Published: June 13, 2008 12:30 am            

HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS: Hobbs having fun in his experience as an Indiana All-Star

Braydon Hobbs has heard all the stories, now he’s living the life firsthand.

Hobbs, a recent graduate of New Albany High School, is basking in a life of stardom this week — a week he’s spent touring with the Indiana All-Star team.

“I had heard a lot about it and always thought it would just be an experience I’d never forget,” Hobbs said. “It’s been everything I could hope for. I’ve just been having a great time with it since I started.”

Hobbs’ All-Star excursion actually began late last Saturday, when the Hoosier stars started a three-game series against the Indiana Junior All-Stars. The stops for those contests included Brownsburg, Washington and Marion. This came on the heels of participating in the “Hoosiers” Classic in Knightstown — an annual contest inspired by the 1980s basketball film.

“There’s been a lot of traveling,” Hobbs said. “I’ve seen most of the state I would have to think by now.”

Thus far, Hobbs has not been playing his customary spot at point guard, where he starred as a member of the Bulldogs last season and led the team to a 26-1 record and a spot in the Class 4A Final Four.

His role on the All-Star squad has been more as a wing.

“I’ve been playing primarily the three spot,” Hobbs said. “It’s still primarily on the perimeter because we’ve been playing a lot of three-guard offense, but I don’t control the ball as much in this position. I’ve had to be a lot more active away from the ball.”

In the last two years, three NBA lottery selections — Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr. and potentially Eric Gordon — have headlined the Indiana All-Star teams.

This season’s roster seems to lack that kind of overall star power, but the roster still features 13 NCAA Division I recruits.

“I’ve known almost all these guys from playing AAU ball or I’ve played against them head-to-head,” said Hobbs, who will play at Division II Bellarmine next season. “There’s no doubt — there’s great players on this team. We’ve got a lot of talent here.”

That talent will be put to the test against a Kentucky class that is being called one of the best the Bluegrass has produced in recent years. Indiana has won seven of the past eight meetings in the series and owns a 14-2 mark in the rivalry since 2000.

Kentucky’s lineup features McDonald’s All-American Scotty Hobson, a University of Tennessee signee, and Mr. Basketball Darius Miller, who will attend Kentucky.

“They’ve got a lot of athletes,” said Hobbs. “We’ve talked about how tough that might make them to match up with. They’ll be tough to face off with for sure. We’re working all week to get ready because there’s a lot of pride in playing in this game for the guys on this team.”

Hobbs also can take pride in knowing he’ll likely be the most popular player on the floor Sunday when the series shifts to Louisville Gardens. A healthy contingent of New Albany backers is expected for the contest, which will tip off at approximately 4 p.m. With no Louisville players on the Kentucky roster, Hobbs will be the most local product in the contest.

“There have been a ton of New Albany fans who have already told me they’ll be there,” Hobbs said. “It’ll be great to play that one close to home. It’s the first time (the game) has been in Louisville in a few years, so I’m definitely looking forward to that one.”

        

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