Chick-fil-A Classic

COLUMBIA, SC  (November 22, 2011) - Columbia Regional Sports Council is pleased to announce the 10th Annual Chick-fil-A Classic Holiday Basketball Tournament to be held in Columbia, SC this December 19-22, 2011. The Chick-fil-A Classic, in only its tenth year, has become one of the most prestigious high school basketball tournaments in the nation. This past year Max Preps, an affiliate of CBS Sports, ranked the Chick-fil-A Classic as the nation's #3 High School Tournament. The Chick-fil-A Classic has the distinction as being the only tournament ranked in the top 5 nationally that is less than 25 years old. This year's tournament field features 7 teams that are pre-season nationally ranked. Included are 13 of the nation's top 80 senior players (Class of 2012) as ranked by ESPN.

All games will be played at Richland Northeast High School located at 7500 Brookfield Road in Columbia, SC. Tickets to the event are $12 for reserved floor seating, $8 for general admission and $4 for children 11 and under. Ticket books (good for all games) for both reserved seating & general admission-adult may be purchased in advance. For advance sales ticket information, visit chick-fil-aclassic.com and click on the "Tickets" link. Individual daily tickets can be purchased at the gymnasium ticket booth the day of the tournament, beginning one hour before the first scheduled game of the day.

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the tournament, the Carolina Challenge Showcase will be played in conjunction with the Chick-fil-A Classic. The Carolina Challenge Showcase will feature 8 additional teams competing in a series of games.

The tournament proceeds will again support the Greater Columbia Educational Advancement Foundation (GCEAF) in its efforts to raise educational scholarships for deserving students who live within the Greater Columbia area. Last year fifteen (15) $1,000 scholarships were awarded. This year's total will surpass $100,000 awarded in educational scholarships to deserving students who live within the Greater Columbia area.

For more information on the game schedule, ticket information, brackets and participating teams, visit the tournament website at chick-fil-aclassic.com.

2011 Participating Teams (Chick-fil-A Classic & Carolina Challenge)


*Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia)
Last year's record: 29-4 finished year ranked #4 nationally; team features 5 of the nation's top 80 senior players
Pre-season nationally ranked #3 by ESPN, #4 by Max Preps, #2 by Hoopniks

*Columbia High School (Decatur, Georgia)
Last year's record: 30-3 finished year ranked #34 nationally; won Georgia Class 3A state championship for second consecutive year; won 4 of last 6 state championships; team return 4 starters
Pre-season nationally ranked #12 by ESPN, #16 by Max Preps

*Arlington Country Day School (Jacksonville, Florida)
Last year's record: 23-2; finished the year ranked #32 nationally: team features 5 Division 1 prospects including 2 players committed to South Carolina (Ian Baker & Carlos Morris)
Pre-season nationally ranked #22 by ESPN, #11 by Max Preps, #16 by Hoopniks

*United Faith Christian Academy (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Last year's record: 31-7 finished year ranked #41 nationally; won 2010 Chick-fil-A Classic Championship (Classic I Bracket); team features 3 Division 1 prospects including 7'1 senior Peter Jurkin (committed to Indiana) and 6'0 senior point guard Braxton Ogbueze (committed to Florida).
Pre-season nationally ranked #30 by ESPN

*Southwest DeKalb High School (Decatur, Georgia)
Last year's record; 24-6; team returns 4 starters including 2 national top 80 seniors (Shaq Goodwin & Jordan Price)
Pre-season nationally ranked #39 by ESPN, #25 by Max Preps

*La Verne Lutheran High School (La Verne, California)
Last year's record: 26-5; won back to back California Division III state championships; features Arizona recruits Grant Jerrett and Eric Cooper Jr.
Pre-season nationally ranked #47 by ESPN

*Christ School (Asheville, North Carolina)
Last year's record: 32-5; won NCISAA Class 3A State Championship four years in a row; finished year ranked #39 nationally; never has lost game during Chick-fil-A Classic (perfect 9-0)
Pre-season nationally ranked #14 by Max Preps, #28 by Hoopniks

*West Charlotte High School (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Last year's record: 28-2; won NCHSAA Class 4A State Championship; team returns 13 players including national ranked junior forward Kennedy Meeks; finished last season ranked #49 nationally
Pre-season regionally ranked (#17 southeast region)

