April 6 is the date for the eighth annual Charm City Challenge, the area's marquee boys high school basketball All-Star game, to be held at the Towson Center.

Event organizers tout the fact that the game, which pits area players against some of their counterparts from around the country, has previously hosted such NBA notables as Jarrett Jack (now with Portland), Dijon Thompson (Atlanta), Josh Boone (New Jersey) and former Maryland standout D.J. Strawberry (Portland), and has featured four members of NCAA championship teams.

Fans are being asked to visit the event's Web site to nominate area players for the team, for the chance to win prizes. Let's hope that at some point in the near future, someone will establish a similar showcase for area girls, who deserve the same recognition as the boys.