Indiana-Kentucky High School All-Star Games Canceled

The annual All-Star game series that started in 1939 and was scheduled for June 5-6 has been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The COVID-19 pandemic that claimed the remainder of the college and high school basketball seasons this winter is starting to take away some of our summertime staples, too, including the annual Indiana-Kentucky All-Star games. 

With high school buildings closed for the remainder of the school year and stay-at-home orders in place in both states, Indiana game director Mike Broughton announced that the June 5-6 games have been canceled.

It's the first time since 1944 that the series won't be played. 

“I am sad for the players and coaches who make up this year’s team,'' Broughton said in a release from the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the seniors that made this year’s team, but they do have the satisfaction that they are an Indiana All-Star for life. We wish all members of this year’s Indiana All-Stars a great transition to college next fall.''

Purdue freshmen Brandon Newman, Isaiah Thompson and Mason Gillis all played in the 2019 all-star game. Sophomore Eric Hunter Jr. played in the 2018 game, and junior guard Sasha Stefanovic played in the 2017 game.

The border-war series that started in 1939 has only been interrupted twice before, for World War II in 1943 and 1944. The girls games, which started in 1976, have never been canceled until this season.

The Junior All-Star games set for June 1 and June 3 and the June 6 All-Star Shootout also have been canceled. Tickets purchased for the games will be fully refunded. Purdue commit Caleb Furst, a 6-foot-10 forward from Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian, was one of the six core players selected for the junior team. 

The Indiana All-Stars hold a 99-44 all-time advantage over the Kentucky All-Stars. On the girls’ side, Indiana leads 50-38 in the series. This is the first interruption for the girls All-Stars, which started in 1976.

Indiana All-Stars 2020 roster

Here is the roster of the players selected for this year's 2020 Indiana All-Star team, with college selection in parentheses: 

• Tre Coleman, Jeffersonville (Nevada)
• Johnell Davis, Gary 21st Century (Florida Atlantic
• Dre Davis, Lawrence Central (Louisville)
• Malek Edmonds, Brownsburg (Marian)
• Trey Galloway, Culver Academy (Indiana)
• Anthony Leal, Bloomington South (Indiana)
• Mabor Majek, Hamilton Southeastern (Cleveland State)
• Sincere McMahon, Crispus Attucks (undecided)
• Nigel Pack, Lawrence Central (Kansas State)
• Tayson Parker, Northwestern (Indiana Wesleyan)
• Tony Perkins, Lawrence North (Iowa)
• Kiyron Powell, Evansville Bosse (Houston)
• Charlie Yoder, Westview (undecided)

Indiana Junior All-Stars

• CORE GROUP: Caleb Furst (Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian), Trey Kaufman (Silver Creek), J.R. Konieczny (South Bend St. Joseph), Khristian Lander (Evansville Reitz), Keon Thompson (Merrillville), Brooks Barnhizer (Lafayette Jeff).
• RED GROUP: Jalen Blackmon (Marion), Luke Brown (Blackford), Michael Eley (Fort Wayne Snider), Luke Goode (Homestead), Christopher Mantis (Lowell), Malik Stanley, 5-11 (Warren Central), Blake Wesley (South Bend Riley). 
• BLUE GROUP: Shamar Avance (Lawrence North), Lincoln Hale (Linton-Stockton), Jake Heidbreder (Floyd Central), Connor Hickman (Bloomington South), Kooper Jacobi (Silver Creek), Blake Sisley (Heritage Hills), Pierce Thomas (Brownsburg).