CLINTON – Today’s Mississippi Association of Coaches High School All-Star game should be a treat for Vicksburg High’s Jonathan Phelps.

For the first time, the rising Gator senior will get to play with some major league size in the front court. The 6-foot Phelps is slated to start at point guard for the North All-Stars when they square off against the South for a 2:30 tip-off at Mississippi College’s A.E. Wood Coliseum.

Phelps said Friday afternoon at practice that he was looking forward to playing with the likes of Mississippi State commitment Romero Osby of Northeast Lauderdale, a 6-8 forward, and New Hope’s Rashanti Harris, a 6-9 center.

&#8220We have some great players and I’m looking forward to the game. It’s good to get a chance to play with some big guys and (Romero) is one of the best guys I’ve ever played with,” Phelps said.

At Vicksburg, the Gators’ frontline barely reached 6-4. Most of the time, Phelps would have to use his cat-quick elusiveness to drive the lane and power in off-balanced shots.

Phelps did it to the tune of 28.2 points per game while shooting 54 percent from the field last season and earned the Vicksburg Post’s 2006-07 Boys Basketball Player of the Year honor.

But with the talent of Osby, who is widely considered the state’s top player, along with Harris, who led New Hope to the Class 4A semifinals last March, Phelps might be an afterthought.

North coach Lewis Lightsey said that won’t be the case.

&#8220Right now, he’s starting at the point and we could use him some at the two (guard). He’s definitely gotten better since our first practice on Thursday,” said Lightsey who is Osby’s coach at Northeast Lauderdale.

&#8220The big thing for me is that I’m in the starting five,” Phelps said. &#8220I can play the one or the two. I’m looking to penetrate the lane and then dish off to these big guys. These guys (Harris and Osby) are great finishers.

&#8220But we also have some really good 3-point shooters. I think we’ll be able to put on a good show,” Phelps said.

Some of those top shooters include Justin Gillard of Oxford, Brandon Mitchell of Humphreys County and Lamar Williams from Lanier. Behind Osby and Harris, the North will also have 6-7 Latavious Williams of Starkville and 6-7 Jeremy Newsome from Okolona to provide additional frontcourt help.

Hinds AHS coach Keith Williams, who is a co-coach of the South, has only one player listed at 6-6 or better and that is Travis Jackson from Moss Point. Rising War Dawg senior Kenderek Washington is one of a handful of 6-4 post players that the South will run out against the North.

Phelps hopes to use the weekend as a springboard into what he hopes is a banner season for the Gators.

&#8220I’ve been playing AAU ball this summer and doing a lot of work on improving my ball handling,” Phelps said. &#8220I’ve also spent a lot of time in the weight room, trying to get stronger.

&#8220Our team is looking really good for next season. We did pretty good at the Mississippi State camp and did really good at Southern Miss.

&#8220We’ve got everybody back except Deko (Dekores Branch).”