Arby's Classic

[imported_trio]

When is it???

thanks in advance

[NotSoSilentBob]

12/26-12/30

I think...might start on 12/27. They started on 12/27 last year. The Arby's website is only updated during the tournament.

[cvcgrad]

RISTOL, Tenn. - Over the years, the Arby's Classic has developed a national reputation as a showcase for high school basketball talent.

It stands alone in the South for competition, organization, community hospitality, college exposure and facility (Viking Hall).

In the Tri-Cities area, it has become a Christmas tradition.

Participating teams for the 2006 event were announced Sunday at Arby's headquarters on Volunteer Parkway.

"This will be our 24th year,'' Don Shawls, president of the sponsoring Arbico East, said. "We have another outstanding field lined up. As always, there will be many great players here.

"Hundreds of thousands of dollars from Arby's Classic proceeds have gone to local schools since we started.''

Local teams taking part in the Dec. 26-30 tournament will be Dobyns-Bennett, Gate City, Greeneville, Science Hill, Sullivan South, Tennessee High, Twin Springs and Unicoi County.

Guest teams from outside the area will be Antioch and Liberty Tech Magnet (Tennessee); Enumclaw (Washington); Holy Cross (Louisiana); Irmo (South Carolina); M.M. Krop and P.K. Yonge (Florida); Martinsville (Virginia); Tabernacle Baptist (Grand Bahamas) and Urspring (Germany).

Twin Springs will open the event at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, against Urspring. Other games that day will send Gate City against the Bahamas team; Unicoi County against Antioch; Tennessee High against Columbia Irmo; D-B against Martinsville and South against New Orleans Holy Cross.

Second-day action will match the losers of games 1 and 2, which would be Twin Springs vs. Gate City if neither pulls a first-round upset; P.K. Yonge vs. the winner between Twin Springs/Urspring; Science Hill vs. Liberty Tech and Greeneville vs. Enumclaw.

Liberty Tech, the defending state champion in Class AA, is loaded. The Crusaders are said to be the No. 1 team in Tennessee.

Among Liberty's returnees are state tournament MVP Jewuan Long, 6-foot-5 forwards Josh Sain and Devon Jones, and Antwan Long. The team's spark plug is 5-2 point guard Anthony Sampson.

Enumclaw, one of the top three teams in the Seattle area, is the first entry ever from the state of Washington. The Crusaders have a terrific threesome in Julian Fernandez, C.J. Fitzpatrick and Mike Vivolo, a 6-7 forward.

M.M. Krop's Marcos "Shakey'' Rodriguez is a legendary coach in Florida. He has been coach of the year five times in that state while notching nearly 500 career wins. His stars are University of Massachusetts signee Max Groebe and Javi Gonzalez.

P.K. Yonge returns a 25-5 team almost intact. The Blue Wave are led by all-state guard Willie Powers, who has several Division I schools interested in his services; 6-4 wing Myke Brown, a Virginia Commonwealth signee; and 6-6 post Adio Mutima, an Eckerd College signee.

Martinsville has won 13 state championships and been runner-up eight times. The defending champs feature former Science Hill guard Emanuel Reid, who averaged 16 points last year. Other standouts are D'Andrew Jackson and Tracy Hairston.

Irmo has claimed three state titles and three runner-up spots in Tim Whipple's 25-year reign as coach. The Yellow Jackets have back nine of 10 players from a state tourney team. Their top guns are Anton Greer and Joe Ben Watson.

Holy Cross was a victim of Hurricane Katrina. The Tigers are led by Antoine Duplessis, an Auburn football signee, and Kris Collins.

Antioch is a budding state power under "Briefcase" Brien Crowder, who's no stranger to Northeast Tennessee. His youthful Bears will be starting all underclassmen but have an abundance of talent and quickness. Most Southeastern Conference schools are chasing the Bears' 6-7 junior forward Michael McAdoo. Other superlatives are Mike Williams, Kyle Upton and Tahj Wells, a 6-7 junior who's also in the crosshairs of college recruiters.

Tabernacle is an Arby's regular. The Falcons, with several national titles to prove it, have the top program in the Bahamas. Coach Norris Bain may start three sophomores. His No. 1 player is cat-quick guard Raymond Higgs. Other key players are 6-7 Derek Gaitor, 6-5 Leo Gedeon and 6-3 Jared Cartwright.

Urspring has won three German national crowns and boasts a crowd-pleasing lineup. One player stands 7-foot, two 6-7 and one 6-9.

Dale Burns, co-founder and tourney director, is recuperating from surgery and missed the news conference.

Quotes from the day's drawing:

"? "Playing against quality teams can't do anything but help you. But I didn't think that last year when we had to play Brentwood Academy.'' - Twin Springs coach John McCrary

"? "This is one of the best-run tournaments in the country. When I was in Arizona, I heard coaches talking about it. I consider it an honor to be invited.'' - Antioch coach Brien Crowder

"? "It's always exciting regardless of who you play. We like facing good teams.'' - Sullivan South coach Mark Pendleton

"? "We've seen Tabernacle play. (The Falcons) are athletic and quick. We expect them to try to drive on us. We'll try to shut down their inside pass.'' - Gate City coach Scott Vermillion

[Jason]

[ QUOTE ]
12/26-12/30

I think...might start on 12/27. They started on 12/27 last year. The Arby's website is only updated during the tournament.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you going this year? I would like to if I can find someone willing to sit with me. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[NotSoSilentBob]

I will be there the first day and most likely the second. Just depends...

Give me a shout a couple of days beforehand and we can work something out. If nothing else we can ride together, although I tend to stay the entire first day.

[Jason]

[ QUOTE ]
I will be there the first day and most likely the second. Just depends...

Give me a shout a couple of days beforehand and we can work something out. If nothing else we can ride together, although I tend to stay the entire first day.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is fine by me. I have never been and have always wanted too. Guess we will sit with and cheer for GC. Espeacially if it works out that GC and TS plays the second day! [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[1inStripes]

I was just looking at my work schedule and I am off on the 29th, so I might venture that way. Unless I am hunting or fishing that is.

[beamer_ball]

Don't forget there's also a couple of doubleheaders leading up to the Arby's that some may want to see...

Dec. 22:
Gate City vs. Lee High, at Twin Springs
J.I. Burton vs. Twin Springs, at Twin Springs

Dec. 23:
Lee High vs. Twin Springs, at Gate City
Dobyns-Bennett vs. Gate City, at Gate City