Sunday, April 25, 1999
Smith strong down stretch of Derby Classic
Highlands star converts key 3-point play
The Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Derek Smith scored 21 points, including four late in the fourth quarter, to help the Purple squad to a 138-132 win over the White team in the annual Derby Festival Classic All-Star basketball game Saturday.
Smith, of Fort Thomas Highlands, was 7-of-11 from the field and had six rebounds and seven assists. He has signed to play football for Kentucky.
Rick Jones of Scott County, Kentucky's Mr. Basketball, finished with eight points and won the three-point shooting contest at halftime. Jones, who has signed to play with Vanderbilt, was only 3-of-10 from the field and 2-of-6 on three-pointers for the game.
The Purple team led 126-124 when Smith scored on a layup, was fouled and hit the free throw for a 129-124 lead with 1:09 to play. The White squad could get no closer than three points the rest of the way.
Travis Watson of Brookneal, Va., led the Purple team with 22 points. Watson, who has signed with Virginia, had a game-high 19 rebounds to earn the team's MVP honors.
Marcus Haislip, who is considering Kentucky along with Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Auburn and Alabama, added 14 points for the Purple. He said he would make his college choice in a couple of weeks.
The White team was led by Casey Jacobsen, of Glendora, Calif., who has signed with Stanford. Jacobsen scored 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting and had three assists.
George Baker of Lexington Dunbar, who has signed with DePaul, added 12 points and had seven assists for the White team.
Joe Sykes of North Hardin, who has signed with Louisville, finished with seven points and seven rebounds for the Whites.
Robertas Javtokas of Medina, Ohio, had nine points, while Mikeal Hadiri of Chicago added 17 points and Benjamin Eze Ndubuisi of Toronto had 10 points and eight rebounds for the White team. All are considering Louisville among other schools.
Reece Gaines of Madison, Wisc., was slated to play but did not because the NCAA ruled him ineligible after he had played in two previous all-star games this year. He is considering Louisville and Maryland.
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