54 HOURS: A Guide to Recreational Events Between 6 p.m. Friday and Midnight Sunday : The Queen of This Court

Going to the basket against professional basketball players Rick Mahorn and Ed O’Bannon would be frightening for anybody. But it won’t stop Queen Latifah, who will, for her second year, charge the lane for the fifth annual “MTV Rock ‘n’ Jock B-Ball Jam.”

“I’m no Cheryl Miller,” Latifah admits, “but I played in high school.” Apparently, that was enough to give Latifah, a rapper and an actress from TV’s “Living Single,” the courage to impress the audience and fellow players with her ball-handling skills last year. She will suit up once again for either the Bricklayers or Violators, joining other celebrities and NBA players in a game that will benefit the Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Among the celebrities who will take the court are Dean Cain, a good athlete who may try to use some “Superman” moves; Jonathan Taylor Thomas of “Home Improvement,” Matthew Fox and Scott Wolf from the cast of “Party of Five,” musicians Kay Gee (Naughty by Nature) and Coolio and Bill Bellamy (“MTV Jams”). Offering support from the sidelines will be Rebecca Gayheart (“Beverly Hills, 90210”) and Yasmine Bleeth (“Baywatch”).

The pros include Mahorn and O’Bannon of the New Jersey Nets, Laker Nick Van Exel, Tim Hardaway of Golden State and Gary Payton of the Seattle Supersonics.

The event will be held at UC Irvine’s Bren Events Center. The game usually sells out, so get tickets in advance through Ticketmaster: (213) 480-3232. Adults $8; students with ID, $6. Game time is 6:45 p.m.