Immaculata-La Salle High School was the spot to be at for basketball junkies this past weekend.

The ‘Lions Den’ hosted some of South Florida’s premier players Saturday in the first annual 305 Sports X Hoop Familia All-Star Game. Selected by captains Joshua Minton of Saint Andrews and Arturo Dean of Calusa Prep, both teams each had 10 bodies, ranging with talent from Miami Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

Minott, a consensus four-star prospect, is a University of Memphis signee, coached by NBA legend Penny Hardaway and home to stars such as Derrick Rose and Precious Achiuwa. The 6-foot-9 forward led the Scotts to a Class 3A state title in 2019-20 and garnered national recognition after playing with Team Parsons of the Adidas circuit.

As for Dean, the crafted guard spent his past three seasons at South Miami before transferring to Calusa Prep for his senior campaign, citing COVID-19 concerns. Dean averaged 24.6 points, 5.5 assists and 5.1 blocks per game, leading the Colts to the SIAA State Final Four. He’s ranked as the No. 44 point guard in the nation by ESPN, and holds offers from FGCU, Jacksonville, Mercer and Stetson.

The list of players selected to take part for Team Minott included: Donovan Draper (Forest Hill); Micah Octave (Olympic Heights); Devin Hines (Saint Andrew’s); James Henderson (Westminster Christian); Gabriel Gonzalez (Southwest); Rodrick Johnson Jr. (Dwyer); Matthew Robinson (Western); Dominick Nelson (Archbishop Carroll); Jordan Hinds (Cypress Bay).

The players selected to take part for Team Dean included: Ryan Sanchez (Mater Academy); Chris Walker (Wellington); Reggie Luis (Miami Columbus); Dylan Canoville (Calvary Christian); Justin Neely (West Oaks); Jordan Shorter (West Oaks); Joey Brown (Florida Christian); Gary Adams (Western); Emilio Ramirez (La Salle).

The game tipped off shortly after 3 p.m., with both teams trading shots past the first half. Ultimately, it was Team Minott who pulled away a seven-point halftime lead, taking down Team Dean 111-105.

Seven players scored in double figures for Team Minott, with Westminster Christian big-man James Henderson leading the way with 18 points. Saint Andrew’s guard Devin Hines equaled Henderson’s totaled, while Forest Hill’s Donovan Draper and Southwest’s Gabriel Gonzales each had 13. Minott finished the game with 10 points, spending most of his afternoon chucking the ball full-court to feed his teammates.

West Oaks forward Justin Neely was the game-high scorer, recording 31 points, including 21 in the second half. The Albany commit used his strength and length to attack the paint and didn’t hesitate from shooting beyond the arc. Dean totaled 21 points, while Mater Academy’s Ryan Sanchez and West Oaks’ Jordan Shorter each had 16.

ILS’s very own Emilio Ramirez finished with four points on 2-of-4 shooting.

In what was the first event hosted by 305 Sports and Hoop Familia, the feedback was positive, following COVID-19 regulations and offering media coverage for those unable to attend. Overall, it was a project worth repeating.

“It’s on us to continue this All-Star game for years to come,” said Anthony Yero, the founder of 305 Sports. “We hope to continue offering a spotlight to the top players in the community.”