Some of the nation’s top prep basketball recruits are playing in Charlotte this weekend
Twenty years ago, Jeff Hood wanted to create a holiday tournament to showcase local talent. Back then, there wasn’t much.
The first Dell Curry Shootout started 19 years ago, and as the tournament evolved — and changed names twice — it brought some of the nation’s best talent to Charlotte.
Friday, the seventh Hoodie’s House National High School Hoops Classic begins at Rocky River High School. Whether known as the “Curry” or the Bojangles’ Shootout or the Hoodies House, Hood said the goal is the same.
“It’s about exposing this community to players they may not know of,” Hood said, “and now when you look in the NBA and major college, you see guys who performed on your stage in Charlotte. That’s pretty cool.”
Hood remembers how Raymond Felton came to the 2001 tournament early in his senior year. Felton, who led Latta (SC) High to a 104-9 record in his career, was a relatively unknown player. He drew national headlines, averaging more than 40 points per game in the event and led Latta past two nationally ranked teams.
Felton eventually ended up a 5-star recruit and played in the McDonald’s All-American game with Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire before playing at North Carolina and in the NBA.
“It was one of those shows where you had to be there and see it for yourself to appreciate it,” Hood said. “Having players like him in the event and undersized, he’s-not-going-to-make-it Stephen Curry and to see what he’s evolved into is just special, and having players like Ben Simmons and DeAngelo Russell come, that’s been really cool.”
Two of the top players in this year’s event are from the same team. Milton (Ga.) High’s backcourt — sophomore Bruce Thornton and freshman Kanaan Carlyle — are tracking as 5-star recruits. Hood thinks fans can see two future stars in them, as fans once did with Felton. And he has plans for much more.
“We’re still aspiring to get (the tournament) back to where it was, of being one of the can’t-miss, must-see high school tournaments in the country,” Hood said, “and we’re going to get there and do it the right way.”
Players/Teams To Watch
Carmel Christian: Two-time private school state champs are off to a 13-2 start. Senior Myles Hunter (13.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg) signed with Youngstown State. Junior Justin Taylor (11.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.7) has interest from Stanford, Tennessee, Virginia and Virginia Tech and offers Winthrop and South Florida. The Cougars, though, will be without 6-8 junior Ben Burham (16.5 ppg, 10 rpg), who has been one of the area’s biggest surprises this season.
Milton (Ga.): Ranked No. 6 in its state by MaxPreps, Milton is 10-2 overall with a history of producing elite talent. Bruce Thornton (6-2, sophomore guard) is ranked No. 3 in the 2022 class in his state. He has interest from Kentucky and offers from Georgia and Georgia Tech. Freshman Kanaan Carlyle is tracking a 5-star recruit and has interest from Kentucky
Myers Park: Mustangs, ranked in the Observer’s Sweet 16, feature Alabama football commit Drake Maye, a 6-foot-6 forward, who if he focused on basketball like his brother Luke Maye (the former UNC star), Drake would be a Division I recruit in the sport.
Orlando Christian (Fla.) Prep: Off to a 7-1 start, the Warriors have three players 6-8 or taller. Senior Eric Butler, a 6-3 point guard, has signed with Southern Illinois. He and 6-4 senior guard Jaylen Williams form one of Florida’s top backcourts. Sophomore Ven-Allen Lubin, a 6-7 forward, is a top 10 recruit in the state in the class of 2022 and 6-9 freshman Jayden Hastings is tracking as a high-major recruit.
Rocky River: Has won two in a row, including an upset of Myers Park. Calik “Duke” Thomas (14.6 pp, 6.9 rpg), Stephon Richards (10.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and Nick Burns (9.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.0 apg) lead the Ravens.
St. Benedicts Prep (N.J.): Regional powerhouse features 7-foot senior Mounir Hima, who has offers from Rhode Island, UMASS and Virginia Commonwealth, among others.
United Faith: Josh Massey, a 6-6 senior, averages 15.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg and has signed with Western Carolina.
Hoodies House Hoops Classic Schedule
(Dec. 27, 28, 30 at Rocky River High School)
Friday’s schedule
Rocky River vs. Atlanta Core 4 School, 11 a.m.
Milton (GA) vs. Lexington (KY) Henry Clay, 12:45
United Faith Christian vs. Orlando (FL) Christian, 2:30
Myers Park vs. Lancaster, 4:15
Carmel Christian vs. Brooklyn (NY) Abraham Lincoln, 6
Northside Christian vs. Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s, 7:45
▪ Tickets are $10-$12 for a day pass or $25-$30 for three-day pass. For more information, visit hoodiesclassic.org
This story was originally published December 26, 2019 at 6:13 PM.
