FORT WAYNE | The red carpet was laid out for Deshaun Thomas, Indiana's reigning Mr. Basketball. As it should have been.
Thomas, a 6-foot-7 two-time state champion who led the state in scoring last winter with a 36.4-point average, is one of the greatest players in Indiana history without question.
Monday night's Indiana All-Star boys game against the Junior All-Stars was held at Fort Wayne Luers' gymnasium for one reason, it is the home of Thomas, a blue chip Ohio State recruit.
The Indiana All-Stars have always honored the best players in the state by giving them an exhibition game in their hometown.
But that didn't mean too much to Lew Wallace junior Branden Dawson, a member of the Core 6 Junior All-Star team.
"I'm from Gary, Indiana, I ain't scared," Dawson said. "He's playing on the same court as I am."
In summer ball Dawson's SYF Players AAU team has always been big rivals with Thomas' Spiece program.
Juniors coach David Benter of Brownstown Central picked up in one hour and fifteen minutes of practice what many in the Region have known for the past two years. Dawson's future is so bright you've got to wear shades.
"Branden is capable of a lot of very good things," Benter said. "His explosiveness is very good. He finishes around the basket very well. He runs the floor very well. He's a very nice player and a very nice kid.
"We did not have a lot of time to get ready for this game. By Wednesday we'll be better and I think that Branden will make a difference."
The last time Dawson played in a high school game in Indiana, it was vastly disappointing. A 65-62 overtime loss to Washington in the Class 3A state title game inside Conseco Fieldhouse didn't sit well with Dawson, who didn't play the first eight minutes of the game for a violation of team rules.
A 7-of-24 shooting performance dampened a 22-point, 11-rebound night.
"I'm ready," Dawson said before Monday night's game. "I'm ready to take that step. I want to show people that I can play."
Both Missouri and Louisville have added their names to the long list of colleges still courting Dawson. He said once July gets here, his recruiting is going to "blow up."
With 3:49 remaining in the game, Thomas threw down a tomahawk left-handed dunk over Dawson, making the score 119-77. He then stared at Dawson for a few seconds before jogging down the court.
It was a statement of the game, and the current time of Indiana basketball.
But with 2:51 left Dawson rebounded the ball, tossed a textbook outlet pass and threw down his own rim-rattling dunk.
The Lew Wallace senior-to-be is the future of Hoosier Hysteria.
Thomas scored 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, both team highs. Dawson had 18 points and 10 rebounds, both team highs.
On Wednesday they'll battle again. And in another year one will be competing regularly on television with the other ready to join in the fall of 2011.
"It was fun," Dawson said. "Let's do it again."
This column solely represents the writer's opinion. Reach him at steve.hanlon@nwi.com.
