Network |
| Thu, Dec 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Seguin (Texas) vs. Kimball (Texas) | Grand Prairie High School Grand Prairie, Texas |
ESPNU |
| 8 p.m. | #12 Archbishop Mitty (Calif.) vs. #7 Travis (Texas) | Hopson Field House Missouri City, Texas |
ESPN | |
| 9:30 p.m. | #1 Simeon (Ill.) vs. #19 DeSoto (Texas) | Grand Prairie High School Grand Prairie, Texas |
ESPN | |
| Sat, Jan 5 | 6 p.m. | #1 Simeon (Ill.) vs. #2 Montverde Academy (Fla.) | Wheeling Jesuit University Wheeling, W.Va. |
ESPN2 |
| 8 p.m. | Gonzaga (D.C.) vs. Salesian (Calif.) | Wheeling Jesuit University Wheeling, W.Va. |
ESPNU | |
| Sat, Jan 12 | 4 p.m. | TBD | TBD | ESPN |
| Sun, Jan 20 | 2 p.m. | #13 St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.) vs. #15 Montrose Christian (Md.) | Blake Arena Springfield, Mass. |
ESPNU |
| 5 p.m. | New Hampton Prep (N.H.) vs. #3 Huntington Prep (W.Va.) | Blake Arena Springfield, Mass. |
ESPN | |
| Mon, Jan 21 | noon | #10 Lone Peak (Utah) vs. #12 Archbishop Mitty (Calif.) | Blake Arena Springfield, Mass. |
ESPNU |
| 2 p.m. | #6 Oak Hill (Va.) vs. #1 Simeon (Ill.) | Blake Arena Springfield, Mass. |
ESPNU | |
| 4 p.m. | #4 Findlay Prep (Nev.) vs. #2 Montverde (Fla.) | Blake Arena Springfield, Mass. |
ESPNU | |
| 6 p.m. | #20 DeMatha (Md.) vs. Hudson Catholic (N.J.) | Blake Arena Springfield, Mass. |
ESPNU | |
| Sat, Jan 26 | 9 p.m. | TBD | TBD | ESPNU |
| Sat, Feb 10 | 6 p.m. | #5 Chester (Pa.) vs. #16 Neumann Goretti (Pa.) | TBD | ESPN2 |
Photo: MaxPreps.com
