ACC stars coming to WCDS

By Steve Roush
Published in Sports on April 12, 2006 2:03 PM

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We've watched these guys play ball on TV for years.

On Thursday night, they're coming to the Wayne Country Day gymnasium to play some hoops.

A handful of top seniors from around the Atlantic Coast Conference will be taking on some local standouts in the Wayne Country Day Challenge.

Expected to be on hand are North Carolina's David Noel and Byron Sanders, Duke's Lee Melchionni and Sean Dockery, N.C. State's Cameron Bennerman, Tony Bethel and Ilian Evtimov and Wake Forest's Justin Gray and Trent Strickland.

J.J. Redick, Shelden Williams and Eric Williams have also played in some of these traveling showcases, but haven't been confirmed as of yet.

"This will be fan friendly," said Harlon Neal, who is assisting with the event. "The players will be signing autographs -- you can bring things like balls, hats and jerseys to be autographed -- and they'll be posing for photos. You feel like you already know them ... you've seen them play so much over the years. Now, you can get to meet these players.

"They're all class A kids."

The event -- which is close to a sellout, Neal said --begins at 7 p.m., but the doors will open an hour earlier and fans are encouraged arrive early.

This is the first time this type of showcase has come to Wayne County, Neal added, but hopes it will become an annual event.

Tickets are $8 if purchased in advance of game day and will be $10 at the door.

Proceeds will go toward the Jimmy V foundation.

"It's a win-win for the community," Neal said.

The Wayne Country Day Challenge is sponsored by Wayne Country Day School; R.A. Jeffries; Deacon Jones Nissan; Chevrolet, Cadillac of Goldsboro; Goldsboro Drug Store; Matthews Motors; WGBR and WKIX; Merrill Lynch and the Goldsboro News-Argus.

For more information, contact Neal at 778-0417.