But on a day where rumors were widespread about one, possibly three Duke University students foregoing their final years at the school to jump to the National Basketball Association, Jason Williams made some Duke fans feel like they didn't have as much to worry about. But even Williams’ heroics couldn't save the U.S. All-Stars from defeat as they fell to the Capital All-Stars 111-100 in the 26th annual D.C. Capital Classic April 8 at MCI Center.

The high school players on the Capital All-Stars squad get nowhere near the same attention that the U.S. All-Stars receive, but they played just as well if not better against them.

Good Council's Roger Mason and Brian Chase of city champion Dunbar High School both hit big three-pointers as the Capital team completed a double-digit comeback to stop a four-year winless drought in the Classic.

Mason and Good Council teammate Chris Monroe dropped 16 and 22 for the Capital All-Stars. "You can tell they played together, they just looked comfortable playing their game when they were on the court together," said Ronnie Wells, one of the many spectators on hand who were there to scout the talent that would be playing for and against his team in the upcoming season.

The high-scoring game surely pleased the fans, although there were some gripes. Under the rules for high school students playing in all-star games, they are only allowed to participate in two games. So it then becomes a big decision as to which games they want to participate in.

"I'm a North Carolina fan and I wanted to see Joe Forte, and he didn't play because he already chose his two games to play in," said Wells. Forte, the District player of the year, was among many players who played in the McDonald's High School Game, but skipped this one.

Most local fans were satisfied, though, as players like Courtland Freeman -- headed for Georgetown -- and undecided-but-possible Hoya Derrick Payne contributed to a 16-0 run that got the Capitals back into the game. Every time Freeman or Payne scored, the majority of the 10,000 spectators on hand cheered.

On the other hand, many of the faithful present, who were sure to be University of Maryland fans, also booed Williams and Casey Sanders every time they touched the ball, as they are headed to rival Duke.

After the U.S. team jumped out to a 20-2 lead behind Williams and Arizona-bound Jason Gardner (22 points), the Capitals responded with Payne and Freeman's good inside play which created easy layups. A late second half drive by Williams was blocked, then rebounded by Mason, who then threw two consecutive elbows at Williams in his rebounding stance. Both teams then traded punches before the Capitals landed the knockout blow with the two baskets by Monroe and Chase.

Monroe, who finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, gathered MVP honors for the Capital All-Stars, while Williams, who tallied a game high 27 points, was the U.S. team's MVP.

Copyright 1999, The Common Denominator