New York City leads the series 2-1, with its win in the second year capped by a two-handed, over-the-head dunk by Tina Charles, the game's MVP who now is at Connecticut. Last year's game featured a hot matchup between two of the top area point guards - Samantha Prahalis, of Long Island, who headed to Ohio State, and Lorin Dixon, formerly of host Christ the King and now at UConn. Prahalis arguably had the better performance, but Dixon lead her team to a victory walked away with MVP honors. Sky Lindsey, now a freshman at St. John's, also performed heroically in that game.

This year's event, for which HoopGurlz.com is a media sponsor, should be the best ever with the Long Island squad looking for revenge and to even things up.

The following is some background on the players I believe will impact the game.

KEY PLAYERS FOR NEW YORK CITY

China Crosby

Amanda Burakoski – Mary Louis H.S.
The 6-foot junior guard/forward can do it all. She had the game of her life against Christ the King, scoring 27 points, inside and outside, during the postseason. She has the size to post up smaller guards and can get to the rack with ease and either hand. Burakoski is a streaky shooter, but when she gets on a roll, she can play with the best. She has great court vision and a very productive summer with the NYC Heat AAU team.

Nicole Capurso – St. John Villa H.S.
5’9” Sr. Guard is headed for Hofstra. This will be the third year in the Classic for the 5-9 guard headed to Hofstra. She suffered a late-season knee injury last year, and sat out the Liberty Belles' entire summer season. Capurso will be the strongest guard on the floor. She has a ice mid-range game and just gets to the basket, and is a pure scorer who will look to cap her senior season with a bang. Hard working, she's also a tremendous defender.

Michelle Cashin – Midwood H.S.
The silky smooth, 6-foot forward had a tremendous summer with the NYC Heat. She has a ice stroke from the outside, and can post inside and get rebounds. She’s been under the radar in the past, but no more.

China Crosby – Manhattan Center H.S.
The 5-5 junior is one of the best pure point guards in the country. She can dominate a game without scoring. When the team needs for her to turn it on, she can get to the basket and no one will stop her. She’s being recruited by several major Division programs. She is an OK shooter, but has uncanny ballhandling skills and extra ordinary speed and athleticism. She will be one of the players up for the MVP award and is looking forward to the match up against Ohio State-bound Samantha Prahalis.

Jelleah Sidney – St. Michael Academy H.S.
The 6-1 forward has expanded her game and become a threat on the perimeter. A tireless worker and a defensive stopper, she had a nice summer with Exodus NYC, which has made her a priority D1 recruit. An athletic and strong player, she also will be looking to snag MVP honors.

Other NYC Players to Watch
Aerial Edwards, 6-2 sophomore, Christ the King; Leryncia Miller, 6-0 junior, St. Peters; Tahira Johnson, 6-1 junior, Christ the King.

KEY PLAYERS FOR LONG ISLAND / WESTCHESTER

Ieasia Walker

Kristen Dougherty – Sachem H.S.
The 5-10, lefty sophomore guard is a scoring machine who can fill it up from anywhere on the court. She will be the best pure shooter on the floor and can also get to the rack with either hand with authority. She will be the next star on the Island, along with Iesia Walker, when Prahalis graduates.

Stefanie Dolson – Minisink Valley H.S.
The 6-5 sophomore post helped lead the Silver Bullets Elite to a national title. She’s a great low-post scorer who reminds many people of Brad Daughterty, the former North Carolina and NBA star. A great rebounder, she raised everyone’s eyebrows, including coach Brenda Frese of Maryland, who offered her a full scholarship.

Christine Huber – St. John the Baptist H.S.
The 6-4 junior forward is one of the best players in the area. She’s more of a face-the-basket player who can stick the 15-footer as well as slash her way past other big girls to the basket. She’s also another high D1 prospect being recruited by Boston College and Connecticut, just to name a few. She is another prime candidate to bag MVP honors for this game

Iesia Walker – Copiague H.S.
The 5-7 junior point guard, who helped the Silver Bullets to their national title, is considered at an elite level similar to Sammy Prahalis. Walker is the best in-traffic scorer while penetrating to the basket that I have ever seen. Super strong and stocky, she is a nice ballhandler and a major D1 recruit.

Samantha Prahalis – Commack H.S.
What more can I say about the 5-7 senior that hasn't already been said? She can do it all. I mean, she’s like the female Jerry West of basketball. She’s one of the top 30 players in the country and had one of the best summers that I can recall a player having while playing for Exodus NYC. The Ohio State bound guard is my favorite to win MVP honors.

Emily Stallings – Burke Catholic H.S.
This 6-1 forward was the best player, next to Prahalis and Walker, at the tryouts. The committee loved her, big time. She may surprise a lot of people and walk away with the MVP award. She can play inside or outside. When she’s on a roll, she’s virtually unstoppable.

Other Long Island Players to Watch
Terry Green, 6-0 junior, Holy Trinity; Megan Vasquez, 5-9 junior, Calhoun H.S.

KEYS TO THE GAME

NYC has more athletic players and need to turn this game into an up and down game. LI/WE has to make this a halfcourt game and utilize their height advantage. My Sleeper MVP picks are Ariel Edwards for NYC and Terry Gree for LI/WE.

ROSTERS

Coaches: Jaywana Bradley (head), Manhattan Center HS; Juan Gonzalez, Wings Academy; Joseph Lewinger. Mary Louis Academy

*Alternate

Coaches: Mike Petre (head), North Babylon HS; John Reilly, Scarsdale HS; Dan Ricci, Ossining HS

*Alternate

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Derrick Mullen is a freelance basketball research consultant who specializes in providing information and rankings of players in the New York City metropolitan area. A former high school and collegiate player, he coached in the men's New York Urban Professional League from 1992 to 2001, and coached a girl's program in the CYO league in Queen, N.Y., until 2005. For the last two years, Derrick has assisted Gameball Magazine in compiling the top players in the NYC, and is the New York City moderator for Hoopgurlz.com. He can be reached at dmullen@hoopsking.com.