Carlos Boozer's twins, Ellis brothers, Memphis talent to play Mid-South Basketball Classic

Carlos Boozer’s twins, Ellis brothers, Memphis talent to play Mid-South Basketball Classic

Posted by Admin October 1, 2024 Basketball

Cameron and Cayden Boozer, the twin sons of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, and Memphis high school basketball standouts will take the Harding Academy floor Friday and Saturday for Platform Basketball’s Mid-South Basketball Classic.

Since 2018, the classic has brought together national teams to compete with some of Memphis’ top talents, attracting the likes of Bronny James — son and Lakers teammate of LeBron James — James Wiseman, D.J. Jeffries and Ashton Hardaway (a son of Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway).

“It’s an event to provide exposure for our local kids,” event organizer Chan Douglas said. “It’s a showcase for a lot of the top talent that we have here in the city.”

The Boozer twins are both five-star recruits in the Class of 2025. Cameron, a power forward, is ranked No. 2 in the nation by 247Sports Composite; Cayden, a point guard, is No. 21. They will suit up for the Florida-based Los Explorers team, which includes Memphis native and former FACS star Cello Jackson.

Jackson, who is in the 2026 class, won the DII-A state championship with the Crusaders last season before transferring to Christopher Columbus High School in Miami in August, the same school as the Boozers.

“Blessed to be able to come back to my hometown and be able to play the game I love this weekend,” Jackson said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Los Explorers, along with North Carolina’s Moravian Prep — home of four-star South Carolina commit Eli Ellis and his younger brother Isaac — will take on Platform Basketball’s two teams of local high schoolers: Platform Select and Platform Elite.

Douglas founded Platform Basketball in 2020 as an avenue for local players to gain experience and exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The organization’s two teams, which will feature the likes of Houston’s Keron Jackson, Whitehaven’s Cameron Brown and Braylon Williams of Bartlett, will face off in the first game at 6 p.m. CT Friday. The two out-of-state squads will tip off at 7:30 p.m.

A middle school showcase will begin Saturday’s events at 4:30 p.m. before Platform Select plays Moravian Prep at 6 p.m. Platform Elite and Los Explorers will play the final game at 7 p.m.

After seeing lower attendance at last year’s event, Douglas hopes that numbers will rise in order to place more eyes on Memphis’ best basketball talents, ultimately helping them reach their goals of playing in college.

“The first year, we had over 3,500 people out,” Douglas said. “Last year, we had about 500, but I’m expecting about 1,000 between both days.”

Tickets can be purchased on the Platform Basketball website.

Wendell Shepherd Jr. is the high school sports beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Wendell at wendell.shepherd@commercialappeal.com. Follow Wendell on X, formerly known as Twitter, @wendellsjr_.