Since joining the McCallie School as basketball coach, John Shulman has worked to lift the profile of Blue Tornado basketball to new heights. The program has an opportunity to raise the bar even higher next season.
McCallie Headmaster Lee Burns and Shulman, in conjunction with the local Coca-Cola Bottling Company, are proud to announce that McCalle will host a weekend of premier high school basketball competition, exhibitions and instruction Feb.
5-6, 2016, as the host of the inaugural McCallie Dr Pepper 10 Classic.
Perennial national prep basketball power Oak Hill Academy, based in Mouth of Wilson, Va., will travel to Chattanooga for the event, which will also feature top local programs Hamilton Heights Christian Academy and Chattanooga Central High School.
"It's like the University of Kentucky basketball team or the University of Alabama football team coming to Chattanooga," Shulman said of the event.
Oak Hill has won eight national titles, produced 166 players who have played NCAA Division I basketball and has 25 former players who have been selected in the NBA draft since 1981, including all-stars Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo and Kevin Durant. Oak Hill recently advanced to the finals of the 2015 DICK’S Sporting Goods High School Nationals before losing to fellow national powerhouse Montverde (Fla.) Academy to finish the 2014-15 season with a record of 47-1.
"We feel this is a great way to celebrate Chattanooga and our city's basketball culture," said McCallie Dean of Athletics Jeff Romero. "It is a unique opportunity for our players and students and will allow local basketball fans the chance to see some of the best in high school basketball."
The McCallie Dr Pepper 10 Classic helps keep alive the tradition of the Dr Pepper Classic, a two-day college basketball tournament held by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s basketball team for many years — including during Shulman’s time as the Mocs coach — before being discontinued last year.
"We think this will be a great event for the Chattanooga community," says Darren Hodges, vice president of the Chattanooga Coca-Cola Bottling Company. "We are proud to be the title sponsor and bring back the Dr Pepper Classic."
In addition to four exciting games over two days, the event will feature a special opening luncheon for all the teams as well as others, a skills clinic for area basketball players as well as 3-point shooting and dunk competitions to entertain spectators.
"We expect the level of competition and talent to be high,” Headmaster Lee Burns said, “but more importantly, we view this as a great opportunity for service, by way of the free skills clinic being offered Saturday, and inspiration, by way of the luncheon being planned and other activities throughout the weekend."
While Oak Hill is the star attraction, the other three teams all boast strong resumes. Hamilton Heights is quickly becoming a powerful prep basketball program with several highly-regarded college prospects. Central went 22-5 last season, and McCallie finished with a 24-7 record in Shulman’s first season.
"I'm so excited for our student-athletes to have the chance to play in this tournament,” Shulman said. “They will compete hard and probably remember this tournament for the rest of their lives.
"It's an honor to compete with these other teams."
McCallie officials anticipate high demand for tickets for the McCallie Dr Pepper 10 Classic, given the strong local following of the three Chattanooga schools and the national reputation of Oak Hill. Announcement about ticket sales will be made at a later date. For more information about the tournament, contact Athletic Dean Jeff Romero at McCallie.
Participants:
McCallie (34-7), Head Coach John Shulman
Oak Hill Academy (47-1), Head Coach Steve Smith
Central High School (22-5) Head Coach Rick Rogers
Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (28-5), Head Coach Zach Ferrell
Tentative Schedule:
Friday, Feb. 5, 2016
12 p.m. Luncheon with special gues speaker
2 p.m. Lamp Post Group Dunk Contest
6 p.m. Hamilton Heights vs Central
8 p.m. McCallie vs Oak Hill Academy
Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016
10 a.m. Youth Clinc with McCallie Coach John Shulman and Oak Hill Coach Steve Smith
6 p.m. McCallie vs Central
7:30 p.m. Three-Point Shooting Contest
8 p.m. Oak Hill Academy vs Hamilton Heights