Chad Orum has showcased his talent as a high school basketball player for the last time.

The LeRoy-Ostrander senior center was one of 40 players selected to play in the 21st annual Minnesota High School All-Star Basketball Series Friday and Saturday in St. Cloud and St. Paul. But contrary to the winter season in Cardinal country, Orum shared the spotlight.

Eight Division-I signees played in the season-ending series at St. Cloud State University and Concordia-St. Paul. Orum's 'Blue' team featured Oklahoma recruits Longar Longar (Rochester John Marshall) and Lawrence McKenzie (Minneapolis Patrick Henry), who finished 1-2 in the All-Star Series' slam dunk contest.

Orum, a 6-foot 5-inch center from LeRoy known for rattling the rim with his own aerial acrobatics, did not compete in the dunk contest. Instead, Orum continued to prepare for his place at the next level. Likely to line up as a small forward for Southwest State University in Marshall next winter, Orum took a shot at the three-point contest. He finished second.

"My dunks are nothing compared to Longar's," Orum said. "It was just exciting to see him try some of the stuff he did. I didn't get in the dunk contest because I didn't think I could compete with Longar."

McKenzie took the dunk title over Longar both nights, while Orum finished second to Wabasso senior Brent Baune in the three-point shootout. Baune was also a member of the 'Blue' squad, which finished the weekend tournament 0-2.

"It was just amazing going there to play with all those guys, they're all good guys," Orum said. "It was my last high school game and a good way to wrap up my career. It would have been nice to make it to the state tournament this year, but this was a great experience."

Friday night at Halenbeck Hall in St. Cloud, Orum's 'Blue' team was defeated by the 'Green' squad, 108-91. Saturday at Concordia the 'Gold' team took a 118-85 victory over the 'Blue.' The 'Maroon' team finished 2-0, led by Air Force Academy recruit Matt Hanson from Maranatha Christian Academy.

"We didn't play any defense," Orum said. "It was all for fun but it was kind of hard because you're still competitive at the same time."

That's a trait that will only drive a hard-working player from a small school in Southern Minnesota to better prepare for the transition to college basketball.

"I'm sure there's not one player that hasn't worked his butt off to get there," Orum said of his All-Star Series teammates. "We lost to Rushford on a Saturday and I was back working out on Sunday morning."

Orum intends to pursue a degree in education at SWSU while playing basketball for the Mustangs.

"I'll probably play the three man, but I've got to get a lot better," Orum said. "It'll be interesting."

Cardinal coach honored

LeRoy-Ostrander boys' basketball coach Russ Foster was named Section 1A Coach of the Year by the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association. Foster took over the Cardinal coaching job at the onset of Orum's freshman campaign.

"I've been with him a lot of years," Orum said. "He's a fun coach. He's pretty relaxed. He just expects you to do the right thing all the time like you should."

Foster guided LOHS to the Section 1A championship game after the 2001-02 season, and the Cardinals reached the Sub-Section finals this year.