INSTITUTE, W.Va. — Some of the best high school football and basketball players in the state of West Virginia will get one more chance to demonstrate their skills at the game this weekend in Charleston.
The annual North-South All Star Basketball Game is Friday night at the South Charleston Community Center. The North-South All Star Football Game is set for University of Charleston Stadium in Charleston on Saturday.
The players are selected by the respective coaches after a careful review of what seniors are available. Over the course of six days, those who came into the week as strangers will meld into a cohesive unit, playing to win.
“Some of the guys know each other from playing against each other, but then there’s guys they haven’t met or haven’t played,” said Assistant Game Director Mark Montgomery. “It almost becomes like a band of brothers.”
The football teams have spent this week living together and practicing together twice daily on the West Virginia State University campus. Although they may not realize it now, most who have played in the game in previous years say it’s a week which creates lifetime friendships.
“You see it all the time,” said Montgomery. “Usually by the time Saturday rolls around, they’re usually a fine oiled machine. It’s hard to believe that happens in six days, but it does.”
Much of that rapid advancement is credited to the players and coaches. Although all possess football skills, Montgomery says they also have high character and that is a key.
“The coaches do a good job of researching the character,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of time to deal with off the field issue down here.”
As part of the All-Star Week, the West Virginia Schools Athletic Coaches Association will induct two new members into the North-South Football Hall of Fame. Former South Charleston, St. Albans, and Greenbrier East Head Coach Homer Criddle and former Peterstown High School and WVU quarterback Chad Johnston. The two will be recognized during Saturday’s game.
You can hear the basketball all star game broadcast Friday night on MetroNews at 7 p.m. The football game on Saturday night will be broadcast on MetroNews stations across the state from Laidley Field with a 7 p.m. kickoff.