The adidas Derby Festival Basketball Classic Saturday will showcase some of the top high schools seniors in the nation, including power forward Uche Echefu, one of the few undecided blue-chip players in his class. Echefu is being recruited hard by the University of Kentucky and Duke University.

Scheduled for Saturday, April 16, the Classic will feature four McDonald's All-American players, as well as recruits from the University of Louisville, Kentucky and Indiana University. The Derby Festival is also pleased to welcome adidas as the new title sponsor of the Classic. The 33rd annual game will tip off at 7 p.m. at Freedom Hall.

Local hoops fans will get a preview of players committed to play at some of the top collegiate programs, including Duke, Syracuse, Mississippi State, UCLA and Arizona.

Of special interest to area basketball fans will be UL-bound Chad Millard, Jonathon Huffman, Clarence Holloway, Andre McGee and Terrance Williams, as well as UK signee Jared Carter and IU-bound Joey Shaw.

KDF Chairman and Basketball Classic Recruiting Chairman Dan Owens said. "This year's Basketball Classic will showcase some of the best basketball talent in the country. Several players from last year's Classic played important roles for teams advancing to the NCAA Tournament. This is a great chance for local hoops fans to see these future stars up close and personal."

Tickets are $12.50 and $8 at TicketMaster locations, Freedom Hall Ticket Office, or by phone (502) 361-3100 or (800) 487-1212.

First held in 1973, the Derby Festival Basketball Classic is the second-oldest continuously-held high school all-star game in the nation. In 1987, the Classic set a record for attendance with a crown of 19,041 at Freedom Hall.

Players such as Jamal Mashburn, Moses Malone, Rex Chapman, Pervis Ellison, Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins, Darrell Griffith, Anfernee Hardaway, Jared Jeffries, Darius Miles, Derek Anderson and Dajuan Wagner have starred in the Classic.