Monday Expected To Be Big Night For Some Athletes Across Mississippi

Shooting Guard Jay'Lyn Blakney, senior at Wayne Academy Jaguars, a private school in Wayne County, MS, has entered the All-Star Basketball Draft 2025!

In less than 48 hours, high school students from across Mississippi will gather for a special life changing moment. The Mississippi All-Star Draft will kick-off in beautiful downtown Hattiesburg, at the Jackie Dole Community Center, 220 W. Front Street. Doors open at 6pm. The event kicks-off at 7pm.

The event is hosted by American Basketball royalty, The Queen of Basketball, Ruthie Bolton, a WNBA Superstar, whom herself is a 2x WNBA All-Star, 2x US Olympic Gold Medalist, and an inductee of the WNBA Hall of Fame.

All eyes around the basketball world from almost every college and university in the region to NBA organizations and other basketball executives are watching closely to see who's the next big stars in Mississippi basketball.

Students will enter the red-carpet event wearing their "Sunday's Best" or in the words of student athletes, "dripping from head to toe!" Many students will be surrounded by their family, friends, and others during the actual draft itself.

Students and their families are very excited as well as very nervous as students are hoping their names will be called Monday evening as an official state all-star and play in the biggest & most important game of the year, the Mississippi Basketball All-Stars.

Hopefully, with such great food expected, no one will be too nervous to eat.

To get tickets to the state basketball all-star draft and support your favorite athlete, represent your hometown or local community, click here.

The Mississippi Basketball All-Stars is Saturday, May 10, 2025 at Tougaloo College. Tickets are now on sale but the game is expected to be sold out soon. You can get your tickets by clicking here.

If chosen, students will automatically upgrade to a 3-Star athlete and join an elite group of student athletes as less than 1% of student athletes are selected to be state all-stars. Yes, the will be officially considered the best of the best.

Any high school student can participate in the basketball all-star draft. Students don't have to be voted in or invited in. Students simply need to go online and get a free confirmation ticket. Students must be logged in their accounts to get their free ticket.

The all-star draft is open to any 9th -12th grade athlete that attends any Mississippi public, private, or charter school, so basically, any school in Mississippi which not only makes it fair but interesting.

The all-stars are selected by the head coach of each all-star team live at the draft. Only the student athletes who are in person at the draft may be selected.