Dr Pepper Classic may lack fans, but not talent
Perhaps no elite high school basketball program in the country is in greater demand than IMG Academy, which is currently ranked third nationally and has five of the top 50 players in the country according to numerous recruiting sites.
So it seemed doubtful that IMG would return to McCallie School this weekend for the sixth annual of McCallie’s Dr Pepper Classic after participating in the same event two years ago.
But there IMG will be Friday night inside the school’s Sports and Activities Center, facing local independent power Hamilton Heights at 6 p.m., followed by McCallie-Knoxville Catholic at 8. Saturday night will find IMG-Knox Catholic at 6, followed by McCallie-Hamilton Heights at 8, with the Platinum Bonding 3-point contest squeezed in between the two games.
“We’ve been to a lot of these types of tournaments,” said IMG coach Sean McAloon on Tuesday, “and what makes some of them special are the people who are there. When we were at McCallie two years ago, everybody wanted to make sure we enjoyed ourselves, they really wanted to make sure we had a good time. Plus, the luncheon makes it special, as well as the kids clinic on Saturday. It’s not just a basketball event, it’s a community event and we were thrilled to come back.”
That said, McAloon knows this year’s Classic will be far different from the previous five. For one thing, and it’s a big thing, there will be no Friday luncheon due to COVID19 restrictions, which means
there will be no motivational speaker to speak to the participating teams, sponsors and general public as in the past, which featured inspired talks by TNT broadcaster Ernie Johnson, former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf and Paralympics runner Blake Leeper, to name but three.
“We’ve always wanted to give (the athletes) a positive message, one with a strong spiritual component for a captive audience,” said McCallie coach David Conrady. “It’s always been one of the most important parts of the tournament. But while we’re trying to do all we can to make this year as normal as in the past, some things just weren’t possible.”
Because of that, there will also be no crowds, other than title sponsors and the parents and guardians of participating athletes. Worst of all, at least for the Chattanooga community at large, there will be no youth clinic on Saturday morning for the Scenic City’s budding young hoopsters to rub elbows with some of the top high school talent in the country.
As McCallie athletic director Jeff Romero noted in an email this week: “We regret that, because of COVID-19, the atmosphere and attendance will be much different than in years past.”
Still, the basketball should be superb, as it always has been, and the Saturday night lineup will be televised live on the CW Chattanooga channel (Comcast 6, EPB 6 or 306 HD), as well as being streamed on www.ChattanoogaCW.com and www.McCallie.org/Live.
First-year Hamilton Heights coach Stephen Cook has felt the COVID cancellation sting more than most. The Hawks, who play the vast majority of their games on the road, have already had 14 games cancelled this season, with more almost certain to follow.
“It’s been very, very difficult,” said Cook. “And nine of the 15 games we’ve played have been against nationally ranked teams. But it’s an incredible honor to play in the Dr Pepper Classic against IMG and McCallie. Our guys are super-amped to play a top five team like IMG.”
Knox Catholic coach Mike Hutchens, whose Irish also faced IMG a year ago in Knoxville, is equally excited to be in the Classic, even if the McCallie game on Friday will be an important region game for his talented team, which includes talented juniors BJ Edwards and Handje Tamba.
“We had a seven-footer and a 6-9 kid when we played (IMG) last year and we looked little out there. I think they had six players 6-9 or taller. They’re unbelievable.”
Hutchens says what he’ll probably miss most at this year’s event is the luncheon.
“That’s what you want as a coach,” he said, “for your players to hear from someone who can guide them on the right path.”
Just getting to Friday night for all four schools has been a tough path thanks to the constant threat of COVID-19.
“There’s been a lot of heavy lifting to stage this one,” said McCallie’s Conrady, who singled out Holiday Inn Hamilton Place for providing lodging to IMG and Knox Catholic.
“It’s been very difficult all year,” said IMG’s McAloon. “So many things we’ve never had to worry about before. There’s a lot more on the check list. We don’t go out to eat. We don’t switch roommates. Everyone has his own water bottle. You’re wearing masks all the time. Cleaning the balls during practice. Using hand sanitizer. Of course, with so many games canceled, I have been able to see my family more, which has been nice.”
Then he said the one thing that almost every coach and parent and educator has echoed throughout this most difficult of school years, words to justify all that heavy lifting by so many.
“At least,” McAloon added, “they’re still getting to play the game they love.”