Minnesota high school basketÂball will make its ESPN deÂbut on ThursÂday night. The cameras will come to Apple Valley for a showÂdown between fuÂture Duke teammates Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor.
Jones' Apple Valley team and Okafor's WhitÂney Young High School (ChiÂcaÂgo) will tip off at 6 p.m. in front of ESPN2's naÂtionÂal audiÂence and a sold-out Apple Valley gymnasium.
The chanÂnel is availÂable on most Twin Cities cable telÂeÂviÂsion packages.
"It's good for Minnesota and our high school to get a chance to have a game on ESPN. It's a great opÂporÂtuÂniÂty," Jones said. "It'll be reÂalÂly fun, reÂalÂly exciting, and there will be a lot of enÂerÂgy."
The naÂtionÂal broadÂcast comes just three months afÂter ESPN came to St. Paul for a football game between CreÂtin-Derham Hall and Stillwater. The inÂterÂest in the Twin Cities is a reÂsult of its growÂing crop of naÂtionÂalÂly hyped talÂent.
CreÂtin-Derham Hall's deÂfenÂsive end Jashon CorÂnell is ratÂed the Class of 2015's No. 1 playÂer by ESPN. Jones has been ranked as high as No. 1 in ESPN's boys' basketÂball ratÂings and is curÂrentÂly No. 4 overÂall.
ESPNU recently traveled to Apple Valley for Jones' college announcement. He and Okafor, a 6-11 center rated No. 1 in the country, made their decision together on a split TV screen. They'll return to TV together on Thursday as a result of ambitious thinking.
The two national standouts and Apple Valley coach Zach Goring came up with the idea and pitched it to Whitney Young nearly two years ago. Their pitch not only caught the attention of coaches and school administrators but also ESPN.
The network called Goring last December inquiring about broadcasting one of the Eagles' games. Goring shared that he and Whitney Young coach Ty Slaughter had been in discussions about a game and ESPN jumped aboard.
Duke's coaching staff, including head coach Mike Krzyzewski, is even intrigued by the matchup and will attend Thursday's game, Jones said.
The game is part of what ESPN is calling the GEICO ESPN High School Basketball Showcase. It is 12 games across their ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU networks and includes nine of the nation's top 10 recruits.
"We're reÂalÂly exÂcitÂed about havÂing the showÂcase at our school. It's going to be a neat deal," GorÂing said. "We'll try to catch our breath [afÂter it's all over], but my thought is these experiÂencÂes [big games] are what high school basketÂball is all about."
Apple Valley enÂters the game 5-0, with victories over several top Minnesota programs, inÂcludÂing DeLaSalle and Hopkins. The Eagles are ranked No. 16 in the naÂtion by MaxPreps and No. 41 by USA Today.
WhitÂney Young is 1-1 afÂter dropÂping its seaÂson oÂpenÂer to a team from Southern CaliÂforÂnia. The DolÂphins are unranked in MaxPreps' poll but are No. 34 in USA Today's rankings. They startÂed the season ranked No. 5 afÂter reÂturnÂing three Division I-bound seniÂors. Paul White, a 6-8 powÂer forÂward, is ranked No. 64 among ESPN Top 100 reÂcruits and has signed with Georgetown.
Jones and Okafor have faced off beÂfore in the Nike EÂlite Youth Basketball League. Each has deÂfeatÂed the othÂer. Thursday's game marks one fiÂnal chance to play as opponents beÂfore joinÂing forÂces at Duke next seaÂson.