This year promises to be a very star studded gala of basketball starting December 18-22, 2009. The event takes a day off on Sunday December 20th and resumes on Monday December 21st. Admission for the tournament is $7 for General Admission and $4 for children ages 11 and under. The majority of the proceeds go towards the financial support of the Greater Columbia Educational Advancement Foundation (GCEAF pronounced gee-cef). Since its formation in 2003, GCEAF has awarded $60,000 in educational scholarships to deserving students who live within the Greater Columbia area.
The Tournament will offer a field of 16 teams (7 teams from SC and 9 teams from other states). The teams from South Carolina are Richland Northeast, Lower Richland, Keenan, Dreher, Ridge View, Irmo, and Fairfield-Central. Out of state teams are: Rice High School (New York City NY), Christ School (Asheville NC), Westlake High School (Atlanta GA), Trinity Christian School (Fayetteville NC), Lexington Catholic High School (Lexington KY), Vance High School (Charlotte NC), Robert Taft High School (Cincinnati OH), Charlotte Christian School (Charlotte NC) and Norfolk Christian School (Norfolk VA). Look for some marquee names in college coaching to be in the gym as well.
Some of the featured players are;
James McAdoo - Junior (6’8 forward from Norfolk Christian School, Norfolk, VA- committed to North Carolina) *Consensus Top 5 Junior
Marquis Rankin - Junior (6’1 guard from Vance High, Charlotte, NC)
Marshall Plumlee – Junior (7’0 center from Christ School, Asheville, NC)
Anthony Gill - Junior (6’7 forward from Charlotte Christian School, Charlotte, NC- committed to South Carolina)
Damontre Harris - Senior (6’9 forward from Trinity Christian School, Fayetteville, NC- signed with South Carolina)
Eric Smith - Senior (6’0 point guard from Christ School, Asheville, NC-signed with South Carolina)
Marcus Thornton - Senior (6’8 forward from Westlake High School, Atlanta, GA- signed with Clemson)
Shane Southwell - Senior (6’7 forward from Rice High School, New York City, NY- signed with Kansas State)
Akil Mitchell - Senior (6’8 forward from Charlotte Christian School, Charlotte, NC- signed with Virgina)
Anthony Jacobs – Senior (6’8, 310 lb forward from Westlake High School, Atlanta, GA-committed to Central Florida)
Michael Green – Senior (6’8 forward from Ridge View High School, Columbia, SC- signed with Tennessee State)
Malcolm Rhett – Senior (6’6 forward from Lower Richland High School, Hopkins, SC- signed with Tennessee State)
For more on the Holiday Classic visit http://www.chick-fil-aclassic.com/
