WASHINGTON, DC - The Capital Classic All-Star Game returns today after a multi-year layoff, and the participants are looking forward to joining its list of storied alumni.

“I mean, it's a huge honor just being selected as one of the guys from the DMV and the local area to come out and go against some of the nation’s best talent,” Mount St. Joseph (Md.) forward and Illinois commit Amani Hansberry said after Capital All-Stars practice Friday at Coolidge High School. “So, I really just want to come out there and try to see what I need to work on going into the summer, and then just go from there.”

The Capital Classic - which matches a group of players from the DMV against a squad of players from across the country - began in 1974, and has a long list of participants that include Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Jason Kidd and Chris Paul, among other notables. The United States All-Stars lead the all-time series, 32-17.

Today’s game is scheduled for 2 pm at Entertainment & Sports Arena (1100 Oak Dr SE, Washington, DC 20032). Tickets are available here.

This year’s 50th Anniversary edition will be the first since 2019 following several cancellations due to the coronavirus pandemic. That hiatus put the game out of sight and out of mind for many of the current players, who said they weren’t familiar with its history.

“At first when I got the [invitation], I didn’t know whether to go or not,” Landon (Md.) guard and Pennsylvania commit Tyler Perkins said. “I thought it was just some little All-Star game, and then I asked my Dad and I asked my Uncle, and they were like, ‘If you don’t go, you’re a complete fool.’ So I did my research and saw who played in it before and this is one of the best All-Star games ever.”

St. Frances (Md.) guard and Pittsburgh commit Carlton Carrington had a similar experience.

“I actually was not [familiar]; I’d  never heard of this game until I got the text,” he said. “I’ve learned so far that it's one of the oldest All-Star games in America and a lot of great guys came through this game. It's a blessing to be a part of history, especially with it being the 50th annual one.”

Hayfield (Va.) coach Carlos Poindexter will lead the Capital All-Stars.

“It’s a blessing to be picked to coach this team with a lot of top talent,” he said. “You know it's funny, you see people online all the time when youre watching the games, but when you actually see it in person, and you see a kid like Perkins, who - in my opinion - looked like the best today out of everybody that’s here, and for that kid to go to Penn, I feel like that’s a steal. But overall, with me and bringing my staff along, I feel like it's a great honor. I’m happy that I got picked and hopefully I can lead these guys to victory against the USA Team.”

Here’s a look at this year’s teams:

2023 CAPITAL ALL-STARS

Amani Hansberry, Mt. Saint Joseph (MD) - Illinois
Austin Ball, The Miller School     (VA) - George Mason
Braden Pierce,  IMG Academy (FL) -    Maryland
Carlton Carrington, St. Frances (MD) - Pittsburgh
Carter Lang, St. Anne’s-Belfield (VA) - Vanderbilt
Greg Jones, Hayfield (VA) - American
Jacoi Hutchinson, IMG Academy (FL) - George Washington
Jahnathan Lamothe, St. Frances (MD) - Maryland
Jamie Kaiser,    IMG Academy (FL) - Maryland
Lafayette Williams, Coolidge (DC) - Santa Monica College (CA)
Malik Mack, St. Johns (DC) - Harvard
Thomas Batties, Gonzaga (DC) - Harvard
Tyler Perkins, Landon (MD) - University Of Pennsylvania

2023 UNITED STATES ALL-STARS

Cameron Barnes, Duncanville (TX) - Undecided
Carey Booth, Brewster Academy (MA) - Penn State
Devin Vanterpool, Christ The King (NY) - Florida Atlantic
Javonte “JJ” Taylor, San Ysidro (CA) - Memphis
KJ Lewis, Duncanville (TX) - Arizona
Kenny Satterfield Jr., St. Patrick School (NJ) - Alabama-Birmingham
Malik Bowman, Overtime Elite - Professional
Mike Nwoko, Prolific Prep (CA) - Miami (FL)
Mikey Williams, San Ysidro (CA) - Memphis
Papa Kante, South Kent (CT) - Michigan
Trey Green, Prolific Prep (NC) - Xavier
Youssouf Singare, Our Saviour Lutheran (NY) - Connecticut