Capital Classic continues legacy of showcasing future stars

LeBron James and Shannon Brown hold the MVP Trophy after the Capital Classic in April 2003 in Washington, DC.

The 53rd Annual

Hoop Culture Capital Classic

All-American Game tips off this weekend in Washington, D.C., showcasing some of the nation’s top high school prospects. Established in 1974 by the late grassroots basketball promoter and pioneer Bob Geoghan, the event became the first national high school basketball all-star showcase, serving as a launching pad for future NBA All-Stars and Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees.

The teams will be split between the United States All-Stars and the Capital All-Stars (DMV), with the Vicki Brick-Zupancic DMV Girls All-Star Gam

e

(10:30 p.m. ET) set to precede the boys’ tipoff (12 p.m. ET) at Capital One Arena.

“We’re proud to once again bring the energy and tradition of the Hoop Culture Capital Classic to fans throughout the DMV,”

said

Friday Abernethy

, General Manager of Monumental Sports Network. “This event is our commitment to celebrate and highlight our local talent, and the role basketball plays in our community. It reflects our ongoing dedication to telling meaningful sports stories and highlighting the next wave of stars. We’re excited to deliver an engaging broadcast and honor the legacy of this iconic game.”

Notable Alumni

Here are some notable

Capital Classic alumni

over the last five decades:

Moses Malone

– 1974

Magic Johnson

– 1977

Dominique Wilkins

– 1979 MVP

Ralph Sampson

– 1979

Michael Jordan

– 1981

Patrick Ewing

– 1981 MVP

Grant Hill

– 1990

Jason Kidd

– 1992

Carmelo Anthony

– 2002

Amare Stoudemire

J.J. Reddick

LeBron James

– 2003 MVP

Chris Paul

– 2003

Klay Thompson

– 2008

LeBron James scored 34 points to secure the Capital Classic MVP award in 2003.

Future Stars Take Stage

This year’s game looks to carry on that tradition, once again spotlighting some of the nation’s top high school talent. Here’s a closer look at a few elite prospects headlining Saturday’s action.

Jordan Smith Jr.

Jordan Smith Jr. captured three consecutive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championships and four straight Virginia Independent School Athletic Association Division I titles. The Arkansas commit earned both the 2025-26 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year and 2026 Naismith High School Player of the Year honors after averaging

25.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 5.3 apg and 3.0 spg during his senior season. Smith Jr. is ranked the

No. 1 player in Virginia and the No. 2 overall recruit in the country in the

SC Next 100

.

Baba Oladotun

Baba Oladotun is a 6-foot-9 forward with a 7’4” wingspan who possesses size and guard skills. The future Maryland Terrapin averaged 22.5 ppg during his senior season, leading James Hubert Blake High School to a 4A state title. Oladotun was originally the No. 1 player in ESPN’s class of 2027 before reclassifying to 2026 at just 16 years old. He is now No. 8 overall in the

and ranks as the No. 3 power forward in the country.

2026 Capital All-Stars Roster

Name

Height

Position

High School

College

J.J. Addison

6’5″

SG

Wings Academy

Undecided

Darius Bivins

5’10”

PG

Bishop O’Connell

Lawrence Brown III

6’0″

Paul VI

FGCU

Anthony Brown Jr.

6’1″

Archbishop Carroll

Vanderbilt

Chase Foster

6’7″

PF

IMG Academy

Pittsburgh

Armani Fowlkes

Blake

Favour Ibe

7’1″

C

Mount Zion Prep

Prince-Alexander Moody

Bishop McNamara

Indiana

6’10”

Maryland

Shane Pendergrass

6’8″

Mt. Zion Prep

George Mason

Marcis Ponder*

6’11”

The Gillion Academy

Florida State

BJ Ranson

6’3″

Mount Saint Joseph

St. Joseph’s

Qayden Samuels*

SF

Alabama

Jordan Smith

6’2″

Arkansas

Adama Tambedou

Putnam Science Academy

* Player is injured and will not play in game but will participate in all events.

2026 U.S. Boys All-Stars Roster

Julius Avent

Bergan Catholic

Michigan State

Chris Bolte

St. Ignatius Prep

Yale

Justin Caldwell

6’9″

Fayetteville Academy

Georgetown

Jaen Chatman

6’1′

Blair Academy

Rhode Island

Quinn Costello

The Newman School

Michigan

Moustapha Diop

Overtime Elite

Georgia Tech

Coleman Elkins

Texas

Anthony Felesi

Utah Prep

Ladarius Givan

Petersburg

Mississippi State

Sammy Jackson

Roman Catholic

VCU

Jack Louridas*

Albany Academy for Boys

Lucas Morillo

6’6″

Illinois

Louis O’Keefe

Princeton

Gavin Placide

Family Faith Academy

Wake Forest

Beyond the on-court talent, the Capital Classic continues to make a difference in the community. The Girls All-Star Game will benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, while the Boys Game will support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. Through the Capital Classic Youth Foundation, the event also helps expand access and opportunities for young athletes, reinforcing that the showcase values building futures.

The Capital Classic can be watched on

monumentalsportsnetwork.com

and on the Monumental+ app.