(6-7-23) The excitement of playing in the annual Kentucky-Indiana All Star game should be an honor for those players selected to compete in it. But is seems in recent years that is not enough for some.

Sheppard & Booker

Kentucky will be playing without Mr. Kentucky and North Laurel’s Reed Sheppard, a UK signee, and Indiana will be playing with out the runner-up in the Mr. Indiana voting Indianapolis Cathedral senior and Michigan State recruit Xavier Booker.

In an Indy Star story today –

Indiana All-Star director Mike Broughton–

“We got word that Xavier didn’t want to play. We wish him the best at Michigan State and believe that the makeup of the team will be good or without him.”

Booker’s father, Fred Booker, said in a message Wednesday that his son is reporting to Michigan State Thursday.

Last season Homestead’s Fletcher Loyer, who was the Mr. Indiana runner-up, declined the invitation to participate.

Last week Sheppard sent a letter to Scott Chalk, the executive director of the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches (KABC), stating that he would be unable to participate in the games with the Kentucky Senior All-Stars due to other commitments. including his enrollment process at the University of Kentucky.

Pinned to the top of Sheppard’s twitter account—

It has to be disappointing for the All Star planning committees (and to fans) to see Booker and Sheppard decide just before the games are to be played not to show up. Let’s face it the world of high school basketball has changed over the past several years…from AAU, college coaches preferring their players don’t play in these games, to multiple transfers and players able to sign NIL marketing deals to cash in on their college careers.

Both players let down their All Star teammates by missing the game….very disappointing.

A favorite quote from ‘HOOSIERS’

How many players from both states would have been thrilled to have been selected and to participate in the series of games between two states who love their high school basketball, instead they will not have that chance. Someday these two players may look back at this missed opportunity and wish they had made a different choice.

The opportunity to be a part of a team has been lost to many recently…it is a shame!

Coach Norman Dale:
Five players on the floor functioning as one single unit: team, team, team – no one more important that the other.