CHESAPEAKE - Instead of the end of their high school careers, it's the beginning of their college careers.

For Shawn Hacker, St. Joseph's 6-foot-7 center, and Daniel Thompson and Lisa Perry, Chesapeake point guards, Friday and Saturday will mark the start of their college careers as they suit up for the Ohio All-Stars against West Virginia.

Friday night's game is at Chesapeake High School with a boys game at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday at St. Albans (W.Va.) High School, the girls will tip-off at 6 p.m. followed by the boys game.

The games will not only bring closure to their high school playing days, but jump start their college careers. Hacker will play at Shawnee State while Thompson and Perry will play for the boys and girls teams at West Liberty State University in West Virginia.

"It's pretty exciting and it's a privilege to play against guys you'll see on TV," Hacker said.

"Basically, I like playing in a game like this because I want to be a better ballplayer. You can take in some things they do that I didn't do. I want to take the things they do and apply it to my game."

Thompson said playing in an all-star game can't do anything but improve his game.

"This is going to step up my game a notch. It gives me confidence," Thompson said. "Everybody is good. You can't step off anybody. They were all stars at their schools. But you can't be intimidated or you can't accomplish anything."

Perry has already had a chance to play in a star-studded all-star game. She was a member of the South squad in the annual Ohio North/South All-Star Game.

"It's always an experience," Perry said. "It's a chance to meet different people in different parts of the state who I might meet later in college.

"Having played AAU all year, I know how to play with talented players. But in an all-star game, you're just thrown together. But that's why it's fun and exciting."

A first team All-Ohio selection, Hacker was the Southeast district Division IV Player of the Year as he averaged 27.2 points and 19.4 rebounds a game. He said playing against star players is exciting, but not intimidating.

"I get to see a 6-10 guy that I'm not used to seeing when I played. They're good players, but mostly it's the quickness that impresses me. That's why they're going to play big-time basketball," Hacker said.

Thompson is renewing some old acquaintances. He played with Jamar Butler, Isiah Carson and twins Tim and Eric Pollitz in the Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Game.

"I like the Ohio guys. It's nice to play with them again," Thompson said. "(The Pollitz brothers) play like each other and shoot like each other. They're unreal."

Perry and Thompson will continue as classmates since both will play at West Liberty State. Ironically, both are point guards.

"(Lisa) signed early, so when West Liberty started talking to me, she got excited. We talk about it all the time. I'm really excited to spend the next four years together," Thompson said.

Perry, a first team All-Ohio pick in Division III, averaged 13.2 points and 6.8 assists. She had 574 career assists to place her 13th on the all-time Ohio lists. Her 322 steals puts her in 20th place.

Thompson averaged 11.5 points and 4.5 assists. He helped lead the Panthers to a ninth straight Ohio Valley Conference championship and a berth in the Division III regional finals.