Emotions were high and the competition was fierce on Saturday evening, a full 48 hours before tip-off of the 2003 EA SPORTS Roundball Classic. Because Saturday was the day of the second-most-anticipated event of the Roundball Classic weekend -- the EA SPORTS Video Game Tournament.

16 EA SPORTS All-Americans faced off against one another on the soon-to-be-released NBA STREET Vol. 2 for bragging rights as the best video gamer among the best high school basketball players in the country. And when all was said and dunked, Sammy Mejia from Bronx, NY was the last man standing and the crowning champion.

Mejia, who will be back in Chicago this fall to attend DePaul University, outlasted Chris Taft, 21-15, in the finals of the virtual streetball competition. ?I really thought it was a cool game,? said Mejia, one of 23 high school all-stars to be named an EA SPORTS All-American. ?It reminds me of the first NBA STREET, but Vol. 2 just takes it to a new level and has incredible graphics and moves. The tournament was a lot of fun and very competitive.?

EA SPORTS Video Game Tournament Results

Round One (Single elimination/one game to 21):
Michael Jones d. Brian Butch, 21-10
Sammy Mejia d. Richard McBride, 21-9
Leon Powe d. Demetris Nichols, 21-15
Dameon Mason d. Mustafa Shakur, 24-22
Trevor Ariza d. Colin Falls, 21-14
Chris Taft d. Charlie Villanueva, 21-16
Aaron Brooks d. Regis Koundjia, 21-6
LeBron James d. Olu Famutimi, 21-15

Quarterfinals (Best two-out-of-three):
Sammy Mejia d. Michael Jones, 2-0
Dameon Mason d. Leon Powe, 2-0
Chris Taft d. Trevor Ariza, 2-1
Aaron Brooks d. LeBron James, 2-0

Semifinals (Single elimination/one game to 21):
Sammy Mejia d. Dameon Mason, 21-16
Chris Taft d. Aaron Brooks, 21-13

Championship Game (Single elimination/one game to 21):
Sammy Mejia d. Chris Taft, 21-15