ESCANABA – For the first time since 2009, the best basketball players in the Upper Peninsula will display their skills in Escanaba.

The 39th annual Upper Peninsula All-Star Classic will be held at Bay College at 5:30 p.m. Thursday nighy, the first time the game will not be held on a Saturday. The last three games were played in St. Ignace.

Gladstone hosted games in 2003-2004 and Escanaba was host in 2008-2009. The first game was held at NMU in 1986.

Proceeds benefit the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame and its scholarship fund. Each year, two female graduates and two male student athletes receive $1,000 for one year of college studies.

Among the scholars this spring was Cole Baij of Norway, who will be among the participants in Thursday’s boys game at about 8:30 p.m.

The players are split among the East and West girls and boys, using basically highway’s M-28 and M-95 as dividing roads

They will participate in several skill events, slam dunk, 3-point field goal and free throw shooting, The winners will receive trophies.

The players/coaches are:

East girls: Addison and Candece and Jillian Fraser, St. Ignace; Allie Wallen, Newberry; Bailey Corcoran, Munising; Brianna Anderson and Aubree Blackburn, Marquette; Adria Ruleau, Stephenson; Mayce Hanson. Coach: Andy Cretens, Gladstone

West girls: Emilee Jokela, Lake Linden-Hubbell; Eva Gerard, Houghton; Hanna Vaughn. Ironwood; Brooklyn Dompier and Mylee Londo, L’Anse; Macy Linsenberger, Iron Mountain; Peyton Kakurri, Ishpeming; Aubrey Johnson, Negaunee; Evelynn Moilanen, Dollar Bay;  Kaitlyn Smith, West Iron County. Coach: Jacky Bessonen, Ewen-Trout Creek

East boys: Carson Keinitz and Trevor Nolan, Munising; Eli MacDonald, Pickford; Trey Lynn, Brimley; Javon Stevenson, Escanaba; Jaxon Jurmu, Kyle Sager and Jacob MacPhee, Marquette; Jordan Guennette, Negaunee; Coach: Tracy Peterson, Pickford

West boys: Cole Baij, Norway; Luke Hill, Houghton; Gavin Grondin and Morgan Sleik, Kingsford; Gerald Sampoll-Torres and Oskar Kangas, Iron Mountain; Elijah Oberlin, West Iron County; Jayden Sagataw, Hannahville Nah Tah Wahsh; Austin Gordon, Ewen-Trout Creek;  Tristan Miller, Westwood; Coach: Ben Olsen, Kingsford