10th Charlotte Hoops Challenge tips Friday with powerhouse matchups -- and changes
San Antonio Spurs player development director Dave Telep once described the Charlotte Hoops Challenge as basketball fans’ Thanksgiving holiday “dessert.”
But for many of the people who have flocked to the annual event, it’s the main course.
The two-day smorgasbord of high school basketball powerhouses has brought dozens of players who went on to big-time college careers and at least five who now play in the NBA.
And for the 10th annual Charlotte Hoops Challenge, set for Friday and Saturday at Myers Park High, event organizers Cristie Mitchell and Oscar Walker have something special planned -- two gyms, with nonstop action.
“We’re doing a couple special things for the 10th anniversary,” says Mitchell, who also is a teacher and girls’ head coach at South Mecklenburg High. “We have a record 34 teams, and we’ll have games going in both gyms at Myers Park.”
In the past, Mitchell and Walker have brought in one or two national teams, to help spice up the event.
“This year, we didn’t have to,” Mitchell says. “There is so much talent locally, and the interest was so strong for the local teams, that it will be an all-local event.”
Mitchell and Walker started the event when both were teaching at the old Waddell High School. In conjunction, they started a nonprofit foundation, MW United, to help the community.
“The original goal was to expose kids to basketball,” says Walker, now a teacher at West Charlotte High and coach with the Team United AAU program. “As we’ve grown, the goal changed. Now we partner with community organizations.”
Money raised from the Charlotte Hoops Challenge has gone to Samaritan’s Purse, Rachel’s Challenge, and to help low-income students attend camp and experience educational programs.
Along the way, there’s been some excellent basketball.
This year’s field includes 15 teams ranked in the Observer’s boys’ or girls’ Sweet 16 polls, plus regional powers like Lincolnton’s Combine Academy, Burlington School and Arden Christ School.
“We’ve staggered the starting times between the two games, too,” Mitchell says. “That means when once game is at halftime or has ended, fans can go over to the other gym and watch a game. It’s nonstop.”
And fans can pay admission, then leave and return later in the day.
“It’s a chance to get that Black Friday shopping done,” she says.
Amazingly, the event is done without a title sponsor.
“We’d like to get a title sponsor, but to this point, that hasn’t happened,” Mitchell says.
“We’d be open to getting one,” Walker adds.
About the event
Among big-name players who have participated in the Charlotte Hoops Challenge are Andrew Wiggins (Minnesota Timberwolves), Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat) and Grant Williams (Boston Celtics), along with current college players, and former All-Observer first team stars, like Leaky Black (UNC), Devon Dotson (Kansas), Wendell Moore (Duke), Trey Wertz (Santa Clara) and Patrick Williams (Florida State).
Tickets: Before 2 p.m., admission is $10, but $8 for seniors (65 or older) and youths (ages 5-12). After 2 p.m., prices are $15 and $12.
Friday’s schedule: (Gym 1) (Sweet 16 rankings included) No. 7 Providence Day vs. No. 9 Providence (girls), noon; South Mecklenburg vs. Charlotte Latin (boys), 1:30; Berry Academy vs. Charlotte Christian (boys), 3; No. 4 Vance vs. No. 14 Butler (boys), 4:30; Vance vs. No. 4 Butler (girls), 6; Lincolnton Combine Academy vs. No. 2 Concord Cannon School (boys), 7:30
(Gym 2) Victory Christian vs. South Mecklenburg (girls), 12:30; No. 12 Central Cabarrus vs. Davidson Day (girls), 2; Bucket Brand semifinals (boys): Providence Day vs. Victory Christian, 3:30, followed by No. 6 Davidson Day vs. Arden Christ School, 5.
Saturday’s schedule: (Gym 1) No. 14 Ardrey Kell vs. Concord Cannon School (girls), noon; Burlington School vs. No. 15 Charlotte Catholic (boys), 1:30; Charlotte Latin vs. Hickory Grove Christian (boys), 3; No. 7 Independence vs. No. 3 Concord First Assembly (boys), 4:30; Myers Park vs. No. 3 Waxhaw Cuthbertson (girls), 6; No. 2 Concord Cannon School vs. No. 9 Ardrey Kell (boys), 7:30
(Gym 2) Burlington School vs. No. 11 Hopewell (girls), 12:30; Burlington School vs. United Faith Christian (boys), 2; Bucket Brand third-place game (boys), 3:30; Bucket Brand first-place game, 5
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle