We received the following official press release this afternoon concerning a new and exciting all-star exhibition game, one which looks like it might actually rival, at least on paper, the traditional McDonald's All-American game rosters.  Rather than try to rephrase it, we'll just pass it along as we received it:

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Bay Area basketball stars Andrew Gooden and Justin Davis will be joined by National Player of the Year Jason Williams, Carlos Boozer, Brett Nelson, Demarr Johnson, Mike Dunleavy, Jr. and many other top prep players from around the country for a one-night basketball exhibition at the Electronic Arts Campus in Redwood City, Calif.

Entitled "PREP LIVE ’99," this all star high school hoops showcase will take place Saturday, June 19 at 7 p.m., and feature 20 of the top high school basketball players who are all headed to the best college programs in the nation. A portion of the ticket proceeds for the event will benefit the Slam’n’Jam Youth Program in Oakland and the Redwood City Police Activities League.

PREP LIVE ’99 also will give the athletes and fans a chance to visit Electronic Arts’ (NASDAQ: ERTS) new state-of-the-art world headquarters. The players will spend Friday, June 18, at the software company’s facility for a behind-the-scenes view of how video games are made, produced, marketed and promoted to the consumer. They will tour the campus, play games, compete in a slam-dunk and three point competition and attend a panel discussion on the Business of Video Games, hosted by Electronic Arts executives.

Glenn Chin, EA SPORTS Director of Marketing, notes that the two-day event will give the top players in the country a chance to merge their two passions, basketball and sports video games. "Sports videogames are a big part of America’s youth. While they’re here, the players will get a look at what goes into creating products that they are so incredibly passionate about and meet the people who make them," Chin said. "The PREP LIVE ’99 event on Saturday night will be exciting in that we can present some of the best talent the Bay Area has ever seen on one court, before they embark on their college careers."

The schedule for PREP LIVE ’99 is as follows:

Thursday, June 17: players arrive at SFO; check in at team hotel

Friday, June 18: 

9:30 a.m. Tour EA SPORTS Headquarters

11:00 a.m. Panel discussion: The Business of Video Games

2:00-3:00 p.m. Basketball clinic with 40 Redwood City Youth (held on EA's outdoor courts)

4:30 p.m.  Basketball practice/scrimmage; Three Point/Slam Dunk contest with celebrity judges Jerry Rice, Junior Bryant, Brevin Knight and others

7:30 p.m. EA SPORTS video game tournament

Saturday, June 19:

5:00 p.m. Pre-game reception/media access to players; silent auction

7:00 p.m. PREP LIVE ’99 tip off: "The West vs. the Rest"

Tickets are limited, but available by calling 650-628-1500. 

And here's the shameless commercial plug that goes along with having a major software company underwrite such a great event: