If Def Jam honcho and New Jersey Nets coowner Jay-Z had any trouble picking a winner from the contest finalists for the new theme song for the NBA franchise, this verse might have done it:

"Jay-Z courtside with S dots on/Rocawear shirt/Along with a roc charm/Roc Jeans And of course he got rocks on/And when his diamonds hit the light its/Looks similar to Sprite when it hits the ice/so Obey your thirst/Drink Sprite."

The shout-out laden verse came from M-Bars--real name Michael Barnes--a 22-year-old rapper from Manhattan who beat 700 other entries to win the theme-song contest. As a result, Barnes will perform the song, "Going Hard," live on the court during halftime of the Nets final regular-season home game against the Knicks on April 19 at the Continental Airlines Arena. He'll also get to meet Jay-Z.

Barnes will get the chance to record the song at Baseline Studios II in Manhattan, and the song will be posted on the Web site of hip-hop station HOT 97.

"In 'Going Hard,' M Bars completely captured the intensity of Nets basketball and the flavor of our game experience," Jay-Z said in a statement. "He obviously put a lot of time into the song and demonstrated a lot of talent. We're a hot team and this song best matches our passion and energy."

"I'm a huge Nets fan and Jay-Z is my idol, so I wanted to make this song really stand out," M Bars said. "It's such an honor to be recognized by Jay-Z and I can't wait to perform at the game."

Hear the song here.