Derrious Gilmore (Lake Clifton) at the free-throw line for the Class of 2009.
The first annual "Increase the Peace" basketball gala was held yesterday evening in front of a packed gym at St. Frances Academy in East Baltimore. Boys and girls high school standouts from the Baltimore and D.C. Metro areas put on a display of outstanding basketball for the purpose of increasing violence awareness in the community. The event was sponsored by Samos Clothing and Chaos Beauty Salon.
In the first of three contests, ballers from the class of 2009 (Seniors) took on the class of 2010 (Juniors). The senior squad was headed up from Akeema Richards (
Western) and the juniors were led up by Shatyra Hawkes (
St. Frances) and scoring machine Asia Logan (
Digital Harbor), who was named the MVP of the game.
The second contest featured the same matchup of the 2009 and 2010 classes on the boys' side. George Jackson (
Digital Harbor), Cleveland Melvin and Derrious Gilmore (
Lake Clifton) and Naji Hibbert (
DeMatha) starred for the seniors while Josh Selby (
DeMatha), Antonio and Will Barton (National Christian Academy), Justin Jackson (
Digital Harbor) and Roscoe Smith (
Walbrook) held it down for the juniors. Once again, the class of 2010 came out on top with Smith taking the MVP honors.
The third and final matchup of the night featured past Baltimore All-Stars including Donte Greene (
Towson Catholic, NBA's Sacramento Kings), Rudy Gay (
Archbishop Spalding, Memphis Grizzlies), Gerald Brown (
Douglass, Loyola College), Dontaye Draper (
Walbrook, University of Charleston), and Melvin Scott (Southern HS, North Carolina).
All of the rim-rocking action can be seen below in the video highlights.