By Jeff Hoffman (assistant boys coach at Morgantown High)
May 27

The North Central Athletic Conference will showcase its boys basketball
talent at a special All-star game at Morgantown High on Thursday
evening May 29th.
Game time will be 7:00 and feature as many as 11 players that will
be continuing their careers after high school. From top to bottom
the NCAC has not had this much overall talent in many years, if ever, said Tom Yester the Morgantown High coach and NCAC coach of the
year. We have as many as eleven conference players playing ball
next year, either at the Division two or three level, Junior college
or prep school.
Headlining the Home team which includes players from West Fairmont,
East Fairmont, Elkins and University will be Nick Patella, NCAC
player of the Year. Patella turned down several small college offers
for his services and plans to walk on to the WVU basketball team
in the fall. West Fairmont will be represented by its coach Dave
Retton and three players. Will Bridges (Wheeling Jesuit), Cornelius
Dillard and John Stanley (both entertaining junior college offers)
will represent the Polar Bears. East Fairmont will be represented
by Jimmy Wyant (University of Charleston). Dominic Nucilli from Elkins
High will join the team as will Matt Smith from University.
The visiting team coached by Tom Yester, will have a great deal
of talent as well. Morgantown High (state tournament semi-finalist
and regular season state champion in the metro index poll) will have
four players, all of whom have college offers to play next year. Bobby Prim will take his talents
to West Virginia Wesleyan, Ronnie Shaver to Waynesburg College, Nick
Hedges to Case Western in Cleveland, and Justin Vidovich will play
at an undetermined Junior College. Joining the Mohigans will be Preston's
Thomas Hooten (prep school) and sharp shooter Chris Hartley. Rocky
Manchin will represent North Marion and play basketball at West Virginia
Wesleyan next year. Adam Burnside of Buchannon will round out the
visiting squad. At halftime the players will get an opportunity to show off as there
will be a three point contest as well as a dunk competition.

For more information: Jeff Hoffman 288-5753
Or e-mail at coachhoffman@mohiganbasketball.com