This is an all-star weekend for the Mississippi Private SchoolAssociation. Showcased Saturday will be the MPSA All-StarBasketball Games at Mississippi College in Clinton and the All-StarBoys Soccer Game at Jackson Academy.

There’s a great local angle regarding the star wars. BlaineRoberts of Brookhaven Academy will play for the South AA-AAA boysbasketball team. Senior classmates Shae Smith and NathanealSbravati will play for the South soccer squad.

You can catch a portion of the all-star soccer game that kicksoff at 1 p.m. at JA. Four all-star basketball games are on tap,starting at 11 a.m. with the Class A girls. Roberts and the ClassAA-AAA boys won’t play until 4:30 p.m.

Admission is $8. It includes all four of the basketball gamesand the soccer match. That’s a bargain.

There will be a slam-dunk contest and a 3-point shootout Fridaynight at Madison-Ridgeland Academy.

Roberts, Smith and Sbravati reported early this afternoon to theClarion Hotel & Suites in Jackson. First order of business wasphysical exams, followed by uniforms, photos, meetings andpractices.

Roberts, a 6-foot-2 senior, was instrumental in

Brookhaven Academy’s fifth straight Class AA State Tournamentchampionship. He averaged 11.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game asthe Cougars finished 30-10 under head coach Dale Watts. He had 149assists and 58 steals.

“Blaine is a very good perimeter shooter and he has worked hardon his game,” said Watts. “He’s probably one of the best guys I’vehad at going in and spending extra time in the gym.”

Also a whiz in the classroom, Roberts has scored a 30 on hisACT. Obviously he has a bright future in collegiate athletics andacademics. Co-Lin and Southwest are recruiting his basketballskills.

Fresh from winning the high jump and the triple jump in a trackmeet at Hattiesburg Wednesday, Roberts also had some sunburn on hisface and neck to show for his efforts. He said he was excited aboutthe all-star game.

Roberts said he wants to play basketball at Co-Lin for DennisSims. He plans on pursuing a career in the medical profession.

On Monday, he’ll under go surgery on his left wrist to repair afracture sustained late in the regular season. Roberts is the sonof David Roberts and Melissa Burns. He lives with his grandparents,Danny and Patsy Roberts of Bogue Chitto.

Coaching the South AA-AAA boys are James Crain of Hillcrest andRandy Holloway of Prentiss Christian School.

Sbravati (5-10, 180) and Smith (6-0, 150) expect to concludetheir soccer careers Saturday. They helped direct the Cougars tothe District 4-AA title and a berth in the state playoffs. Theyoutscored opponents 16-0 inside the district.

One of BA’s leading tacklers during the 2008 football season,Sbravati has developed a passion for soccer, too. He enjoys theplanning and intricacies.

“I like the creativity of it,” Sbravati explained. “You have totake advantage of every opportunity. Soccer isn’t boring.”

Sbravati scored 7 goals for Coach Josh Dixon’s BA squad. Smithscored 10. The Cougars lost a tough 2-1 decision to East Rankin inthe opening round of the state playoffs.

Asked about his favorite soccer play, Smith said, “I like tooutrun everybody and take the goalie one-on-one.” He’s also amember of BA’s golf team.

Smith and Sbravati are planning to continue their educations atOle Miss. Smith, the son of Ronnie and Marie Welch, said he wantsto enter the nursing field. Sbravati, son of Clyde and DorisSbravati, is undecided about his major.

Coaching the South boys are Brian Jones of PresbyterianChristian School and Mark Alexander of River Oaks.

Write to sports editor Tom Goetz, c/o The DAILY LEADER, P.O. BOX551, Brookhaven, MS 39602 or e-mail sports@dailyleader.com