Area standouts prepare for respective East-West games

By Gabe Whisnant
Published in Sports on July 15, 2005 1:53 PM

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They're excited, honored and ready to have some fun.

A trio of area athletes -- Chris Campbell (Eastern Wayne, basketball), Karter Yutzy (Princeton, basketball) and Shonte Barnes (C.B. Aycock, football) -- won't have much to prove when they take the court or field next week for the 58th Annual North Carolina East-West All-Star games in Greensboro.

Campbell has already committed to play hoops for UNC-Pembroke, while Barnes is going to Catawba College with aspirations of toting the pigskin for the Indians. Yutzy, despite being courted by plenty of programs, has decided to focus on academics at N.C. State.

Still, they are all looking forward to the opportunity to compete against the elite seniors from across the state.

"I'm excited. I'm ready to go. I can't wait to get out there and practice," said Barnes, who will participate in Wednesday's football game at Jamieson Stadium at 8 p.m. "I think it's going to be a great experience. Getting to play with the some of the best is a great honor."

Campbell and Yutzy were equally as excited about getting on the hardwood on Monday night at 8:30 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum.

"I'm honored," Campbell said. "Ten from the East and Ten from the West ... to be one of those people, the percentages are very low anyway you look at it."

"I feel honored as well. I'm going to try to do my best and play at the highest level I can play," added Yutzy, Princeton's all-time leading scorer.

Yutzy in particular will have a familiar face among the coaching staff.

Veteran North Duplin coach, Ricky Edwards, will assist the East squad. Edwards, a 15-year coaching veteran, is equally as honored as the athletes to be a part of the East-West game.

"It's a big honor to be asked to coach in it. It was a complete surprise this fall when they called me," Edwards said. "We're just going to let them play and have a good time. We've got some pretty good kids."

For Campbell and Barnes especially, the experience will give them the opportunity to test their skills against fellow, college-bound athletes.

"I'm looking forward to playing with Wilson Fike's running back, Requan Boyette (a Duke commitment)," Barnes said. "I haven't had a chance to meet him, and I hope to meet all 32 players and start a friendship. I also know it's the best coaches in N.C., and I should be able to learn a great deal in six days."

Barnes, Campbell and Yutzy were all News-Argus first-team selections in their senior campaigns in their respective sports.

East-West

history

The first East-West All-Star Games were held in the summer of 1949. Women's basketball was added to the games in the summer of 1975. Soccer for men and women became a part of the line-up in the summer of 1992.

The football and men's basketball games celebrated their 57th anniversary in 2004. The women's basketball game had its 30th anniversary in 2004.

The games are held in conjunction with the N.C. Coaches Association clinics, held Monday through Thursday.