*Paul VI High School (Fairfax, Virginia)
Last year's record: 21-10; return all 5 starters; 3 players are D1 prospects

*Word of God Academy (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Last year's record: 24-3; features highly recruited junior guard Josh Newkirk; school that produced NBA player John Wall

*Westtown School (Westchester, Pennsylvania)
Last year's record: 17-10; return 4 starters including 6'10 Villanova commitment Daniel Ochefu

*Upper Room Christian Academy (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Last year's record: 23-17; played a national schedule as independent; returns all 5 starters from last season including Division 1 players Rodney Purvis (committed to NC State) and Tyrek Coger (committed to Missouri).

*Body of Christ Academy (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Last year's record: 15-13; features top 15 ranked junior Isaiah Hicks who has committed to North Carolina.

*W.J. Keenan High School (Columbia, South Carolina)
Last year's record: 26-3; won back to back SCHSL Class 2A State Championships; return 4 starters and 3 other lettermen; pre-season state ranked as #1 in Class 2A

*Lexington High School (Lexington, South Carolina)
Last year's record: 24-6; return 12 of 13 players including all 5 starters; pre-season state ranked as #1 team in Class 4A

*Wilson High School (Florence, South Carolina)
Last year's record: 23-4; return 4 of 5 starters; pre-season state ranked as #1 team in Class 3A

*Lower Richland High School (Hopkins, South Carolina)
Last year's record: 18-10; won or tied for region title for the eighth consecutive season; consecutive SC Class 3A Final Fours; return 4 starters; pre-season state ranked #2 in Class 3A

*Richland Northeast High School (Columbia, South Carolina)
Last year's record: 17-10; made Class 4A state playoffs for 15th time in last 17 seasons; return 9 lettermen including 4 starters; 6'4 senior forward Travis Hammonds receiving Division 1 interest.

*Spring Valley High School (Columbia, South Carolina)
Last year's record: 14-9; return 3 starters

*Ridge View High School (Columbia, South Carolina)
Last year's record: 20-8; finished last year as South Carolina Class 4A State Runners-Up

*Edisto High School (Cordova, South Carolina)
Last year's record: 12-10; return 5 lettermen including nationally ranked forward Brice Johnson who has committed to play for the University of North Carolina next year.

*Cardinal Newman High School (Columbia, South Carolina)
Last year's record: 26-4; last year's team made it to the SCISA Class 3A Quarter-finals; this year's team return 3 starters and 10 lettermen including 6'6 All-State guard Austin Aujkwa.

*Pinewood Prep School (Summerville, South Carolina)
Last year's record: 22-11: last year's 20 win campaign marked the 17th consecutive season the Panthers won 20 or more games; return top two scorers from last year's team.

*Hammond School (Columbia, South Carolina)
Last year's record: 8-17; new coach and former College of Charleston player Mark McClam is undertaking the task of rebuilding the Skyhawks; teams features 8th grader Seven Woods who is quickly making a name for himself; Woods is already receiving interest from high major Division 1 colleges.

 

MEDIA INFORMATION
 

Credentials for the 2010 Chick-fil-A Classic are issued for working media only and should be requested as soon as possible due to space limitations. There are limited game-viewing tables courtside and upstairs. Accredited working media will have first priority for credentials and table seating. All others will be on a space-available basis. Press Books will be available for approved working media at the pass gate table during tournament hours while supplies last.

Note:
The deadline for credential requests is Thursday, December 8, 2011. Limited wireless internet service will be available inside the gymnasium upon request.
All media should contact Gary Fulmer, Tournament Director, by e-mail at gfulmer@richland2.org to request a media credential with the following information included:

  - Your media outlet (specify newspaper, Internet site, TV or radio)
  -  Number of credentials requested and the name and title of each requestor
  - If covering a specific team, the team(s) you will be covering

Before you send your e-mail, please type "Chick-fil-A Classic Credentials" in the subject line of the e-mail.

For any questions, call Gary Fulmer at (803) 738-3338.

Columbia Regional Sports Council is a non-profit organization committed to serving as the central clearinghouse for information regarding the sponsorship, promotion, and coordination of sporting events, facilities and associations in Columbia. If you would like additional information, please visit columbiasportscouncil.com or contact Scott Powers at (803) 545-0009.

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