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For several of the top recruits in the country, the Jordan Brand Classic is, in a sense, the last game they’ll ever play that’s “just for fun.” For instance, the 2012 JBC was the last game of Shabazz Muhammad’s high school career. From this point on, save for pick-up and professional All-Star games, when Shabazz takes the court he’ll carry the enormous weight of leading the famed UCLA Bruins, and eventually, carry the weight of validating his professional paycheck.
Like every year prior, this year’s JBC didn’t disappoint. Muhammad’s West team defeated the East, 99-95, with Shabazz scoring 20 points and grabbing four rebounds en route to sharing co-MVP honors with the East’s Rodney Purvis, who dropped a game-high 22. Above are snapshots from an exciting and energizing weekend in Charlotte, featuring many of the talented JBC participants, rappers Jadakiss and Fat Joe, Kentucky star Anthony Davis and much more.
photos courtesy of Jeff Dormeus
