Christmas Classic puts top teams on display

Several area squads part of showcase hosted by Garfield Heights’ Johnson

Sonny Johnson created the NEO Youth Elite Christmas Classic last season, and the way it’s grown from the first edition to the next is impressive.

The initial showcase was three days, and the one that begins Dec. 27 at Garfield Heights High School is now four, and each day is jam-packed with interesting matchups and showdowns.

Johnson, the boys basketball coach at Garfield Heights, added a fourth day to bring in some of the region’s top girls basketball teams and players. Six games will be played on Dec. 30 with the 6 p.m. marquee matchup pitting Cleveland Heights vs. Canton McKinley and Ohio’s reigning Ms. Basketball winner Kierstan Bell — one of the nation’s top recruits who’s committed to play at Ohio State.

Dec. 27 to Dec. 29 belong to the boys side as a staggering 18 games will be showcased in front of fans and many college basketball coaches.

Johnson confirmed on Twitter coaches from Michigan State, Ohio State, Kent State, Akron, Buffalo, Louisville, Cleveland State, Georgetown, Missouri, Dayton, Michigan, Florida State, Miami (Ohio), Bowling Green, Notre Dame, Youngstown State and more will be in attendance scouting.

Johnson won the 1998 Mr. Basketball award playing at Garfield Heights, then starred at Cleveland

State then Ohio University. In his post-playing career as coach of the Bulldogs, he has secured countless contacts among the college basketball coaching ranks.

He created the Christmas Classic for the fans of area high school basketball, but also as a way to showcase Northeast Ohio’s top talent at one venue for as many college coaches as possible.

“To get this many coaches to watch our kids in one location is a win, win for our area,” said Johnson. “I think it’s a great thing for teams, the players, the fans, and it allows a lot of the players to be seen by college coaches.”

The success of last year’s Classic prompted many Northeast Ohio high school coaches and others from

the region to call Johnson asking to for a spot in this year’s event. With 24 games in four days, Johnson has built it into a marquee event.

“Everything is right here,” he said. “We’re having college coaches stay for more than one day. If we can get great games and get a lot of college coaches together to watch it’s great for everyone.”

Johnson could not confirm if the likes of Ohio State’s Chris Holtmann or Michigan State’s Tom Izzo would be in attendance but did say the aforementioned colleges would be represented in some form.

A sampling of some of the upcoming matchups at Garfield Heights:

Dec. 27 (boys)

• Cleveland Heights vs. Cleveland Central Catholic, 4:15 p.m.

• Brush vs. Warrensville Heights, 6 p.m.

Dec. 28 (boys)

• Richmond Heights vs. Padua, 2:30 p.m.

• Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. Garfield Heights, 6 p.m.

• Shaker Heights vs. Lutheran East, 7:45

Dec. 29 (boys)

• West Geauga vs. Wadsworth, 4:15 p.m.

• Lake Catholic vs. St. Ignatius, 6 p.m.

• Benedictine vs. Mentor, 7:45 p.m.

Dec. 30 (girls)

• Cleveland Heights vs. Canton McKinley, 6 p.m.